Thursday’s elections, while limited in number, are the first test of Reform’s ability to convert that polling into power. It’s also favored to win a closely fought special election for a parliamentary seat the same night. Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left former leader of the Labour Party, was a notable exception in 2017 when he spoke at the Glastonbury music festival and was serenaded enthusiastically by concertgoers. “Rallies have gone out of political fashion,” said Neil Kinnock, who led Labour from 1983 to 1992, and was one of the most accomplished orators of his era. He was famed for his platform speeches, including his 1983 warning against voting Conservative and his passionate denunciation of the hard left in 1985.

Source: The Times April 30, 2025 10:59 UTC