The cosplay comment is particularly true. To anyone with eyes and a couple of brain cells Starmer is every bit the sharp suited, coiffured high-flying city lawyer, yet he pretends to be a man of the people because his parents were working class, as if that is all that is necessary. It's plain for anyone to see that someone from the directorial senior management class isn't a man of the people and has no idea about their lives or their concerns.
He'd be far better off admitting that he doesn't understand real people because he isn't one, and then doing everything he can to get out into communities to show people that he wants to correct that. And I'm talking about more than just showing up and asking a few questions, I'm talking about working on the ground, in foodbanks, soup kitchens, community projects, schools, hospitals, factories, and doing it properly without the media present.
Yep, that is what Boris had to do to get people backing the tory party. Couldn't keep him out of those soup kitchens.
Yep, that is what Boris had to do to get people backing the tory part
FFS he doesn't have to. He has an entire media industry at his disposal who have been pushing Boris as a jocular 'normal bloke' for over a decade. They don't even use his real name. Starmer has to do it the hard way, unless you think the media are suddenly going to start reporting things honestly?
The cosplay comment is bloody good to be fair but the problem is those pesky northerners didn't seem to think Corbyn represented their interests either... Getting him or any of his Marra's back ain't gonna work either.
PS I'm a genuine Northerner who voted for Corbyn twice and now have an ex-kipper for an MP... And I still get 'well Corbyn would have been worse than Boris' in the factory where I work.
Well, that Embery article is exactly what I predicted would be the talking point once the results were in… that success in winning in the major cities would itself be declared part of the problem. That Labour’s successes in the areas they do well in would be described as a tactical failure. What do these people want? For the major cities to have more Conservative majors and councils, so that those outside those regions can feel more connected with Labour?
FFS he doesn’t have to. He has an entire media industry at his disposal who have been pushing Boris as a jocular ‘normal bloke’ for over a decade. They don’t even use his real name. Starmer has to do it the hard way, unless you think the media are suddenly going to start reporting things honestly?
People happily vote for Johnson who is not in touch with 'real' people but won't do the same for Starmer. Have you thought that you have maybe just made that reason up on why Labour are not getting votes?
And I still get ‘well Corbyn would have been worse than Boris’ in the factory where I work.
Given the same pandemic to deal with they may well have been right. I wouldn't want Corbyn leading it anymore than I would want Johnson. Post pandemic would be another matter though.
Nail on the head.
He still groups the 2017 and 2019 manifestos, and the response to them, into one. He’s absolutely wrong there. The response to the two manifestos couldn’t have been more different. Still claiming that the 2019 polices were popular isn’t learning, is it. It’s still the ‘won the argument’ line, and that isn’t what happened.
As for saying he wouldn’t have supported government Covid measures, no, he wouldn’t have. Thank god he was out of the way when we needed people to come together and accept the difficult restrictions that would have been resisted in more normal times.
Generally though, that was a good interview with a past leader, he came across as very reasonable, and avoided the big elephant traps.
Corbyn would have listened to eg David King and the outcome could have been very different.
Then why did he keep voting against the measures needed to control the virus? (Measures that were often too little, too late, but he opposed even those).
So, Sadiq Khan almost certainly going to the second votes vs Sean Bailey in contention for London Mayor. That’d be a major loss for Labour, but even as we were voting and despite the fact we know nothing about Bailey we were asking ourselves what exactly has Khan done during his term? He’s been mostly under the radar with anything tangible.
Corbyn would probably have listened to the Guardian. After all the Guardian and its readers managed to convince him of the need for a second referendum.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/coronavirus-vaccine-delays-brexit-ema-expensive
what exactly has Khan done during his term?
Well when Corbyn was leader he was spending quite a bit of time attacking him.
Even if he scrapes in the mayoral election it will be an extremely bad result for him.
Sean Bailey was a very poor opponent. I got every indication that the Tories had accepted they would lose the London mayoral election and simply put up a token candidate. No major high profile Tory politician would have wanted to lose and be humiliated by Khan, as Zac Goldsmith was.
As London was overwhelming Remain they are going to struggle to blame Brexit.
How does that play out in wales, a country that voted out in HUGE numbers currently looks like its going to be Labour again.
