Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Art and design
Government
Jeremy Corbyn’s bicycle Christmas card – too cool for Yule?Jeremy Corbyn Christmas card 2015.jpg

Jeremy Corbyn’s bicycle Christmas card – too cool for Yule?

Labour leader's festive message falls flat for some - while others look for hidden messages...
by Simon_MacMichael
Tue, Dec 15, 2015 21:04
13

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Christmas card depicts a snow coloured bicycle in front of a red telephone box – a nice, seasonal and non-denominational message, you might think, from the Islington North MP and Leader of the Opposition.

But as with his preference for two wheels as a way of getting round London, it’s an image that has attracted a fair bit of criticism both on social media and in the mainstream press.

A number of outlets, such as Telegraph.co.uk, pointed out that the stock image shown on the card was taken in 2009 (though Prime Minister David Cameron’s isn’t bang up to date either – it shows him and wife Samantha outside No 10 Downing Street the day after May’s general election.

Meanwhile, the Independent reports that one of the members of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet reacted to the card with the words, “What the fuck?”

The Guardian’s political editor Patrick Wintour – who has been a strong critic of the Labour leader – clearly couldn't resist sticking the boot in, parodying the card in a tweet.

Theo Bertram, a former advisor to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, noticed a hidden message in the card, however.

That theme was picked up by Mikey Smith in the Mirror, who suggested there could be as many as seven hidden messages in the card.

On the use of two locks, he said: “This is obviously a coded signal that Ed Miliband's pledge of a double lock on NHS funding is to make a return in Corbyn's manifesto.

“Or it could be a street crime thing. We're not 100 per cent sure.”

The reverse of the card gives a seasonal twist on Labour’s red rose logo, something that was welcomed by some.

Still, it makes a nice change from the typical party leaders’ Christmas cards that take the form of a portrait with family or spouse ... we’ll spare you those on the grounds of taste.

> Remarkable young cyclist helps PM switch on Number 10 Christmas tree lights (+ video)

Back to Corbyn’s card, it’s definitely got the chattering classes, well, chattering – even Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones has had a pop at deconstructing it (tongue firmly in cheek, of course – we hope).

Jeremy Corbyn
Labour Party
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

13 comments

Avatar
mike the bike | 8 years ago
0 likes

 

I love an underdog,  I always favour the little man, and cheers for David and boo-hiss to Goliath. And of course, anyone who cycles is halfway up my popularity poll from before the 'off'.

But JC as a potential prime minister?  I watched him a couple of weeks ago at PM's questions and he was woefully unprepared, hesitant and entirely lacking in confidence.  It saddens me to say I remain to be convinced.

But I quite like his Christmas card.

Avatar
Beatnik69 | 8 years ago
0 likes

"Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Christmas card depicts a snow coloured bicycle"

So white then?

Avatar
brooksby replied to Beatnik69 | 8 years ago
0 likes
Beatnik69 wrote:

"Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Christmas card depicts a snow coloured bicycle"

So white then?

Well, we all hope so, but...

Avatar
kitsunegari | 8 years ago
2 likes

It's not exactly the greatest photograph, and it's not taken from the best angle, but I think it's fine.

It's certainly got one thing over Camorons Christmas card, in that it hasn't got Camorons smug face on it!

Avatar
ibike | 8 years ago
5 likes

I think it's lovely!

Avatar
Dnnnnnn | 8 years ago
3 likes

I like it. It suggests he's staying home and taking a break for Christmas.

As with Ed Miliband, though, the media has it in for Corbyn. He can't win. I'm not unhappy about that but he deserves a fairer press IMO.

Avatar
belgravedave | 8 years ago
9 likes

Great card, The Torygraph would probably prefer one showing us bombing Syria and which cheers as you open it.

Avatar
bikebot replied to belgravedave | 8 years ago
2 likes
belgravedave wrote:

Great card, The Torygraph would probably prefer one showing us bombing Syria and which cheers as you open it.

The Daily Mail have a tri-fold card, so that when you open it women can flaunt their bikini bodies next to the greeting.

The Guardian send out a card with a request that maybe you'd like to give them some money for it.

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 8 years ago
0 likes

JC and his gang taking us back to the Winter of Discontent?

Too obvious?

Avatar
ragtag replied to Mungecrundle | 8 years ago
5 likes
Mungecrundle wrote:

JC and his gang taking us back to the Winter of Discontent?

Too obvious?

No, it will be George Osbourne that does that, as he axes another £150 million off your local councils budget. 

Avatar
jmaccelari | 8 years ago
15 likes

I reckon it's a really nice card. Bunch of prissy t***s complaining...

Avatar
Simon E replied to jmaccelari | 8 years ago
10 likes
jmaccelari wrote:

I reckon it's a really nice card. Bunch of prissy t***s complaining...

Yep. Any excuse to slag him off.

For the first time in decades the Labour party has elected a leader with a real conscience who isn't cowed by the need to act Tory-lite to appease tax-avoiding business leaders and the so-called 'middle class' (whatever that term means nowadays). This seriously irritates the Blairites and makes him a natural target for the vitriolic Tory press. As a result he cops sh*t for anything he says or does as well as the things he doesn't say or do. The fact that these desperate people write what they do speaks volumes about them.

Nice one Mr Corbyn. It may be too cool for some people but we all know that the humble bicycle rocks! wink

Avatar
belgravedave replied to Simon E | 8 years ago
5 likes
Simon E wrote:
jmaccelari wrote:

I reckon it's a really nice card. Bunch of prissy t***s complaining...

Yep. Any excuse to slag him off.

For the first time in decades the Labour party has elected a leader with a real conscience who isn't cowed by the need to act Tory-lite to appease tax-avoiding business leaders and the so-called 'middle class' (whatever that term means nowadays). This seriously irritates the Blairites and makes him a natural target for the vitriolic Tory press. As a result he cops sh*t for anything he says or does as well as the things he doesn't say or do. The fact that these desperate people write what they do speaks volumes about them.

Nice one Mr Corbyn. It may be too cool for some people but we all know that the humble bicycle rocks! wink

Well said.

Latest Comments