Jeremy Corbyn’s surge can be at the heart of a winning coalition | Seumas Milne

A democratic eruption is transforming Labour. If it continues, it can change the electoral landscape too

What is taking place in the Labour party is a democratic explosion unprecedented in British political history. Last week more than 168,000 registered to vote in Labour’s leadership election – on one day. About 400,000 people have applied to join Labour as members or supporters since May, tripling the size of the party to more than 600,000.

Overwhelmingly, it’s the response to one candidate standing for the Labour leadership: the veteran backbench campaigner Jeremy Corbyn. When Tony Blair became Labour leader in 1994 he promised to recruit 1 million members, but never got much beyond 400,000. Corbyn has sailed past him in weeks.

Related: Jeremy Corbyn is most popular among voters from all parties, poll suggests

As each denunciation has failed to dent Corbyn’s lead, they have become more poisonous

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