Welsh Labour has mastered the art of managerial politics.
Their manifestos promise nothing much and they have few ambitions other than to keep things ticking along. This allows them to remain amorphous - representing different things to different people.
They retain support from traditional right-wing Brexit types as well as younger Corbyn inspired socialists.
Their brand is strong and binds them to families and communities who see themselves as belonging to the party. The leaders, like Drakeford, are avuncular, unambitious and try to avoid confrontations with Westminster. And they're generally well-liked.
They feel safe and familiar.
Sean Bailey was a very poor opponent
A quick wiki read means not much research is needed to find out how bad!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaun_Bailey_(AM)
So, Sadiq Khan almost certainly going to the second votes
Doesn’t it nearly always go to a second round, no matter how bad either of the candidates are for either of the main two parties? Always plenty of first round votes that go to alternative runner ups.
Not long ago opinion polls were showing a huge lead for Khan, more than 50% of Londoners said they would vote for him. So no, it wasn't necessarily expected to go to second choice.
The latest news is that Khan appears to have a 4 point lead, which is against all expectations.
When did it last not go to a second round? I mean, if I was in London, I’d be voting Green Party as first preference, Labour second, no matter how good the Labour candidate is. In polls I’d say I was fully behind Khan (and I am), but the voting system gives a chance for you to show support for a party and it’s core policies that might help push the eventual winner to consider those policies. Air quality in London is a big concern, using the voting system to help make that point seems wise. Others might want to give first preference to other alternatives for other reasons, despite knowing that their second preference for the Conservative or Labour candidate are what really matters when it comes to who will actually be mayor.
Well!
We just elected five labour county councillors in West Sussex.
Huge effort door knocking, leaflet dropping and generally very good people standing up for what they believe in.
Huge result, so proud.
https://twitter.com/amyhart1707/status/1391018983915204608?s=21
Having some policies would be a start.
Having some that the Tories wouldn't dare nick would be even better.
Moving Labour HQ, what about moving parliament? Pushing the federal idea? Scrapping the Lords. (+ Drain the swamp)
Free uni education, nationalise water & rail. Massive investment in green energy infrastructure.
A plan for greener travel including a nationwide (away from roads) cycle network.
4 day week
**** the flag shagging but show some personality and love for the country. I'm sure I read he played 5-a-side and was a genuine football fan?
Burnham speaks, and it's hugely encouraging..
"I have tried twice to be the leader and it’s never worked so I’m not under any illusions, if you like. It’s never worked for me in the past. I feel I’m in the best job in the world.
But I’m here to help the Labour party, if they need it."
Also he's doubling down on regional devolution which is exactly what I was hoping for. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he'll be labour's next PM sometime towards the end of the decade. I hope this time he can get it right instead of f****** it up like he's done in the past. Of course now I bet we'll see the London labour establishment briefing against him.
In some rare good news for Labour Andy Burnham has predictably walked it with a massive 67% of the vote.
If Starmer learns anything from that - and he needs to! - it's that Andy's popularity went through the roof when he squared up to the government for a fight on behalf of his constituents.
I know that all the focus groups tell Labour that people don't want a confrontational opposition during a pandemic. Andy's popularity would suggest otherwise. Everyone was cheering him on when he wouldn't back down to Boris
Then why did he keep voting against the measures needed to control the virus?
He was probably getting advice from his brother.
Then why did he keep voting against the measures needed to control the virus?
He's back in his comfort zone where he instinctively votes along with the Tory far right nut jobs.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say he’ll be labour’s next PM sometime towards the end of the decade.
Wahey, a new brand of Starmer.
Quite exciting.
nationalise water & rail
Too late for rail, it is pretty much all in the Governments hands now. There are still lots of private companies supplying stuff, such as leasing the coaches and locos, and infrastructure providers for maintenance/building, but the running of the network, and most of the passenger train companies are now government run.
And all done by the uncaring, privatisation craving Tories. Who'd have thought they could actually do good things?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say he’ll be labour’s next PM sometime towards the end of the decade.
