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I don’t see anything wrong with that interview… can someone explain? The interviewer was on the same old “why did you stay in the party if you think the leader is a dud” line… and her answers seemed straight forward enough to me. Still don’t think she’s the right candidate… but it’s interesting seeing the responses to her.
I listened to RLB on Today and the reasons she gave on there (brexit and anti semitism) for the loss at the election are entirely different from the article in the Tribune
Good start
I don’t see anything wrong with that interview… can someone explain? The interviewer was on the same old “why did you stay in the party if you think the leader is a dud” line… and her answers seemed straight forward enough to me. Still don’t think she’s the right candidate… but it’s interesting seeing the responses to her.
Wrong with it ? - she didn't string anything together that was comprehensible or consistent. And this is just the start. She also didn't deflect her position appropriately.
They are lightweight interviewers!
She's supposed to be good we keep getting told!
can someone explain?
Well a couple of things, one it would appear that she went back on her proclamations about leaving the party on principle after she realised it wouldn't be in her career interests, and secondly she's being put on the defensive by Susannah Reid, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence does it?
The problem for people like Phillips who were such vocal opponents of Corbyn is not that they didn't like him, but that they were so active in undermining him and the party, and then could barely contain their glee when he lost and they thought they'd won.
and then could barely contain their glee when he lost and they thought they’d won
Glee?!? FFS.
She seemed as downhearted and pissed off as I was when that exit poll came in, to be honest. And just as unsurprised. The only people claiming any kind of victory were those saying “we won the argument”, as the country is given over to at least five years of Johnson and his crew.
Kelvin - the fact that all the Corbynites absolutely loath her with such venom means she’s probably doing something right.
I suspect I’m not alone in that opinion
I don’t understand the hatred towards Jess Phillips. I mean, I know they hate pretty much everybody who isn’t deemed a true believer, but even so.
Mrs Binners - who pays attention to the news, but certainly isn’t political, is left leaning (in a centrist not a mental/Corbynite way) announced last night that she’s just joined the Labour Party, specifically to vote for Jess Phillips.
This would suggest that she possesses a broader crossover appeal outside the lefty hardcore. But then why on earth would the Labour Party want something like that? Maybe that’s why the sixth formers hate her so much? Much better to stick with the RLB style purity/continuity and permanent self-righteous, placard-waving opposition eh?
I don’t understand the hatred towards Jess Phillips.
Nor me. But I’m still far from convinced that she’s the right candidate. Just because the usual suspects are against her, doesn’t automatically make her the ideal candidate to take the Labour Party up past 40% support with the public (which, let us remember, should be the aim for any new leader).
Glee?!? FFS.
Future PM? She talks about trust, and how people hate politicians, and yet here she is displaying all the worst traits of the very thing she claims to be against. Laughing one minute when she's off camera, then putting on an act and turning on the faux emotion and outrage. And she claims to be the authentic option?
Well, if she was watching the C4 show while waiting to come on air, she was probably alternating between crying and laughing at that point. I was. And pretty soon switched over to the drier BBC coverage.
I still can’t disagree with anything she says in the clip. I’m far from convinced that she is the right person to broaden the appeal of the party though, I feel she could alienate as many people as she can win over. Maybe that’ll change during the leadership campaign proper, but I doubt it.
But I’m still far from convinced that she’s the right candidate.
Same here. I really like her, but I think Kier Starmer would still be best overall as he's got the gravitas that would terrify Dom and Dommer.Johnson is so lightweight and performs very badly when actually being challenged and held to account, which I think Starmer would do very effectively
I am most definitely convinced that RLB would finish off the party for good though. The delusion and denial is absolutely staggering. Those at the top of the labour party (who lest we forget, are the still the same people who delivered the worst election result since the 1930's) still seem to believe that if they paint a smiley face on Corbynism that it can win an election.
It can't.
