Looking for Populism in British Left Politics: An Intersectional, Feminist Perspective

The aim of this paper is to contribute to ongoing debates about the nature and status of populism, and to offer a feminist interrogation of contemporary left-wing politics in Britain in light of this concept. Whilst much ink has been spilled on the character and dangers of right-wing populism in Europe, left-wing forms of populism remain under-explored. Against this backdrop, this paper seeks to assess whether there is any truth to the claim being made by media and political pundits, such as Julian Baggini, Nick Cohen and Janan Ganesh, that the British left, especially under the auspices of Corbyn, has turned ‘populist’ and, if so, what is at stake for feminist politics in this move. To this end, the paper will first map the prevailing conceptions of populism and then go on to empirically examine the shifting landscape of left politics in the wake of Corbyn’s recent victory and the emergence of ‘Momentum’, a social movement that supported his leadership campaign and that now seeks to widen his appeal to the broader public. The paper argues that, depending on the definition being mobilized, the notion of ‘left-wing populism’ is in danger of being tautological and that more critical thought needs to be given to the way in which we define both ‘populism’ and ‘the left’ and the relationship between them. Moreover, it suggests that the attempt by scholars and media commentators to diminish the importance of the left-right distinction in light of this ‘populist insurgency’ is a politicized, disciplinary move that bodes badly for feminism. Lastly, it claims that making sense of Corbynism as a political and social movement is hindered rather than aided by the political and conceptual baggage attached to the notion of populism.