Burnham has always seemed like a weathervane politician … but in his current role, he finally sounds like he means what he says. Doubt very much that would be the case if he became the party leader. Unless he can lead as an ‘outsider’… I can’t see him wanting to be an MP again, unless it was a short fast stab at the leadership.
Pushing the federal idea? … Free uni education, nationalise water & rail. Massive investment in green energy infrastructure. A plan for greener travel …
I don’t know if you are being ironic, or genuinely think any of that would be new for Labour?
Clearly isn’t enough though, is it. What’s the new idea? 2017 policies as a base for the next election is what I want to see as well, but that isn’t go to move the vote towards Labour… more is needed… and, annoyingly, probably needs to be held back for now, or it’ll be either talked out, or a weak version of it adopted by the government before the campaign starts…
Angela Rayner sacked as Party Chair. Way to go Kier. I've been very critical of Rayner recently but that is f***** mental. Problem with maintaining working class support? I know lets get rid of the one authentic working class voice in the senior team. It's only a matter of time before they start smearing Burnham too.
https://twitter.com/PhilipProudfoot/status/1391091147964129280?s=20
More or less? 2019 was more. I think he needs to have a few things that he keeps saying that can have a number of policies hung to them.
eg Drain the Swamp
Poor Angela Rayner! Who will tell her what to think now?
EDIT: Seriously I think this damages Keir more than her
I can’t see him wanting to be an MP again, unless it was a short fast stab at the leadership.
He was very shrewd getting out of Westminster when he did. He’s said repeatedly that he’s done with all that and I don’t doubt he means it. Why on earth would he want to go back to all that?
Angela Rayner sacked as Party Chair
She was the National Campaign Coordinator, they've had a pretty poor campaign, as you've pointed out, so she should bear the responsibility for that, right?
Yes but Keir did accept full responibility yesterday did he not?
...most of the passenger train companies are now government run.
Yes this is true but at the risk of being accused of being racist it is probably worth pointing out that it is foreign governments, not the British government, that owns much of Britain's railways.
Call me a bigot but I would rather that it was British taxpayers that benefited rather foreign governments.
She was the National Campaign Coordinator, they’ve had a pretty poor campaign.
She was campaign coordinator in name only, and everyone knew the campaign was being lead directly out of Starmer's office and Rayner was cut out. She even complained about it, and there's loads of reports that many MPs said they knew this was the situation. And what happend to 'I will take responsiblity'? Whatever Rayner's failings are, this is just another example of his incompetent leadership and total lack of poitical sense.
So, Sadiq Khan almost certainly going to the second votes vs Sean Bailey in contention for London Mayor. That’d be a major loss for Labour, but even as we were voting and despite the fact we know nothing about Bailey we were asking ourselves what exactly has Khan done during his term? He’s been mostly under the radar with anything tangible.
recently he opposed the expanding of the ulez in SE london when it was ordered by the tories. reason being poor families wont be able to use their cars. Hes pretty pro cycling which is a win in my books. But to be honest I don't really care about london mayor (i live in london) I put more value in Damien Egan whos mayor of lewisham.
As for the Rayner disaster. I was massively pro Keir but you don't say you will take full responsibility then sack someone. Im done with him.
Forensic, careful competent leadership.
Recovery bonds needed soon.
Just oppose the Government and offer some big bloody ideas you useless twit, and stop hammering the left. P.S get a better media agency too.
Stop focus grouping all your bad choices with more bad choices.
I enjoyed this quote re Rayner's sacking:
Labour’s Norwich South MP Clive Lewis said: “The fear is, the leader’s office is now in headless chicken mode and looking into the void. We needed calm and considered and we got this. It really does look like they will thrash about like Alan Partridge pitching anything for a second season.”
😆
The big idea should be free childcare. EVERYONE would love that, even rich middle class Tories. They'd crave it cos it would save them a shitload; progressives would love it because it would be a massive benefit to everyone.
Think it's a huge mistake sacking Rayner. Quickly running out of reasons to support Starmer.
I actually think the sacking makes sense. It's not bad for her.
It removes the association between her and stammer, so she's cleaner and fresher for WHEN he goes.
And it won't be long.
Alan Johnson's quiet these days ...
Next move: Yvette Cooper to be installed in the cabinet on a 1300 seat majority. (Could happen!)
