Win or lose, Jeremy Corbyn has already changed the rules of the game | Seumas Milne

In six weeks, Labour’s outsider has forced anti-austerity on to the agenda and created a national movement

The media and the political class can hardly contain themselves. What’s happening in the Labour party should simply not be happening. It’s suicidal, puerile, madness, self-mutilation, narcissistic, an emotional spasm and, in the words of one Tory cabinet member, a “potential catastrophe for Britain”.

But Jeremy Corbyn’s runaway leadership campaign shows little sign of flagging. In fact, the more he’s attacked and derided, the more support he attracts. It’s an extraordinary example of how utterly unpredictable politics can be. In the aftermath of the general election, Corbyn’s name was barely mentioned as a possible candidate, as Labour’s leaders lurched to the right.

He may not be able to match Podemos’s Pablo Iglesias for charisma, but he’s transparently honest and unspun

Related: Why Labour should end the madness and elect Yvette Cooper | Alan Johnson

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