[Politics] Next leader of the Labour party

[nicko31]

Its a long way back for Labour, never voted for them and probably never will unless I move to a place where Labour can win.

Paid my £25 to become a Labour supporter and win for Kier (deadline 5pm tomorrow) - its the best hope of calling out the liars who are trying to run the country.

 

[Titanic]

"The Canary" is a new one on me.... but they don't seem very impressed by Sir Keir Starmer...

https://www.thecanary.co/opinion/20...Zcg_HvIhgCPerxKxvMVIi_UwwFIG9r5RvEeYoroVsKZyc

 

[Pavilionaire]

I watched RLB being interviewed by Sophie Ridge on Sky. RLB said that she was a proud socialist and held socialist beliefs. This, to me, rules her out if Labour are serious about winning the next General Election.

For the next Labour leader it is all about winning hearts and minds, and broadening the appeal of the party away from the 500,000 socialist hard core that currently hold the whip hand and that have made Labour into the unelectable party it is today.

They have to stop looking backwards and I agree with Starmer the Blairite vs Corbynista debate has to end right now.

One of the problems with Labour is that it tries to run before it can walk. The policies about free broadband and renationalising industries were second term aims in years 6-10, desirables but not essentials. I feel Clive Lewis is making a similar mistake with his proposed reforms of the electoral system, House of Lords and Referendum re the Royal Family. There is a time and a place for all of that stuff, and it is very much second place to fixing the NHS and inequality in society.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I watched RLB being interviewed by Sophie Ridge on Sky. RLB said that she was a proud socialist and held socialist beliefs. This, to me, rules her out if Labour are serious about winning the next General Election.

For the next Labour leader it is all about winning hearts and minds, and broadening the appeal of the party away from the 500,000 socialist hard core that currently hold the whip hand and that have made Labour into the unelectable party it is today.

They have to stop looking backwards and I agree with Starmer the Blairite vs Corbynista debate has to end right now.

One of the problems with Labour is that it tries to run before it can walk. The policies about free broadband and renationalising industries were second term aims in years 6-10, desirables but not essentials. I feel Clive Lewis is making a similar mistake with his proposed reforms of the electoral system, House of Lords and Referendum re the Royal Family. There is a time and a place for all of that stuff, and it is very much second place to fixing the NHS and inequality in society.

The first task is to perhaps redefine what Modern Socialism is, because there are many people who attribute the term to various historical variations as if it has a fixed definition whether Leninism, Communism, Marxism etc.

Modern socialism, or social democracy, is a movement to make conditions under capitalism better through government, and not actually make any move toward socialism as the term appears to generate horror visions in people's minds. I don't disagree the last Labour manifesto had far too much in it, but none of these revolutionised our present democratic system or our position in the wider capitalist market.

Need to stop looking backward, and that includes thinking modern socialism is a step to being the Soviet Union of UK.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

The not so famous five candidates have been confirmed. Great to see so many women representing all types of diverse backgrounds and regions applying for the top job hoping to become Labours first elected female leader .... obviously the middle-aged, middle class, Knight of the Realm, North London man will win though

 

[Ernest]

Can't vote for Starmer or Thornbury due to their Brexit stance, can't vote for Long-Bailey as she is a Momentum puppet, can't vote for Nandy due to her part in the Owen Smith coup so that leaves Jess Phillips. HELP !!!!

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I always thought the leadership’s freezing out of a Watson was mistake - really stupid.

Stupid maybe but not surprising, they were from completely different wings of the Party. Remember Momentum run the LP now, not the leadership.

Watson was a good man, and a good MP.

Interesting that the LP parachuted a Corbynite into his safe seat for the recent election, and ending up losing to a 25 year old.

If Labour elect RLB, which despite KS being favourite, I fear they will, the Tories are here fr the next 10 years.

 

[Ernest]

Stupid maybe but not surprising, they were from completely different wings of the Party. Remember Momentum run the LP now, not the leadership.

Watson was a good man, and a good MP.

Interesting that the LP parachuted a Corbynite into his safe seat for the recent election, and ending up losing to a 25 year old.

If Labour elect RLB, which despite KS being favourite, I fear they will, the Tories are here fr the next 10 years.

I think you'll find Momentum are something of a busted flush now and any influence is diminishing

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Stupid maybe but not surprising, they were from completely different wings of the Party. Remember Momentum run the LP now, not the leadership.

Watson was a good man, and a good MP.

Interesting that the LP parachuted a Corbynite into his safe seat for the recent election, and ending up losing to a 25 year old.

If Labour elect RLB, which despite KS being favourite, I fear they will, the Tories are here fr the next 10 years.

"Stupid maybe but not surprising" goes some way to summarising the current situation. I too think RLB would not be right.

