Why has Diane Abbott not has a decision?? Labours "independent" probe finnished last year

[DistinguishedSocialCommentator]

Don't be fooled by the "indpended" enquiry as the leader has the final say

Why has a decision not been given to Ms Abbott??

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8vv4ep92y8o

I assume she's quite poorly and they are desperately trying to resolve it. She never seems quite with it in interviews, no longer sharp as a tack.

Rayner is a smarter pol than Starmer (although that's not saying much). AR knows that Diane is well-liked in many parts of the party, she is clearly not a well woman, and this could look like bullying.

I think it’s the two factions

I thought that too, thanks

Rayner and Abbott make a formidable left-wing team. TBH, I can't see what the problem is for the socialist, Starmer.

They have bullied Abbott and this has turned on labour

Ask yourself this, Labour leader finds it awfully difficult to manger one left wing MP, what will happen if Labour is elected via the back doors ie coalition gov, what will happen if Russia attacked one of our naval ships/bases/etc

"could look like bullying."???

What is the definition of "bullying"?? Look it up if in any doubt

You've been told the back doors don't exist.

Ask yourself this, Labour leader finds it awfully difficult to manger one left wing MP, what will happen if Labour is elected via the back doors ie coalition gov, what will happen if Russia attacked one of our naval ships/bases/etc

Eh? What on earth are you talking about? That's even more incoherent than usual.

An ally for Diane Speaks

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/30/diane-abbott-should-be-allowed-stand-election-labour-angela-rayner

I have often thought that the Left prefers to be in opposition and, even despite Starmer actually looking like he wants to be PM, those around him are trying really hard to prevent this happening.

There's definitely an element of this in the far left of the Labour party - they prefer to be idealistic than the actual responsibility of governing. It was discussed on The Rest is Politics recently where the question of why do the far left of the Labour party seem more intent on attacking their own leader than Sunak was asked.

I'll see if I can find the transcript of the discussion.

I do think being in opposition for a long time has hidden these infighting factions somewhat. Its surfacing now as they get closer

Like sports teams scrapping amongst themselves I suppose. However the other side of the coin says that people who just change policies to popular ones instead of stuff they believe in are not to be trusted :)

On a wider note the FPTP electoral system causes broad church parties because no small party stands a chance of any real power at all - both major parties have the issue of headbangers.

Here’s the transcript of the discussion between Alastair Campbell and David Gauke (Rory was away on a silent retreat). Sorry it doesn’t distinguish between who said what but you can generally figure it out!

“Why do the Labour left seem to hate Starmer more than Sunak?

Good question. Very, very good question. And I think there is something in it.

I suspect it is not that they don't loathe Sunak for kind of being a Tory prime minister who is, you know, entitled and not elected and all that stuff. But they certainly put their energies into attacking Keir Starmer much more. Partly because there has always been elements inside the Labour Party for whom politics begins and ends in the debate inside the Labour Party.

I think you have some of those in the Tories, but fewer. And secondly, I guess because they think that he stood on a deliberately. This goes back to what we're talking about in the main podcast when Morgan McSweeney was helping him become leader of the Labour Party.

I think they understood that to win and to get the votes needed to win, he was going to have to project himself to those who had voted for Jeremy Corbyn. And I think that was a very deliberate strategy, pretty ruthless strategy in its own way, because most of those promises have either been watered down or some “of them completely ditched. So I think that's probably why they basically don't think that he's the same as Jeremy Corbyn.

Now, the trouble with that from their perspective is that that plays completely into Keir Starmer's strategy for the broader public, which is to say, yeah, you're right. This is not Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party anymore. But I think that's the simple answer.

It seems to me that it's a particular attribute of the far left that politics is a lot about purity. It's a lot about how virtuous I am. It doesn't really like to get itself into the sort of grubby business of winning votes.”

“So I think there's a large element of that. I think there probably is a genuine sense of betrayal, if you like, as you say. There's always, as far as I can see, in the Labour Party, a desire to feel betrayed.

