Second Labour leadership hustings live

[claig]

Corbyn vs Smith round 2 in Gateshead

All debates apart from the TV ones, I think can be watched live at the following web address

www.labour.org.uk/pages/leadership-debates-2016

For those who didn't see it, the result was, as expected, asnother trouncing of Smith and the 172 by Corbyn.

The tally in debates is now

Corbyn 2, the 172 nil

Corbyn was on good form, cracked some jokes, and receieved a standing ovation from most of the hall at the end, apart from some officious bigwig Estblishment types in the prize seats of the front row who were doing their best to generate some support for Smith and the 172.

My guess is that at this rate, Smith may have to throw the towel in and the 172 may have to put their toys back in the pram, because if Corbyn continues to trounce Smith in debates, the final election result will be worse for the Establishment and the 172 than it was last time.

I absolutely agree; Corbyn definitely won that one too.

The way the camera was set up to have the Smith fans closest to the camera in order to give the impression of him having more support was amusing.

When are the 172 going to realise they are out of touch with what the Labour members want? I'm expecting the High Court appeal to go in McNicol's favour tomorrow, more waste and more pissed off Labour members, they are doing such damage it's awful!

I thought one telling moment was when Smith said he wouldn't work with Corbyn in his shadow cabinet but wanted him to work in his! Either Corbyn is effective or he isn't, I wish Smith would make up his mind.

'The way the camera was set up to have the Smith fans closest to the camera in order to give the impression of him having more support was amusing.'

Good point, that explains why the 12 or so of them were always in focus.

'Either Corbyn is effective or he isn't, I wish Smith would make up his mind.'

Exactly, Smith says he has no confidence in Corbyn, then says he would possibly make him a Minister.

I have just recently come across a website called "The Canary" which has some excellent left wing writers on it.

Steve Topple, who is a good writer, says that the Blairites may be thinking of forming some sort of breakaway entity possibly

"Is a Labour split imminent? This fresh evidence suggests the Blairites say ‘Yes’

www.thecanary.co/2016/08/11/labour-split-imminent-fresh-evidence-suggests-blairites-say-yes/

What they don't understand is that the world has changed and few people support that lot any more. Corbyn is a decent guy who looks like he won't stitch the people up on civil liberties, workers' rights, housing, the economy, wars or other major things. He is preferable to the whole lot of them.

Smith didn't come over fantastically better than last week

But can't agree Corbyn came over well he is constantly looking at his notes

The mp's who are not supporting Corbyn represent their voters, they didn't go out in droves to vote for Labour at the local elections and they won't again in 2020 this many mp's are aware

Not all members are supporters of Corbyn (I am certianly not and most people I know wouldn't ever vote for him) and even if 70% vote for him for leader in a general election it would make very little difference

It's tragic for the party and the country