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Maybe "Real Labour" as Starmer has taken the Labour name and completely ****ed it over.
Well Your Party will be renamed this weekend.
'Who's Party'?
The actual choice was really poor imo. "The Left Party" was Zahra Sultana's preferred choice and the "People's Party" was mine
It turns out the reason that the Left Party, and the People's Party - which I understand was the favourite when they initially asked for suggestions, were not available as they were already registered with the Electoral Commission.
'Who's Party'?
Don't you mean "Whose Party" ?
That would actually be a great new name for Sir Keir Starmer's party. Both to reflect the lack of clarity concerning whose interests it exists to serve, and also to reflect how Sir Keir appears to be reducing it to the role of a meaningless fringe party.
It turns out the reason that the Left Party, and the People's Party - which I understand was the favourite when they initially asked for suggestions, were not available as they were already registered with the Electoral Commission.
Meanwhile, while they try desperately to think of an original name from the combination of the same dozen words as always, and fend off various other 'socialist' fringe parties who are taking advantage of their total disarray even before the first conference, the greens and Polanski are hoovering up most of the hundreds of thousands of people actively looking for a realistic alternative who might have supported them.
Dead on arrival, this one. There is no alliance, just a brief intersection of political aims between the various groupings and independent MPs. It's possible, of course, that they can briefly stop tearing each other to pieces publicly and present something that actually appeals to the electorate, but the infighting is so much fun that I doubt they can resist.
Maybe, with the lack of availability of names, they need to think outside the box. Call the party ‘Colin’ and communicate their policies through the medium of interpretive dance
the greens and Polanski are hoovering up most of the hundreds of thousands of people actively looking for a realistic alternative who might have supported them.
I have always suggested that the creation of a new radical party on the left of UK politics had the potential to greatly help the Greens, I am glad that you appear to agree.
A new radical party of the left was always going to move the overton window and public discourse to the direction of the Green Party.
The more people suggesting there is an alternative to the "There Is No Alternative' mantra of the neoliberals the more it is likely to gain traction with voters. Which makes the Labour Party's abdication of that responsibility, under the watch of the centrists, a particularly galling betrayal.
I certainly very much welcome any increase in support for the Greens as should anyone on the left of UK politics. And I will not hesitate to vote for them in May's local elections.
Anyway enough of this serious stuff, let's get back to hilarious references of a 45 year old film transcript, it's so much easier! 💡
Is Party McPartyface taken already!?
I agree, support for the Greens has some basis in reality. Labour has given up that ground for whatever deluded reason, and Your/Party/Alliance/ are a distraction rather than in a genuine position to exploit it. I'd rather they gave up sooner so that the 50,000 or so who have paid for membership do not waste their votes in local elections.
The local Green Party members that I know are actually very supportive of the creation of YP, for the reasons I have stated above they see YP as allies in the same struggle rather than as rivals.
In Croydon at least YP can organise far bigger meetings than the Greens could ever dream of. And many YP members are former Labour Party members with a wealth of practical experience. Green Party members attend and speak at these meetings.
I suspect that situation is replicated to varying degrees across the country. There will be areas where YP are stronger than the Greens and vice versa. I guess much will depend on the local political history with regards to the Labour Party since so many YP are former Labour Party members.
It's possible, of course, that they can briefly stop tearing each other to pieces publicly and present something that actually appeals to the electorate,
To be fair, for all my sniping and snipping - this weekend could actually be a turning point if they come away with a name, a model for leadership, and a basic coherent set of fundamental agreed principles for what the party's platform is. If that happens, it really is possible that most of the birthing shambles could be shaken off.
Let's see...
it really is possible that most of the birthing shambles could be shaken off.
Like the historic birthing shambles of all the successful grassroots movements, from the French Revolution to the Labour Party to the ANC, and all the others in-between and since?
I would be extremely suspicious if tens of thousands of people who passionately believed in a cause, which they felt was of great importance, simply got together without any sort of conflicting opinions and internal disagreements.
In fact it would signal something deeply wrong with the movement and suggest it was being manipulated by vested interests.
Not only do I not consider internal strife within the process of setting up a grassroots movement not a serious problem but I positively welcome it. It suggests a very healthy environment and not a pointless echo chamber.
Starmer might try to maintain a stalinist iron grip over the so-called Labour Party by silencing dissent through suspensions and expulsions but it is certainly not what I expect or want from a left-wing democratic party.
