John Harris

The under-30s are drawn to this Labour leadership contender by human factors: qualities that are as much about tone as content – and made a Tuesday night in Luton electric

Around once a year now, something bubbles to the surface that shows how broken mainstream politics has become. Sometimes these things endure; often they fizzle out. But from the brief season of Cleggmania, through the on-off rise of Ukip and the so-called “green surge”, to the great political reformation in Scotland, Britain is experiencing its own version of the tumult that has broken out all over Europe. A politics built around fortysomething career politicians and three parties that fixate on an illusory centre ground is in increasing trouble. Even if the Conservatives have enough support and strength of purpose to ride all this out (for now), the Labour establishment is being buffeted by winds that seem to grow more ferocious by the month.

Related: Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership bid has a momentum even he didn’t expect

Every anti-Corbyn intervention has only seemed to boost his support

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