Comrade Corbyn to the fore - whither (or wither) the Labour Party?

[FORMER_FYRDMAN]

It seems that Labour's obsession with the tokenism of having 'the widest possible debate' and their ostentatious need to allow anyone to vote for their next leader may have combined to produce one of the finest 'Oh sh1t' moments in British political history:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11741659/Jeremy-Corbyn-set-to-win-Labour-leadership-shock-poll-reveals.html

What can be done to stop the Corbyn juggernaut? What happens to British politics if Labour fails to do so? Is this one of the funniest self-inflicted wounds ever inspired by the Emperor?

 

[BarcelonaAnalPark]

It's been quite striking how Labour have been outflanked by the Tories and how the leadership race has descended to the level that it has already. Watching Harman getting chewed out by tribal labour voters has been particularly satisfying.

My favourite excuse is that the Murdoch press would never have allowed Labour to produce a budget that the Tories did and that's why they never proposed anything similar.

I say good luck to Corbyn; let him be judged by his performance. If he's half as bad as his detractors say, he won't get anywhere near power.

This is what you get, Labour. This is what happens.

 

[Rodney2q]

Cor blimey...Billy Bragg is looking a bit rough these days.

Is he going into politics?

I think we should be told...

Rodney2q

 

[Cold_Collation]

Once again, the Mash nails it:

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/labour-split-on-how-to-self-destruct-20150714100103

 

[FORMER_FYRDMAN]

Once again, the Mash nails it:

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/labour-split-on-how-to-self-destruct-20150714100103

First class.

Some mischief-making from the DT:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11741861/How-you-can-help-Jeremy-Corbyn-win-and-destroy-the-Labour-Party.html

 

[sirbhp]

i used to know him personally and worked in his campaign office . a more honest and down to earth bloke you couldnt find. I dont think he will be party leader but that would be a shame coz then you would see real labour party politics in action. Just wait till all the press realy slag him off then you know that he is in with a chance . bless him.

mind you piers is a complete nutter .

 

[philc]

Unions in action, and a daft selection process. Moderate Labour types shift to LibDems or UKIP, Labour disappear up their own arse, whilst funny an opposition us needed, SMP move south?

 

[bokkatankie]

The DT is running an opportunity to vote in the Labour Election, apparently, for as little as 3 quid, one can become a voter - Corbyn, as you may have guessed is the their favoured candidate.

 

[bokkatankie]

Unions in action, and a daft selection process. Moderate Labour types shift to LibDems or UKIP, Labour disappear up their own arse, whilst funny an opposition us needed, SMP move south?

All Governments need an effective opposition, the one person doing that job is not standing, Harriet where are you. She is sensible, Labour will gut itself in this election, she will be last person standing!

 

[simmer]

What can be done to stop the Corbyn juggernaut? What happens to British politics if Labour fails to do so? Is this one of the funniest self-inflicted wounds ever inspired by the Emperor?

I thought that was Michael Foot? or was it Neil Kinnock. Or was it Gordon Brown. Or Milliband. or was it Ed Balls? Sorry. I'm lost in socialist fcukwittery

 

[Sarastro]

He's either going to win or come a close second. It's spectacular if terrible to watch, like one of those videos of squeezing pus from a massive cyst.

The problem is that even long-term Labour party members and observers don't seem to fully understand how totally whackadoo their active party membership has become. My bet is that it has changed substantially over the past 5 years, and now looks like this:

• Middle-ground voters / supporters have deserted for Conservatives.
• Conservative leaning working class have deserted for UKIP (previously a most important counterweight)
• Scotland has deserted for SNP.
• Union linked membership has proportionally increased (and they are trying hard to get a gross increase too)
• An influx of younger (read: naive) members brought up to be generally socially liberal during the New Labour years, but more importantly, came to political awareness from 2007-2015 on a diet of left-right hyperbole about the crash and austerity. The ones joining Labour have clearly bought the left hyperbole.
• Proportionally more "true believers" as one New Statesman quote said today.