I’m far from convinced that she is the right person to broaden the appeal of the party though
She's the most divisive of all the candidates. Where the rest are encouraging unity and rejecting infighting (see RLBs admonishment of a left-activist on twitter today), she's still trumpeting how she stood against Corbyn. She also has no policies or vision, absolutely nothing other than weak platitudes about trust and authenticity which she can't even demonstrate herself. The only reason some like her is because she's the numero uno 'I hate Corbyn' candidate.
but I think Kier Starmer would still be best overall as he’s got the gravitas that would terrify Dom and Dommer
Christ we're not actually going to be on the same side are we?
In a truly terrifying development, I think we might
The Starmer/Raynor combination looks to be the “best” outcome, looking at the current options. I still feel that Starmer would make a good PM, but doesn’t have what it takes to win a general election… let’s see how he comes across during the campaign proper. Lewis still has an outside chance… when RLB has to engage during the campaign, he will pick up a lot of votes from those who currently might reluctantly back her. When do we hear who the unions have blocked from running?
Yes Starmer/Rayner, with RLB shadow chancellor, Thornberry shadow foreign sec and maybe even Cooper as shadow Home sec. Actually to be truly radical they could create a new post of joint shadow chancellor and climate change, sending a signal that combating climate change is top priority, and is completely integrated with economic policy. This would also keep the left happy in the knowledge that their candidate is at the head of policy on the two most important subjects.
I'd be surprised if Lewis gets enough nominations to make the ballot.
with RLB shadow chancellor
I’m still not sure if you keep saying this as a joke/wind-up or not. Making RLB shadow chancellor wouldn’t be any better than making her leader… it is the policy brief that voters are most sceptical of as regards Labour currently… handing it to her would be the worst signal the party could make to those that need to be won over to voting Labour.
it is the policy brief that voters are most sceptical of as regards Labour currently
You disagree with prioritising climate change? That's basically her major policy. The climate emergency will be even more of an issue come the next election. Not only is it abolutely necessary, it's a vote winner. I really don't know what policies you think would be unpopular, so please enlighten us. The main policy voters were against was their brexit policy, not the green new deal (or industrial revolution as labour put it, but it's essentially the same thing).
I voted Labour.
I’ve accepted that not enough others did, and that the party needs to change, especially as regards nationalisation and how it prioritises spending commitments. I’m sure it can do so without dropping climate commitments. Making RLB shadow chancellor would keep away those that think Labour is too concerned with an ideological return to public ownership… that isn’t me… it’s people who didn’t vote Labour last year.
I know you did. I don't however know which of RLB's policies which she's declared will be her priority you are against.
Making RLB shadow chancellor would keep away those that think Labour is too concerned with an ideological return to public ownership…
Have you read her Tribune piece? She doesn't mention nationalisation or public ownership once. She mainly talks about green new deal, devolution of power and investment in the regions, and no return to dog-whistle anti-immigrant politics. Have I missed something?
What are voters wary of?
- Using nationalisation in too many areas.
- Multiple large unfocused spending commitments.
The brief where Labour needs to demonstrate a clean break is, at least symbolically, covered by the shadow chancellor. Giving RLB that role would fit into the “we won the argument, onwards with the project” signalling, and is doomed to failure when it comes to winning over people who Labour need voting for them.
– Using nationalisation in too many areas.
– Multiple large unfocused spending commitments.
And where does she talk about those in either her tribune piece or the interviews she's done? You're assuming she'll just rehash the labour manifesto, when in actual fact the only thing she says is that the green new deal policy was tragically undersold, and that it needs to the be the single focus of future labour policy.
The green new deal on it's own is reason to vote for her from a policy point of view. She's not the right person to sell it, but Starmer is going to have to keep that policy because if he doesn't he'll lose a lot of votes, including mine.
(you missed out the brexit policy in your list BTW. I think general consensus is that is what the major policy failing was, but as usual you ignore it because it doesn't fit with your opinion)
I like Phillips’ energy and bolshy, no nonsense character; with some course edges smoothed off and some content added she could be a real asset to the Labour movement given a position of power.
I like Starmers pedigree, background and respectability; he’s got a competent and professional image that will appeal to many that would be put off by Phillip’s Kevin the teenager vibe.
