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Step forward Andy Burnham, British prime minister in May 2020











Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,232
Surrey
IMO, in the past 5 decades we've had about three or four competent Labour/Tory leaders combined. Why is it that leaders are rarely the best politicians in their party?
 


happypig

Staring at the rude boys
May 23, 2009
7,974
Eastbourne
Chuka Umuna, whist capable will do little to appeal to the Scots/Welsh/North who perceive him to be one of the "City/Westminster Club".
Andy Burnham might have that appeal but I can't see him doing a lot better than Miliband.
Dan Jarvis has ruled himself out.
 




Dick Knights Mumm

Take me Home Falmer Road
Jul 5, 2003
19,622
Hither and Thither
IMO, in the past 5 decades we've had about three or four competent Labour/Tory leaders combined. Why is it that leaders are rarely the best politicians in their party?

Good question. Perhaps who appears to be a good leader, say Ken Clarke, are simply not single-minded enough. Would Ken be prepared to stand against his brother ?
 


happypig

Staring at the rude boys
May 23, 2009
7,974
Eastbourne
IMO, in the past 5 decades we've had about three or four competent Labour/Tory leaders combined. Why is it that leaders are rarely the best politicians in their party?

Because they are usually compromises between the left/right wings of the party (whichever party)
 


Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
16,678
Fiveways
Which would mean they would be electable. However, the next Labour Government without a fundamental commitment for PR (without the need for a referendum) is a waste of time. We must have a representative democracy in this country, not this shambles we have at the moment. We are the laughing stock of the world.

Agree with you that the Labour Party needs to embrace PR as one of the key routes back to power.
There's a lot of talk about them re-embracing aspiration and ambition. This is undoubtedly a popular view (both in the Labour party and amongst the electorate) but, in my view, their role ought to be about re-defining these terms, rather than merely accepting them within a neoliberal logic.
 








He stood in 2010 and came 4th. What has changed?

He's been the best performing Labour politician of the last five years, admired pretty much on all sides. Leadership contest will be a landslide.

For a supposed smart guy, Chuka sitting on the lap yesterday of has-been dinosaur Mandelson was spectacular own goal stuff. Remarkable to see all these Blairite chancers scrambling around like family members nicking the silver at a funeral wake - no loyalty to each other, just their own careers. They had better not swallow the Mandelson kool aid too much or they could find themselves sitting on the backbenches for the next 5 years or joining David Miliband charity chugging.
 




Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,232
Surrey
He's been the best performing Labour politician of the last five years, admired pretty much on all sides. Leadership contest will be a landslide.

For a supposed smart guy, Chuka sitting on the lap yesterday of has-been dinosaur Mandelson was spectacular own goal stuff. Remarkable to see all these Blairite chancers scrambling around like family members nicking the silver at a funeral wake - no loyalty to each other, just their own careers. They had better not swallow the Mandelson kool aid too much or they could find themselves sitting on the backbenches for the next 5 years or joining David Miliband charity chugging.


I can't help thinking you haven't got a clue what is required to make Labour electable again.
 




Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,687
The Fatherland
It has got to be Jarvis.

It won't be, he's ruled himself out. But what ideology does he have? Lots of people suggesting he's good but why?
 




Bolton va va

Active member
Nov 20, 2012
374
Andy Burnham is from round here & even non-Labour voters who know him have great respect for him as an intelligent, decent & genuine man.

No doubt he would shore up the northern Labour vote, but it's unlikely that he would appeal to London's champagne socialists.
 




Machiavelli

Well-known member
Oct 11, 2013
16,678
Fiveways
It won't be, he's ruled himself out. But what ideology does he have? Lots of people suggesting he's good but why?

Think it's for no simpler reason than he's not a 'career politician', having served as a major in the army. He's also getting behind the 'let's embrace aspiration' agenda.
 


Simster

"the man's an arse"
Jul 7, 2003
54,232
Surrey
Andy Burnham is from round here & even non-Labour voters who know him have great respect for him as an intelligent, decent & genuine man.

No doubt he would shore up the northern Labour vote, but it's unlikely that he would appeal to London's champagne socialists.


Ah a clueless northerner with his head in his arse. Why not go and have a look at London's GE results to see how London voted for Ed Milliband before talking bollocks?

It is not "London's champagne socialists" that Labour need to attract, it is middle England - and that includes the swathes of middle Englanders down the road from you in Cheshire.
 




Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,687
The Fatherland
Think it's for no simpler reason than he's not a 'career politician', having served as a major in the army. He's also getting behind the 'let's embrace aspiration' agenda.

I do agree, I suggested elsewhere on this site that his perceived inexperience might be refreshing and a bonus.
 


PILTDOWN MAN

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 15, 2004
18,720
Hurst Green
Looking in from the other side my view is that Labour have got to really appeal to the working people of this country. I don't think they've ever done that. They appeal to the work shy and those career benefit claimers. I don't include those who are genuine especially the disabled.

They need to distance themselves from these people. They also need to appeal to the middle aged floating voters instead of targeting students.

Who can do this unfortunately doesn't want it. Alan Johnson.
 


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