So what?
Newly elected leader appears in the media SHOKKA?
No one cares about Toddy O'Sullivan, socialist ideology from the 1980's or the wurkin' man as it is now 2023.
Mick Barry is just a student union leader type politician mouthpiece who will never ever have to make a hard decision affecting anybody anyway.
He keeps getting elected despite that. There used be a fairly dependable seat for Labour north of the river but they just don't have a prayer under their currently toxic leadership and policies this last decade. You can deride him all you like but MB keeps getting re-elected and Labour don't have anyone to take it from him.
And as for your "just a student union leader type politician mouthpiece" previous leaders of the Labour Party like Rabid Pat and Eamon Gilmore were head honchos of their Students Union.
GoWanYaPity