Ploughed under? Labour's Grassroots post-Corbyn

Abstract

This article uses a survey carried out by the ESRC-funded Party Members Project in the immediate aftermath of the 2019 election to paint a portrait of Labour's post-Corbyn membership. They are overwhelmingly white, well-educated and largely middle class and middle-aged, with many of them living in southern England. They are also disproportionately likely to work, either currently or previously, in the public or charitable sector. They are left-wing but also very socially liberal, and they are very pro-European. This means they have a lot in common with Labour MPs but much less in common with many of the voters Labour desperately needs to win back. A significant number of members, perhaps especially those disinclined to regard antisemitism as a serious problem, could leave as a result of Corbyn being replaced (and possibly removed) by Starmer. Whether this will have much impact on Labour's electoral prospects is debateable.