Besides how is that strategy panning out for Starmer? Never has he been weaker as party leader and never has the Labour Party's electoral fortunes appeared more dire. If he had been more inclusive, more tolerant, more democratic, and more open to ideas, neither him nor his party might be in such a pickle.
Starmer might try to maintain a stalinist iron grip over the so-called Labour Party by silencing dissent through suspensions and expulsions but it is certainly not what I expect or want from a left-wing democratic party.
You’re aware Comrade Corbyn has already had his first purge already, right?
The airbrushers have already been busy disappearing members of the politburo
If that happens, it really is possible that most of the birthing shambles could be shaken off.
I think they are going to struggle since there doesnt seem to be a good uniting force.
Corbyn, at best, seems ambivalent. Think he would be happier going back to a constituency mp. If McSweeney wasnt so determined to wipe out the nasty lefties I think he would be sitting semi quitely on the backbenches aside from when Labour went to much austerity tory - okay maybe not quietly.
Sultana obviously has drive and ambition but is still building a base.
The other four (is it still four?) dont really overlap aside from they got elected because the constituencies werent fond of Starmers support of the hard right Israeli government. I think in many ways they overlap with reform better. Religious conservatives but just the wrong selection of religion.
You’re aware Comrade Corbyn has already had his first purge already, right?
Who said he would never learn anything from the "broad church" centrists?
I guess thats one way to appeal to the the starmerites by promising to purge those who arent ideologically pure enough.
Besides how is that strategy panning out for Starmer?
Starmer seemed quite at home in an infants class doing a "six seven dance". Maybe he could retrain as a teaching assistant?
this weekend could actually be a turning point
Well, call me the inverse Mystic Meg...
* Sultana allied herself with the SWP entryists and did not attend.
* Corbyn led a chant of "free, free Palestine" and encouraged attendees to "campaign forevermore for real socialism". Apparently the idea of winning power, entering government at any level, and making difficult choices as to effect change in the real world is less appealing than selling newspapers, going on marches and issuing strongly-worded resolutions about Palestine. Sounds about right from our nation's greatest argument-winner.
Corbyn confirmed to journalists on Saturday that he preferred a single leader and is likely to stand for the role
Well, who could possibly have seen that coming? 😂
You’re aware Comrade Corbyn has already had his first purge already, right?
No I am not aware, fill me in, or better still provide me with a link. Who has been "purged" from YP? I am all ears ! 👂
And please don't give the exclusion of SWP members as an example of a purge, no other political party allows members of the SWP to join them. Despite your earlier weird concern that SWP members are being denied the opportunity to join YP. Do you think that SWP membership should allow a person the right to join whatever party they fancy.?
Btw your apparent suggestion that Corbyn is keen to carry out purges is just bizarre. As leader of the Labour Party Corbyn was ridiculously tolerant of dissent to a point where it seriously undermined his position.
Not only did Corbyn, for example, reward Sir Keir Starmer after he helped to organise an attempted coup by giving him a shadow cabinet role, but when Margaret Hodge accused him of being a "a racist and anti-semite" Corbyn's response was "I am sorry you feel like that". FFS if hadn't been so spineless Corbyn would have suspended Hodge, as any other party leader would have done.
You need to live in a very different universe to believe that purges are Corbyn's modus operandi. Or politically clueless. Or incredibly disingenuous. Which one is it? I'm punting for the latter 💡
Corbyn confirmed to journalists on Saturday that he preferred a single leader and is likely to stand for the role
Well, who could possibly have seen that coming? 😂
Well considering that it is reasonably well-known that Corbyn never wanted to be leader of the Labour Party, never wanted to stop being a Labour backbench MP and would still be one if it hadn't been for Sir Keir Starmer, and had to be bounced into announcing the formation of the new party by Zahra Sultana, I am not in the least bit surprised that he has only confirmed that he is "likely to stand" for the role.
I would have been a tad surprised if he had unambiguously declared that he was definitely going to stand. For very obvious reasons everyone expects him to stand and yet typically Corbyn couldn't even give a firm commitment that he will be.
His preference for a single leader isn't exactly earth-shatteringly surprising considering that pretty much all political parties have just one leader. Although as I said earlier my personal preference would be a collective leadership. However if the central executive committee are to be given the powers being touted I guess that will amount to a collective leadership. I hope they are.
How would that work? Would they all take it in turns on a rotating weekly basis?
