Absolutes Quote by Alex Nunns
“Jeremy Corbyn couldn't have won without Labour changing its leadership election rules in 2014, but which more importantly got rid of the electoral college that had given MPs a third of the say over who leads the party. That's why Diane Abbott came last when she ran for leader in 2010, even though in the absolute number of votes she came third out of five. It's one of those wonderful historical ironies that the change to the rules was a victory for the Labour right, the result of a push back against the unions who had been asserting themselves more forcefully within the party.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labour Party Conference, 2015, United Kingdom
Rule changes shifted power from MPs to the broader membership, altering leadership outcomes.
In simple terms: Changing election rules changed who controls leadership.
Key Takeaway
Understand how rules shape power dynamics.
Themes
politics
institutional change
democracy
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- campaign strategy
- union relations
- policy advocacy
- member engagement
Key Concepts
electoral systems
party politics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do rule changes affect representation?
- What safeguards ensure fairness?
A Different Perspective
Rule changes can also marginalize minority voices within the party.
![“Jeremy [Corbyn] earned the right to take up the leadership of the party with a big majority. But he has failed and he has no right or mandate to stay in office despite his failure and take the party down with him.” quote by Harriet Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b1/harriet-harman-24655_bigs_jeremy-corbyn-earned-the-right-to-take-u_630654.jpg)
![“Until today I had made no public comment about Jeremy's [Corbyn] ability to lead our party, but the fact that he failed to intervene is final proof for me that he is unfit to lead, and that a Labour Party under his stewardship cannot be a safe space for British Jews.” quote by Ruth Smeeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a92/ruth-smeeth-66096_ability_until-today-i-had-made-no-public-comment_585250.jpg)
![“Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/vladimir-putin-261_absolutes_their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolu_10791.jpg)