Is there any possibility we could get these two in the top two jobs? I reckon they would compliment each other well.
you missed out the brexit policy in your list BTW
You can take it as read that most people hated their Brexit policy.
Labour could have kept its ‘17 nationalisation programme, stuck close to its ‘17 NHS/education/housing/police spending plans, and focused on the green deal and NES as the big new ideas… but no… it had to double down on nationalisation… including 10% of large companies that have nothing to do with public services… and made big extra uncosted spending commitments, even after its manifesto launch. Time to start again, and put distance between Labour and the ‘19 list of nationalisations and spending plans… and I say that as one of the tiny minority of voters who thought the public broadband infrastructure plan made sense. It’s not me Labour need to win over.
I hope Corby's continuity candidate(s) win 🤞
At least the continuity candidate(s) got the fire in their stomach to fight to bring more entertainment.
Starmer will be lap dog for the government as he is not going to rock the boat but play the long waiting game in the hope that the government makes a mistake.
I'm wondering the same thing as v8.
Whilst I agree with some of the concerns about Jess Phillips as expressed above, but I think she'd terrify BoJo at PMQ, if she sometimes got to stand in for Keir Starmer as his deputy.
Starmer is my choice as leader, especially if he can show a bit more character and be a bit less "grey" as the campaign picks up.
but I think she’d terrify BoJo at PMQ
Of course she would, just like she terrified Susannah Reid. 🙂
Starmer is my choice as leader, especially if he can show a bit more character and be a bit less “grey” as the campaign picks up.
He is so dull nobody will notice him. Anyone but him for entertainment.
Not sure what Susannah Reid has to do with it.
It's difficult to explain why you stayed in an uncomfortable position because it may have slightly better served the purpose of trying to reduce a Conservative majority in words that the average Good Morning Britain viewer has the patience to listen to, whilst the interviewer bangs on and on with their own agenda.
Chewy, as long as you're entertained, eh...?
Whilst I agree with some of the concerns about Jess Phillips as expressed above, but I think she’d terrify BoJo at PMQ, if she sometimes got to stand in for Keir Starmer as his deputy.
Except Bojo doesn't have to take questions from the deputy, he has the week off too and some other Tory gonk turns up instead.
I can't see it being anything other than a run off between RLB and Starmer.
Jess Phillips may get third but not close to the two frontrunners. I assume her votes would transfer mainly to KS if it gets to that round of preference
https://twitter.com/nedsimons/status/1214581812279816192?s=21
10/10
If she’s not offering to improve on his performance, why doesn’t she go and find something better to do with her time…? Or does she think she can do well enough to be able to rate herself 11/10?!?
I don’t understand the hatred towards Jess Phillips
Hatred? Nah, I just think she's a bit rubbish.
Don’t knock RLB. If she can deliver a 12/10 as leader then that may mean only a 50 seat Tory majority.
Possibly.
Maybe a bit more
But her socialist, Corbynite credentials would remain intact. And that’s what’s important here.
Just watching grandad going through the motions in parliament
It’s like watching a team that’s at the bottom of the league at Christmas and know they’re absolutely nailed on for relegation, and everyone knows it.
The sad thing being that’s what he’s always looked like. Nailed on for relegation. Just not up to the job. A whipping boy. Like Derby County*
Has anybody ever seen another human being with less self-awareness?
It’s tragic. Someone should really put him out of his misery. And spare the rest of us having to witness it
* for non-footballerists, Derby County got the lowest premiership points tally ever and opposition fans used to spend the entire match singing ‘can we play you every week?’. If RLB is elected leader, the Tory’s will have that wish granted
With no deputy, Corbyn has to hang around ‘till a new leader is in place.
Has anybody ever seen another human being with less self-awareness?
Well, there's all the times you've accused his supporters of being juvenile.
Hustings for MPs… sounds like Lisa Nandy impressed. And I still think many assumed to be RLB bailey supporters, in the parliamentary party and the wider movement, will switch to other candidates, like Lewis, the more RLB has to engage with them. It’s not time to assume a Starmer vs RLB 2 horse race yet.