Or would they harness the legendary power of ‘The Left’ for coherence and unity to reach quick, definitive, collective decisions?
You couldnt make it up, birthing shambles, more like death throes.
How would that work?
Well there's nothing complicated about it. The CEC will have many of powers that the leaders of the Tory, Labour,. and Reform, parties currently have.
For example they will appoint national officers, they will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the party and managing its organising team, if a whip is deemed necessary it is the CEC who will be instructing elected representatives on how to vote on crucial issues in line with party policy, not the party leader who will be required to comply like everyone else, it will be tasked with ensuring the constitution is upheld, etc etc ....... and all the other stuff which you would associate with a democratic organisation.
The leader of the party will have relatively little power compared to the enormous power that the leaders of the Tory or Labour parties indisputably have. Sure it will undoubtedly trigger intense internal debates and arguments.....that is after all the whole point, having an executive committee which consists of political clones of the leader, which is typically the case in the Labour Party, is both utterly pointless and unhealthy, but decisions will be decided through a voting process and once it is completed the decision will be final and everyone will be expected to accept the outcome.
Democracy is not as complicated as some people would like to pretend it is.
Purity tests and victimhood...all the Far left bingo cards being filled this weekend.
You couldnt make it up, birthing shambles, more like death throes.
Well if you are looking for a political party in "death throws" I reckon that it is a tight competition between Labour and the Tories.
Despite both of them forming every government since beyond living memory neither have been leading the opinion polls since mid-April.
And both expect to be slaughtered in next May's local elections. Obviously neither will win the next general election.
Purity tests and victimhood...all the Far left bingo cards being filled this weekend.
Nah, you are getting confused with the centrists. They purged the Left out of the Labour Party and then blamed the Tories for mess they found themselves in when in government.
The leader of the party will have relatively little power compared to the enormous power that the leaders of the Tory or Labour parties indisputably have.
I suppose it's more honest at this point to acknowledge that there is no need to build towards a general election campaign behind a leader and potential prime minister.
So… let’s just call it “Corbyn’s Party” shall we? Whoever would have guessed…
Nah, you are getting confused with the centrists
Dont forget the right wingers absolutely love being "victims" although in fairness when looking at the "centrists" its quite hard to tell the difference from them and the right nowadays.
The problem is, like Trump, every accusation is an confession.
I am curious when we will start being lectured by the true believers than a vote for anything other than the glorious leader McSweeney is a vote for reform and we should wait till after the election for him to stop being a right wing ****.
So… let’s just call it “Corbyn’s Party” shall we? Whoever would have guessed…
He’s apparently already got all his backroom staff in place. The same ones who did such an exemplary job for him while he was Labour leader.
Did he not get the memo about the democratic utopia being created?
Dont forget the right wingers absolutely love being "victims"
Who are the right wingers in Your Party?
Seems to be a lot of deflection and whataboutery from certain people on here desperate to defend the terrible start YP has got off to.
That aside Labour are in government with a stonking majority and even the Tories still have over 100 MPs. YP have 2? and they are at each others throats.
Who are the right wingers in Your Party?
Not quite sure what you are trying to respond to here? Although since you mention it I would suggest the other four MPs would qualify aside from their inconvenient faith and being pro Palestinian.
As previously stated I dont see it going anywhere fast as a party since the current leaders aka MPs dont share a lot aside from being not overly fond of Israel's approach to Middle East peace.
Corbyn and Sultana have some overlap but plenty of differences. Maybe in 30 years whatever the Sultana party is currently named might start leading but thats a maybe.
As Paul Marshall and then McSweeney showed it is far better to be a parasite on an existing party. We have yet to see though whether McSweeney will cause the same damage to Labour as Marshall did to the LibDems. It isnt looking good though.
The leader of the party will have relatively little power compared to the enormous power that the leaders of the Tory or Labour parties indisputably have.
I suppose it's more honest at this point to acknowledge that there is no need to build towards a general election campaign behind a leader and potential prime minister.
I don't understand how some people appear to be unable to smell the coffee and apparently fondly believe that the same old certainties which they have always known still apply 😮
UK politics has been utterly turned upside down, it has completely changed. The party which has been leading every single opinion poll for the last six months is neither the Tory nor the Labour Party, nothing remotely like that has ever happened before.
Neither the Tories nor Labour will win the next general election and all the indications are that the days of majority governments in UK politics are now over.
