The Westministenders Hunger Games continues. Hunting for the Opposition.

[RedToothBrush]

THE BREXIT FALLOUT OUT CONTINUES - THREAD EIGHT!

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Each of the parties seem to have a taken a very different style to their leadership contests.

The Tory party have been well documented as doing in the classic style of Hamlet. After the entire Conservative Party have spent two weeks stabbing each in the back and front, May steps forward to take the crown for herself.

But what about the others?

The UKIP leadership contest seems to be in comedy style of Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights. In a strange turn of events, that no one predicted and seem quite absurd, they seem to be changing their rules so their new leader must have been a member for 5 years. The punchline is this rules just about everyone out, apart from Neil Hamilton and Steven Woolfe. As BigChocFrenzy points out, we are expecting Arron Banks to hand out the brown envelopes. We are just waiting for the poorly thought out, and badly booked racist band to turn up and make everyone cringe in horror and distract everyone from UKIP's candidates and their manifestos in the process.

Meanwhile Labour Party decide to do what they thought was Star Wars Panto. After spending a week going “She’s Standing”, “Oh No She’s Not” Angela Eagle is declared the Empire Strikes Back candidate by Diane Abbot. Well if she’s the rebel leader, then who is Darth Vader and the Emperor?

Unfortunately, you’d be forgiven for thinking the performance is starting to look more and more like a re-enactment of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, by the minute:

A battle of wills between two forces locked together in a room with ultimately different and opposing self-interests. This is only resolved when the new leader to the dynamic who sought to upset the institution, and give the others their freedom, is lobotomised and subsequently killed in an act of mercy. His murderer manages to escape the prison to the cheers of those still stuck inside.

The Greens of course are a foreign language film, no one has heard of and no one is really that interested in watching.

The Lib Dems are merely sat in the audience. With Tim Farron heckling.

But where is Gandalf?

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At least some sanity has returned and we now have some leaders. May can now get stuck into the job of handing the nightmare that is Brexit whilst making herself at home at Number 10. Rumours are circulating that it’s been left a bit of a pigsty.

We will follow May, on her new adventures to foreign lands to persuade Merkel and Juncker to hand over a mythical unicorn to the UK. Meanwhile will we continue our own hunt for the opposition, whilst we all consult our dictionaries for the meaning of the word ‘Brexit’ in bafflement in the wake of ‘Brexit means Brexit’.

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Sense of humour compulsory. No experience necessary though

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/2682358-The-Westministenders-Media-Baron-Hunger-Games-continues-Is-it-about-to-all-implode?pg=1 Previous thread 7

There would have been civil war either way. At least this way, the party (hopefully) hasn't created another martyr

Going with the monarchy theme the Momentum plan of de-selecting MP's not loyal to Corbyn is very much an "off with their heads" anti-democratic stance.

I agree, it's descended into chaos. It's horrible at the moment. But I really don't agree it's all one-sided. There are people who have been plotting against Corbyn since he was elected and I wasn't at all impressed by the "Anyone but Corbyn" leadership campaign messages last year and Liz Kendall herself writing an article in the Guardian calling for tactical voting to avoid Corbyn.

Many people felt disenfranchised by Labour failing to protect the rights of the poor and being basically a lamer version of the Tories and Corbyn offered hope for a new dawn, however naive that hope may be. That was the reason for the massive support he received. The discourse from established Labour members and party figures and the media was all so sneery and patronising, like some of the discourse around Brexit, and FWIW I am a staunch remainer and hope for any solution that means we stay in or have FOM. But I cringe at some of the things that have been said about Leave voters as well. Really not helpful, just divisive.

Not specifically aimed at anyone.

I think he should be on the ballot.

His supporters can't be ignored.

If the Labour party is going to split because of the division between the PLP and the members, keeping him off the ballot won't change that.

I don't like the fact that it seems so easy to become a voting member of the Labour party, but they can't change that now.

MrsLupo - that was below the belt I'm afraid - a secret ballot was requested as two women felt intimidated - not a time for crowing what ever the outcome

Don't worry annandale. I'm a Remainer but have decided to invest a lot in the business which I have just inherited. I'm not worrying about subsidies.
There are a lot of good people in agriculture. We will go onwards and upwards despite the Angela Leadsoms of this world.

