Labour Leadership 2016

So Angela Eagle has dropped out

Huh. I guess Smith is the chosen one.

Chosen by Hilary?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36833451

Mr Benn, who is backing Ms Eagle, said it was time for a female leader. But he said Mr Smith would also be "great".

Lol. Thanks, Hilary!

Word is she has no egrets.

Ah, apparently there was an agreement that whoever got fewest nominations would drop out.

Just heard Smith give an interview to BBC after Eagle dropped out. His entire speech was a soundbite.

Did he mention whether he's a regular woman from the North? Because I'm not sure you're qualified to lead if you're not a regular woman from the North.

At least that's one Trident supporter out of the race.

I suspect Smith's anti-Brexit stance will garner him a small surge un supporters but I can't see him beating Corbyn.

Cue a snap election from May and another five years of Conaervative rule courtesy of Labour being a bit shit.

Cue a snap election from May

Fixed term parliament act means she can't do that anymore, is my understanding correct?

Yep, needs two thirds of MPs to agree.

Needs a Vote of No Confidence. If it's an opposition motion, 2/3rds, if it's a government motion, simple majority.

EPOwen Smith:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/19/owen-smith-worked-as-pr-chief-for-biotech-firm-hit-by-762m-fine

A politician who's had a proper job, the very idea...

Worth pointing out (as someone who used to work in the corporate affairs team for a big corporate) that heading up UK corporate affairs while the US part was investigated for something nothing to do with the corporate affairs function really doesn't imply any involvement at all.

I'm not defending Smith by the way, I still don't know enough about him. Ian Katz (who used to run Newsnight) told a tale on Twitter about how as a young BBC producer tasked with getting a quote from the Police he dialled 999. Worrying if true...

Next you're going to claim he's never failed a test. :)

Clearly failed the 'how to ask the police for a quote' test.

I wouldn't work for Pfizer by the way, personally. But decent people can work for not very nice big companies.

No I knew what Oliver was saying - EPO, test, etc. I was just trying not to encourage him :)

Smith has admitted the 999 incident, but blamed a culture of bullying at the programme.

despite the being a lobbyist for pfizer and has form for saying he'd welcome private sector involvement in the NHS - he abstained on the welfare cuts vote. Corbyn might not be what labour needs, but neither is this motherfucker.

What price loyalty, Jeremy?

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Listened to Owen Smith getting ragged on R4 this morning, wasn't overly impressed. Also he sounds like Rob Brydon in tight pants.

So JC is not the answer, AE is not the answer, OS might not be the answer (I'll give him some more tiem).

Give it a couple of months and well be finding out that dst is not the answer. 4 days after @greenhell will sweep to power on the populist Tories; once a cunt, always a cunt platform.

He's very tetchy as well, he seems to get ruffled very easily over legitimate questions about his policy positions - which he didn't really give a lot away on.

So we've got a choice between a Trident-supporting, tax credit-abstaining, walking soundbite with a questionable record on privatisation who gets annoyed when asked about it, and a principled serial rebel who has the membership on his side but seems to be unable to work successfully with his party, and is hated by the media.

The future's bright, the future's Green.

@greenhell will sweep to power

I, for one, welcome our new shouty sefrican overlords

All Hail the Shouty Forrun.

Can I be Forrun Secuterry?