Never has there been a better time for a party to influence government policy without having anything vaguely close to a majority.
YP's mission is not to form a majority government and hold the office of Prime Minister, even the Tory and Labour parties won't be able to achieve that. It is to influence both the narrative and therefore government policy. It is to offer a non-Reform alternative to voters who are now clearly rejecting all three of the established major parties.
Whether YP succeeds remains to be seen but there is no point giving them ridiculous goals which no one, including YP themselves, expects to achieve.
The party which has been leading every single opinion poll for the last six months is neither the Tory nor the Labour Party, nothing remotely like that has ever happened before.
Apart from when the Liberal- SDP Alliance led the polls for 8 months, reaching 50% support at the peak.
even the Tories still have over 100 MPs. YP have 2? and they are at each others throats.
If Sultana doesn't show up for Day 2 in Liverpool either, then she's basically flounced and quit the party, right?
The party which has been leading every single opinion poll for the last six months is neither the Tory nor the Labour Party, nothing remotely like that has ever happened before.
Apart from when the Liberal- SDP Alliance....
Hardly comparable though, are you not aware that the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party were two separate parties? Besides if you want to go down that road if a general election was held right now in all likelihood Reform and the Tories would form a coalition government, the very latest opinion poll gives their combined vote as 48%, so I guess on that basis you could say that the Tories are still leading in the polls, with a great deal of stretching.
And more importantly the Tories easily won the 1983 general election proving that there had not been any major upset in UK politics and the old certainties were still there, which was further reinforced when Labour eventually came to power.
The Liberal and SDP never won a general election and nor have they ever as the LibDems. Nothing fundamentally changed in UK politics as the consequence of the Liberal SDP Alliance and if you genuinely believe that the situation then was the same as it is now then I guess that's up you.
There appears to be quite a lot of people who believe that nothing has fundamentally changed in UK politics in the last couple of years, or at least they are behaving as if nothing has.
Read your claim again, then read what I wrote. Or do you automatically have to argue with every post anyone else writes?
I read what you wrote, you gave an example of a alliance of two separate parties which I don't think is comparable to the point which I was making. One single party, not in alliance with any other party, has been leading every single opinion poll for the last six months, I believe that is unprecedented. You obviously disagree. Fairy nuff, up to you.
And btw there have been far far more opinions polls in the last six months than ever occurred in any six month period in the 1980s, easily ten times more if not 20 times more, so just on the sheer quantity of opinion polls it is unprecedented for a non-Tory/Labour party to lead in so many polls. If you think that doesn't signify anything in particular again, fairy nuff
That aside Labour are in government with a stonking majority and even the Tories still have over 100 MPs. YP have 2? and they are at each others throatsm
Ladies and gentlemen… ‘The Left’
The party which has been leading every single opinion poll for the last six months is neither the Tory nor the Labour Party, nothing remotely like that has ever happened before.
Well… it has. Repeatedly. Opinion poles at this stage, threeand a half years out from an election, are utterly meaningless.
It’s like asking everyone what’s their favourite biscuit.
threeand a half years out from an election, are utterly meaningless.
Someone needs to tell Starmer and McSweeney !
The state of panic that Reform has instilled in them is almost palpable!
Btw despite my earlier and long time criticism of Corbyn, and my generous praising of Sultana, this evening I have flipped sides.
Nothing will guarantee more the failure of YP than allowing the SWP to run a mock. YP cannot be a serious credible political party if it involves the SWP.
Allowing the SWP dual membership is simply absurd and on this Corbyn is 100% correct imo. Unfortunately I get the feeling that Sultana might win on this one. The young and very politically naive punters on my local YP WhatsApp group appear to be totally oblivious to the dangers posed by the SWP, as indeed Sultana herself appears to be.
It is tragic really and despite his many failings Corbyn yet again proves to be right, politically at least, when so many don't seem to get it.
Nothing will guarantee more the failure of YP than allowing the SWP to run a mock. YP cannot be a serious credible political party if it involves the SWP
Take a step back comrade.
If anyone is paying any attention to this, which they’re not, they’re just thinking ‘look at all those mental ‘loony’ lefties having fights with each other, yet again.
It is tragic really and despite his many failings Corbyn yet again proves to be right politically at least when so many don't seem to get it.
Well we all know how good he is at winning arguments. And look where it’s hit him. And look where it’s got us.
Has there ever been a bigger waste of time than Magic Grandads ‘leadership’ of the Labour Party?