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Original poster

To be ashamed of the Labour Party leadership

956 replies

20nil · 11/02/2017 21:43

Long term member, did not support Corbyn, but even I am surprised by quite how bad he's been.

Where is the opposition? I get that Brexit is difficult, but where is Labour on the collapse of the NHS, the explosion of homelessness, the decimation of local council funding and the ticking bomb that is school funding?

Why is it that we now look to the Lords, the Cof E and petitions to be the opposition?

Shocking state of affairs.

OP posts:
flippinada · 16/02/2017 12:06

Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer and Dan Jarvis have all been suggested by PP.

I think the LP is currently in roughly the same position now as the CP was in the early 2000s. Lots of their big hitters have gone.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/02/2017 12:07

I agree. I think there is a lot of potential coming through, but it is too early for them.

Fakenewsday · 16/02/2017 12:11

Dan Jarvis, Alan Johnson are my top 2 as well but neither of them seems to want to do it - doesn't Jarvis have small kids and he's a widower? I'm not sure why Alan J isn't interested. I adore Yvette Cooper but I don't think she's got enough crossover appeal, like Hilary Clinton (who I was also a huge fan of). Not sufficiently warm or something.

lemonsandlimes123 · 16/02/2017 12:11

makeourfuture - It's interesting because I look at your post and struggle to understand how you think all of these things are resourced. Food, safety, housing, infrastructure etc are not things that are magicked up out of nowhere. How do you think governments provide these 'basics' as you put it? You seem to think that these can all be provided at little or no cost to anyone and then everything else is a bonus on top. How far do you expand your concern for others? You couldn't be happy having three houses knowing there are homeless people so how can you be happy eating anything other than the basics when there is so much hunger in the world? Unless you deliberately live the most frugal and minimal life possible and give all your spare money to charity I don't see how you can be consistent with your position. I feel no more affinity to certain members of the british community than I do towards any other human, certainly there are many people in the world i would rather spend resources on then certain sectors of british society.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/02/2017 12:15

doesn't Jarvis have small kids and he's a widower?

He has remarried I believe.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 16/02/2017 12:15

Keir Starmer (though is early but his previous work gives him an advantage)

Dan Jarvis (he is very quiet at the moment)

I think Lisa Nandy has a good future in the party. Not sure about Jess Phillips between her numerous media appearances, writing a book when does she get down to her work as an MP and too crowd pleasing with little substance when staying her opinions but I like hay she has spoken out against Corbyn and the problems she has faced being a women in HOP

Love Alan Johnson not as a leader though as he has stated too many times it's not the job for him

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 16/02/2017 12:16

And of course Yvette Cooper in a senior role

The

teawamutu · 16/02/2017 12:18

make, i don't disagree with most of what you've said, but you're showing a truly politician-like ability to not answer the question.

I'm guessing you'd rather wait for your preferred govt than compromise. But that means the NHS and the disabled, to name just a few, are collateral damage.

I'm not ok with that. Are you?

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 16/02/2017 12:19

Buy to let

Not but to let Blush

Excuse the typos please too many to correct switches off auto correct thingy

Fakenewsday · 16/02/2017 12:20

one lives in hope that Jarvis is just waiting for an incontrovertible electoral defeat to go for JC. I'm not sure they'll get rid of him without an absolute trouncing in a GE, or even then because his rule is a majority of the party voting him out isn't it?

Fakenewsday · 16/02/2017 12:20

you'd hope a huge loss in the GE might lead to a majority of party members opting for new leadership...

Viviennemary · 16/02/2017 12:22

I don't think Jeremy Corbyn is entirely to blame for the situation. The party must look at the whole way it is organised. How can there be a leader in place who does not really have the support of the majority of MP's. If they don't tackle this they won't even be in opposition in the future. They'll be finished. They're on a set path to disaster at the next election. And nobody is willing to do anything about it.

