Jeremy Corbyn.

[BLOCK F]

I agree. I think the Labour Party is actually rediscovering it's identity and is reconnecting with the legions of voters who have spent the last decade walking way from it. It does indeed look like the PLP is out of step with the membership, but the party does seem to be reinvigorated at the moment. It amuses me that the three mainstream candidates from the 'modern' wing of the party are the ones looking like dinosaurs clinging on to discredited policies.

Rediscovering its identity?
Hmm, trying to turn the clock back to times that really no longer exist in this country, more like.
And don't try and tell me that life is as hard for the less well off in this country as it was 100 or so years ago.
Still, if that is the way the membership believe is the way to go and to get a Labour Party re-elected, they are sorely misguided.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Rediscovering its identity?
Hmm, trying to turn the clock back to times that really no longer exist in this country, more like.
And don't try and tell me that life is as hard for the less well off in this country as it was 100 or so years ago.
Still, if that is the way the membership believe is the way to go and to get a Labour Party re-elected, they are sorely misguided.

For many Labour voters the party hasn't existed for the past ten years. At least as a tory voter you have party that still represents the views and ideals of those that vote for it, many labour voters have not had that luxury for a long time.

I know people who have rejoined the labour party as they now feel it maybe something worth voting for again.

In my opinion a Corbyn led Labour party would be a real opposition to this government, seeking to challenge it every opportunity and hold it to account. Corbyn is just what British politics needs as it brings policy and vision back to the heart of the debate about the direction of the country. Granted he has a tough task convincing the wider public but at least he'll take the fight to this government unlike the supine weasels currently running the Labour Party.

 

[glasfryn]

For many Labour voters the party hasn't existed for the past ten years. At least as a tory voter you have party that still represents the views and ideals of those that vote for it, many labour voters have not had that luxury for a long time.

I know people who have rejoined the labour party as they now feel it maybe something worth voting for again.

In my opinion a Corbyn led Labour party would be a real opposition to this government, seeking to challenge it every opportunity and hold it to account. Corbyn is just what British politics needs as it brings policy and vision back to the heart of the debate about the direction of the country. Granted he has a tough task convincing the wider public but at least he'll take the fight to this government unlike the supine weasels currently running the Labour Party.

nail right on the head

 

[BLOCK F]

For many Labour voters the party hasn't existed for the past ten years. At least as a tory voter you have party that still represents the views and ideals of those that vote for it, many labour voters have not had that luxury for a long time.

I know people who have rejoined the labour party as they now feel it maybe something worth voting for again.

In my opinion a Corbyn led Labour party would be a real opposition to this government, seeking to challenge it every opportunity and hold it to account. Corbyn is just what British politics needs as it brings policy and vision back to the heart of the debate about the direction of the country. Granted he has a tough task convincing the wider public but at least he'll take the fight to this government unlike the supine weasels currently running the Labour Party.

That is fine if your Corbyn led party never wants to gain power, but hopeless if it does.
I wonder why?
By the way, do you really think that Corbyn would be able to appoint an effective front bench opposition team, all fighting the same cause and holding broadly the same views as he does?
He won't have time to take 'the fight' to the Government, he will be too busy trying to keep his own side from killing each other.

 

[Buzzer]

That is fine if your Corbyn led party never wants to gain power, but hopeless if it does.
I wonder why?
By the way, do you really think that Corbyn would be able to appoint an effective front bench opposition team, all fighting the same cause and holding broadly the same views as he does?
He won't have time to take 'the fight' to the Government, he will be too busy trying to keep his own side from killing each other.

Therein lies the rub. Corbyn is great for those on the left who have felt disenfranchised for over 20 years but Labour haven't won with a left-winger since Harold Wilson because the left-wing do not represent the general political consensus of England which clearly lies firmly in the centre-ground. He'll re-energise those people in the same way that Caroline Lucas has with the Greens but outside of their focus groups, there's no real desire for Corbyn's politics especially when Corbyn's supporters are being so divisive and derogatory about the people in the centre-left and centre-right. If he wins then he has to fight the Parliamentary group. If he loses then the victor (Burnham? Cooper?) has a massive job uniting the rank and file. Someone else drew similarities with the Tory infighting after 1997. I think that may be the case.