Nice to listen to Jezza at PMQ's using all his questions condemning the Americans and supporting the peace-loving administration of Iran.
Clearly he thinks that the labour party in the present shambolic state to which he's delivered it isn't quite unelectable enough and that whoever succeeds him must start from a much lower base
Boris has of course taken the open goal presented to him by pointing out Jezzas regular appearences on Iranian state TV and his various alliegences with Iranian proxy terrorist organisations in the region
The sooner this ****ing idiot is gone the better. And its pretty clear, as if it wasn't already, that anyone dubbed the 'continuity' candidate can't possibly be elected leader. To do so will just hand the Tories the next election and probably finish the labour party off for good
Nice to listen to Jezza at PMQ’s using all his questions condemning the Americans and supporting the peace-loving administration of Iran.
That's not what I heard. I just heard someone asking a very reasonable question over an illegal killing and whether the prime minister would confirm that it was illegal and also getting in a dig about being so reliant on the trade deal with US that they can't be honest, have integrity etc,.
Yeah, on reflection I'm sure that everyone came away with the same impression as yourself, thats how it'll be reported in the press, and that nobody at all will form the impression that he's a knee-jerk anti-american, terrorist-sympathiser?
The reputation of the labour party will no doubt be greatly enhanced by his latest contribution to the debate, his finger on the pulse of the national mood, as ever
I'd say his finger is closer to the pulse than yours. Or have you missed the amount of folk not wanting to get involved in another US led middle eastern adventure?
Take a step back and take the blinkers off for a minute, you're as ideologically blinded as the rest of them.
Well, with Unison backing Starmer, I think that means Lewis won’t get his Union nomination (and no Union nomination means that realistically you don’t even get to run)... probably for the best… but it’s a shame he won’t get the leadership campaign to try and prove himself for a leading front bench role.
https://twitter.com/polhomeeditor/status/1214925083728318465?s=21
Magic Grandad has his finger on the pulse? Yeah, right. Here’s a pretty accurate description of his performance today by the political sketch writer of that famously right-wing mouthpiece The Independent. The title itself sums him up...
Jeremy Corbyn just delivered a masterclass in being the worst party leader in political history
He seems to be having some kind of bet with himself to see just how much damage he can do to the Labour Party before his fingers are prized away from the leadership
When do we hear who the unions have blocked from running?
The biggest union in the country is backing Starmer. I'm sure all those who claimed that a union stitch-up would deliver RLB as leader will be here soon to admit they were wrong.
I’m sure all those who claimed that a union stitch-up would deliver RLB as leader will be here soon to admit they were wrong.
Who said that? Some people pointed out that the union leaders don’t get a block vote any more, I then pointed out that the new nomination process means that they now have major say in who gets to the voting stage.
It’s who gets blocked by the unions that’s interesting. I doubt RLB will be, I’d be surprised if the Unite thumbs up goes to anyone else, but you never know.
RLB was always going to get the unite vote delivered by Comrade Len.
The leadership of Unite is fortunately not representative of the union movement generally. They’re not all stuck in some stasis of 1970’s arrested development.
We’ve got 11 more weeks of Corbyn yet, and on the strength of today’s head-in-the-sand debacle, the idea of any ‘continuity’ candidate to that will look less and less appealing.
So by grimly hanging on he might actually be doing the party a favour.
The scale of the electoral thumping they’ve just received, and the reasons why, does seem to be sinking in with all but the most terminally deluded, like Rebecca ‘ten out of ten for Jeremy’ Long-Bailey
Prentis always comes over well, as opposed to McClusky......
Starmer could well be the man for the middle ground.
More like…
“Boom… boom!”
Gardiner’s been considering how well he’s come across over the last few years and thought to himself, “yeah, I’ll go for that. What could go wrong?”
Got to be Gardiner and Burgon for the full package
Not so fast!
Surely Ian Lavery has still time yet
And Dianne Abbott has been suspiciously quiet...
