J.K Rowling's Not-So-Magical Political Commentary

What springs to mind when you think of J.K. Rowling? Her international success as an author, her contributions to modern pop culture, her millionaire status? Her political commentary…perhaps not. There’s a reason Rowling’s years in the spotlight haven’t seen her deemed the political voice of a generation – and if you take one look at her Twitter account, you’ll understand why. Rowling’s hot takes on the UK’s upcoming general election are more fantastical than her magical wizarding world.

Most are familiar with Rowling’s heart wrenching journey to success. A victim of domestic violence, she raised her daughter single-handedly while battling depression, earning just £69 a week from unemployment allowance. She wrote the Harry Potter books in coffee shops around Edinburgh to escape the freezing conditions of her flat, and ultimately caught the eye of publishers with her now-iconic tales of witches and wizards.

Having lived through such struggle, you’d expect J.K. Rowling to empathise with those currently in a similar situation. With 1,182,954 people resorting to food banks and an estimated thousands of welfare-related deaths last year, you’d imagine Rowling would be fervently anti-Conservative. As a domestic violence victim, perhaps reports that two thirds of women’s refuge centres are facing closure due to Tory cuts would lead her to campaign for Labour this time around. Apparently not. Just days after the announcement of a snap general election, Rowling took to Twitter stating: “Election 2017: what should you do if you support Labour but can'tstand Jeremy Corbyn?”

That question can be answered in two words – vote Labour. It’s that simple.

This isn’t the first-time Rowling has blasted Corbyn to her 10 million Twitter followers though. When he was first elected as party leader, she called his supporters “utterly deluded”and deemed him “unelectable”. While polls and right wing media outlets have consistently claimed that Jeremy Corbyn can’t be Prime Minister, the irony is that Rowling has outright stated multiple times that she wants a Labour government. By constantly repeating anti-Corbyn sentiments, she is feeding the Conservative campaign. It’s more illogical than a seventeen-year-old school-boy being told to lead an army against the evilest wizard in the world, and winning because he has a magical scar.

If Rowling thinks Corbyn is unelectable, she should campaign for him. With her huge social media following and never-ending media attention, she could have some genuine influence. However, she’s instead choosing to continue her Twitter campaign of hatred against a man who wants the same things she does, meanwhile helping the Conservatives secure what could be one of their biggest wins in recent history.

With mere weeks to go until the election, what exactly does Rowling think she’s going to achieve by berating the leader of the party she actually supports? Let’s not kid ourselves into thinking the UK offers anything but a two-party system. There’s no real alternative to Labour. The Liberal Democrats’ campaign is likely to be effected by leader Tim Farron’s alleged belief that homosexual relationships are sinful, not that they could ever achieve a majority anyway. Rowling tweeted a link to an article showing how to tactically vote against the Conservatives without voting for Labour, which may lead to some gains for smaller parties, but ultimately will split the left’s voting and allow a Tory majority.

For somebody who agrees with Labour’s values and policies, holding a grudge against their leader in the run up to such an important election is plain irresponsible. Maybe developing such an elaborate fantasy world for 20 years has messed with Rowling’s perception of reality. Maybe she thinks everything is as black and white as a fight between good and evil. Maybe she thinks we’re not electing MPs for Westminster, but the Ministry of Magic. I’m sorry Joanne, but Dumbledore isn’t going to fly down on a Hippogriff on election day to prevent Brexit and five more years of austerity measures.

As a child of the Harry Potter generation, I grew up loving everything J.K. Rowling stood for. When I got older, her personal story inspired me. She was a victim of harsh Tory policies for years, but despite all odds overcame it by using the power of her imagination and writing prowess. Seeing her using her platform now, to feed the right-wing narrative that Corbyn can never win, seems reckless and ugly.

The NHS, women, refugees, the disabled, the poor, the young and the elderly, will suffer further cuts and consequences under another Tory government. J.K. Rowling can claim to support those effected by austerity all she likes, but actions speak louder than words. I suppose she doesn’t have to worry too much about the effects of Tory policy anymore though. Ah, to be a millionaire.