| Labour Leadership Contest 2015; Playing Devil's Advocate! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 24 2015, 09:10 AM (1,300 Views) | |
| Mobson | Aug 24 2015, 09:10 AM Post #1 |
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Since we have so few posters here nowadays to voice robust opinions, of which I'm sure some will be labour supporters or sympathisers (is there a difference), I'm daring to open this thread hoping to hear their views. Mercifully I am not at all interested in the increasingly fractious contest to decide who becomes the next Labour leader but certain headlines about one of the four candidates, Jeremy Corbyn, caught my eye last week...amid all the accusations that he's anti-semitic and 'hanging out in a rather bad crowd', the personal attacks on him from the likes of Neil Kinnock, David Blunkett and the former Speaker of the Commons, Betty Boothroyd claiming that Labour will be "galloping towards the precipe" if it elects him, he stated in the Guardian that he will issue a public apology on behalf of the Labour party for its "deception" in taking Britain into the Iraq war if he is elected party leader. Corbyn's pledge to apologise for Iraq – a move Tony Blair "repeatedly resisted" – comes as the press focuses on the left-winger's foreign policies, many of which would mark a very real break from recent Labour positions and could affect Britain's relationship with the US. For my part, I wonder what the casualties of the war, e.g. our armed forces think of such an intention... Corbyn also made it clear that he will not support David Cameron's proposal to extend British air strikes on Islamic State – or Isil – into Syria. As the Financial Times points out, a Corbyn victory will "scupper the chances" of Britain taking on IS in Syria because the government has said it will only bring a Commons vote on the issue if it can be guaranteed Labour support. I repeat although I'm not interested in the labour leadership contest per se, I do think past leader Ed Miliband should not have taken flight so quickly after the GE but helped with the transition of a change for the good of his party, instead of jettisoning it and leaving Labour to flail around looking for appropriate, or inappropriate, candidates in what is tantamount to desertion! I'm No ageist, but I think 66 year old Jeremy Corbyn looks too old to take on the leadership for what is going to be an incredibly difficult period in the history of this political party...not withstanding his leftist views! Altho hang on a minute, I see from his CV that he's been married three times and has three children with his second wife - so maybe he will be able to cope after all...or not! Btw for the attention of Labour party voters. The candidates are Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall Key dates: Ballot papers were sent out on 14th August; voting can take place by post or online. They must be returned by 10 September. The result of the new leader will be announced at a special conference on 12th September 2015, ahead of Labour's party conference on 27th September. Who can vote? All party members, registered supporters and affiliated supporters - including those joining via a union The voting system? The Alternative Vote system is being used so voters are asked to rank candidates in order of preference How does it work? If no candidate gets 50% of all votes cast, the candidate in fourth place is eliminated. Their second preference votes are then redistributed among the remaining three. If there is still no winner, the third place candidate is eliminated with their preferences redistributed. It is then a head-to-head between the last two candidates...and Bob's your uncle! Articles/Blogs of interest: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/23/labour-heading-scrapheap-if-elects-jeremy-corbyn-betty-boothroyd http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-jeremy-corbyn-accused-of-deluding-young-supporters-with-claptrap-10467916.html http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/tag/labour-leadership-contest-2015/ Edited by Mobson, Aug 25 2015, 03:43 PM.
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| dai Cottomy | Aug 25 2015, 03:25 PM Post #2 |
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People are open for something that’s different, and voting for it. What gives Jeremy Corbyn his appeal is that he speaks with authenticity, honesty, and conviction. For too long, politicians of all stripes have engaged in a collective unwillingness to answer questions, turning evasiveness into a skill. There is a feeling that politics is dominated by a identikit group of cosseted elites whose ideas can be separated by a cigarette paper. George Orwell in his Politics and the English Language: “a curious feeling that one is not watching a live human being but some kind of dummy… who has gone some distance toward turning himself into a machine. The appropriate noises are coming out of his larynx - 'empowered citizens, joined-up government, innovation, hard-working families, etc.' but his brain is not involved, as it would be if he were choosing his words for himself.” If Jeremy Corbyn becomes leader of the Labour Party, there is a chance that it will become a credible opposition. Whether or not they will win the next election is another matter. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11760703/Its-not-hard-to-work-out-why-Jeremy-Corbyn-is-so-popular.html Edited by dai Cottomy, Aug 25 2015, 03:35 PM.
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| Caro | Aug 25 2015, 08:56 PM Post #3 |
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From here, I don't quite get the nuances of your politics. (Thankfully really - the British have a very bulldog attitude to issues and never let them go.) I have generally heard that Jeremy Corbyn will be bad for the Labour Party, but if he is bringing so much support and extra members, why will this be so? People generally tone their ideas down a bit when they get some power anyway (and then get thought of as hypocritical, when really they are just realistic). Though, of course, if his honest and sincere opinions are similar to Donald Trump's I wouldn't be happy with him either. What damage is it thought he would do? |
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| Rikiiboy | Aug 29 2015, 06:07 PM Post #4 |
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Hi all, IMHO some of the things Corbyn wants to renationalise will bring him in a lot of extra votes. Water,gas,railways,post office, and even the german's have been renationalising electricity. BTW,does any one here really think that private companies can be trusted to run nuclear power stations? How could they possibly protect us here ,were a terrorist attack made on one of them? |
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| Mobson | Sep 12 2015, 11:13 AM Post #5 |
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59.5%! Veteran left-wing MP Jeremy Corbyn has been elected leader of the Labour Party by a landslide. After he began the contest as a rank outsider, he's seen off a challenge from frontbenchers Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall. He gained 251,417 or 59% of first preference votes - 40% more than his nearest rival Mr Burnham, who got 19%. Ms Cooper was third on 17% and Ms Kendall a distant fourth with 4.5% of the vote. A total of 422,664 cast a vote - a turnout of 76% - with Mr Corbyn coming way out in front of his rivals among party members, trade unionists and those who signed up for to take part for £3. What do we think? Anyone happy?
Edited by Mobson, Sep 12 2015, 05:08 PM.
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| waiting4atickle | Sep 12 2015, 12:19 PM Post #6 |
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David Cameron might be, but things could get interesting. |
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| dai Cottomy | Sep 17 2015, 12:00 PM Post #7 |
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Why is Mr. Corbyn castigated for choosing to maintain a respectful silence during the Battle of Britain commemoration, rather than sing that dirge-like glorification of the monarchy? |
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| Rikiiboy | Sep 17 2015, 03:20 PM Post #8 |
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IMHO, because we are only free here in the UK the songs the Tory press are playing? |
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