Award-winning conscious rapper Akala has just come out as a Jeremy Corbyn supporter on Twitter. And he’s clearly excited about the prospect of the Labour Party leader becoming the next British prime minister.
I am not and probably never will be a Labour supporter. However I will be voting for the first time and I'll be voting for @jeremycorbyn
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
The magazine Hit The Floor has previously called Akala’s music the “brutally conscious history lesson that you never had”. And speaking recently, the rapper shared his concerns that the current British government is in a “Thatcher-like spiral”.
Explaining why he will vote for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party in the upcoming general election, he mentioned austerity, war, and the NHS. But simply speaking, he said:
But for the first time in my adult life there is a chance to elect someone I would consider a sane and decent human…
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
Akala’s reasoning
Corbyn’s consistent opposition to foreign military interventions was high on Akala’s list of reasons:
He has constantly voted/spoken against U.K. foreign aggression. This alone makes him the most electable politician we have ever had
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
I think it would be irresponsible of me to tell you don't vote when there is an openly anti-war candidate running that can win.
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
He did admit that Corbyn alone would not be able to fundamentally change the flawed economic and political system in the UK. But he insisted:
But anti austerity pro NHS and at least being openly ideologically opposed to U.K. empire is as good as we are ever likely to get.
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
He also pointed out that:
Homie @jeremycorbyn was anti-apartheid back when the Tories had Mandela down as a terrorist. Safe
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
It’s all about the policies
Akala also reminded his followers that elections should be about policies rather than personalities, insisting:
Bill Clinton and Obama were the most charismatic English speaking politicians of our generation and look at their policies/victims
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
Referring to Corbyn, he stressed:
Criticising him for not being 'charismatic' enough is dumb. Politics is about actual policies fam
— Akala (@akalamusic) April 21, 2017
In short, Akala doesn’t just think Corbyn is a “sane and decent human”. He also trusts the Labour leader to stand up for public services like the NHS, stand against failed neoliberal austerity, and oppose military interventions abroad.
Sounds like good reasoning to us.
Get Involved!
– Find out more about Akala in this 2016 interview. And check out his Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company
– Register to vote in the 8 June general election. If you don’t have a national insurance number, a 5 minute phone call on 0300 200 3500 will get it sent to you in ten days.
– Discuss the key policy issues with family members, colleagues and neighbours. And organise! Join (and participate in the activities of) a union, an activist group, and/or a political party.
– Also read more Canary articles on the 2017 general election.
Featured image via Ben Pugh/Flickr