what's the biggest issue for the UK for this generation at least? Brexit. What questions had Corb asked the PM about this? How is the govt being held to account? Meanwhile the Mail and the right drive for a hard exit. What's Lab policy?
You'd almost think that the Tory party, knowing that Brexit was a weak issue for them, could create a massive diversion by throwing chaff in the air with the simple mention of the phrase "grammar schools" which nobody actually has any intention of doing (so little intention of doing that that haven't even Briefed the PM on it) but gets everyone talking about Diane Abbott again.
So... anyway... all this is academic really. I think its safe to assume that:
a) Jezza is going to walk it at the weekend.
b) Momentum will eagerly set about purging the party of anyone who isn't a barking mad Trot, and who doesn't regard Guardian writers as rabidly right wing and part of a conspiracy against the glorious leader
c) Anyone to the right of Lenin will either sulk on the backbenches, until the purge reaches them, or leave in exasperation at the lunatics who have successfully taken over the asylum
d) Now, thanks to Comrade Jezzas 'Democratic Revolution, with [s]communist fruitloops[/s] Momentum members effectively dictating policy, the labour party stands on a platform of a free gold-plated unicorn for every public sector worker, the complete disbandment of all the armed forces to be replaced by anger management classes involving ethnic folk dancing, all electricity to be developed by coal within 12 months, and nationalisation of everything including the reintroduction of steam trains.
Oh... the queen and royal family are to be deported and John Macdonnell to take over the palace, and turn it into the Ministry for Thought Correction.
All to be paid for by introducing a top rate of tax of 99.8%, and the imprisonment of anyone with assets of more than the price of an average family car.
So the only question is where will this leave the party? Given that their poll ratings in freefall anyway. I'm going to go with, by the time Theresa can no longer resist an election, Labour polling 18-20%, and becoming a minority party who will effectively cease to exist as a political force. You could argue that they have already.
So we end up with permeant Tory Rule, but Jeremy and chums still bizarrely regard this as a victory, as they get to be typical joyless lefties for ever and ever, and organise pointless protests about pretty much everything, involving placards and chanting slogans, while being totally ignored by anyone who's political opinions have actually survived contact with reality, and moved on since they started their A levels. Life is brilliant! For the now re-named Peoples Revolutionary Party anyway. There nothing so much fun as moaning.
Your predictions....?
I keep hearing this from you and others, but no one explains what the hell it means outside of being on the telly and being a bit shouty at PMQs
Giving the appearence of a credible alternative Govrnment so that when an election comes the voters believe you could run the country.
Ed Balls put it very succinctly, having been in Government then being in oppostion from 2010-15 was very hard as you can do so little, its essential to win power
@dazh the other parties are smart enough (as where Labour for decades) to avoid the situation where people can just sign up for £3-25 and immediately impact leadership election and policy. What is happening is a massive hijack.
Cheer up Binns, have a biscuit....
To be honest Hurty, I'm now totally resigned to the fact that there will be a Tory governemnt for ever, and we might as well all just accept that, and get on with it by budgeting for things like when they privatise air (next May)
Welcome back Binners 🙂
Corbyn will win
Conference will be interesting, lots of preaching about disgusting inequality, resolutions on Israel
Compulsory reselection of MPs in 2020
Modest return to Shadow Cabinet by a portion of recent resigners. Insufficient MPs to fill all jobs so double-hatting and very inexperiened MPs in headline positions. More Diane Abbott.
Momentum takeover / Stanlist coup at local party level
Labour lurch from one disaster to another to 2020 and stand on a radical manifesto
Comprehensively defeated with MPs reduced to 125
Momentum blame the media and the elite
Giving the appearence of a credible alternative Govrnment so that when an election comes the voters believe you could run the country.
I refer you back to my question earlier, which you've not answered. What have the majority of labour MPs done in the last year to demonstrate that they are a credible government in waiting?
It wont happen. Each party has there own Achilles Heel - for the Tories this remains Europe and the deep divide and mistrust is still very evident between Cabinet members. Of course, Labour are making it hard for themselves but again nothing new. Its history repeating itself. Politicians rarely learn.
