Jeremy Corbyn might actually win?

If it was still Ed Miliband, would there have been a whip to abstain from this? (I doubt it). So it is IMO Harriet Harman's effort to move the party away from the left that is not resulting in total compliance from MPs. Which isn't a surprise and not, to me, controversial.

Immediately after not winning an election seems like a fine time for a party *not* to be all falling in line with what the (temporary) leader says.
 
I don't think Corbyn can win the leadership actually, because he comes across as a bit of a loon when he is asked about Hamas and Hizbollah in relation to Israel. I certainly remember that he is an "anti-Zionist" and I don't think that this is going to win him many friends.

 
Paddy Power has Burnham 47%, Cooper 30%, Corbyn 16%, Kendall 7%.

Not that the bookies were spot on about the election, or Scottish independence. IIRC they were slightly closer to the result than polls in each case but closer to the polls than to the result.
 
Last edited:
angrysoba said:
I don't think Corbyn can win the leadership actually, because he comes across as a bit of a loon when he is asked about Hamas and Hizbollah in relation to Israel. I certainly remember that he is an "anti-Zionist" and I don't think that this is going to win him many friends.
Click to expand...
He would probably do better going for Mayor of London.
 
Francesca R said:
Paddy Power has Burnham 47%, Cooper 30%, Corbyn 16%, Kendall 7%.

Not that the bookies were spot on about the election, or Scottish independence. IIRC they were slightly closer to the result than polls in each case but closer to the polls than to the result.
Click to expand...

It will probably come down to the top two then. Of course, the polls tended to put David ahead of Ed for much of the leadership race. For Ed it was the union support which was important and which I think Corbyn has this time around, so we shall see...
 
Fantastic news. If he wins, Labour will be guaranteed out of power for a generation.
 
MikeG said:
Well, Corbyn would assign Labour to the wilderness for a decade. The electorate very clearly said what they thought about the direction Ed Milliband took the party, and Corbyn is way to the left of him. The bonus of such a leadership choice would be a big resurgence for the Lib Dems, as reasonable people seeking alternatives to the Tories would view a Corbyn-led Labour party as far too extreme.
Click to expand...

As far as I could make out (and old Ed made it bloody difficult to tell most of the time) he took the Labour party to the right.
 
Darat said:
As far as I could make out (and old Ed made it bloody difficult to tell most of the time) he took the Labour party to the right.
Click to expand...

Ed Miliband took it to the right? Your analysis appears to differ from just about everyone else in the known universe...
 
Is this new polling which suggests Corbyn might win?

In the OP, it was "private polling" which some of Corbyn's opponents suggest might have been made up, but this polling - by YouGov - suggests Corbyn may have a 17 point lead over opponents and could win in a run-off against Burnham. Some Labour Party types are beginning to panic and think the other opponents should drop out to consolidate their vote against the dreaded bearded lefty.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...dership-poll-predicting-victory-jeremy-corbyn
 
Corbyn odds shortened since yesterday on that Paddy Power link--into second place.

ETA--as I posted that Cooper just roared back to neck&neck 2nd place. It's like being at the horses.
 
Last edited:
Francesca R said:
Corbyn odds shortened since yesterday on that Paddy Power link--into second place.

ETA--as I posted that Cooper just roared back to neck&neck 2nd place. It's like being at the horses.
Click to expand...

I checked the link. Cooper's fallen back by a furlong. Corbyn's up to second at 2/1. Guido Fawkes says he's a good bet, but Burnham's still in the lead. Does he have the stamina?
 
baron said:
Fantastic news. If he wins, Labour will be guaranteed out of power for a generation.
Click to expand...

I feel that is on the cards already.

When was the last time Labour had a general election majority without Mr T. Blair?^^
 
malicus said:
I feel that is on the cards already.

When was the last time Labour had a general election majority without Mr T. Blair?^^
Click to expand...
Which means that Labour has to turn itself into a clone of the Tories to win. I think Harriet Harman is inclined to follow that line. If two parties are about the same, then they should both get turns on the Government benches. Fair's fair, Eh?

I don't know if Keir Hardie was of that opinion. I'll go and look.
 
Craig B said:
Which means that Labour has to turn itself into a clone of the Tories to win. I think Harriet Harman is inclined to follow that line. If two parties are about the same, then they should both get turns on the Government benches. Fair's fair, Eh?

I don't know if Keir Hardie was of that opinion. I'll go and look.
Click to expand...

Why on earth should not being hard left mean Labour would be a clone of the Tories? Honestly, assigning childish tabloid categories to politics and political parties turns some posts here into near parodies.
 
MikeG said:
Why on earth should not being hard left mean Labour would be a clone of the Tories? Honestly, assigning childish tabloid categories to politics and political parties turns some posts here into near parodies.
Click to expand...

There does seem to be a meme on the left of "if you're not to the left of Tony benn then you're basically thatcher". (I guess it's the mirror image of the US thinking that anyone to the left of Reagan is a commie).
 
Tory Lite, Diet Tory, Cherry Tory, Tory Life. And then presumably regular Tory Toff (or Tory Fat).

ETA--Maybe the meme is "If you get elected in the UK, you're Tory" That would suit the belief of many that the political centre of the country has shifted right, which there was a discussion of back here (I did not agree)
 
Last edited:
Giz said:
There does seem to be a meme on the left of "if you're not to the left of Tony benn then you're basically thatcher". (I guess it's the mirror image of the US thinking that anyone to the left of Reagan is a commie).
Click to expand...

tbh Tony Blair was well to the right of Ted Heath.
 
MikeG said:
Why on earth should not being hard left mean Labour would be a clone of the Tories? Honestly, assigning childish tabloid categories to politics and political parties turns some posts here into near parodies.
Click to expand...
Here's Tuesday's Independent.
... Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill. Labour abstained on the main vote for the second reading of the bill.

The main changes in the Bill are reducing the household welfare cap from £26,000 to £23,000, abolishing legally binding child poverty targets, cuts to child tax credits, cuts to Employment and Support Allowance, and cuts to housing benefit for young people.
Click to expand...
Agreed, the Independent is not a "tabloid". But this isn't "hard left" either.
 
What has that got to do with anything at all, Craig? It certainly bears no relation to the suggestion that if you aren't hard left you are Tory-lite.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom