Newsnight has released a clip of Jeremy Corbyn being interviewed by the BBC outside the Houses of Parliament in 1984. At the time, he was the hard-left MP for Islington North, and a member of the Socialist Campaign group. Of course, the interviewer’s focus was not on his politics – rather, it was on the fact that he was wearing a jumper knitted by his mum.
In the video, Corbyn takes some offence at the comments by Tory MPs about “Labour scruff”, quipping: “It’s not a fashion parade, it’s not a gentleman’s club, it’s not a banker’s institute, it’s a place where the people are represented,” before fat-shaming his Tory counterparts for their “large stomachs” and inability to say no to a free dinner. Incredible scenes.
Of course, he was right then and he’s right now. His shift from backbench agitator to gutsy frontrunner has shaken things up – and he has engaged young voters for the first time. We should judge him for that, or for having the lowest total expenses claim in the Commons (£8.95 for a printer cartridge) rather than for how he dresses.
But he has smartened up. A bit. There are still the Corbyn touches – the unruly hair, and shirts in non-committal shades of blah. But alongside the exposed vests – bought, he said, at a market stall for £1.50 a pop – there are also the Beckham baker caps, the colour-blocked sweatshirts and beige Harrington jackets. The change has been gradual but real. Still, he was and remains five-time winner of parliamentary beard of the year, and until that goes, he’ll always be Jeremy Corbyn, the man with no iron – and there’s no shame in that. He’s busy.
