The problems of an unreconstructed republican

In 1977 I was lucky enough to get hold of two tickets to the Centre Court for the women's singles final between Virginia Wade and Betty Stove of the Netherlands. The Queen, unusually for her, because she has made no secret of the fact that tennis bores her, was also present for the occasion. Also present was my friend Ann Roberts, an Irishwoman from Derry ( I refuse to call that town by its ridiculous current name of "Derry/Londonderry", a pathetic term that tries to appease everyone but ends up pleasing no one) who having seen at first hand the way the gerrymandered majority protestant administration discriminated against the catholic population, denying them the best jobs, appropriating the best land and so on, was not likely to be well disposed to the figurehead of the British state. So when it came to the point where the crowd stood to sing the National Anthem, Ann remained sitting, and silent. As a gesture of solidarity to my friend, I did the same. I will never forget the level of unspoken hostility and, well, sheer hatred, that our little protest provoked. As it became clear there were two people refusing to stand and sing, people began to shoot angry glances in our direction; a crescendo of furious murmuring rose around us, until I honestly thought I and perhaps my companion also would be frogmarched outside and be beaten to bloody pulps.

Fortunately the moment passed and we all settled down to watch the thrilling events of that day unfold. Naturally we were ostracised by our fellow tennis fans,which didn't matter as English people who don't know each other rarely speak anyway. But the reaction that our actions brought about bit deeply into my consciousness. Something not wholly dissimilar happened to JC last week when he refused to sing the words of our National Anthem. The right wing media were on him in a flash; even his own colleagues had to draw him aside and warn him not to repeat such an unpatriotic act before the eyes of the world. I feel for him. Jeremy Corbyn comes from a lifetime's commitment to republicanism, and old habits die hard. But change he must, if he is to have any chance of taking the Labour Party to success in 2020. It's all very well to stand on the fringes of mainstream politics and hold views like his, but now he finds himself close to the heart of power: a member of the Privy Council and potential Prime Minister. Jeremy is going to have to learn the subtle art of compromise. My only fear is that he may have to compromise too much, and thereby lose the support of the very people who voted him into power in the first place. Suddenly the nation is saying things like "maybe nationalising the railways isn't such a bad idea after all" and even "do we really need that Trident thing in the world we now inhabit?".

So, Jeremy, in some areas the nation may want you to moderate your views. But not too much. We want you to change the face of British politics. We want you and your team to make this country a fairer place to live in, where the super-rich are taxed according their vast wealth and the poorest are helped out of the poverty trap. We believe you can do it, so don't shrink from your gargantuan task, even if you might have to mouth the words of God Save the Queen every now and then.