Jeremy Corbyn

He didn't sing the national anthem? Seriously? Who gives a *?! On the same day the Tories cut tax credits, so that the very poorest working families in the country, million s of them, will be even poorer. Lets not talk about that though eh? Lets focus on whether some bloke recited some hymn to *ing serfdom! Get a grip FFS!!

Its going to be interesting with Corbyn at PMQ's. Its worth noting that the MP who got under Daves skin more effectively than anyone wa the Beast himself... Dennis Skinner.

Dave does not like being questioned by anyone, but when it comes from some uppity bloody lefty, who should know his place, he goes into a default setting. He can't help himself. He gets all haughty, and 'Flashman' and starts loftily putting the prole in his place. Much to the delight of the braying toffs element of his back-benches.

He's been warned about doing this repeatedly by his media trainers, as it does not play well with middle England, but he really can't help himself. He's conditioned.

Corbyn could very well provoke the same reaction

I graciously accede the point.

"Regressive, simple-minded and unpopular" might be nearer the mark.

The idea that government can organise everybody, provide for everything and regulate us like his comrade The Great Leader managed so successfully to do in Venezuela. No thanks.

However - I don't stand for the royal anachronism or sing the National Disgrace either. Perhaps I should be "taken out and shot"...

And that was a WW2 veteran. One might ask what he thought he was trying to achieve, fighting Nazis like that.

He didn't sing the national anthem? Seriously? Who gives a ****?

On the same day the Tories cut tax credits, so that the very poorest working families in the country, million s of them, will be even poorer. Lets not talk about that though eh?

What better demonstration could there be that winning elections, and electing a leader who can win elections, is more important than navel gazing protest politics?

Swearing the oath is parliament isn't a big deal for a republican anyway IMO. Swearing loyalty to the queen as head as state while believing that in the future we should have an elected head of state.

And you can affirm rather than swear.

I (name of Member) do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law.

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/swearingin/#jump-link-1

Mr Woppit - Member

"Regressive, simple-minded and unpopular" might be nearer the mark.

The idea that government can organise everybody, provide for everything and regulate us like his comrade The Great Leader managed so successfully to do in Venezuela. No thanks.

However - I don't stand for the royal anachronism or sing the National Disgrace either. Perhaps I should be "taken out and shot"...

And that was a WW2 veteran. One might ask what he thought he was trying to achieve, fighting Nazis like that.

I don't think there's anything in there that provides the basis for sensible debate. Although let's be honest the last thing Corbyn's opponents want is sensible debate.

On the question of Corbyn not singing 'God Save The Queen' I think we can all agree that had he sung it he would have been ridiculed, mocked, and denounced as a hypocrite, right across the media.

Singing it or not singing it would not have made one iota of difference, he would still have been slagged-off.

The problem isn't the national anthem per se, the problem for Corbyn is that instead of getting out his message about the Tories cutting benefits etc. the headline news is about the national anthem. Some advice for him pick your battles.

Some advice for him pick your battles.

This isn't a battle, it's an ambush.

the problem for Corbyn is that instead of getting out his message about the Tories cutting benefits etc. the headline news is about the national anthem. Some advice for him pick your battles.

The alternative headline would have been : "Comrade Corbyn Sings 'God Save The Queen'".

His message about the Tories cutting benefits etc. would have been ignored.

Singing it or not singing it would not have made one iota of difference, he would still have been slagged-off.

This!

The right wing press have gone into some type of feeding frenzy. This is because Tory central office believe the best strategy is to damage him personally, like they did to Ed, before he gets to start espousing policies that might actually prove popular with the electorate, like... oh i don't know... not instigating policies that will make the stressed miserable lives of the working poor even worse, and plunging hundreds of thousands of kids into poverty. What we actually should have been talking about yesterday 🙄

I don't think there's anything in there that provides the basis for sensible debate.

I'll alert the media.

I'll alert the media.

You're right Woppit......there's nothing newsworthy with regards to your comments not providing the basis for sensible debate 🙂

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This is because Tory central office believe the best strategy is to damage him personally

Actually this is quite the opposite of their strategy, their attack is on the Labour party, they want to show they are unfit for government because they elected him.

binners - Member
The right wing press have gone into some type of feeding frenzy...

They will fail.

Corbyn has tapped into the same source of support as the SNP did. Using a more direct form of public contact through social media and public meetings. The people who use it probably do not listen to the mainstream media anymore.

He certainly didn't get elected leader of the Labour party because of the unswerving support of the Daily Mail, did he?

(Or any of the other mainstream media, come to think of it).

