WITH the success of Jeremy Corbyn’s general election campaign in 2024 there was a resurgent wave of positivity that I hadn’t seen in years. Free from the shackles of the toxic Labour brand, it was truly liberating.

How proud we were to all stand together and support Corbyn for his principles and integrity. It was the most positive, uplifting campaign I’ve been involved in. There was a togetherness, a joy, a vision.

By pounding the streets and hammering the phones we built from scratch an army of volunteers from near and far. They came in busloads, they came because of shared values and they parked their egos at the door and rolled up their sleeves.

The social media team was on fire and ignited several viral videos at very little cost. Undeterred by Labour activists heckling and spitting on us as we canvassed, we continued with smiles on our faces, with honesty, integrity and hope.

Despite Labour diverting all its activists to Islington North on polling day in a desperate last-ditch attempt to remove the thorn in their side, we persevered and won against the odds, proving that shared values and politics of hope are not naive ideals but powerful methods that yield results.

“This now needs to be replicated nationally,” we said, “we need a new party, we can’t let all this energy just go to waste, people are crying out for change.”

My political journey began in Ireland a number of years ago, as a postgrad documentary student at the National Film and Television School in search of answers on what makes society tick. It seemed only fitting to revisit, again in search of answers, as we find ourselves in the largest political interregnum for a century.

Armed with a welcoming video message from Corbyn congratulating the left on Catherine Connolly’s inspiring victory in this month’s Irish presidential election, I was fascinated to hear about what made it possible at the What’s Next for the Left panel discussion.

Along with meetings with several strategic figures who worked on the campaign an emerging picture came through loud and clear: the strength of unity and the years it takes to build public trust.

So how did the Connolly campaign win? Was it serendipity or strategy? Undoubtably the left were shaken by the losses incurred in Ireland’s 2024 general election. It came as a shock because many believed the messaging had been on point and relevant to the electorate. However, just like in the UK, the Irish media have powerful people influencing the headlines and it certainly isn’t in the left’s favour.

Sinn Fein had been confident it would form a government and was left reeling when this failed to materialise. Sadly, left parties that move to the right in attempt to appease the middle end up falling through the cracks.

This was a hard lesson to learn and after licking their wounds there was a unanimous desire to move on and evolve rather than implode in a cesspit of bitterness and finger-pointing.

Tantamount to the presiding ingrained political instinct among Irish culture, people gathered together and looked towards the greater good. Admirably, egos were put aside and honest conversations took place. “We can’t go on like this, we will never have a left government again if we don’t change tack.” On this basis a blueprint for a future vision was born.

We all know politics is a numbers game, good policies alone won’t get a candidate over the line — there has to be clear strategy in place that fits together all the pieces. It was apparent that the market for left parties in Ireland was quite saturated, by remaining disjointed it only served to split the vote.

There was a general consensus that Connolly was in a unique position to galvanise support from all left-leaning and progressive parties in a way that no other candidate could have. A former Labour MP who had become an independent out of moral integrity, her values have been long known and respected. This was no fly-by-night; people knew what was on the tin because the label had been clear for years.

Connolly has an intelligent and considered way about her. She is trustworthy, steadfast and calm, with an almost a matriarchal aura. In other words, a very safe pair of hands. This is exactly what Ireland needed after years of turmoil. There was no-one else that could match Connolly’s credentials and on this basis, Sinn Fein agreed not to field a candidate. This was a game changer.

Because Connolly’s views have been known for years the campaign wasn’t starting from ground zero, just building on existing principles. The media had a harder time at trying to discredit her because of this.

Whenever a smear tactic was employed Connolly calmly and firmly stood her ground and denounced all attempts to discredit her. Her clarity of thought and refusal to kowtow and buckle under pressure served her well. By solidifying her resolve she shored up support from across the board.

Social media played a huge role in getting out messages that traditional media wouldn’t print, despite the fact that Connolly featured in very few social media posts personally. It’s just isn’t her bag and this is OK. It’s much better to be authentic.

The genius workaround for this lack of social media visibility was to get other people to talk about Connolly and why they supported her, en masse. It worked. Arguably, other people’s endorsements resonate greater authenticity than self-promotion. Flashy tactics don’t sit well within the Irish psyche.

We here in Britain are far too gullible and forgiving of ego-centric personalities, to our detriment.

What has struck me most about Irish politics is the level of political knowledge and engagement, not just among politicians and those who work with them, but regular people. There is a questioning, probing and quest for knowledge that doesn’t exist to the same extent over here.

Is it due to Ireland’s political history and fight against imperialism? Is it because of an education system where critical thinking is actively encouraged? Whatever the reason, politics in Ireland seems to be a lot more mature than in Britain, more insightful and more progressive which is why I think we can learn a lot from them in the shared battles against plutocracy we all face today.

Of course, Connolly’s win is just the beginning. As president she won’t be able to change much overnight, but what she has done is change the dynamics of the conversation.

The election of Connolly has set the path of change, as an example of when egos are put aside and people work together for the greater good.

As one astute campaign team member commented: “How you build a party and a movement is a reflection of how you will govern.” Let that be a lesson to all of us.

There is so much the left can learn from Ireland. By taking time to reflect and concede a different tack is essential, not for the benefit of ourselves but for those who we serve, our communities.

In Britain we often overlook what is there in front of our noses as we lurch from one crisis to another, perpetually firefighting without any plan for looking ahead and applying strategic initiative. By this I mean applying a proper unified vision, not one through the macular prism of minor differing ideologies.

This is not the time for the indulgence of rose-tinted spectacles.

This country is in a mess and we need to get our act together, be organised, put aside our differences and offer solid solutions, tangible support in our communities and a glimmer of hope in what has been an endlessly dark tunnel of decline.

As we teeter on the verge of a new left dawn, with the founding conference of Your Party due to take place this weekend, my stomach is in knots after I hear of one squabble after another.

Do those involved understand what is at stake? Do they have any idea how all this infighting is sickening to those who are really suffering, the very people they claim to want to support? This needs to stop, it is serving no-one.  

How many of those squabbling are disabled, unemployed, in insecure employment, up to their eyeballs in debt, using foodbanks, facing homelessness, without medical care, without heating, living in squalor, on the scrapheap and without any hope for the future?

How many people in such circumstances have the luxury of being able to attend this founding conference, or give up hours of free time working for free?

The message is coming through loud and clear, Your Party needs to see outside the bubble.

A truly inspiring and democratic party needs to get things done, lift people up, provide opportunity and put inclusion at the heart of everything, so that together we can win.

The conference has the opportunity to be a force of good, just like Jeremy’s election campaign. Let us not degrade ourselves by descending into chaos. Let’s be the force of good and not destruction. Let’s see the bigger picture and work together. Let’s not let people down who really need our help.