Socialism and Great Britain have never been on good terms. The reason seems to be that the British think quite well of their country. The national sense of humor tends to make them take things as they find them. By and large, socialists have got nowhere much because they present one or another foreign or eccentric model of society as their ideal. For years, left-wingers have been putting themselves in the margin by preaching for change and revolution that nobody except other left-wingers really want. The Labour Party had skillfully kept in check its undertow of such individuals until Ed Miliband became its leader.

Too high on socialist theory to have the common touch, he lost the last election handily, and resigned.

The Labour Party, it might be thought, would choose a successor able to define the purpose of a left-wing party today. Such a person appears not to exist. Instead, Jeremy Corbyn emerges as the front-runner. A veteran backbench member of Parliament, he is not just a standing example of the doctrinaire socialist but a parody of one. He would like to replace the monarchy with a republic, abolish Trident submarine program and nuclear defense, do away with austerity, and enforce equality through taxation.

He has spoken up for Irish terrorism, for Hamas, and Hezbollah. Trade unions, Labor MP,s and party loyalists declare for him, and polls show him far in the lead over rivals. Tony Blair said that anyone whose heart was for Corbyn needs a transplant — which was doing Corbyn a big favor, so unpopular is Blair. Re-enforcement of a rejected ideology is an extraordinary phenomenon. If Corbyn were to be successful, it would prove that the British are no longer to be found in Britain.