The right wing press have gone into some type of feeding frenzy

Alternatively, [url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11866883/There-are-countless-sworn-assassins-waiting-to-knife-Jeremy-Corbyn-in-the-back.-Is-he-ready-for-them.html ]something more pragmatic from William Hague.[/url]

Actually this is quite the opposite of their strategy, their attack is on the Labour party, they want to show they are unfit for government because they elected him.

Thats the long term strategy. Short term they have to damage him personally before he gets to say anything people might like. Then, once he's damaged goods, then they cement him in peoples minds as representing the whole party.

I'd suggest that if failing to sing the national anthem is the best they can come up with in order to do this, then I think they're going to struggle. And its a sign that, despite the digging they'll have clearly been doing, they can't come up with anything of any susbstance.

epicyclo - i agree with you. I'm hoping the Tory party fail to get how much the game has changed to the same degree that labour did with the SNP in Scotland

Are people really still going to claim our national media isn't horrifically biased?

[img] [/img]

No mention whatsoever of the fact that our MPs have just voted in draconian anti-trade union laws and cut £1300 a year from the poorest [b]working[/b] families.

they want to show they are unfit for government because they elected him.

That's right..... the bastards didn't elect the candidate that the Tory press preferred !

Remind me again who that was ....... it was the one which Tony Blair backed wasn't it.......Liz Kendall ?

Now offering this woman as the next Labour Prime Minister would have proved that Labour were 'fit for government' eh mefty ?

[img] [/img]

Proper prime ministerial material!

yup Tories shafting the poor working class, while their media chums get everyone whipped up about a naff song

on the plus side hes only been in the job 5 mins and hes started a debate about our dreary anachronistic national anthem

no wonder the establishment are scared of him!

Interesting article from Hague. He's right, and he's clearly got the experience of being in a similar position, but he's not the same man as Corbyn.

Fingers crossed that this can make a difference. It'll require a lot of wisdom from JC, let's hope he can do it.

Presumably you've included that photo because you think her expression is somehow indicative of her inability to lead.

And it's ME who doesn't make "serious" points?

No mention whatsoever of the fact that our MPs have just voted in draconian anti-trade union laws and cut £1300 a year from the poorest working families.

It's covered by the BBC, Guardian, Herald, Independent and FT for starters, maybe you just can't use Google?

Why on earth would it be "somehow indicative of her inability to lead" Woppit?

I could have chosen a photo of her looking silly if I had wanted to, instead I chose one of her looking perfectly normal.

I thought I would include a pic just to remind everyone who Tony Blair's** choice was, everyone seems to have forgotten her. And with 4.5% of the vote that's not entirely surprising.

EDIT : ** And the Tory press.

It's covered by the BBC, Guardian, Herald, Independent and FT for starters, maybe you just can't use Google?

I'm talking about the headlines and what they've chosen to focus on on the front pages, obviously. 🙄

Do you think that whether or not Corbyn sung the national anthem is the most important thing happening in Britain right now?

So is PMQ's going to be live on this site then:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/september/prime-ministers-questions-16-september-2015/

dragon - Member - Quote

No mention whatsoever of the fact that our MPs have just voted in draconian anti-trade union laws and cut £1300 a year from the poorest working families.

It's covered by the BBC, Guardian, Herald, Independent and FT for starters, maybe you just can't use Google?

Not on the front page it isn't.

EDIT: Snap

Now offering this woman as the next Labour Prime Minister would have proved that Labour were 'fit for government' eh mefty ?

I'm merely stating their strategy as I understand it - I am not convinced that Kendall would have made a better leader, she seemed to run of steam. I think Cooper once she stopped being cautious looked quite impressive, but the horse had bolted. The Tories would have had lines of attack against all of them, but there is no doubt Corbyn is the easiest. His extraordinary unwillingness to seek some sort of modus vivendi with the media is only going to make it easier.

Not on the front page it isn't.

Well that's Corbyn's fault. The Guardian had a good article on how his PR was poor and he was not helping the papers as they didn't know what he was going to say, so could write any stories about it. Likewise look at the Independent headline, says it all.

At present the Labour party while overall anti the bill don't seem to have a unified response there are different messages going out to different media outlets, and you still wonder why the concentrate on the National Anthem?

At present the Labour party while overall anti the bill don't seem to have a unified response there are different messages going out to different media outlets, [b]and you still wonder why the concentrate on the National Anthem?[/b]

I'm not wondering at all.

The Tories would have had lines of attack against all of them, but there is no doubt Corbyn is the easiest.