Oh yeah, I mean, it's especially subject to it. Neil Kinnock had it, John Smith had it, Tony Blair had it. You were always attacked for selling out the Labour Party and not understanding the Labour Party.

That's another one they give. And they're almost always, I'm going to get a lot of abuse for this, but they're almost always the kind of very well educated, pretty well off people who tell you that you're selling out the working class.

Yes. Well, I think that's right. And I think there's an element of, I think there are more people on the left who enjoy opposition.”

“There are a lot of, there's no real pressure. You don't have to take responsibility. You can be very high minded.

I think, by the way, I think Nigel Farage is the same.

A little bit, yes.

I think Farage is somebody who would run a mile from government. He can talk the talk, but I think he'd find it very, very difficult. I suspect that when it looked in the Theresa May's election that Jeremy Corbyn might win, I suspect Jeremy was pretty terrified of the prospect.

He wasn't alone. He wasn't alone.
That was the easiest. That was well outside the off stuff, wasn't it?

No, I agree. I mean, I don't think Jeremy Corbyn ever began a political career with a sort of, one day I want to be in Downing Street. I want to seize the levers of power and do things.”

“And I think that's where there is a sort of big temperamental difference between, if you like, a lot of the extremes, more, I think more commonly found on the far left.

Whereas I think the Conservative Party historically has always been obsessed about power. The purpose of the Conservative Party is to be in power, and to stay in power.

And then occasionally have a little breather and out you go, refresh your batteries and come back. Let's hope this time it's a long rest.”

From The Rest Is Politics: Question Time: Political honeymoons - how quickly could the public turn on Keir Starmer?, 16 May 2024
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-politics/id1611374685?i=1000655569368
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The real and present danger is that Starmer will get into number 10 via the back as a coalition. The left then will work even harder to kick him out as he is indeed indecisive. Dont take my word for it, look at the current fiasco/circus surrounding Labours stance on Diane Abbott.

What would happen if Starmer faced a real crisis - you know the answer

Oh dear. If this is true, Captain Hindsight left it a bit late in the day

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/30/diane-abbott-accuses-labour-leftwing-cull-mps-barred-standing-election

Thank you for this!

of course Starmer wants to rid Labour of the left of the party

they have one talent and that is to keep Labour in opposition this they are very successful at Starmer wants to be PM

I believe DA has been treated badly but Starmer absolutely needs to show he will not show any weakness for the left of the party, most people in a weeks time will not care about DA not being able to stand as a Labour candidate

AR has just fast tracked her way back to the back benches

ffs Labour once again handing the Tories ammunition and one that does resonate with the public they need to be careful Corbyn is still fresh in peoples minds

"through the back via a coalition"

@DistinguishedSocialCommentator are you still droning on despite being told?

Are you a labour MP. Have to say, a really good post

Re A Rayner - she has openly challenged the weak, Mr Starmer

What a load of bollocks (as usual).

Facts to the oppsition can look lik e "load of bollox," but the facts speak for themselves

This simple issue of sacking someone who does not toe the party line has now turned from a circus to an out-of-control, rampant pain in the bum for Starmer and Co. Even Starmers right-hand person aka the nice Angela Rayner has spoken out. The left wing, a very strong left wing of the Labour Party is raising its head right above the head of Mr Starmer

This Daine Abbott scenario is self-inflicted by the labour hierarchy who miscalculated the GE date and has no idea what to do next re the big, lift-wing group within its party

The left in the Labour Party, if by that it's meant the Campaign Group, is, in my view, weaker than it's been for years. I don't believe they are a threat to Starmer, but obviously he believes there is electoral advantage in hammering them. But he has already shown himself to be an inept politician at the best of times.

I came on here to say this too.

She seemed to need assistance to walk, her hand was shaking, and her speech was really slow and deliberate, like she was having to concentrate on producing every word like happens to some people after a stroke or she sounded like a friend of mine who has recently been diagnosed with MND.

I haven't seen the footage, but if she's that poorly, what's the need for...