The shorthand “centrist”, “hard left” and “soft left” is deployed because life, itself, is short, but the common assumptions about each fail to explain almost anything about the way the contest is unfolding. Why did Clive Lewis, the obvious bridge between hard and soft, fail to make the ballot? The support of the soft left – which accounts for most Labour members – was vital in Corbyn being elected leader. The soft left has always been decisive, and it is no longer boxed in by limited choice, as it was in 2015. It would be asinine to call for unity when I support Starmer (“we can all be friends, so long as we line up behind my guy”).

Source: The Guardian January 21, 2020 16:39 UTC