You're having a laugh mefty........you can't be serious, surely ?

Liz Kendall with lots of smiles for the camera and no policies would have been a pushover for the Tories.

In contrast Corbyn is a real problem, hence the early character assassination attack on the man who doesn't sing God Save The Queen, is a threat to the security of the nation, the economy, and, in true fascist-style rhetoric, "the family".

Well that's Corbyn's fault.

Wow. You do hear some laughable nonsense on here but some people are really excelling themselves at the moment.

Well that's Corbyn's fault.

For not taking full advantage of the fair, unbiased media platform offered by the Sun, Mail, Torygraph and Times, I presume?

binners - Member

For not taking full advantage of the fair, unbiased media platform offered by the Sun, Mail, Torygraph and Times, I presume?

Nah, for not being a right winger. That's Fair (tm David Cameron), everyone can have an equal and unbiased voice in the press as long as they're saying the right thing. If not, that's obviously their fault.

Not singing the National Anthem is the least of his problems if this Michael Crick tweet is true

BBC cameraman in hospital last night with neck and face injuries after Corbyn aide allegedly assaulted him as Corbyn left his home yesterday

The "Corbyn aide" is apparently a driver supplied by the DfT.

I hope a lot of these papers will be surprised at how little a stuff the public give about him singing the NA.

What has disappointed me a lot during this last couple of months is the BBC. Someone really needs to tell them that they don't have to sell newspapers or advertising and there is nothing wrong with news that isn't sensationalist.

I can understand that they are feeling the pressure under this government, but I also think they are playing into their hands.

That widely-shared clip of Dennis Skinner was spot-on.

What has disappointed me a lot during this last couple of months is the BBC.

the BBC is the royal families personal PR machine so they are going to run with the "Corbs Snubbed the Queen" with all they've got.

What has disappointed me a lot during this last couple of months is the BBC. Someone really needs to tell them that they don't have to sell newspapers or advertising and there is nothing wrong with news that isn't sensationalist.

The BBC's charter is up for renewal. The Tories have let it be known in no uncertain terms, that as Murdochs little minions, their favoured option would be to break it up completely. Its worked. The BBC is obviously censoring itself, and being increasingly timid it its news output, and leaving the Mail etc to set the agenda, and the tone

hy on earth would it be "somehow indicative of her inability to lead" Woppit?

Disingenuous wriggle. The photo caption is clearly derisory of the ladies face. If that's all you meant, why didn't you just use her name? I call boorish sexism.

The BBC is obviously censoring itself, and being increasingly timid it its news output, and leaving the Mail etc to set the agenda, and the tone

You're having a laugh mefty........you can't be serious, surely ?

Yes, I am - I think either of the women would have been more difficult for Cameron because there is a view that has some currency that he has a woman problem.

Ernie, I think I have a reasonable understanding of your views and I respect you for them and the fact that you are a political grown up. I have even more respect for the fact that you get off your arse and do something about it rather than just pontificate on here. There is also no question that this is your moment, one I never saw coming, and you will no doubt make the most of it. However, I think (note this is an opinion) you will fail electorally because you are wrong.

I should add that there are quite a few areas that I am in agreement with you - you are very sound on equalities for instance.

@grum the party that won the election is implementing its manifesto commitments, is that really front page news ? I'd say not. Our welfare bill runs into £100bn plus, if that's not enough to support the weakest in society we are spending it wrong. Corbyn has brought these headlines on himself by calling terrorists friends and being anti-monarchy, it would be ridiculous not to comment on him not singing the national anthem when he is now leader of the Labour Party.

I second @mefty's comments above, @ernie this is your and the lefts opportunity to make a case to the electorate. We just differ in our expectations of the electorates response.

The Guardian had a good article on how his PR was poor and he

Our welfare bill runs into £100bn plus, if that's not enough to support the weakest in society we are spending it wrong.

Based on what? Because wooo big numbers? That sounds an awful lot like rhetoric rather than actual mathematics.

it would be ridiculous not to comment on him not singing the national anthem when he is now leader of the Labour Party.

Yeah... maybe as a footnote on page 12. But completely splashed across every front page? On the same day the Tories vote through the latest measure of their 'punish the poor for being poor' agenda? Hysterical diversionary nonsense! Whether he did or he didn't sing it, they'd all have carried the same front pages, enthusiastically wading into him, as either a traitor, or a hypocrite.

Thats their agenda. sent straight through from George Osbornes office

That sounds an awful lot like rhetoric rather than actual mathematics.

That's jambanomics.

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