Steerpike
The 50 times Jeremy Corbyn has called for an election this year
Jeremy Corbyn backtracked on one of his core political messages yesterday, when he told Boris Johnson that he no longer wants a general election. The Labour leader is now briefing that his MPs will not vote for an election until a bill has been passed blocking a no-deal Brexit.
Is this not quite the U-turn you ask? Mr S certainly thinks so.
A quick glance at the House of Commons' records shows that Corbyn has demanded an immediate election 16 times in Parliament in 2019. Over the same period, the Labour leader has called for an election on Twitter a whopping 34 times as well, bringing the total to 50.
It seems that Corbyn's many calls for the Conservatives to 'hold an election now!’ at almost every opportunity has suddenly become ‘not right now thanks', after Boris Johnson called his bluff.
Below are all the times Corbyn has called for an election this year:
‘We are ready for a general election, ready to take on this Government and ready to win a general election’
‘The General Election will be vital in deciding the direction of our country’
‘We are ready for a General Election, which will be a once in a generation chance for a real change of direction for our country’
19th August 2019:
‘A General Election triggered by the Tory Brexit crisis puts our country at a crossroads, a once-in-a-generation chance for a real change of direction.’
29th July 2019:
A General Election is ‘your choice to have your say in our future’
‘Are we ready for a General Election? Absolutely.’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1155422186049560576?s=20
‘We are ready for a General Election whenever it comes.’
‘You deserve your say whether that’s in a public vote on Brexit or in a General Election - so that everyone has the chance to decide the future of our country’
‘Join us outside parliament this evening to demand a General Election so the people of this country can choose who leads us’
‘The best thing that the right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip could do later on today when he takes office is to call a general election and let the people decide their future?’
‘We need a General Election’
‘Our movement can win an election whenever it comes.’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1153968737126666240?s=20
‘Join us this Thursday to demand a General Election so the people of this country can choose who leads us.’
‘The people of our country should decide who becomes the Prime Minister in a General Election.’
‘Our movement can win an election whenever it comes’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1153291560727076864?s=20
‘Join us this Thursday evening outside Parliament to demand one’
‘Join us this Thursday evening outside Parliament to demand one’
7th June 2019:
‘The new Tory leader must let the people decide our country’s future, through an immediate General Election.’
‘The next PM should be chosen not by the US president, nor by 100,000 unrepresentative Tory party members, but by the British people in a general election.’
‘We need a General Election to decide the future of this country’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1133038998102958082?s=20
‘It’s time for a General Election’
‘Let the people decide our country’s future: we need a General Election now.’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1131947407695130625?s=20
‘Whoever becomes the new Tory leader must let the people decide our country’s future, through an immediate General Election.’
‘That is why it is time for a general election to break the Brexit deadlock and give the country a say’
‘We’re ready for a General Election whenever it comes.’
‘We are ready for a General Election.’
‘Ultimately there will be no alternative other than to have a general election to decide who rules this country in the future.’
‘Decide the future of this country through a general election’
‘It is time we had a general election so that the people can choose who their Government should be.’
‘We’ll continue to push for a close economic relationship based on our credible alternative plan or a General Election.’
‘I truly believe that a general election would be the best outcome for this country.’
‘A general election is the best outcome for the country, as the Labour Party conference agreed last September. A general election would give new impetus to negotiations, with a new Prime Minister, with a new mandate’
‘I look forward to testing opinion at the ballot box in a general election’
‘It is the duty of this House to show the lead where the government have failed, and to pass a motion of no confidence so that the people of this country can decide who their MPs are, who their Government are and who will deal with the crucial issues facing the people of this country.’
‘We need a General Election now.’
‘Labour believes that a general election would be the best outcome for the country’
‘The people need to be able to take back control, and a general election would give them the opportunity to decide who their MPs were, who their Government were, and who would negotiate on their behalf. It would give a new Government the mandate that is needed to break the deadlock that has been brought to the House by this government.’
‘We need an election to have the chance to vote for a government that can bring people together’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1085138768762490882?s=20
‘It is time for a general election; it is time for a new Government.’
‘This is why we need a general election’
‘We’re ready for a General Election.’
‘To break the deadlock over Theresa May’s botched Brexit deal, a General Election is the most practical and democratic option.’
‘Call a General Election and let the people decide.’
‘Will the Prime Minister do the right thing- let the people have a real say and call a general election?’
‘A General Election is the best way forward to give a new government a mandate.’
‘In 2019, there may be a General Election and I can’t wait.’
‘If the Government cannot govern and cannot command a majority of the House, then the great British tradition is that those governments resign and we have a general election.’
‘They should make way and have an election. That is our priority.’
‘We need a General Election so we can implement Labour’s plan to transform Britain.’
‘We need a General Election and I’m ready for it. Bring it on.’
https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1046346591509131264?s=20
So what has changed now? Mr S wonders perhaps if it has anything to do with how well Boris Johnson is doing in the polls...
