Why the Labour Party will not elect a woman

[PersonaNonGarter]

Just seen the Britain Elects poll of Labour members. Keir Starmer ahead on 31% with Rebecca Long Bailey on 20% and Jess Philips on 11%.

The Labour Party is too male. Even though women desperately need representation, Labour continue to romanticise heavy industry (manly) over the needs of eg retail workers (woman’s work). And even the recent Woke intake are steeped in this rose tinted Marxist Down Pit crap that lauds traditionally male roles.

So yeah the candidates might look like the women are putting on a good show. But a man will win.

Don't worry, perhaps Keir Starmer can identify as a woman, that'll fix it.

Absolutely! TWAW after all.

Keir Starmer is not the only person in the Labour Party who could make them electable. He is seriously damaged by Brexit.

There are plenty of competent women who could do the job just as well. They won’t get chosen.

Really, why shouldn’t it be Lisa Nandy? Or Jess Philips? Not like Boris isn’t a marmite character.

Oh - and on Thatcher.

There have been lots of difficult people and unpopular policies in British politics. Can we feminists think of any reason why the first female leader and one of the few women politicians of her age might have been so especially monstered by the left? Hmmm, I wonder. What could it be?

I’d prefer a woman but Keir Starmer is probably more electable to mondeo man in middle England

Don't let critical thinking get in the way of spouting narrow minded stereotypes

Plenty of misogynistic voters out there who won’t vote for a woman because she’s a woman

I would not vote for RLB because she is ideologically a Corbyn clone; her sex has nothing to do with it. On the other hand I am never going to vote for a candidate simply because she is a woman.

It worked really well for the LibDems, didn’t it?

I find the “must be a woman” very patronising - especially as Labour are entering such a difficult time. Theresa May was allowed to lead the Conservatives because of the mess they were in.

Labour need the best person for the job, not some stupid quota fulfilment that is being pushed by people outside the Party.
That person may well be a woman; it doesn’t matter if it’s not.

Britain is so backwards - always banging on about the good old days down the mines and at the factories - they are gone now move on!

The problem is the people in those areas can't move on because nothing permanent has been done to replace the jobs that were lost when the mines closed. This is the reason they now feel so ignored and disenfranchised. Labour's biggest failing was not to make long term improvements in their lives, and to not successfully argue against the idea that the Tories could swoop in and save the people they condemned in the first place.

To be fair to Long Bailey, I do think she understands this, but she fails to understand the fact that, historically, British people have been repelled by what they see as the hard left. There has not been such a tradition in the British labour movement, and if you look at the origins of the Labour party it's quite clear that it is very different to socialist parties in other parts of the world.

In an ideal world I wouldn't want Starmer as the Labour leader, but I'm realistic enough to understand that he is the one who most likely to make the Labour party electable. I like Jess Phillips, but she is divisive. Long Bailey as leader would be such a disaster I'm not sure the party could ever come back.

Don't worry, perhaps Keir Starmer can identify as a woman, that'll fix it

Absolutely! TWAW after all

Those comments are idiotic in the context of this thread.

noblegiraffe, I don't think Labour has a clue what it wants to do, but there are definitely some who are still very wedded to Corbynite idealism, and whether or not RLB chose the picture isn't the point when that is clearly the general vision certain voices are calling for.

I've been reading loads of different groups and opinions on this, and while I accept that not every person in the Labour party is out of touch, thank god, some are, and I was astounded to read only yesterday a Labour party member I know still posting diatribes about the stupid working class people in old mining communities voting Tory and how their lives would be blighted by it and ha ha on them.

If that's still a strong strand of influence as Labour chooses a new leader, then why on earth would anyone think they deserved to be anywhere near power in ten years, let alone 5?

Can we feminists think of any reason why the first female leader and one of the few women politicians of her age might have been so especially monstered by the left? Hmmm, I wonder. What could it be?

Wtf? How old are you?

Anyone who thinks that Thatcher is hated by the left because of sexism really needs to do a bit of reading.