 

[kemptown kid]

Free broadband, menopause leave, and WASPY pension reversal, three very rapidly off the top of my head.

And if any of those were not actual manifesto pledges then Labour need to stop spouting ‘free this, free that’, because that is the public perception, and the public believe it is unrealistic.

Thanks for being specific, unlike many on here who favour vapid anti Labour/Corbyn slogans or suggest the Labour Party should abandon any policies aimed at addressing the massive and growing inequalities of wealth and power in our country.

Do you believe these policies are a) wrong, b) unaffordable or c) that they were poorly presented?

 

[Gwylan]

Remember Momentum run the LP now, not the leadership.
s.

Momentum represents about 10% of Labour membership - scarcely running the party

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Can't vote for Starmer or Thornbury due to their Brexit stance, can't vote for Long-Bailey as she is a Momentum puppet, can't vote for Nandy due to her part in the Owen Smith coup so that leaves Jess Phillips. HELP !!!!

Thornberry is a non-starter. That sneering at White Van Ingerland Fan will ensure that. By any rational reckoning the next leader should be somebody with a bit of GRAVITAS. Which means Keir Starmer. Tho PC will doubtless ensure it goes it one of the mousey mumsnet wimmin. Which will in turn gift another five years to Boris. Oh well.

 

[beorhthelm]

The first task is to perhaps redefine what Modern Socialism is, because there are many people who attribute the term to various historical variations as if it has a fixed definition whether Leninism, Communism, Marxism etc.

Modern socialism, or social democracy, is a movement to make conditions under capitalism better through government, and not actually make any move toward socialism as the term appears to generate horror visions in people's minds. I don't disagree the last Labour manifesto had far too much in it, but none of these revolutionised our present democratic system or our position in the wider capitalist market.

Need to stop looking backward, and that includes thinking modern socialism is a step to being the Soviet Union of UK.

you are quite right about refining what is meant by those saying they are socialist or social democrats. trouble is that for many on the left socialism really does mean a moving towards Marxism, controlling banks, communication, state owning the means of production etc. see Labour last manifesto seeking to lend 250bn through a national bank, nationalising telecommunications and rail, forced company share distribution to union and state actors. abroad social democracies have looked to keep some control of major infrastructure while also divesting holdings to capital markets, a different direction of travel.

 

[Weststander]

Thornberry is a non-starter. That sneering at White Van Ingerland Fan will ensure that. By any rational reckoning the next leader should be somebody with a bit of GRAVITAS. Which means Keir Starmer. Tho PC will doubtless ensure it goes it one of the mousey mumsnet wimmin. Which will in turn gift another five years to Boris. Oh well.

She’s also a vote loser, people will never to her.

Behind the smarmy, faux softly-spoken veneer, is an angry person ready to lash out.

 

[Weststander]

Momentum represents about 10% of Labour membership - scarcely running the party

But like minded people piled in under the ‘pennies’ membership fee in 2015 and 2016. They not be members of Momentum, but they’re very much supporters of Lansman, Marx and Corbyn.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Interesting one this. Starmer and RLB are the two favourites, but there could be a lot of left wing types among the membership who want to move away from 'losing with ideals' and might be concerned about RLB if she's got Momentum right behind her. They won't go for Starmer, Thornberry or Phillips, so could Nandy become the de facto left of the centre - left candidate and beat Starmer in the final ballot? I'd like to think so

 

[Gwylan]

But like minded people piled in under the ‘pennies’ membership fee in 2015 and 2016. They not be members of Momentum, but they’re very much supporters of Lansman, Marx and Corbyn.

Marx? I'd be surprised if more than 10% of Labour party members had ever read any Marx. Members I've met are more interested in Marks and Spencer than Marx and Lenin

 

[Weststander]

Interesting one this. Starmer and RLB are the two favourites, but there could be a lot of left wing types among the membership who want to move away from 'losing with ideals' and might be concerned about RLB if she's got Momentum right behind her. They won't go for Starmer, Thornberry or Phillips, so could Nandy become the de facto left of the centre - left candidate and beat Starmer in the final ballot? I'd like to think so

Nandy’s always come across as NOT particularly left wing, very reasonable, open and honest, with some charm. Will the Hard Left really vote for her?

 

[Beach Hut]

Hopefully Long-Bailey will win and keep the party in the wilderness for another 10 years

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Nandy’s always come across as NOT particularly left wing, very reasonable, open and honest, with some charm. Will the Hard Left really vote for her?

I agree completely, I like her. I just imagine that if the more left - wing people were going to vote for someone other than RLB, she would be the one they would be most likely to choose. I could of course be wrong, maybe they don't mind starmer at all