Left Takes Over British Labour Party

British Labour Party today voted Jeremy Corbyn, an avowed socialist, for its leadership. This means that if Labour attains a majority in the next parliamentary election, Corbyn would be Prime Minister.

Labour suffered a crushing defeat in the elections last May, and ever since has been looking for new leadership. Corbyn's ascent was made possible by new party rules about how the leader is chosen. Grass roots enthusiasts dominated this election.

Among Corbyn's policy positions: He favors return to the public sector of many of the services and industries that have been privatized since Margaret Thatcher. He wants Britain to withdraw from the EU. He favors an end to austerity policies, and increase in public investment.

Britain's economic system is already substantially more socialistic than the US, but less than Germany or France, which in turn do not lean as far left as Scandinavia.