To think that Hilary Benn should

[Sallyingforth]

take over as Labour leader right now.
He has time to rebuild the party into a credible opposition before the next election. With Corbyn in charge the Tories will walk it.

It's also hard to follow someone who's policies you don't believe in (twatty blairite here). And he wasn't elected by the electorate, just people that would always vote labour. The tories are gleeful about facing Corbyn at the next election.

Cleansheets

www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10669/hilary_benn/leeds_central

Regarding the electability or otherwise o Corbyn, won't we get the chance late tonight (too late for me probably) to get a feel for what core Labour voters actually think.

Oldham is in Labour's heartlands and voting in the by-election today. Wouldn't normally be too much of an issue, except that it is a litmus test of Corbyn so far, and Labour are concerned their lead may be slipping somewhat.

of Corbyn.

It looks like you are right -topseyt

So, there we go, Labour held onto Oldham convincingly and the candidate increased his share of the vote. Gosh, it's almost as if the right-wing press has been lying to us about how much the electorate hates Corbyn and how unelectable he is. Who'd have thought it?

As for Benn's speech, lots of politicians have been great orators. Enoch Powell. Mussolini. Adolf Hitler. It doesn't tell us anything other than that gullible people are easily swayed by people who are good at public speaking.

The result in Oldham is a huge relief but I don't see that it is particularly a vote for Corbyn. All the reports from canvassers were that Corbyn was widely disliked among the electorate, especially white working class voters. John Harris's film for the Guardian (not exactly the right-wing press) also picked that up very strongly. Interestingly the only people who were in favour of JC were the Asian voters he interviewed.

Oldham seems to me more a case of a popular local candidate (he'd been leader of the council) campaigning on local issues. Personally I think it can't be said too often that London really isn't the whole of the country and while I think JC is fairly popular in London there is a gulf between Islington North and the wilds outside the M25.

I wouldn't vote for Hilary Benn either. I'm utter disgusted with the Labour mps who have voted for war. If they oust corbyn (who tbf I don't agree with everything he says) I will never, ever vote for them again.

I'm a mother of three, a carer, I have a computer. Even I managed to do research on brimstone and paveway bombs - as that was the main argument for the UK going to war
Did anyone else not Google? I utterly disgusted at the media and all the Willy waving, privileged oiks in the HoC

the turnout was 39%, hardly people queuing up to vote for JC. The media don't over-estimate my loathing of his policies and leadership. Let's see a result from a marginal seat. But yes, the media talked it up to make it an event and it certainly wasn't a disaster for him.

The problem as I see it is not the support for the party from the electorate, but the lack of support for the leader from the MPs.
Corbyn wanted to whip his MPs to vote against. But it was clear that many, including some he had just appointed to his cabinet, would ignore him and vote for the motion. So he had to back down and allow a free vote.
If he can't rely on the support of his MPs in parliament, he isn't the right leader.

democracy iS a free vote though! He's not running a dictatorship
The whole point of democracy is voting and the whole point of MPs is to represent their constituency
How many MPs asked their constituents what they felt, what they wanted? As I think they've got it WILDLY wrong

Corbyn will sink the Labour Party. He wants to scrap Trident and disarm the Police. Now? Really? Absolute Wet Lettuce. And FFS, get a gardener if the Press are going to film you coming out of your shit tip of a house.

"How ashamed his father would have been."

I'm sure his father would disagree with him strongly, but still be incredibly proud of him for delivering a powerful speech in parliament.

And I say that whatever the MPs political affiliation

He should be ashamed of himself. His father would turn in his grave.

ILiveAtTheBeach

I just goggle imaged his garden, HARSH WORDS THERE - it needs a trim certainty but I doubt he has time- but not a shit tip

How many MPs asked their constituents what they felt, what they wanted?

MPs do talk to their constituents - they all have to have surgeries where they meet their constituents. But you are misunderstanding the way our democracy works. We elect MPs but we can't make them do our bidding. They have to vote in accordance with party policy or, if there is a free vote, in accordance with their own conscience.

Never forget that if things were done in accordance with public opinion we would have the death penalty.

Someone will make money out of this inhumane mess. There's always a winner

yes

Lockheed Martin
Rolls Royce
Bombardier
Boeing

etc. people with a chunk of their pension find in "defence"- good times ahead

He should be ashamed of himself. His father would turn in his grave.

aqua not only is that a viciously low blow, it's getting very tired now. Have you got any original comment?

(I can't see much wrong with Corbyn's garden TBH, but I do prefer being on the side of the debate that thinks that that is a good dig )

That grey tracksuit should go though

Mbda mainly, I'd have thought

I don't misunderstand democracy at all I think it's about time MPs did start listening to their constituents instead of writing books

Genuine question - can someone please explain to me why Corbyn is 'unelectable'? I don't consider myself a hardcore socialist or anything but 99% of what he says seems to make perfect sense to me. What is it about him that is extreme?

Genuinely - I'm not being goady.

I don't accept that the media is out to get Corbyn.
Yeah, and the Pope's an atheist.

He's unelectable because the msm tells us he is. From last night's result I'd say the opposite is true.