Westminsterenders: Talent or Colour

[FishesaPlenty]

RTB and BCF are presumably busy with more important things. I'm clearly not qualified to start a Westminsterenders thread - but somebody has to take control and collect the waifs and strays.

The party of no talent want to introduce no colour into our lives.

6 days to the election.

Johnson is still a liar.

Corbyn is still apparently loved by Labour members and hated by everyone else.

Swinson is still a charming PTA chair.

@boatyardblues

Our Siamese is too much of a lardy arse to even consider climbing the tree. She will steal any low hanging ornaments that require minimal energy expenditure to get though.

I'm a Labour party member for now, for the purposes of electing at least a new deputy leader and perhaps a new leader in the spring. I like a lot of the policies, which we have to remember are not solely the preserve of the leadership but are voted on in conference with members. But it's not been a well managed campaign, feels rather haphazard and "but wait, there's more!" kind of delivery. Focusing on three or four key and popular policies would've played better against the single message Tory campaign.

Anyway, it is what it is. I'm expecting a small Tory majority on Thursday morning, with all that follows. I feel a bit hardened, protective and defensive of my children's future. I don't like that I feel that way, as though help for others is a luxury, not an essential. How do we get through the coming years, how do we balance our natural instincts of family first against our consciences and the knowledge that a fairer society is a safer one for everyone?

I quite like Kier Starmer but he didn't stand in the leadership election. I think he might next time. I don't see Corbyn as a cult either - it is the move back to (slightly) left of centre that has resonated, together with respect for someone who actully has convictions.

Stay in and vote, MShip.

💐

poster Centrists are nothing to do with neoliberalism

• that's hardright Tory economic policy; austerity, privatisation, deregulation

Centrists are nearly all Keynesian and oppose neoliberal policies

together with respect for someone who actually has convictions

If a focus group, Cambell or Murdoch had told Blair that if he shat in a cup on BBC Breakfast it would make him more popular you can guarantee ole Tone would have dropped trou there and then

Centrists are nearly all Keynesian and oppose neoliberal policies

I stand corrected now that we are in agreement that Blair was a Tory

Is this the most nasty and divisive election people can remember? I feel like it is but what do others think? Maybe I'm just noticing more, and looking at social media more?

tobee I think the disinformation campaign plays it like that, theres a certain section of society they need to keep angry

Well I used to sing Red Flag in the 70s and 80s with my TU leader dad

Right ... so if you used to happily sing The Red Flag, why did you tell us to 'keep on singing' it in a mocking way? That's what doesn't add up. Why would a person who has sung The Red Flag throw it as us like we're a bunch of hard left, delusional commies for believing in labour policy and not refusing to vote labour just because of Corbyn? Sounds much more like the snide remark a tory supporter/ BXP supporter would make.

You say you want a lot of what we want - well none of us are going to get it if Boris Johnson gets to be PM again. And right now there are only two options for the position, so why would anyone vote against the one that wasn't Boris*?

*aside from tactical voting in lib dem/ tory marginals or for the SNP/ Plaid

I just wish that Corbyn had challenged Johnson's lies in that debate.

I know the answer to the NHS hospital question. More or Less did a good study of that last week. About 13 of them are plans for small cottage hospitals in Dorset. Hardly a massive nationwide building plan - some are renovations.

I know the answer to the NHS funding lie - it forgets inflation. When he talks about the biggest cash injection.

thecat could you say why you're confident there'll be a new Labour leader if Tories win?

A good summing up of Momentum, cat

I've been nodding my head to umpteen of your posts on this and the last thread, but didn't have time before to give you a proper 👏🏼

I hope you are feeling a bit better today 🍫🍫
< research has shown that sucking chocolate slowly is at least as good for a sore throat as over the counter meds >

tobee it is nasty, not sure about nastiest, but it is Definitely the election with the most lying. Constant, blatant, daily lies

A good summing up of Momentum, cat

A billion times better than my poor effort tbh, honestly the posters I respect on this thread make me feel like an intellectual pygmy at times

(Quiet comment: Several Westministenders are centrists, not normally Labour supporters, or fans of socialism )

aside from tactical voting in lib dem/ tory marginals

That's where i'm at. I'm a long way from happy about voting LD but I met the candidate today and he was refreshingly honest and clearly less than enchanted with his leader.

Thank you all for your explanations re Momentum. Much appreciated.

I need to up my game here, but I still think Momentum is running the show and it will lead to defeat for the LP now.

That is what I mean, the fact that it was Corbyn or nothing, when there were people like Kieir Starmer available, who would have knocked the socks off the Tories really, well IMV obviously!

Anyway an interesting week ahead. And who knows what will happen.

I too think that Corbyn will step down after this election if there is a Tory majority, and if he does not, that there will be a leadership challenge. He is over 70 and would have lost two elections as leader. I do not think he would survive a leadership challenge at that point.

We have crap leaders for all 3 main UK parties, but BJ is by far the crappiest - and the most likely to do great harm

However, examine your local candidates, at least one of whom may be quite decent & sensible,
in particular Remainy

I do not think he would survive a leadership challenge at that point.

I believe its the right thing to do if theres a Tory majority but I do think he should be able to stand as the incumbent leader

Just If Corbyn wants to stand again, sure, that's his right as incumbent, but I think the overall Labour membership would not support him at a third asking.

I don't really understand the positivity for Keri Starmer. Is it just that he talks the talk and looks like a businessman? Sorry for being crude. It's just there's such a personal vendetta against Corbyn. I mainly hear this positivity for Keir Starmer over Corbyn from older people.
I really don't think Labour will ever go back to the Blair days. Sorry to those who hope it will.

I would rather have Starmer than Long-Bailey.

Tiddle I'm a Jess Phillips fan myself. She walks the walk and does she ever talk the talk. A truly gifted communicator.