This Once Great Movement Of Ours

[CumbrianLefty]

We shall see, but I think most Labour MPs will do as the leadership says.

[CumbrianLefty]

A figure of 20 Labour MPs going against the whip now being mentioned.

Which wouldn't be that many compared to the A50 vote for instance.

[CumbrianLefty]

Hmmm, not completely sure about that personally. At the very least, some in the 2017 and 2019 MP intakes appear decent and will be promoted in due course.

And there's no denying that in its governing years the PLP attracted some truly horrific and principle free empty shell careerists - maybe one of Corbyn's actual "achievements" (even if inadvertent) was getting several of the very worst of these out of the Commons.

[CumbrianLefty]

I think the 2005 intake also wasn't great in that regard.

[CumbrianLefty]

A figure of 20 Labour MPs going against the whip now being mentioned.

Which wouldn't be that many compared to the A50 vote for instance.

In the end it was 36 abstentions (though a few may have been "officially" approved) and just one Labour MP (representing Streatham, probably the most pro-remain seat in the UK) voting against.

Only three junior front benchers quitting though, something I expect Starmer can live with.

[CumbrianLefty]

I think the 2005 intake also wasn't great in that regard.

If you want a chuckle...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/13/uk.election2005

That description of Pat McFadden - genuine LOL

[CumbrianLefty]

OK then to revive this thread, anybody who hasn't seen (the ex Labour MP, and on topic from the previous posts a member of the 2005 GE intake) Ian Austin's tweets on yesterday's events in the US should do so. They are genuine "things of beauty".

[CumbrianLefty]

He was still at it yesterday, incredibly.

[CumbrianLefty]

And it could be mentioned in this context that Ian Austin was a "Brownite" back in the day (along with such other unmitigated horrors as Chris Leslie and Michael Dugher)

[CumbrianLefty]

He was still at it yesterday, incredibly.

And he has now got a piece in the Currant Bun out of it!

An almost impressive level of grift.

[CumbrianLefty]

Though that is about one third of the turnout in Unite's last GS election!

[CumbrianLefty]

IMO having FPTP for these elections is nonsensical as well.

[CumbrianLefty]

Depressingly, you are both very likely correct.

[CumbrianLefty]

Not sure I agree, it was IMO important for him to see that coup off and go at a time more of his own choosing - have had a hunch this might happen for a while now.

It might not be a game *changer*, no - but maybe nothing SLab could do would be.

(the coming SNP civil war between Nicola's people and Alex's, on the other hand......)

[CumbrianLefty]

And, lets not forget, ran one of the worst leadership campaigns by anyone anywhere ever.

[CumbrianLefty]

Personally, I disagree.

Burnham after all beat Cooper despite the left wing vote going to Corbyn almost wholesale, and both campaigns had more substance to them (admittedly not difficult) - Kendall in particular wasn't scared to take actual positions. Its just that the vast majority of members didn't want what she was selling.

[CumbrianLefty]

I always assumed it was an effort by the ultras on the right to stop Chukka- who was seen as the moderniser in the race but funnily enough was seen as too left wing by some due to his connection with Ed M and the fact that he actually beat the right to win the streatham selection (he beat noted leftist Steve Reed- isn't Labour politics brilliant at times?)

My recollection is a bit different tbh - Chuka was going to be the mega-Blairite candidate (infamously he gave a TV interview the weekend after the GE basically renouncing his previous support for the soft left and Miliband, and saying Labour needed to appeal to "successful" people - never mind the clear implication that the only people who had just voted for it were miserable failures) and stunts like visits to Swindon and Nuneaton were part of this. Kendall meanwhile, in the literal first few days, actually positioned herself as a sort of "unity" candidate - promoting change but going big on her support for unions for example (and picking up the support of some soft left people as well as on the right) Then came Umunna's sudden - and never fully explained - withdrawal, and her campaign suddenly (and ultimately disastrously) lurched to the right to fill the perceived gap.

You are right that she is a likeable person, and she actually showed that during the contest despite the terrible political positioning (she responded with good humour to some really vile personal attacks online from purported left wingers, for example) I actually put her 2nd behind Burnham for that

[CumbrianLefty]

I know the sins of the father shouldn't count, but has Anas ever discussed Senior's interesting overseas career?

Reading his wiki, this is bad enough:

Sarwar is a supporter of Glasgow football teams Celtic[34] and Rangers.[34]

Suprised he didn't chuck in Partick Thistle as well tbph.

[CumbrianLefty]

Looks like a clean sweep for the leadership in the various NEC sub committees.

Starmermania!!

[CumbrianLefty]

Quite a few who backed Leonard last time seem to be supporting Sarwar now.

[CumbrianLefty]

Meanwhile, some truly "laying it on with a trowel" expectation management about this May's elections by "Labour sources" has caused a bit of amusement. It is true that the absence of any "real votes" at all for nearly a year (save a few Scottish council byelections) makes forecasting these things even more hazardous than usual, but what was being "predicted" would actually be one of the party's worst electoral showings ever - and far more than any possible "vaccine boost" for the Tories could provide.

So draw your own conclusions......

[CumbrianLefty]

Saying the Tories will be "destroyed" does also suggest a bit of pre-emptive spin tbph

[CumbrianLefty]

"bUt StArMeR iS mOrE rIgHt WiNg ThAn BlAiR!!!!!!?!!!!1111!!!!!!"

[CumbrianLefty]

Saying the Tories will be "destroyed" does also suggest a bit of pre-emptive spin tbph

I have no reason to 'spin' though.  I genuinely think we will be walloped.

Compare polling now to when the last time these seats were up for election.

That certainly applies to the seats last fought in 2017, but with those from a year earlier a bit less.

[CumbrianLefty]

Though that applies both ways - eg I will be surprised if Sandwell is still a one party state after May.