I can see why some convinced hard left wingers would support a party led by Corbyn and why a comparison with Farage on the right has some validity.

He is though 75 years old, whilst Farage is 60. Reform, as the latest incarnation of UKIP and the Brexit Party, have a base and donors. Corbyn has experience but anything like this will take time, which he doesn’t have.

Such parties are personality driven and without them either would struggle.

What impact could such a party have? Take a share of Labour votes, but next to no seats? Just as Reform did to the Tories! Eventually, if it got backing, but I don’t see where that’s going to come from, in any really meaningful way. By which time Corbyn would be in his dotage and we know how popular politicians over 80 can be!

So I don’t see this as a serious threat to Labour. If I am wrong it would only help the Tories.

Oh dear!

This is one Gary that definitely doesn't glitter.

Perhaps he comes out of hibernation on a 7 year cycle.

They hibernate every year, do they not?

I was thinking more X Files style.

Hold on to your liver.

My problem with this logic is it lends itself to the idea that society is the same as it has been for decades, and so the tried and tested solutions will work it all out - I don't subscribe to that at all; this is an ongoing decline and direction of travel will only continue to go one way without significant intervention.

The ongoing increases in inequality and ongoing decline in living standards for ordinary people is not going to change if we keep hopping 'sensibly' from one group of centrists to another, and as societies problems worsen and more people can see that neither the Tories nor Labour will fix it, they will look for alternatives on both the left and the right.

I dislike Farage and Reform, but the left would be stupid to think he or they will go away, or that people aren't going to continue to be drawn to that type of offering as their lot gets worse year on year.