We are left with the choice of who will do the least damage in power...a rather unsatisfactory position. But look across the world, this is not unique to the UK. People are desperate for ST fixes to the debt hangover even though they dont exist. Hence, the rise of lets blame foreigners - did I mention history repeating itself?
binners - Member
To be honest Hurty, I'm now totally resigned to the fact that there will be a Tory governemnt for ever, and we might as well all just accept that, and get on with it by budgeting for things like when they privatise air (next May)
to be honest I think that's innevitible
our population is ageing, , people become more right wing with age, coupled with that recent referendum to kick out all the young foreign types- infact Brexit is the perfect example of rose tinted nostalgia and xenophobia expressed politically. As they are increasingly unable to accept the world changing around them, these oldies will keep voting tory/ukip
Tom Watson wants to end the one-member one-vote system introduced by Ed Milliband
[url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-tom-watson-labour-party-leadership-latest-a7317706.html ]Indy[/url]
dragon - Member
Really? It clear we are coming out, that's a definite. But why rush it? It's going to takes ages of negotiations anyway, so 6 months to me in the grand scheme of things seems neither here nor there
Really, Oh [b]Brexit Means Brexit[/b], but what does Brexit mean, hard Brexit, Soft Brexit medium Brexit
the Tories/Labour/ The EU are just as confused as the rest of us, no wonder the EU want us to hurry up and declare we are leaving so they can nab all those juicy foreign manufacturers who want to stay in the single market.
the only thing certain about Brexit is that Liam Fox's resignation will be messy and humiliating, again
What have the majority of labour MPs done in the last year to demonstrate that they are a credible government in waiting?
Resisted a lurch to the left which makes the party unelectable. Made the very obvious statement via a vote of no-confidence that Corbyn is incompetant
Kimbers the EU wants us to hurry up as the uncertainty hurts them not least as it shows them to be powerless. We have voted Leave but they can't force us out. Every day they look powerless is a day when the eurosceptics throughout Europe get stronger.
Every day they look powerless is a day when the eurosceptics throughout Europe get stronger.
and our largest trading partner gets ever weaker
Kimbers the EU wants us to hurry up as the uncertainty hurts them not least as it shows them to be powerless. We have voted Leave but they can't force us out. Every day they look powerless is a day when the eurosceptics throughout Europe get stronger.
An excellent example of just how insular the Brexit thinking is - note the references to "them" and "us" and the negativity. BSers prefer a lose:lose scenario to one in which we continue to strive for the most mutually beneficial arrangement for all. It really is "Little Britain" 😯
Resisted a lurch to the left which makes the party unelectable. Made the very obvious statement via a vote of no-confidence that Corbyn is incompetant
And completely ignored the 1st rule of politics, that divided parties don't win power, no matter what else they do. When they can show that they're following this, they can talk about the other stuff. They can't go round lecturing people about being an effective opposition/govt in waiting when they spend more time campaigning against their own leadership than they do the tories.
their own leadership
Dazh - you might be missing the(ir) point. It's all about leadership or lack of it. It's not rocket science to realise that Jezza is ill-equipped for the specific role that he is occupying. The Emperor is not wearing any clothes and the crowd can see this.
It's all about leadership or lack of it. It's not rocket science to realise that Jezza is ill-equipped for the specific role that he is occupying.
No of course it's not. And for the most part I agree with the criticisms on his competence. My point though (at the risk of repeating it) is that his critics have completely shot themselves in the foot with the petulant and frankly incompetent way they've approached this. They don't have a leg to stand on as everything they accuse him of, they have demonstrated in spades themselves. The question now is what are they going to do this time? Are they going to continue with their petulant and self-defeating strategy of the past year, or are they going to act like grown-ups, accept the fact that for now they're on the losing side, and do all the things they say Corbyn should be doing?
I agree that this crisis is of the PLP's making. They could've recognised him as the person the party wanted and then worked on him to get him up to scratch and be the leader they wanted. Which would've won on two counts.
Perhaps there's a lack of senior figure with respect and influence in the party.
Perhaps there's a lack of senior figure with respect and influence in the party.
Well as has been said many times on this thread, the labour party is very good at trashing it's former leaders so it's hardly surprising this is the case. They could learn a lesson or two from the tories on this score.
@molgrips Corbyn was not the leader they wanted, even some who first nomintaed him didn't want him to win just "widen the debate". The PLP recognise that the more party policy becomes aligned with Corbyn the less electable they are.
They have - but the is no strength in depth at the moment is there? Smith is not the solution - that is as obvious as Corbyn. Hence the existential angst for the party.
