Thing is though, this stuff works on the electorate. The truth doesn’t really matter anymore. A few choice headlines in the tabloids and that nonsense sticks with those who don’t know the reality, which just happens to be the overwhelming majority, sadly. Corbyn is proof of that. The volume of people who couldn’t tell you anything about his policy ideas or history, but could tell you he was ‘unelectable’ because he’s a ‘terrorist sympathiser’ but couldn’t actually tell you what that label referred to, was ridiculous.
For this reason McDonnell is not an option.
Neither is Rebecca Long Bailey. I’m not saying anything about what she stands for or her politics or abilities, but in terms of broad appeal she just doesn’t have it. Sadly, manifestos seem to be less and less important in deciding things these days, as personality/charisma gains importance. People didn’t vote for the Tories last time out, they voted for the character that Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson created with his media chums, for that very purpose.
I don’t think Labour can afford to have a leader based purely on what they stand for anymore. It’s got to be a mixture of that and their own gravitas and ability to hold the public attention now.
For me, Burnham is the only real option with the ability to get through to the masses that I can see presently.