I never remember being called a traitor when I spoke out against Blair or resigned my membership because of the Iraq war - really I wasn't. I can not fathom why I am now

It does seem to have become more polarised in recent years. Social media to blame?

“The NEC has agreed that as the incumbent Leader Jeremy Corbyn will go forward onto the ballot without requiring nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party and the European Parliamentary Labour Party. All other Leadership candidates will require nominations from twenty percent of the PLP and EPLP.”
Statement

What's the timescale for the vote? I'd like just one opponent - direct head to head.

So when does the leadership contest finish ?
If it's JC elected again, will there be 172 deselections ?
Will those 172 just call themselves say the Real Labour Party and form the new Offical Opposition ?

In the meantime, while Labour are buried in their own navel, will TM have called a GE, or decided on A50 or Brexit strategy ?

The problem I see is that the MPs don't appear to have learned anything from this at all - such as why Corbyn got in to begin with. Obviously the referendum didn't teach them that either.

Venus I have to say attend a meeting. There are no two sides at the moment in many areas. The word 'disenfranchised' is being banded about so much at the moment. I raise you with 'intimidation'

If JC wins, TM would be foolish to call a GE. I honestly don't think she will call one. She's already said she didn't plan on it, and it would simply plunge the whole country into chaos again, delay discussions with the EU, and irritate the EU utterly. We need stability at this point, even if it is the Tories.

Corbyn has won, he doesn't need the nominations!!!

MrsLupo - that was below the belt I'm afraid - a secret ballot was requested as two women felt intimidated - not a time for crowing what ever the outcome

Sorry, but I don't believe that for a moment. As I say, all of the members who were voting today have happily talked to the media about their voting intentions. And I wasn't crowing. I don't think there's any reason to crow about anything at this point.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36778135

I wonder what membership of the party will increase by in the next 24hours...

Venus - in part - but it is Momentum in the last 12 months who have raised the stakes. The main party doesn't have any response. The right thing for JC to have done would have to have involved Momentum in the main party - he kept it as a fringe and empowered it. Now members see themselves as JC 1st Labour after. Intentional? Maybe. Has he prevented it? No

MrsLupo - so it is a lie? If we knew everyone's full intentions we would have a firmer understanding of the outcome. As I have said before - go to a meeting. See how the land lies

What is the objection about secret ballots ?
We have them in GEs - the right to vote in secret is regarded worldwide as essential for democracy
Why would anyone need to know how someone voted, other than to harass or punish them ?

derxa I have seen Owen Patterson suggested for Agriculture, as it will be a tricky job to unpick CAP/Fisheries, do you have any thoughts on him?

I'm still hoping Loathsome gets Climate Change, as a minister, so no great improvement in position but no loss, just shunted off to something that's not going to get a huge amount of attention for a while.

Grayling seems in line for a decent job by virtue of being teamBrexit but not promising anyone unicorns and trolleys of cash, and also by running a competent campaign for TM this past week or so. Time will tell, rumours are first announcements could be tomorrow night.

I think I will win the party name competition

I am suggesting - the 'Fuck em all party' (or is that too close to UKIP?)

Laura Kuenssberg ‏@bbclaurak 6m6 minutes ago
Highly likely that Labour Party itself will challenge the decision in the courts

I missed this earlier:

Stephen Moss ‏@StephenMossGdn 2h2 hours ago
Would make sense for Theresa May to hold a snap election while the NEC meeting is taking place

I have not been feeling sorry for Angela Eagle - until now. She is a tough woman and she will have thought through the options and made a very considered and intelligent decision to go for it.

What I think is that she will keep on fighting and arguing her case and she will go head to head with Jeremy - and anyone else who throws their hat into the ring and she will do her very best for her party and for the UK.

But I hope that her constituency party (and the un-named thugs whoever they are) stop hassling her and she does not get homophobic abuse. We are meant to be a democracy.

It looks like a stormy course ahead.

Next fight (barring legals obv)

Ross Hawkins ‏@rosschawkins 17m17 minutes ago
So now Nec must decide when cut off date for new members is, told some want it 6 months from vote disenfranchising 10s of 1000s