 

[Albumen]

Therein lies the rub. Corbyn is great for those on the left who have felt disenfranchised for over 20 years but Labour haven't won with a left-winger since Harold Wilson because the left-wing do not represent the general political consensus of England which clearly lies firmly in the centre-ground. He'll re-energise those people in the same way that Caroline Lucas has with the Greens but outside of their focus groups, there's no real desire for Corbyn's politics especially when Corbyn's supporters are being so divisive and derogatory about the people in the centre-left and centre-right. If he wins then he has to fight the Parliamentary group. If he loses then the victor (Burnham? Cooper?) has a massive job uniting the rank and file. Someone else drew similarities with the Tory infighting after 1997. I think that may be the case.

But that's happening both ways, as you later suggested. Labour is a mess as they stepped to far to the right, and are now having to deal with the repercussions.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Someone else drew similarities with the Tory infighting after 1997. I think that may be the case.

And what is likely next year. There is going to be some Tory infighting when the European Referendum gets under way. We live in interesting times.

 

[Hotchilidog]

That is fine if your Corbyn led party never wants to gain power, but hopeless if it does.
I wonder why?
By the way, do you really think that Corbyn would be able to appoint an effective front bench opposition team, all fighting the same cause and holding broadly the same views as he does?
He won't have time to take 'the fight' to the Government, he will be too busy trying to keep his own side from killing each other.

I think he has a better chance to gain power than the bland-Blairites who have been shedding Labour votes over the last few elections. If Corbyn gets a big mandate then I do not think he'll have any problem filling the shadow cabinet and he seems quite happy to include even those who are considered his opponents.

I am looking forward to there actually being two sides to an argument for a change, rather than the unedifying spectacle of a Labour party allowing a Tory welfare bill to pass through parliament.

I think people will be surprised as to how JC will strike a chord with a whole swathe 'disenfranchised' voters. Whilst I agree there will be some initial recriminations and blood-letting it will pass. The next election is in 2020 a lot can happen between now and then.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I think this announcement today, that he would apologies for the Iraq war will get him over the line, the other candidates are all waiting for the never to be released Chilcot enquiry.

This will resonate with a lot of voters.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...orbyn-apologise-iraq-war-behalf-labour-leader

“So it is past time that Labour apologised to the British people for taking them into the Iraq war on the basis of deception and to the Iraqi people for the suffering we have helped cause. Under our Labour, we will make this apology,” he added.

The Iraq Body Count project puts the civilian death toll at 219,000 since the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, though others put it much higher. The number of British personnel killed in the war was 179 and the US 4,425.

 

[BLOCK F]

I think he has a better chance to gain power than the bland-Blairites who have been shedding Labour votes over the last few elections. If Corbyn gets a big mandate then I do not think he'll have any problem filling the shadow cabinet and he seems quite happy to include even those who are considered his opponents.

I am looking forward to there actually being two sides to an argument for a change, rather than the unedifying spectacle of a Labour party allowing a Tory welfare bill to pass through parliament.

I think people will be surprised as to how JC will strike a chord with a whole swathe 'disenfranchised' voters. Whilst I agree there will be some initial recriminations and blood-letting it will pass. The next election is in 2020 a lot can happen between now and then.

Don't know how many opponents of Corbyn would be willing to serve on his frontbench. Anyway, thank heavens the deluded hard lefties of NSC are not representative of the electorate as a whole.

 

[cunning fergus]

And what is likely next year. There is going to be some Tory infighting when the European Referendum gets under way. We live in interesting times.

True, however Corbyn is a Bennite in old money and ergo a Eurosceptic.

He rebelled in the vote for the Lisbon Treaty and has been a long time critic of the EU's austerity programme, particularly in Greece.

He may well lose his nerve in being so critical of the EU IF he becomes leader, however it's been interesting that in speeches he recognises the gains made by UKIP in traditional Labour seats.

I think whatever happens in the leadership campaign Corbyn will be influential, ergo, political infighting over Europe may no longer be just the preserve of the Tories.........

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I think this announcement today, that he would apologies for the Iraq war will get him over the line, the other candidates are all waiting for the never to be released Chilcot enquiry.

This will resonate with a lot of voters.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...orbyn-apologise-iraq-war-behalf-labour-leader

“So it is past time that Labour apologised to the British people for taking them into the Iraq war on the basis of deception and to the Iraqi people for the suffering we have helped cause. Under our Labour, we will make this apology,” he added.

