Corbyn an “embarrassment” or “leading the way”: Your views on the latest hustings

During last week’s leadership Question Time debate in Oldham we asked readers for their reactions. Here are a pick of the contributions:

“It was so great to see Jeremy at last in action on the BBC so that BBC QT audience could at last see the man and why we support him. He was sincere and spoke with a conviction that none can doubt. It will go a long way to counter the mass media constant anti-JC [Jeremy Corbyn] propaganda and smear campaign by the media and the coup MPs who have been shown to be prepared to hijack serious issues in society such as anti-semitism, misogyny, and abuse and to twist these against Jeremy and this supporters to their own devious ends. Shame on them!” – Tiffany

“I must have seen a different debate, I thought Corbyn was an embarrassment living in a world of his own. A particular case being the ridiculous assertions that prior to the PLP resignations that Labour were equal in popularity with the Tories” – Clive

“Far from ‘running amok’, the Tories are trying to cover their flank. The tone is a lot more Major 1991 than Thatcher 1985. Despite no longer needing the Lib Dems, the government is being very careful not to sound radical or ideological. Corbyn is the only explanation that makes sense.

“I think it’s in the medium- to long-term interests of a cohesive Labour Party for a Corbynite platform to be given the chance to lose a General Election. In the unlikely chance that Corbyn can achieve the 10-12 per cent swing needed to form a government with English seats, all the realists and moderates eat humble pie and can try to get a place at the table formulating policy. If he loses badly–without being sabotaged by the Party’s centre and right–then his followers may be prompted to rethink, to draw up an offer that goes beyond young people, metropolitan elites and completely ‘core’ union and dyed-in-the-wool supporters.” – luckydipper

“There must be a realisation that a growing majority of the membership want Corbyn’s policies to be taken to the people in as forceful way as possible. Corbyn is leading the way not following the Tories. The polls will improve if Labour is united behind him and we will win the GE and stop the flow of votes to third parties. It is absolutely wrong for members of the PLP to stand for shadow cabinet if they are unwilling to support Corbyn’s policies”. – Simon

“The bottom line is Smith and the PLP know the British public would never vote to make Corbyn PM. Not in a million years. Corbyn and his fans don’t think that that’s the point. The losers will be the vulnerable, the poor, the young, and the forgotten as ever.” – Bergerac Red

“Smith lost when he started telling the audience they were wrong about what they wanted, and when he started his personal attacks. Ed Miliband would have done a better job than Smith last night.” – Jack-Hammer