There is a vacuum at its heart which has allowed the cuckoos to strike to the obvious dismay of parts of the party and the electorate. Without credible alternatives they are left to fill the void - this is true for [s]Militant[/s] Momentum [and at the wider level the Tories - hence the pain that you guys feel].
Well as has been said many times on this thread, the labour party is very good at trashing it's former leaders so it's hardly surprising this is the case. They could learn a lesson or two from the tories on this score.
did u see what they just did to cameron!
Well as has been said many times on this thread, the labour party is very good at trashing it's former leaders so it's hardly surprising this is the case. They could learn a lesson or two from the tories on this score.
The Tories dispose of their leaders with a degree of ruthlessness, including their immediate airbrushing from history*, that a communist polit bureau would look at enviously.
David who?
*with the exception of her-who-must-be-exalted of course
Corbyn was not the leader they wanted
Again this just highlights the arrogance and complete detachment from the party they claim to represent. They knew the rules, and the fact that they monumentally f***** up is completely irrelevant. They don't have to sing Corbyn's praises from the rooftops, but they do have to accept the reality of the current situation, and work in a constructive and transparent way in the interests of all the party. In a nutshell, they should do the jobs they were elected to do, which is represent constituents on behalf of the labour party, in a way that respects and adheres to the rules and traditions of the party. That's it basically, as THM says, not rocket science.
They knew the rules, and the fact that they monumentally f***** up is completely irrelevant.
On the contrary - it explains the mess that they now find themselves in.
Doing the jobs they were elected to do also requires effective leadership - you cannot isolate one from the other, no matter how hard each side try.
did u see what they just did to cameron!
The Tories dispose of their leaders with a degree of ruthlessness
And that's what I'm talking about. The tory party is ruled by backroom power brokers sat in gentlemen's clubs. The labour party doesn't have these as they routinely demonise and marginalise former leaders resulting in them having little future influence or interest in the party's affairs. Kinnock is a possible exception, and Brown shows signs of activism but other than that who is there to offer advice to current incumbents? Cameron may have been ruthlessly discarded, but in 10-20 years he'll have a lot of influence on future tory affairs.
I agree that this crisis is of the PLP's making. They could've recognised him as the person the party wanted and then worked on him to get him up to scratch and be the leader they wanted. Which would've won on two counts.
they tried, he was at best poor, at worst horrific, they then started resigning
the anti Corbyn MP's have been out manoeuvred, they should simply have declined to serve on the front bench because they want to focus on their constituency, when asked about JC and his views say "he has a mandate from the membership", and then gone about their constituency business. Once this embeds then set up a shadow whipping Whatsapp group and become the unofficial official opposition. Caroline Flint getting government bills amended is a exemplar model
stops the "civil war" and gives JC and co the time to disappear into an irrelevance as he fails to do his job and the mainstream media goes to the backbenches to get interviews and views
Perhaps there's a lack of senior figure with respect and influence in the party.
like Alan Johnson for example?
everybody loves Alan
does Alan love everybody?
Cameron may have been ruthlessly discarded, but in 10-20 years he'll have a lot of influence on future tory affairs.
about as much as John Major at best
Cameron will do his own thing and disappear from the Conservative Party
Seen elsewhere :
"Heartbreak at Momentum Kids as Sally, 5, says she wants to be a socialist when she grows up but is told she must pick one or the other."
Cameron will do his own thing and disappear from the Conservative Party
Yes he will do his own thing, he's abke as he achieved so much and led the party and government for 10 yeats. He'll remain a member and continue to be influential within the party.
John Major's "legacy" was signing idiotic Maastricht Treaty which fortunately now we are tearing up.
Happy International Day of Peace everybody.
There's a [s]slanging match[/s] started on 5 live between the 2 warring factions. The contributors, from Bolton, a constituancy labour must win to have the remotest hope of winning a GE, seem to fall into 2 distinct camps
1) long term passionate, Labour Party members, and life long Labour voters, all totally despairing of Comrade Jeremy and his mission of turning Labour from a political force into a totally unelectable bunch of lefty student placard wavers
and
2) idiots
"Heartbreak at Momentum Kids as Sally, 5, says she wants to be a socialist when she grows up but is told she must pick one or the other."
