Informal message of support sent from one transformational Labour leader to another two weeks before New Zealand election

Jacindamania spreads as Jeremy Corbyn urges New Zealand's Ardern to 'do it for us'

Jeremy Corbyn has wished New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, a fellow Labour opposition leader, “all the best” in the coming election, after apparently being accosted on the street by a smartphone-wielding fan of Ardern.

A nine-second video clip features the UK politician saying he “looks forward to seeing her elected” before the unidentified New Zealand woman questioning him points out – perhaps unnecessarily – who he is. (“That’s Jeremy Corbyn, Jacinda!”)

The rest goes something like this:

Corbyn: “Jacinda all the best in the election, make sure you do it ...”

Joyful woman: “Woohoo!”

Corbyn: “... for all of us.” [Raises eyebrows].

Joyful woman: “Yay!”

The supportive message was endorsed by Ardern, who posted the message on Facebook under the caption: “A friend had a friend who ran into a Labour friend in London. Thanks Jeremy. Giving it our all.”

Since being elected to lead New Zealand Labour last month, Ardern – the party’s youngest ever leader – has enjoyed a wave of popular support labelled “Jacindamania” that has transformed the run-up to the election in two weeks’ time.

New Zealand gripped by 'Jacindamania' as new Labour leader soars in polls Read more

Last week polling put Labour ahead of the incumbent National party for the first time in over a decade, with a resurgent opposition under Ardern up from 26% to 43%. National was on 41%.

The ballooning levels of excitement over Ardern’s invigorating leadership of the formerly morose Labour party have been compared to Corbyn’s “youthquake”, which saw Britain’s Labour party experience a surge of support from young voters in the recent general election.

Political commentator Bryce Edwards said last month: “At this point the Labour party seems to have gone from a grey, old party with a lot of doom and gloom about them, to a party of Corbynesque excitement; and similar support,” referring to the unexpectedly strong electoral showing in the UK.

The two leaders also share an informal, approachable political style which is being hailed as a way forward, and has proved resoundingly popular with women and the young.

Like Corbyn, Ardern became active in politics from a young age, joining the labour party at 17 before moving into politics full-time when she was elected as a Labour MP in 2008.