Labour Leadership 2016

Even yesterday, trying to muster some passion, shouting 'I am my own woman' to an empty press conference. My ten year old goes 'Ugh, who is that?'. She's got that bad actor thing that sets people's teeth on edge.
The mystery to me is how even the PLP can convince itself she's a prospect.
I met a party member straight after Brexit who seemed to think there just wasn't the talent in the party to make a viable leader.
Any ideas?

I think the members have been joining Labour to take part in the likely leadership election though.

Sure, but they're still joining what appears to be a sinking ship rather than the lib dems.

Also, you don't need a single face for a unity coalition. You just need agreement.

angela eagle's recommendation appears to be based solely on a moderately well received performance at PMQ's when JC was on his hols.

That's the other Eagle like?

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/may/25/george-osborne-v-angela-eagle-pmqs-verdict-the-eagle-has-landed-punches

#flockofeagles

or did you mean 'what's the other eagle like?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyNOFjEqf6Q

#sadnessinhereyes

I really don't see it.
I don't think Labour could progress in Northern Ireland without first apologising to the population for not giving a shit.
And not giving a shit at a time when NI was so obviously the least equitable place in the UK. I know you're not supposed to bring up history and I think talking in terms of Northern Ireland's problems as historical is demeaning and misleading BUT while the civil rights movement was entirely non-violent, centre-left and leftist, somewhat working class movement which was attracting some cross-community support, Labour refused to engage. (There's that Barbara Castle quote where she tells this young Labour MP -Paul Rose- there are perfectly good problems in Palestine and South Africa without getting his hands dirty with Ulster.)
And then the failure to see that the strike against power sharing did have elements of the left in it, that they were people you could talk to rather than vilify or dismiss.
And then Roy Mason.

The Greens, sure; they're a clean slate. But I don't think Labour could show up and say 'Hi guys' and expect things to go well.

This is just a joke isn't it? Isn't it?
Angela Eagle can't get on the telly because everyone cares more about the Janet Brown impressionist resigning from a leadership race.

Then on the radio projects an utterly useless case, "i'm a northerner!" and "i'm a practical socialist". Because, that's going to resonate with the people that told your party to fuck off.

i can't even be bothered anymore.

I think Caroline Lucas would be a good leader for a unity coalition and I know she's obviously keen on the idea given the support they are hemorrhaging to Labour. Whether the larger parties would accept a smaller party leading is another matter.

People within Labour - I like Clive Lewis, I think he'd be able to unite the party and would appeal to the electorate given his armed services history and he's also spoken positively about a unity coalition, BUT he lacks experience.

And Corbyn . Livingstone etc being members of the London branch of the provisional IRA fan club.
Forgetting the SDLP were meant to be our fraternal party...

But that was a long , long time ago

i want to like the green party but their inability to separate themselves from shit like GMO woo makes it a hard buy.

i do like la lucas tho.

There it is. Acknowledging there was a problem in Northern Ireland equals support for the IRA. Exactly the reason Britain hasn't been able to engage with Northern Ireland. It's legitimate to say stupid, prejudiced things about the people who lived there in a way it wasn't about people in other areas of conflict. The IRA happened for a reason. Some of that reason had to do with Westminster policies. Recognising that doesn't amount to being a fan of their work.
It doesn't matter how long ago it was, it's a shameful position.

It's almost as if 'ineffective' Corbyn has managed to move the Overton
window and drag the tories left.

Lol. May's pitching herself as the champion of the 'left behind' who voted to leave the EU because they couldn't see how things could get worse has everything to do with her being an anti-Brexit politician who is picking up the task of dealing with the massive divide in the country and absolutely nothing to do with Corbyn.

The idea that Corbyn is moving the Tories left is laughable - have you seen the polls recently?

I find it ridiculous the things people attribute to Corbyn which have precisely fuck all to do with him.

As I get older I find their position then more reprehensible.
The irony of their being in love with a new set of terrorists in Palestine is obvious.
They being Corbyn, Livingstone et al
The IRA was nearly dead in the late 60s. Just look what we did there....

I'm not sure she's actually trying to get elected as leader. Somebody had to kick this off.

Either way she's just one person in the race, more will come forward, that's the point.

Owen Smith is much, much better, for example. His Twitter feed is also worth a look for Corbyn/McDonnell supporters.

https://twitter.com/OwenSmith_MP

owen 'pfizer' smith?

yeah i'm sure he has the NHS's best interests at heart.

What did we/you do there?
I don't see the connection. You're not saying that Corbyn or Livingstone's position on Hammas is anything like the left's approach to the IRA in the late 60's are you? The IRA was revived by the Parachute Regiment, not by sympathy from the left.
I think terms like 'set of terrorists' are designed to stop people recognising nuance and variations of position within groups. It's a war-like stance and it just doesn't work.

Terrorist.

Legitimmit targit.

If someone half-decent emerges who isn't Corbyn, maybe they could be encouraged to run on a platform of forming a unity alliance. Eagle is not that person though.

Did anyone ever ask her about those web pages?

The IRA was revived by the Parachute Regiment, not by sympathy from the left.

Wellllll. That's a little over the top. But yes, it wasn't leftist sympathisers.

I find it ridiculous the things people attribute to Corbyn which have precisely fuck all to do with him.

I think it's a reaction to the 'he's useless/ineffective/unelectable' brigade by people to whom he seems precisely the opposite.