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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Stephen Kinnock should run for labour leader?

103 replies

HelloThere1234 · 15/12/2019 11:29

I'm a leftie but I think to stand any chance to appeal to a broader range of voters labour needs to reign it in a bit.

Mr Kinnock is much more left of centre, campaigned to remain in the ref but was of the opinion that we must leave to preserve democracy.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
BeardedMum · 15/12/2019 13:25

Forgot to say I also think Kinnock would be a good choice, but then i think his wife was great as a Danish PM and agrees with her views on SAHMs too. Remember this was said in the Danish context. SAHMs are practically unheard of in Scandinavia and immigrant women choosing not to work is seen as an obstacle to their integration (and their childrens)

bebumba · 15/12/2019 13:26

Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper for me.
Don't think Stephen Kinnock would make my longlist

Cloudyyy · 15/12/2019 13:26

I think he’d be brilliant!

flouncyfanny · 15/12/2019 13:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Buscake · 15/12/2019 13:34

Angela Rayner is very bloody intelligent. What snobbery!

Having said that, the next leader can not be a Corbynite. I would vote for Jess Phillips 💯 she is just what the party needs.

Tanith · 15/12/2019 13:40

Whoever it is will need the strength of character to absorb the relentless attacks, experience, and the incisiveness to cut through BJ’s bumbling act.

I think Yvette Cooper would be better able to do this than Keir Starmer.

The Leader doesn’t need to be a Northerner or even in a Northern constituency. Their MPs need to listen to their constituents and act on their concerns.

Tanith · 15/12/2019 13:41

“ Angela Rayner is very bloody intelligent. What snobbery!”

She needs to start showing it, then.

HopeClearwater · 15/12/2019 13:45

The Kinnocks have been on the EU gravy train for a long time

This is straight out of the Daily Mail.

Foobydoo · 15/12/2019 13:49

@cardibach there is a saying in Wigan that you could put a sheep with a red rossete forward for Labour and it would still get elected.
There was a lot of negativity around Nandy on local groups on Facebook and comments on local news stories. This was mainly down to her initial stance on Brexit directly after the referendum.
I personally think she is great, she has shown that she listens and has reflected on why Labour lost. She also helped me personally with an issue I had.

Topseyt · 15/12/2019 13:56

I think Stephen Kinnock would be a good leader.

Whenever I have heard him speak on TV he does come across pretty well.

CendrillonSings · 15/12/2019 13:58

Since we’re replaying the 1980s for some reason and we’re at the point where Margaret Thatcher obliterated Michael Foot in 1983, it would be historically-accurate for a Kinnock to follow! Grin

MarshaBradyo · 15/12/2019 14:00

If Cons tell you to go for them then don’t ;

I’ve seen a few Cons ward off Keir though.

flouncyfanny · 15/12/2019 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Harpingon · 15/12/2019 14:20

Labour cannot elect another man or anyone based in London. If they can't see that they sadly have no hope.

AlexaShutUp · 15/12/2019 14:25

He also comes across as v clever (which he is), but not in an off-putting way. He could quote Latin too, he’s just not twatty enough to do so. He might appeal to the type of voter who thinks Boris is an intellectual heavyweight hmm

I agree Jess Philips comes across as very normal, but may seem not clever enough.

I really rate Keir Starmer and would see his intelligence as an asset, but I don't think intelligence plays well with the electorate as a whole. That's why Boris tries so hard to do the whole dumbed down act (plus of course, it helps him cover for his complete lack of interest in the detail).

If Jess Phillips comes across as less intelligent, that will probably stand her in good stead. She wouldn't be my first choice, but she is very relatable, has a big personality and it's time they had a woman in charge.

I so wish that Yvette Cooper had been elected instead of Jeremy Corbyn. We wouldn't have been in this position now if that had happened. Sadly, I don't think she'll stand again.

SwedishEdith · 15/12/2019 14:26

Labour cannot elect another man

I know what you mean but I don't think that would matter at all to voters they've just lost.

Next leader may be someone no-one's thought of - Andy McDonald, Dan Jarvis.

Was thinking earlier that, although we didn't hear a lot of her, Jo Cox could have been up there. She could communicate and had that common touch.

BestIsWest · 15/12/2019 14:26

No to Kinnock and I think no to Sir Keir Starmer. London based and the Sir is offputting.
It needs to be someone based outside of London and a woman. I’ve always thought Yvette Cooper but I’d take Jess Phillips too. Surprisingly popular with everyone Ive asked.

Definitely NOT Rebecca Long-Bailey.

SwedishEdith · 15/12/2019 14:30

Maybe Liz Kendall again?

I like Starmer but he needs to keep his powder dry - Labour could well lose again.

AlexaShutUp · 15/12/2019 14:31

Labour cannot elect another man or anyone based in London.

I live in the Midlands and really don't care whether the new leader is London-based or not. I also don't think it has to be a woman, though I do think it's time for a female leader if there is a suitable candidate.

We need someone who is intelligent, principled, relatable and tuned in to what ordinary people think. They need to have really good leadership skills to bring the party with them. And sadly, they really need to know how to handle the media because they won't get elected otherwise.

MitziK · 15/12/2019 14:36

Why does it have to be a woman? Does ownership of a uterus make it essential somebody gets a go, even if they aren't the best candidate?

May got the job largely because no other bugger with a realistic chance wanted it, nothing to with her sex (even though Leadsome the Loathsome tried to make it all about uterus function first time round).

Keir Starmer wasn't born posh. And the electorate don't seem to have too much of a problem with the Rees-Moggs and De Pfeffel Johnsons being unapproachably privileged.

AgeLikeWine · 15/12/2019 14:42

Starmer or Cooper for me. I voted for Yvette in the 2015 leadership election, because I thought she was a bright, competent, realistic and credible political grown-up. She also comes across as a relatively normal working mum, which I have always argued would be a very appealing ‘look’ for the Labour party leader, particularly in comparison with deadbeat dad Johnson.

birdsdestiny · 15/12/2019 14:48

May absolutely got the job because she was a woman, no man wanted to touch that poisoned chalice they were happy to let a woman do the dirty job.

CendrillonSings · 15/12/2019 15:15

Cendrillon who would you like to see challenge Boris across the despatch box?

There’s only one Labour politician I can think of who could mount a serious challenge.

Not telling you who that is though! Wink

midlifecrash · 15/12/2019 15:16

I don't think Kinnock could tie his own shoelaces. Complete airhead. Can't see why anyone rates him.

scaryteacher · 15/12/2019 15:19

Hope They have 25 years between them in Brussels, her as an MEP, him as a Commissioner and then as a VP of the Commission. If you don't count that as gravy training, you don't understand the money hosed at the MEPs and Commissioners in Brussels. That city and its environs, float on EU and NATO monies. I'm just back after 13 years there, with dh seconded to the EU for part of that time. Profligate is the word he used to describe the EU.