Labour Leadership 2016

For anyone who heard AQ last night Labour's problems were displayed for all to see.

There was a very aggressive exchange between Caroline Flint and Matt Wrack at about 30min in (former Labour Minister and General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union respectively) where each proceeded to attack the other over Corbyn.

Flint said, The Labour Party is not a badge you wear on your jacket. It is a shield to protect the interests of ordinary men and women. And went on to reiterate what many others, including @Fox, have said that he is standing in the way of Labour winning an election; so he should be challenged for leadership.

Matt countered that Corbyn should stay as he won, with the largest margin, stating he is the victim of a very long, co-ordinated campaign by right and left, by those who never supported him to get rid of him. Furthermore that when Cameron told him 'For heaven's sake man, go!' that showed the political establishment and the media, not just individuals, are against him because he represents democracy and change.

But under the surface it was clear that this was not the real issue and next Flint seemed offended that she was being called the political establishment when her background is anything but. Proceeding to attack Matt and Corbyn's position again with much emotion that the future is lost with Corbyn at the top.

The result was, Graham Brady MP saying that he welcomed this unfolding discourse as it makes the Conservative Party seem a haven of tranquillity despite their own internal battles. Going on to say that Corbyn is a hopeless leader of the opposition and he needs to go as good opposition makes for better government.

That for me really highlighted the underlying issue, those who support Labour want the Party to be theirs but there are two distinct sides of support. The Party as competitive opposition to the Tories vs The Party as the representation of democracy. The problem is, UK Labour Party is the only political Labour movement in Europe that hasn't split permanently into two factions and this is unlikely to happen as both sides have lifetimes invested in it and the values it represents.

For people who agree on so much, the rift is so much more aggravated (like Christians and Jews perhaps?) I condemn those who expressed no confidence at such a critical time as they did not have an alternative or an agenda but acted on long standing disagreement with the leadership result last summer, this has been more damaging than the claims of Corbyn being unelectable as it has showed everyone in full public view that they can't even organise where people sit on benches let alone run a country. If Corbyn has to go then do it quietly, to save face, to maintain credibility, to remain The Opposition.

Everyday since last week there should have been condemnation from a unified Labour Party against Cameron's actions and the final result. In The Public's eye it appears that the Labour Party is more concerned about who sits opposite The PM than the state of the country in the hands of the Tories after they have possibly removed us from The EU, The Single Market and potentially even The UK.