Lottapianos · 16/02/2017 12:23

Enthusiasm, I saw Lisa Nandy on Question Time a few months back and thought she was very impressive. I'm not entirely sure what to make of Jess Phillips either - I love her background (managing women's refuges) and I respect her for speaking out about misogyny within the party but I'm not sure I see her as a frontbench candidate

Fakenewsday · 16/02/2017 12:24

JC argues that the parliamentary party isn't representative of the labour party members who elected him and that's why he won't resign. That's why I fear the more idealistic party members are going to have to have an absolute GE drubbing to show them that JC can't win, and meanwhile the people in society that need protection will get further screwed over for his principles.

makeourfuture · 16/02/2017 12:25

How far do you expand your concern for others? You couldn't be happy having three houses knowing there are homeless people so how can you be happy eating anything other than the basics when there is so much hunger in the world?

I think you guys are misunderstanding me. And viewing through a particular lens.

I, and you, can absolutely enjoy things under current conditions. But every thing would be so much better knowing that these basic requirement were met, or that progress was being made towards meeting these goals.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/02/2017 12:26

I think Dan Jarvis would be good, however I can see the JC members having an issue with his military background.

Lalsy · 16/02/2017 12:27

Make, music to my ears about Britain's strengths in science, technology and so on, although I am very worried about the impact of Brexit.

I definitely don't see the Green party as a viable option at the moment (and am not sure they ever will be - some strange stuff in there). Practically speaking, are you saying there is an immediate alternative to a more centrist Labour govt or years of Tories in power, only needing to keep their right wing appeased?

As for the next leader - it partly depends on how JC and his followers now behave. I think Alan J has had enough and was disillusioned after the Remain campaign was so let down by Lab leadership. I think there is plenty of talent but it takes a leader who is prepared to compromise, advance one step at a time, and be open to ideas from all wings of the party. The accounts of eg Lilian Greenwood and that Bristol MP were so dispiriting.

Fakenewsday · 16/02/2017 12:29

well Blair went to Fettes - it all depends on the way these things are presented. The Brexit vote has been great for the tories, the issue that's been dividing them for years is now behind them and it's splintered labour further over the issue of immigration.

Lalsy · 16/02/2017 12:31

I think people like Jess Phillips are a breath of fresh air but she is nowhere near leadership atm (am sure she would agree!). She has a lot to contribute though and I like the fire in her belly when it comes to abuse of women and so on.

makeourfuture · 16/02/2017 12:35

How do you think governments provide these 'basics' as you put it?

Today in Britain there is a magic path that leads to every house in the country. It is a remarkable achievement. You can walk out of your house and ride your bicycle, or drive your car, to any other individual's house. It may be a little bumpy in spots, but it will be almost assuredly drained and dry and engineered to allow for safe passage. You will travel over gorges and under mountains.

Such a short time ago this would have been considered madness..

In almost every single abode in this country there is at least one room with a pipe in it that, with the flip of a lever, delivers palatable safe water.

If we make equality our goal we can do anything...we can sip champagne 32000 feet in the sky while watching television.

Princesstwilightsparkle · 16/02/2017 12:35

Dan Jarvis looks like Jonathan Pie! 😅

NotDavidTennant · 16/02/2017 12:52

It's still too soon for Jarvis, he only has a limited amount of shadow cabinet experience.

Labour need to do what the Conservatives did when Howard replaced IDS: bring in an old hand who can steady the ship and start bringing on some of the younger generation.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/02/2017 13:15

It's still too soon for Jarvis, he only has a limited amount of shadow cabinet experience.

With his 'previous life' experience I'm not sure that it would matter tbh.

teawamutu · 16/02/2017 13:59

make ok, so what do you suggest as the practical way to make this happen?

I'm translating it as Trust in Jeremy and All Will Be Well. In which case I think we've found the border of the common ground, because I fundamentally don't. I don't want to see Labour sitting on the sidelines being right, I want them in power, actually doing something.

lemonsandlimes123 · 16/02/2017 13:59

makeourfuture - why should equality be our goal?