I was quite amused when someone just referred to Momentum Kids as Tumble Trots 😆
Tumble Trots 🙂
Panorama hit the nail on the head. Deselecting the only Labour MP South of London. The "I'm not an entryist" elected to
brighton leadership team who in 2015 stood as a candidate against Labour and who's objective is to "end Capitalism" - there's a vote loser right there. Labour Party standing on an end Capitalism platform will be decimated, my prediction of 125 seats in 2020 will be wildly optimisitc in that case
Speaking of legacys Ed Milliband's Tomb Stone is for the whole Labour Party, his leadership election reforms have killed the party as a credible national force. See below 84% of the £3-ers voted
for Corbyn
In last year's contest, 84% of the 105,598 registered supporters who paid £3 to vote backed Jeremy Corbyn.
This time around, they were asked to pay £25 to take part.
Despite the increased fee, 129,000 people are thought to have applied successfully for a one-off vote in the contest between Mr Corbyn and his challenger Owen Smith - the result of which will be announced on Saturday.
Registered supporters were given a say in the choice of leader as a result of changes brought in by Ed Miliband, and approved by the party in 2013, designed to open up the process to a wider audience.
Corbyn won a majority across all eligible voter sections FFS. Excluding the registered supporters wouldn't have changed anything.
Binners there was a quote somewhere that the Corbynistas don't want actually to win as winning meams being in power and that's elitist / bourgeoise. There is this ongoing dialogue that Corbyn doesn't actually want to win. It goes back to the message the long term Labour figures where giving last year, being surrounded by the cheering faithful andnspeaking of a socialist utopia - yup been there done that - it lead to nearly 2 decades in opposition and it was only the transformation by Kinnock and Blair that made them electable.
Lifer, Corbyn should never have been on the ballot as he did not have the minimum required support from the PLP. He was nominated to "widen the debate" (translates into "for a laugh"). He has never had the minimum required support from the PLP. What the whole fiasco shows is that the PLP are not fit to govern.
Those that care about the Labour Party are rightly very worried. As Hove MP said it's quite possible evryone goes over the cliff edge, not just one faction but both.
Very very troubling times for Labour.
Corbyn won a majority across all eligible voter sections FFS. Excluding the registered supporters wouldn't have changed anything.
So are you saying that The £3 I spent last year was wasted?
Because I reckon it's given me more entertainment than any other way I could have spent it 😀
(Edit: although obviously I massively regret it now as I realise that I was naive, and that I'm now really, really frightened of Corbyn because he might deliver a landslide labour victory, etc.)
If he does win a GE, I will piss myself laughing at you lot 🙂
Funny, didn't you say exactly the same about Ed Miliband?
Corbyn won a majority across all eligible voter sections FFS. Excluding the registered supporters wouldn't have changed anything.
You mean the unions all voted for him?
Given the subsequent triumphalist, living-on-another-planet ramblings of Corbyn uber-cheerleaders like [url= http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/18/len-mccluskey-disloyal-mps-asking-for-it-will-be-held-to-account ]Len Mcklusky[/url], how do you think the fact that they will now be dictating policy is playing with the electorate at large? A sure-fire vote-winner?
This Saturday will mark the death of the Labour party as an actual parliamentary political party, to be replaced by a bunch of hopelessly naive, completely and totally unelectable protestors, who are more concerned about feeling the warm fuzzy glow of their own righteous, politically correct, indignation than they are about actually changing anything. Oh... and a bunch of trotskyite thugs, latched on, to try another one of their clueless, doomed attempts to usher in a peoples uprising/socialist revolution that was/is never, ever ever going to have the support of more than a handful of ultra lefty nutters.
Hope you're looking forward to permanent Tory rule? Because from Saturday onwards thats the only game in town
the ballot closes in 52 minutes.
Still haven't voted.
I don't really want to vote for either of them.
It's not like it'd make any difference anyway.
:/
If he does win a GE, I will piss myself laughing at you lot
I don't think thats something any of us need to concern ourselves with Molls. Me and Hora running on a joint ticket would have more chance of getting elected. 🙂
If he does win [s]a GE[/s] the Labour leadership election, I will piss myself laughing at you lot 😀
Labour party members experienced what their party "saviours" became/did and it left an unpalatable taste so no wonder they are voting for corbyn - if plp or other members don't like it they can go jump ship and swim with the lib dems