Corbyn is done. But I suspect Corbynism will survive this massive defeat. Here's why. (THREAD)
Perhaps a better way of thinking about this election is not as the "Brexit Election" but the "Take-Back-Control Election".
Both the major parties identified that voters were angry about one big thing: there were limits to their ability to change their lives through the ballot box. This was about democratic sovereignty.
One lot blamed the EU. "If only we could Get Brexit Done," they said, "break the stranglehold of the unelected Eurocrats, we will regain control our own destinies and make our lives better."
The other lot blamed Neoliberalism. "If only we could rebalance the system," they said, "break the stranglehold of the corporations and the 1%, we will regain control our own destinies and make our lives better."
(There was a third lot who said, "Actually everything is fine, we should carry on as before." But it looks like no one bought that take.)
Now we know: Proposition One is going to be tested, and fast. Formally, Brexit will be 'done' by the end of January. How long does Boris Johnson have to demonstrate that this single act will improve the lives of those who 'lent him their votes'?
We know what those improvements would look like: better public services, more investment in healthcare, social care and education, secure jobs and - crucially - a rebalancing of society...
...between those whose prospects (their financial and social capital) have been boosted under the current system (because of where they live, what they do and who they know), and those whose prospects have stagnated.
Clearly Brexit in itself will not achieve any of this. The question is what the government does with the freedom (if any) it gains from Brexit.
The Conservative manifesto contained very little in the way of detailed proposals to tackle many of society's problems. Now Johnson's new government will have to come up with some ideas.
It seems obvious that More Deregulation, which has been a mantra of many of Johnson's ministers (and many Brexiteers), will not (on its own) achieve the changes many want.
Deregulation is one of the big reasons why we are where we are: financial crisis -> austerity -> underinvestment in public services + insecure jobs = an electorate that is angry, fearful and divided.
Getting Brexit Done is simultaneously a huge opportunity and a huge threat to Boris Johnson. He has a once-in-a-generation chance to reshape the country in his image. But his majority means he will not be able to hide behind any 'wreckers' or 'blockers' if things don't go well.
If he doesn't come up with something beyond More Deregulation, those who lent him their votes will not feel like they have regained control over their lives. Those who felt like Labour wasn't listening to them over Brexit will switch their anger back to the Conservatives
And then Proposition Two - that it's really Neoliberalism, Global Capitalism, the Corporations, the 1% to blame - will be back on the table with a vengeance.