If Bazza is the answer what the **** is the question?
Len is all over twitter basically calling Goodall a liar, saying Gardner is overseas and isn’t standing.
The leadership of Unite is fortunately not representative of the union movement generally.
Yeah, it's only the biggest union in Britain.
Yeah, it’s only the biggest union in Britain.
& all those members agree entirely with what Len says
https://twitter.com/DannyGodfrey23/status/1214440535177547777?s=09
You know Binners I'm only providing this sort of thing for light entertainment. Not because if this was JC or DA we you would be going on about this for weeks as evidence of poor leadership.
Barry Gardiner is a very interesting character. Voted for the the Iraq war, nominated David Miliband for the leadership, once told Gordon Brown to resign because he wasn't enough of a blairite, and has close ties to the Modi regime. He should stick to being the shadow minister for going on question time.
Good answer from Lewis though on the ridiculous 'would you be willing to kill millions of innocent people question'.
https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/1215212203013439488?s=20
Yeah, it’s only the biggest union in Britain.
The reason people like comrade Len target union leadership as a route to influence within the labour party is because not many people bother voting in union leadership elections. He was elected last time, very narrowly, on a turnout of 12% of the Unite mebership. Hardly some ringing endorsement is it?
How do you think he's have got on standing for election as an MP? Yet there he is. At the top table of the party, esentially dictating policy. And repelling voters, obviously. Every time he opens his mouth, the Tory vote share goes up 5%
The reason people like comrade Len target union leadership as a route to influence within the labour party is because not many people bother voting in union leadership elections. He was elected last time, very narrowly, on a turnout of 12% of the Unite mebership. Hardly some ringing endorsement is it?
I'm not a member of Unite so I don't know why you're aiming that comment at me.
It wasn't aimed at you comrade. I was just pointing out the depth of Comrade Len's democratic mandate.
Stop using “Comrade” please Binners!
Oh, hang on…
https://twitter.com/richardburgon/status/1215257662608244738?s=21
It wasn’t aimed at you comrade. I was just pointing out the depth of Comrade Len’s democratic mandate.
Replied to me but not aimed at me. *reaches for chinny reckon gif*
Anyway, for everyone else, I think the influence of the union vote is much overstated for the following reasons:
1. Elections are now one member one vote (the bloc vote was scrapped)
2. Union members have to opt in to have a vote: for example, my union gives me a choice of two different political funds, one of which is Labour affiliated and the other is for general campaigning.
3. Union members don't all vote the way their leaders tell them to.
4. At the 2016 election, less than 20% of votes cast were by affiliated union supporters, and of those, around 60% voted for Corbyn. Full members are by far the largest bloc.
Magic Grandad has his finger on the pulse? Yeah, right. Here’s a pretty accurate description of his performance today by the political sketch writer of that famously right-wing mouthpiece The Independent. The title itself sums him up…
Jeremy Corbyn just delivered a masterclass in being the worst party leader in political history
He seems to be having some kind of bet with himself to see just how much damage he can do to the Labour Party before his fingers are prized away from the leadership
Interesting, do you actually have your own thoughts or just what you read? If you do could you answer my question rather than avoiding it with vapid ranting? In case you missed it I asked:
Or have you missed the amount of folk not wanting to get involved in another US led middle eastern adventure?
That aside, would you be supportive if he just didn't turn up at all or would that just be a different stick to beat him with? I'm willing to bet the latter as opposed to the former in this case.
Union members have to opt in to have a vote: for example, my union gives me a choice of two different political funds, one of which is Labour affiliated and the other is for general campaigning.
Really? Wish we had that in GMB.
Barry Gardiner is a very interesting character. Voted for the the Iraq war, nominated David Miliband for the leadership, once told Gordon Brown to resign because he wasn’t enough of a blairite, and has close ties to the Modi regime. He should stick to being the shadow minister for going on question time.
I assumed it was just the Chinese having a tilt at the leadership.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/china-cash-link-to-top-labour-mp-65d3c92j8
They backed the wrong horse if so!
