Jermy Corbyn elected

I call frontbenchers big names
I've heard them called 'big beasts' before now. However, that term doesn't seem to be used much nowadays.

I can't help remembering the scenes of adulation in 1997 when a youthful Tony Blair was elected and everyone thought it was a new dawn.
Who really knows how Jeremy Corbyn will get on? Quite apart from how much support or not he has within the parliamentary party, there will be 'events' to contend with too.

Extraordinary- what a stir- but has anyone actually thought of these outdated recruitment and SELECTION processes, so I work for a Foundation trust with 7000 staff and well thousands and thousands of members. I used to work globally for a company with 68,000 staff and millions of shareholders. Can you imagine the CEO of ANY company being placed this way through a variety of members who get caught up in hysteria rather than proven capability! . Its archaic practice to say that this man who has NEVER had a leadership position and has NEVER been tested to lead is now the leader of the opposition. Despite all of this talk of him being different he is NO different to the spouting forth of the labour left when FOOT was in power, comrades he and Tom Watson say. Are we really going to accept that and go back to it or do we move forward . Its a sad day in my estimation for politics but who am I , just a member of the thinking public wanting to see more politicians drop the party line and work together (similar but better than The coalition). Some hope now, it will be opposition opposition opposition to whatever is said no matter that it might make sense for this country...who ever is leading it....my only hope is the proven experience and proven leadership qualities of the many in both parties will prevail to ensure that this country continues to have progressive policies that are sound for the country as a whole!

I agree with those who have commented that we will now be able to distinguish between political parties. Tony Blair and his ilk have muddied the waters to the point where it has been almost impossible to differentiate between political parties and their policies. It has been difficult to distinguish between one 'posh boy' and another. Time for a change, methinks. Here's hoping.

I don't know much about politics but why not give the man a chance. We cant be any worse off than we are at the minute with benefit cuts, the immigration problems to say the least, so with a new leader in opposition maybe they will influence a change. Lets wait and see.

I think the elation when Blair became PM was caused by freedom from the Thatcher years

rosequartz, the term big beasts is no longer heard because they don't exist , an PM of five years cannot be called a big beast, they are newcomers

AnnieBach that's how I see Tony Blair's reception too and I supported him for the whole time he was in parliament because I believed him to be an honourable man (Gordon Brown even more so). These days I feel so disillusioned by Tony Blair and the route he's taken since leaving parliament. The old saying that power corrupts, etc., has never seemed more appropriate to someone of my generation.

Margaret Thatcher was an evangelist politian in my eyes and that's how I see Jeremy Corbyn at the moment. I can only hope he's the one to start the painful process of reversing the look after number one and money is God attitudes that are the Thatcher's legacy.

I hope this is the time of change and I have no problem with Tom Watson leading the Party at some point in the future. In fact, the continuity would be a good idea.

Brilliant, Jeremy Corbyn....let's all watch this space. He certainly can't make more of a hash of it than the last lot.

Wilma, sorry to shorten your name but will misspell it in full.

I was disappointed that Blair and Brown didn't stand for the leadership, I was set to vote for Gordon. The day Blair walked into Downing Street I wept, yes happy bunny my party had won but the relief that it was the end of the years of the Tories and the thatcher greed is good mantra was quite overwhelming , so I cried

Feel free to shorten my name! I also cried when Labour won in 1997 for the same reason. I worked for Social Security then and saw first hand what it was like to live on benefits after the massive changes of 1988. Despite what so many people think, I still have the utmost respect for Gordon Brown and hope he returns to the front line one day.

I too think there should be time allowed.
But the MPs know him far better than the average person, so they may know that he is not likely to bend much if at all.

Thank you Wilma. I don't think Gordon will again enter the field of UK politics, he and Sarah and so involved with their charities , he has always cared deeply for children and sees education of children as the way forward for peace and freedom from poverty . I wish his lovely sense of humour and his gentleness could have come across on screen , but he does 'do' telly. He is so respected in many countries

soon, I agree , MP's must know fellow MP's better than the voter, so the fact that Corbyn is respected as an honourable man by members in all parties shows he is just that

I dont think there is much doubt about his honour.

But that has nothing to do with how far he is likely to bend with his ideas and policies. Does it?

Why not soon, he has said he will listen, pity Blair and Cameron hadn't

Just listened to a BBC political reporter speak on the up coming vote on the governments changes to unions , he said Corbyn will want his party to vote against the government and for the unions , NO, the vote will be against the government and for the rights of workers , headlines too will lead with Corbyn supports unions not Corbyn supports workers rights

Is that the law by which the Tories are slowly trying to curtail the Union's right to strike?
Something about needing a bigger majority in favour.
Maybe the Unions saw this coming and that's why many of them backed Corbyn.
Going back to the Thatcher years .

good post jefm, I would certainly agree with you there.
However, although a lot of it is supposition, some around Corbyn seem to think that other old hands will 'carry' him on a lot of Parliament stuff, including PMQ's which he is not happy to do.No doubt Tom Watson will be doing all that.

I've only just noticed the title of this thread!
I assume it was mischief making a typo!

Oh, I see it now you've mentioned it, Lona...

well, I didn't like to say but...

TriciaF, not all unions supported Corbyn, and it's workers who strike , brining in a law that a higher percentage must vote to strike by a government who had a lower percentage to govern is amusing

But the left is always complaining about that, Anniebach, so why is it OK for workers to strike with sometimes an even smaller percentage in favour?

Yes some do say that Ana, but it has to be accepted, why is it OK for the government to say it will not be accepted if it applies to workers ?