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 don't think many will leave or sit as independents.

Like many other people I am politically homeless. No way will I vote Labour whilst they refuse to act against anti-semitic comments by some of their members.

I'm amazed anyone is staying in the Labour party

I am worried about the split vote as well.

FPTP is completely undemocratic.

I would love the centre to be stronger and gain traction. On Brexit Corbyn is and has been appalling.

I don't think many will leave or sit as independents.

I agree with this, for now. The issue for Labour MPs in the medium-term is how many will be targeted for deselection or just abuse and bullying. A trickle of leavers could well become a torrent.

The significance of a few MPs leaving today will be symbolic rather than anything greater. But it’s important for all that.

I expect them to resign the whip not to defect or announce a new party.

As someone has posted on Twitter, there is little that's less careerist than leaving one of the two major parties in a FPTP two party system.

the biggest problem is the funding

traditionally trade unions have funded labour

any new party needs to get funding from somewhere

I think we should move to a different method of party funding in my honest opinion - rather than them relying on big donations from vested individuals/groups

I agree with your entire post TheExtraGuineaPig

I think we should move to a different method of party funding in my honest opinion - rather than them relying on big donations from vested individuals/groups

Agreed. I have wanted this for a long time. The issues with social media in recent elections worldwide make this more urgent, I would say. We also have to tackle that, of course, so along with tighter regulation of the money, we should have tighter regulation of claims/promises/information/ facts.

I also take issue with Umuna etc being called "careerist" yet Corbyn and McDonnell aren't

Yes, Corbyn's rise to the party leadership was meteoric, wasn't it? How long did it take him, 50 + years? He joined the Labour party when he was at school, same as I did, and stuck with it all through the Blair years when many on the left felt it was hopeless.

Chuka Umunna, otoh - less than 10 years an MP and already threatening to flounce because he can't get his own way.

One thing that long association with the Labour movement has taught me is that no-one is bigger than the party itself.

Absolutely 1StepBeyond. You have to put up money to stand, pay for leaflets, posters, staff, transport... and it all has to be accounted for. Every last penny. Very difficult for a individual candidate to mount a credible stand in a general (or even a local) election.

Traditionally new parties have been damp squibs, but things could change. Anyone seen Borgen?! A new party went quite well in that...

Anyone old enough to remember the SDP? I'm not hopeful that a new left-centrist party will be successful. Thoroughly depressed that Farage has plans for something he describes in similar terms from the other side. My money would be on his having more success than Chuka. Buggering hell.

Also agree that social media is a game changer. How can you put a price on contact with the public made via devices ? You have to account for every leaflet printed, but no one is monitoring how many targeted tweets etc are being sent.

I've always liked Chuka. I'm leftish - I voted Labour in every election bar one, when I voted Lib dem to get the long-standing tory MP out.

I would not vote Labour today - I'm pretty disheartened by Corbyn & McDonnell. There is something very concerning about Momentum - anti-semitism, misogyny, and just a general 'totalitarianism' attitude (party members keeping "lists" of people, placing Corbyn into the position of untouchable Dear Leader).

Labour have been in a very untenable position for years - where the grassroots despise the Parliamentary party, and vice versa.

Brexit has thrown UK politics into chaos.

Anyone old enough to remember the SDP? I'm not hopeful that a new left-centrist party will be successful.
Yes I am old enough.

FPTP will kill this new party just like it killed the SDP.

I'm not sure I get your logic, Lakie. 10 years is a fair amount of time. And I wouldn't call it 'flouncing' if somebody has a fundamental disagreement with the direction a party leadership is taking it. There are plenty of grass-roots supporters who feel similarly. Presumably you are not advocating for MPs to always stay with a party, even if they no longer agree with its policies?

I’m happy for a change. I vote labour not because I fully support but more as least worst option. Many many people are polical looking homeless and would be happy vote for a new group.

I'm amazed anyone is staying in the Labour party

Presumably because where the hell do they go otherwise? I'm not just talking about MPs but rank and file members. The only reason people stick with Labour is because they consider them a better alternative to the Tories. In fact, they are the only alternative to the Tories.

The only reason people stick with Labour is because they consider them a better alternative to the Tories.

The libdems would have been very well placed to take advantage of current events. They were doing well and gaining popularity until the pillocking incompetent Nick Clegg put his own political career ahead of his party. And even after that fiasco, the libdems themselves continue to make themselves unelectable by appointing the hapless and clueless Vince Cable as leader. What are they thinking? It's as if they want to self destruct.

This is literally the most exciting and positive thing which has happened on the Labour Party ever. I’ve been waiting for this day.

Chuka Umuna had the chance to run for the Labour leadership at the same time as Corbyn. In fact, he was touted as very much a favourite at one point. (Certainly more than Corbyn who no one gave a snow flake's chance in hell to originally!) Then suddenly Chuka Umuna pulled out most unexpectedly. Something about being unhappy with the level of scrutiny. I wonder what's changed?

yes I agree shatners and the fact that Labour is doing so badly despite the fact that they are the only opposition party just shows how awful they are

I really hope we do get some new parties as I think politics absolutely need a shake up in this country. Dreadful leaders all around. No aspirations. I mean Corbyn/Labour's pledge about what they want to spend bears no correlation, I mean none, to what money they can bring in. Like a wishlist rather than a real economic plan. Not that the Tories are much better.

If they called a GE now, I would have no-one to vote for!

This is literally the most exciting and positive thing which has happened on the Labour Party ever. I’ve been waiting for this day.
How is any different from 1983?

They're live on the BBC News channel now.

Those leaving are to sit as independents. They aren’t launching a new party.

I hope they have broad shoulders and plenty of good people around them to offer support. The Momentum trolls and bullies will on the warpath.

Now wait for the likes of Woolastone, Soubry and Allen to leave the Tories and it really starts to get interesting.