Do I have my own thoughts? You know the answer to that, surely?
Everyone who doesn’t think Jeremy is wonderful and his socialist vision is the only future, is obviously an unthinking drone, a gullible slave to the neoliberal military-industrial complex, totally incapable of independent thought, who eagerly awaits Rupert Murdoch spoon-feeding them their opinions every day.
That’s the narrative, isn’t it?
Oh...and SK I’m not answering your question or engaging with you in any way as you’re not even aware of what’s clearly stated on page 66 of your union rule book
Come on... this is schoolboy stuff...
Oh…and SK I’m not answering your question or engaging with you in any way as you’re not even aware of what’s clearly stated on page 66 of your union rule book
Come on… this is schoolboy stuff…
Interesting how a post advising a member on how to use his union subscription is hijacked by you and your petty animosities. When I say interesting, I mean entirely predictable.
Then, comrade, I suggest that you take a look at page 73, subsection 2, paragraph 3, appendage 7, which clearly proves you wrong
Binners, going back to comrade len...as you stated turnover in last Unite election was 12.2%.
His 45.5% share means that 5.6% of the union membership voted for him.
I wouldn't call that a democratic result.
It's even worse than the farce which masquerades as PCC elections.
Unfortunately, McCluskey and his mates control the rule book.
How will he connive at the next union election?
The whole way Unite functions under McClusky is completely dysfunctional and corrupt.
Unfortunately his entryist agenda, initially trialled by Militant in the 80’s was used as a template to deliver Corbynism, where he revelled in the totally out of kilter amount of power he wielded
The man is a real piece of work. A narcissistic, power-crazed bully of the worst sort. A supposed Marxist conducting ‘socialist’ operations from his table in The Ivy (all on expenses, paid for by subs from union members, obviously)
This sums up Len McClusky..
Ex-labour MP awarded £75,000 in Libel damages after Union story
Anna Turkey was bang on with her description of McClusky. He’s a vile human being
Then, comrade, I suggest that you take a look at page 73, subsection 2, paragraph 3, appendage 7, which clearly proves you wrong
That almost passes for originality in your world.
Binners - you're getting over-excited in your trying; it's Anna Turley, not Turkey.
The damages award is being appealed by Unite and the costs award, if the appeal is unsuccessful, is closer to £2million than £1mill.
There are 4 other cases against Labour and/or Corbynistas which are in the public domain and, in each, the solicitor's are Lab's favourites Howe & Co (who acted against Turley) with barrister Anthony Hudson expected to make an appearance - as he did against Turley.
The judge in Turley's case, after Hudson stated she '...was not fit to be an MP', increased the damages award and said '...the defendants' conduct during the trial has seriously aggravated the harm to (Turley's) reputation and her distress'.
Details courtesy of Private Eye.
McCluskey - unaffected.
Members subs - being wasted big style.
My learned friends - laughing all the way.
Sickening really.
I left school at 16 and worked on the heavily unionised chemical plants on Merseyside in the 1980’s.
I’ve had plenty of first hand experience of the Len McCluskey’s and Derek Hatton of this world*. Utter *’s, the lot of them
They were pathetic, Marxist dinosaurs in 1986 - totally self-serving- I’m gobsmacked that anyone is naive enough to buy their bullshit in the 21st century. That takes a special kind of stupid
The likes of McClusky are about as concerned for the rights of workers as Jacob Rees Mogg. They’re entirely in it for themselves, which in my eyes makes them even worse than the Tory’s
At least they make no pretence to not being utter *s
* not the Jeremy Corbyns, obviously, as there’s no chance on earth they’d be anywhere near an actual workplace like a chemical plant, particularly in the north
That takes a special kind of stupid
Always the best way of convincing people of your point of view.
There’s little point in trying to convince cult members that they’re wrong
This is just me howling through a load-hailer into a shipping container as I watch the Corbynite lefty morons deliver us 20+ years of Tory rule
Maybe if you lot had learnt anything at all in the last 4 years I might make some effort to mask my total and utter contempt...
****ing clowns