Concern within the Labour Party that Jeremy Corbyn is doing well

I laughed out loud at that, Anniebach. Fortunately I get to talk to a lot of real socialists to keep me sane.

I noticed in the letters page in yesterday's i that all the letters about the Labour party were in favour of Corbyn. I take that to mean that they did not have any to balance. Four letters in favour of a leader with principles.

Well, I have even had problems sleeping some nights when thinking of this, - my vote will make such a difference to the outcome - I cannot sell my beliefs for the door to no 10, my vote will be for Jeremy, i am not new labour I am a socialist .

Then I will have to settle for minor soontobe. Anyway this Thatcherite government is hard at work making the Labour Party a minor party, change of boundaries - as did thatcher - attacking the unions - as did thatcher, we do not have a tory government we have a thatcher government, greed is good is back

I have just realised some Labour voters dont cut the mustard for some other possible Labour voters!

Same with Tories, soon. How do you think UKIP happened? How do you think the Libdems came about? Both split from the main party.

I am not sure that I agree with that durhamjen. I will have a think.

Nothing to think about. It's fact.

Boundary changes are proposed by the Boundary Commission, not any particular government. Just because the latest proposals will lead to fewer Labour-dominated constituencies in the North-East doesn't make them wrong.

It does for those in the North East and in Wales grumppa

Except, of course, that it was the government that brought in a new law about when and how the boundary commission should have its review.

www.electoral-reform.org.uk/boundary-reform

In County Durham there would be one very large constituency which goes from north to south including all the Durham Dales. Anyone with any geographical knowledge knows that Durham runs east to west, with many of the dales being cut off in the winter. It would be very difficult for one MP to represent everyone from Consett, down to Barnard Castle and across to the county boundary with Cumbria. In fact I think the commission was going to include Haltwhistle in the constituency.
I remember writing to the commission about it, as did many others.

Figured it out!
When I am in something, I want it to get bigger. To expand both left and right.
Does that make sense?

So if I was in the Labour party, I wouldnt want to be getting rid of chunks of it.

I was wondering if I was going off topic, but I am not actually.

It seems to me that there are two distinct camps within Labour.
Those on the left who dont mind too much if Labour gets into power as long as they keep to left principles.
And those on the right, who are probably on the right anyway, and are happy to be even more right wing.

If we start from the principle that all constituencies should have more or less the same population, then there are undeniable distortions in the current arrangements that need to be addressed. If we also accept that we do not need more MPs, then the solution is for smaller constituencies to be merged. Obviously, a Labour Government was not going to implement this.

At various times on various threads it has been suggested that education and the NHS should be taken out of politics. Boundaries seem to fall into the same category.

Not quite right Soontobe, sticking with your beliefs and principles doesn't mean one does not want to see the many benefit from them ,

Seems for me, the difference between socialism and capitalism is a socialist must put the welfare of others first, capitalism the opposite

I now see that I left out important words in my 14.38pm post. Sorry.
I meant to post doesnt get into power instead of gets.

Anniebach. But how would that work if Jeremy becomes leader, and then doesnt become Prime Minister?

Thank you Soontobe, I really dislike even the thought of wanting or getting power .

It is so difficult this time, if Jeremy were to become leader one can only hope that voters will see the qualities of a true socialist and find it more important than how he eats a bacon sandwich - sorry being flippant about the press - we suffered badly after selecting Michael Foot and it could happen again, but I don't want a party that would sell it's soul for the keys to no 10. My second choice is Yvette, last time I so wished she had stood and this time have been swaying from her to Jeremy , there is still some time before we vote

Lot of stuff in the Observer today - it makes for depressing reading. I can stand that Labour is going through a period of introspection and decision, that often means a good outcome eventually, but what I can't stand is what will happen to our UK during these doldrum years. I get a bit panicky when I think of the outcome.

whitewave, it certaintly doesn't trouble 'call me Dave' he is doing a runner before 2020 so will be safely tucked behind a desk in the city

Interesting woman from the Guardian on TV the other day saying that the problem with appealing to the centre ground in politics is that the centre has now shifted substantially to the right. Maybe Jeremy will offer the chance to bring the centre back towards the left.

Yes untill recently it was difficult to seperate the parties on the centre ground but now the Tories are turning back to the far right the differences will again be very marked

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-race-jeremy-corbyn-could-be-the-next-prime-minister-says-ken-clarke-10436255.html?origin=internalSearch

Why shouldn't a party run by JC win? He was "allowed" to stand because it was thought by those who believe they know about these things that, although it would make the debate more exciting - and headline grabbing - he would never attract many people ... but he has. What if enough people in the right places voted for a Labour party led by him and he did get into office, after all that is all the Conservatives have done. They did not need a majority just enough votes in the right places.

I agree with you about the word power Anniebach; it seems to me to have become more in common use as politics has moved to the right. A party should not be looking for power but for office. DC is the servant of the people not the master.

Good article by Owen this morning in the good old Guardian. I am beginning to wonder whether JC ought to consider forming a new party.

As a member of the Labour Party for fifty years yes I want a labour government but I do not want to support a party which will abandon it's core beliefs to get through the door of no 10. Fed up of hearing of blairites. Just think what happened to the Tory party after Thatcherism took over and what of her cabinet who stabbed her in the back , suppose that wasn't the Tories in disagreement !