Labour party observers and pollsters have been mis-reading and mis-predicting results for a couple of years now. The clear conclusion is that their old assumptions / understanding no longer apply. At the same time, there is now a consistent trend of support from the rank-and-file for quite seriously left-wing ideas and individuals, be it on social media or elsewhere. None of these things in themselves are reliable indicators, some of them can be very misleading, but together, they give an increasingly firm steer about the direction of the membership.

The only real question remaining is whether there is a significant silent majority in the Labour membership who will vote differently when the time comes. Otherwise the Labour party and the UK left-wing is on the brink of total self-destruction precisely through gaining the success & crazy left candidate they always wanted. At least that should hammer the nail firmly in place on the crazy left, demonstrate with finality that the UK voters are not interested in moving further to the left, and might even open the door to a generation of sensible, moderate politicians. Not sure they will be sporting a Labour rose though. Hell, the Lib Dems might even make a comeback!

 

[Whiskybreath]

I can't imagine why anyone to the right of centre would want to halt Mr Corbyn's rise to the leadership; I've voted for him already (viz: post#7 above).

But... calling Harriet "sensible" is to ignore her past record, shurely. Agreeing with the Tories on one or two points of the last Budget doesn't paper over her distinctly loony views on most things political.

 

[Moglington]

I think she's being called sensible when looked at after Corbyn. Much in the same way that after being stuck in a dark dank hole a candle suddenly seems bright.

 

[stoatman]

I can't imagine why anyone to the right of centre would want to halt Mr Corbyn's rise to the leadership; I've voted for him already (viz: post#7 above).
.

An unrepentant antisemitic Communist who thought that the USSR wasn't so bad, and copies his millinary from Vladimir Illich.

The ideal Labour leader - from the Tories' perspective.

Bring it.

 

[stoatman]

Bet that Nationalist Socialist twat Bugsy will be along in a minute to explain why Stalinist Corbyn will usher in True Socialism (which stalinism was not... once it fell).

 

[simmer]

re an early post on needing a good opposition.

yes you need a good opposition, but the problem with oppositions is they often end up in power. Given the track record of the Labour party since Harold Wilson, I think its good news that Corbyn may well get in, and yes I hope they implode. We are too hung up on 2 party politics in this country is how it feels to me. I know I'm off thread topic a bit, but the face of opposition in this country is changing and it may well be unrecognisaable by the time the next GE comes round.

I dont think it makes a difference if its Corbyn or what's his name - the 'nice' one. The Labour party has fallen apart and by the time its got a grip, I will hopefully no longer care!

 

[Northern_Biff]

The best £3 I ever spent.
Labour consigned to the toilet, what a great year this is panning out to be.

 

[biohazardboots]

Just waiting for Church and Brand to come out in support of this Dinosaur then you absolutely know the blokes doomed for epic failure.
Harman is tied to the unions in a different way but still looked weak in todays PMQs even with DC (almost) giveing her an easy time.

 

[FORMER_FYRDMAN]

I thought that was Michael Foot? or was it Neil Kinnock. Or was it Gordon Brown. Or Milliband. or was it Ed Balls? Sorry. I'm lost in socialist fcukwittery

But the difference this time, and what makes it truly special, is that Corbyn is the form horse despite being sponsored solely as a sop to the trots in order to make the discussion look balanced. It's a sublime exercise in foot shooting, far beyond the capability of mere mortals.

 

[stoatman]

But the difference this time, and what makes it truly special, is that Corbyn is the form horse despite being sponsored solely as a sop to the trots in order to make the discussion look balanced. It's a sublime exercise in foot shooting, far beyond the capability of mere mortals.

Oh, it's bloody fantastic. Plus add the "Tories for Corbyn" into the mix and it's just precious. Like a barbie doll with pretty dress, a Lenin cap and a revolver for shooting political prisoners in the back of the head.