Those comments are idiotic in the context of this thread.

But consistent. Surely you must have noticed the little anti-trans digs that pop up all over the forums?

Why, Ariadne? The Labour party doesn't believe in sex. Men can become women, women can become men. The op thinks the next leader should be a woman. But the party they will be leading doesn't believe there's any difference between a woman born with a penis and a woman born with a vagina, so if KS IDs as a woman he is a woman, and therefore the OPs problem is resolved. Ta da!

I am sick of people blaming Thatcher for closing mines. The previous Labour government actually closed MORE mines than she did!
And who in their right mind would want to reopen coal mines? To dig out yet more fossil fuel, increase carbon emissions, and provide dirty dangerous jobs with long term lung disease as a bonus?
Neither Labour nor the Tories invested sufficiently in the north, post industrialisation. But Labour took their votes for granted - Boris knows he has to come up with genuine improvements, or those new votes will not stay Tory past the next election. I’d say the north has much to gain from a Tory government at the moment.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/10/19/question-time-trans-woman-applause-question-time-speech/amp/

Keir Starmer mentions discussion of trans rights need to take into account women's safety considerations.

I like Jess Phillips and Lisa Nandy too but would be happy with Keir Starmer. I'd just be overjoyed if it isn't another Corbyn-style candidate.

And who in their right mind would want to reopen coal mines?

Who is arguing to re-open the mines? Isn’t the argument for proper investment in those communities that were left with nothing when they closed?

Why,Ariadne?

Because it is wholly irrelevant and as another poster mentioned an example of little anti-trans digs

I agree with Margaret Macmillan: The notion that a female leader would be kinder, gentler, and better for women generally is not borne out by the facts: Thatcher, Evita, Golda Meir, Mrs Gandhi, Tulip Siddiq's Auntie, etc.

That sounds promising Wine - we just need some sense and sunlight from a leader that is not JC.

Mockers it is also a very sexist assumption no?

I think that she is great too but still parrots that TWAW and will bow to the wokerati*
I've seen evidence to the contrary. Wokerati can't stand her because she endorsed single sex provision. I have some Momentum folk on my Facebook and they were frothing at the mouth about her for that reason. That and the fact that she was openly criticising Corbyn. They love RLB because she's the anointed Corbynite successor.

CK

It is. Politics is a dirty game and you need to kick your way to the top.

Sorry - bold fail

I think that she is great too but still parrots that TWAW and will bow to the wokerati

I've seen evidence to the contrary. Wokerati can't stand her because she endorsed single sex provision. I have some Momentum folk on my Facebook and they were frothing at the mouth about her for that reason. That and the fact that she was openly criticising Corbyn. They love RLB because she's the anointed Corbynite successor.

Yes would be nice to see a female leader but the reality is that there is not one I would vote for that appears in the running. Yvette Cooper could have done it but that boat has sailed.

Angela Raynor...well nice person but not the sharpest knife in the block and unfortunately not up to it

Rebecca Long Bailey or "Wrong Dailey" as she has been coined. I really don't think she has the intellect either. When interviewed she doesn't appear able to do anything other than reiterate the agreed line. She would get mashed if she actually tried to engage and stop reiterating the same point whether or not it was the question.

At least Dianne Abbott isn't standing. 😆

The reality is that the only possible one in the current running, that has the intelligence and any sort of appeal to the middle ground is Starmer. But as has been pointed out he did burn his bridges with some over Brexit.

I'm frankly staggered he is the front runner given how extreme Labour Party members are currently. Maybe after 4 GE losses the reality is sinking home?

It's a real shame that the quality of a lot of the women in the Labour shadow cabinet is so utterly mediocre

Angela Rayner would beat Keir Starmer. If RLB has any sense she’ll stand aside for Rayner and we’ll get a woman leader.

Angela Raynor would be a fucking disaster. She is not clever enough and is woke. Just no.

chocolate I hope that you are right but she has spoken in the past of suporting tw in women's shelters so I am not too sure.