The Iraq Body Count project puts the civilian death toll at 219,000 since the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, though others put it much higher. The number of British personnel killed in the war was 179 and the US 4,425.

This. A tragic waste of lives, both British and non-British.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

True, however Corbyn is a Bennite in old money and ergo a Eurosceptic.

He rebelled in the vote for the Lisbon Treaty and has been a long time critic of the EU's austerity programme, particularly in Greece.

He may well lose his nerve in being so critical of the EU IF he becomes leader, however it's been interesting that in speeches he recognises the gains made by UKIP in traditional Labour seats.

I think whatever happens in the leadership campaign Corbyn will be influential, ergo, political infighting over Europe may no longer be just the preserve of the Tories.........

Corbyn has clearly stated his preference is to stay in EU though. I can't see how this will lead to any infighting with this stance. Am I missing something?

 

[cunning fergus]

Corbyn has clearly stated his preference is to stay in EU though. I can't see how this will lead to any infighting with this stance. Am I missing something?

Yes.

He has said its imperfect and needs reform.......

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...ws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership

For starters, how can JC deliver any re-nationalisation programme when it is dyametrically opposed to EU competition law, which is the reason Miliband was so weak on the privatisation of the RM.

Politically now Corbyn is playing a cute game, however his version of socialism will not wash with EU capitalism..........ask the Greeks how successful their left wing Govt has been?

 

[glasfryn]

I think he has a better chance to gain power than the bland-Blairites who have been shedding Labour votes over the last few elections. If Corbyn gets a big mandate then I do not think he'll have any problem filling the shadow cabinet and he seems quite happy to include even those who are considered his opponents.

I am looking forward to there actually being two sides to an argument for a change, rather than the unedifying spectacle of a Labour party allowing a Tory welfare bill to pass through parliament.

I think people will be surprised as to how JC will strike a chord with a whole swathe 'disenfranchised' voters. Whilst I agree there will be some initial recriminations and blood-letting it will pass. The next election is in 2020 a lot can happen between now and then.

nail on the head again
do you want to buy a claw hammer?
+ the tories will have a new leader by then, it could be Boris( note to self join the tory party and vote for this person) and if it is how on earth do they think the electorate are going to vote for him .....the man is an absolute blithering idiot, gideon spends his whole time smirking, god know what at, and she needs to grow a backbone maybe if she stands up to Europe she might just have a chance

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

nail on the head again
do you want to buy a claw hammer?
+ the tories will have a new leader by then, it could be Boris( note to self join the tory party and vote for this person) and if it is how on earth do they think the electorate are going to vote for him .....the man is an absolute blithering idiot, gideon spends his whole time smirking, god know what at, and she needs to grow a backbone maybe if she stands up to Europe she might just have a chance

I think the only reason I'd ever vote for Boris is if Corbyn were to be labour leader

 

[Buzzer]

the tories will have a new leader by then, it could be Boris( note to self join the tory party and vote for this person) and if it is how on earth do they think the electorate are going to vote for him

I wouldn't want to predict the next Tory leader and I'm certainly not endorsing him but Boris has twice (I think) been elected mayor of London - one of the few regions of the UK where, in the last election, Labour did well. Both wins were against Ken Livingstone, a candidate every bit as left-wing as Corbyn. If he can do that twice then what makes you think he can't do it in the rest of the country?

 

[glasfryn]

I wouldn't want to predict the next Tory leader and I'm certainly not endorsing him but Boris has twice (I think) been elected mayor of London - one of the few regions of the UK where, in the last election, Labour did well. Both wins were against Ken Livingstone, a candidate every bit as left-wing as Corbyn. If he can do that twice then what makes you think he can't do it in the rest of the country?

you might be right
then everybody can have a laugh
would you really trust him to make a decision on when to press the red button

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

.......ask the Greeks how successful their left wing Govt has been?

We won't need to after the election in September

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Yes.

He has said its imperfect and needs reform.......

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...ws-fire-position-future-britain-eu-membership

For starters, how can JC deliver any re-nationalisation programme when it is dyametrically opposed to EU competition law, which is the reason Miliband was so weak on the privatisation of the RM.

Politically now Corbyn is playing a cute game, however his version of socialism will not wash with EU capitalism..........ask the Greeks how successful their left wing Govt has been?

As for nationalisation how do other countries do it? Hamburg is renationalising their grid. Maybe Corbyn will use the exact same method as them?