Former Conservative grandee Jeffrey Archer says he would vote for Corbyn if he lived in north
‘With half of what he says, I find myself agreeing 100 per cent,’ says novelist
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Former Conservative grandee Jeffery Archer has said he would vote for Jeremy Corbyn if he lived in the north.
The ex-Tory party deputy chair – also revealed that he agreed “100 per cent” with half of the Labour leader’s policies.
“I was travelling through the northwest of England recently, where I was giving a speech at a school, and as I looked out of the window it did make me think I’d vote for Corbyn if I lived up here,” he told the The Sunday Telegraph.
“I felt I had too much, that I’m over-privileged. And with half of what Corbyn says, I find myself agreeing with him 100 per cent. It’s the other half that’s the problem.”
It is not the first time the novelist – who was jailed for perjury in 2001 and now sits as an independent peer in the House of Lords – appears to have offered Corbyn his approval, albeit with qualifications.
In November last year, he told The Spectator: “I’m fairly convinced Corbyn will be prime minister.
“His problem is, in my view, Momentum,” he added at the time. “Because they’re genuinely dangerous. They will remove decent, middle-class thinkers out of the Labour party. They’ll just get rid of them in favour of communists.”
Elsewhere in the new interview, the 78-year-old weighed in on a string of current political issues, lavishing praise on Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg as “the best parliamentarian” he had seen but “the wrong man” to succeed Theresa May as party leader.
“I think he’d make a brilliant speaker of the House of Commons,” he said. “He has a lovely feel for the house, but not leader.”
Lord Archer also poured scorn on calls for a second ballot on Brexit, saying: “I voted Remain, and I lost, so I thoroughly disapprove of the idea of being asked to vote again.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments