Anyone leaving Labour party with Chuka and his mates?

[longwayoff]

I am seriously worried. Politics across the West is an utter mess - thanks Putin, nice work - and I can't see that this will help. It will split the left vote and right-wing ideology will continue stomping its way to more power. We are asterisked all ways from hell to breakfast.

I actually think both parties splitting and a new centrist party is exactly what the country needs.

Meh, Chuka has disagreed with Corbyn's leadership since the first labour leadership election. I'm not a JC supporter, but CU's repeated actions to undermine him have imo been just as damaging to Labour at a time when the country needs to pull together, compromise and find agreement not push personal political agendas.

As Peston's tweet says, why now?

Seems reasonable. No one should have to pursue politics that go against their conscience. I actually like the idea of a bit more variety and cooperation, moving away from an tribal, adversarial 2 party system.

We need to get rid of FPTP, though. Really.

At the moment, we don't even know if it's actually happening!

at a time when the country needs to pull together, compromise and find agreement

That should have been happening for the last three years and hasn't. It's far too late now for everyone to suddenly start co-operating to come to an agreement in a few weeks.

We need to get rid of FPTP, though. Really.

THIS. Too many people in this country have no choice and/or wasted votes because of the system.

Anti-Semitism and bullying are what’s done this. Labour’s Brexit ‘policy’ is divisive, but the party’s grassroots nastiness is the real reason.

Largely irrelevant as Brexit will ultimately lead to the breakup of the UK anyway.

A "centrist" party will appeal to an ever dwindling group of middle class folk in England as the country becomes poorer and those that can move to more prosperous countries. This will of course leave fertile ground for English nationalists - as we are already seeing.

@Kissing Quite. Once upon a time the Tories were called the nasty party. These days, it's harder to tell which is worse.

While the idea of splitting the vote is a bit worrying, ultimately this is the best news I've had for a while. Corbyn and McDonnell are unelectable for the vast majority of the electorate, and have failed to mount an effective opposition to the Tories, in a period where they have been practically trying to throw votes away.

A new, slightly left-of-centre party could, if led by the right people, with the right policies, run away with the votes of the middle majority. I really, really hope the big names get on board with this. As a former Labour voter, who is now politically homeless for a number of reasons, not least Labour's misogyny and anti-semitism, I would be thrilled to throw my weight behind it if it espouses the values I hope it will. It could attract voters who would never have voted Labour, if they play their cards right.

So eager now to see what happens.

Ghost 😥!

While the idea of splitting the vote is a bit worrying, ultimately this is the best news I've had for a while. Corbyn and McDonnell are unelectable for the vast majority of the electorate, and have failed to mount an effective opposition to the Tories, in a period where they have been practically trying to throw votes away.

Exactly what I was going to say.

It is shameful how useless JC has been at mounting an effective opposition.

Go Chuka!

Chuka Umunna's main objective is the further promotion of Chuka Umuna. He wants to be the next Blair, a Tory-lite social democrat PM. He knows that he stands no chance of becoming leader of a Labour party that is returning to its redistributive roots, so splitting the party is his only chance.

Cameron was a complete shit when he put party before country and called the fucking referendum, but Umunna has gone one step further, and put himself before both party and country.

Good riddance to the careerist shite.

Ditch FPTP...an awful lot of the BS we've been witnessing in the last 5 years would never have happened if we had proper PR.

I actually like the idea of a bit more variety and cooperation, moving away from an tribal, adversarial 2 party system.

You mean in the way that the LDs propped up co-operated with the the first Cameron government, or the way the DUP tail wags the Tory dog at the moment?

Our constitution, which requires majority government, doesn't lend itself to a collaborative, collegiate approach, I'm afraid.

Good riddance to the careerist shite.

‘Careerism’ is a favourite insult of the North Korean leadership.

I always thought that Labour was regrouping and Corbyn was a Michael Foot type, and CU would step in when the election came.

I reckoned without Momentum. And the shower of MPs that Corbyn has around him. Can you imagine the embarrassment of trying to appear on the world stage with some of that crew? Most are not intellectually capable.

What constitution?

As a former Labour voter, who is now politically homeless for a number of reasons, not least Labour's misogyny and anti-semitism, I would be thrilled to throw my weight behind it if it espouses the values I hope it will.

This

It's just a random Monday.

I smell the tick tock of a grand plan and dominoes falling all week!

JC and Momentum have totally fucked the Labour party so I hope there is a new one. I just hope it's main goal ISNT stopping Brexit, which it probably will be. Pity.

The only reason they haven’t left yet is because they know it will be the end of their political careers. I sympathise with them, but the reality is that a centrist party already exists and is floundering. They are on a hiding to nothing.

I hope it works, I can never vote for Labour whilst momentum have a hold on the party ( I have voted Labour all my life) and can never forgive them for their approach to Brexit. I think they should have done this a long time ago, that is my only misgiving.

And yes, FPTP is not fit for purpose. It’s got to go.

I actually think both parties splitting and a new centrist party is exactly what the country needs

100% agree with this. It might mean that there's someone I can actually vote for should there be a General Election any time soon. Currently both main parties are a shower of shit - a national embarrassment and for the first time in my life I wouldn't be able to vote for anyone.
It's time for something new.

I’d love to be able to vote for labour but while Corbyn is at the helm I’ve felt unable to. His failure to stand up to anti-semitism within the party has made labour a particularly unelectable party for me as a BrIrish Jew. So yes, if this split does actually materialise, I’m very keen to find out more.

Yes FPTP is to blame for all of this.. I would rather have seen the awful UKIP properly represented than have their agenda take over the main parties. I'm also happy to see some sort of movement to re-establish a centrist and pro-EU voice. I resigned from labour a while ago.

I also take issue with Umuna etc being called "careerist" yet Corbyn and McDonnell aren't (or May, the laughable ERG or any politician really). It makes no sense at all.