Labour Leadership watch

Just to add that I didn't know when a thread reached 1000 posts it can't go any further as I have not seen this since I joined Gransnet. How interesting that this election and Jeremy Corbyn's part in it is capturing the thoughts of GNs just as much as the rest of the nation.

Why?

Why what?

That GNrs are just as interested in it as the rest of the nation.

Not relevant to the op but soops kitchen has reached 1000 posts lots of times as have quite a few others.

As you were!!

Well people must be interested or they wouldn't keep commenting on the posts or am I missing something here?

You've just added two to this thread for no real reason, jingl.

It's going to be interesting to see what Corbyn's opposition do in the next few weeks, and I do not mean the Tories.

Wonder how strong the left movement is, whether it is as strong as other countries in Europe. We shall fi d out if the right of the LP causes such an uproar that there is a split.

I wonder whether he lays in bed at night wondering why Tories are voting for him.

I imagine he is as aware of the exaggeration of these things as much as anyone else, Crun. A lot of it is hot air with just a few journalists who can't write a proper story joining in. Do I believe all the other idiots saying they are doing it - not a bit. But, if they are not members of the Conservative party they are allowed to change their minds as much as anyone else and then, I am sure, we would welcome whoever they choose to vote for and applaud their conversion.

Not had much time for Gnett over the weekend, but reading all the posts on the last two pages of the old thread, I was struck by POGS's posts, that some Gnetters seem to be distancing themselves, not from Jermey Corbyn but from the fact that his policies and general political thinking are Socialist/Marxist in nature. They are almost saying in shock/horror,' oh, but that isn't us!' Or, ' what? no! What an idea' and yet that is exactly what Corbyn's ideas are and that fact cannot be hidden( nor would he want it to be.)So, what's going on here then? You are either a very left wing Socialist or Marxist, possibly a bit of both, and that's ok, just say so, or you are not, in which case , why support Corbyn for leader of the opposition?
I further wonder, if that is not just the case on this forum, but Nationwide?

Being left wing is very different from being a Trotsky or marxist. I am left wing, I am not clear that pog understands the difference. She hasn't displayed any understanding so far.

To be a marxist and any offshoot is to want an entirely different economic system to the capitalist system. JC is very far from that stance and to suggest anything else is disingenuous. What he had advocates is a fairer more mixed economy which is a long way from the type of capitalist economy the current government snd some on the right of the LP are advocating. What JC and his supporters are looking for is a return of the consensus that has existed for much of the last century where the welfare state ensured greater fairness and equality, both of which is rapidly disappearing.

Rosesarered, I voted for labour when Foot was leader and when Blair was leader , I voted because I am a socialist and firmly believe labour will protect the needy far more than the Tories , not that it takes much to do more for the vulnerable than the Tories

I voted for Labour until Blair showed he wasn't a socialist. I would vote for Labour again if it gets a socialist leader. I am not a communist, Trotskyite or Marxist as far as I know.
I agree with Whitewave, and find it worrying that anyone considered too left wing is being denied a say in the leadership of the party as it existed for a long time.
Things have moved on, but the basis of socialism, looking after the health and wellbeing of those who through no fault of their own have been denied a decent living, has not changed.

I stuck with it Jen, considering the alternatives !

Right, so it sounds as if Djen is the only real Socialist ( so far) to comment.
From what I have heard and read, Corbyn is an admirer of Marx, although he is downplaying it now of course. it all seems like a doomed excercise though, voting him in as leader, because without the backing of first, the shadow cabinet, and then the Labour MP's in Parliament, he couldn't get anything done which actually meant something, all by himself.This is a man who has defied the Labour whip 500 times, this is not a leader to unite the party, is it?Or do Labour voters on here really think he can, given the reaction of Labour MP's( Margaret Beckett says of herself " I must be a moron to have backed him as a candidate!")

Jen, Whitewave and *Anniebach I wonder just how long it will be before the last Labour government gets blamed for the problems with the Chinese economy?

Who knows(or cares) but since the Tories get blamed for everything bar the weather, it would make a change.

I was just thinking that, roses!

(although as dj will remember, I blame Gordon Brown - for everything! )

I am a socialist. I am delighted to see JC standing up for real socialist policies. If he has defied the Labour whip it shows he is a man of principle. If more labour MPs had done so we might not have invaded Iraq. I see no reason why he shouldn't unite the party. Left wingers in the party were prepared to stand behind Blair, right wingers can do the same for Corbyn.

Can, but very likely won't.

I agree trisher it's the blind faith of the Conservatives - who have a fear story for everything - who keep telling themselves he can't win an election. That, with some of the right of the party who are using this tale for their own ends. Nobody has actually bothered to set out a reasoned case, in detail, to show he can't win and it is the whole electorate that will decide. It seems the worst some can throw at him and those who like what he is saying is that they are (roll of drums) SOCIALISTS - wow, socialists in the Labour Party - who'd have thought it.

Er - wasn't it the perceived accusations of Marxism and Communism that raised so many hackles earlier?