Unions bill

Yes, saw his 'speech' on the news from Brighton. But it's not a million miles between London and Brighton, ought he not to have managed both?

He was at Brighton, for the TUC conference, wasn't he (although my mind's a bit all over the place since Saturday..)

Call me naive but can someone explain why Corbyn wasn't in The House yesterday when the vote was taken on this bill and the reform to working tax credits?

I have seen his speeches but they talk to the party faithful. He now needs to talk to the country and persuade them of his policies. He needs to put meat on the bone but I guess the hammering out of policy of how to deliver his programme will take a good few months. It is easy to talk to the followers. It is a whole different ball game to persuade the unconverted or down right hostile. I like his stand on issues but he needs to deliver them in a workable form to get elected as PM with the majority to carry them out. That's the difficult bit.

Do you mean you haven't seen any of his speeches on television, Devo? Where have you been?

Well I gather Jeremy is making his first policy statement at the TUC Conference. I was out so haven't heard it yet but that will be an indicator of how he plans to appeal to the voting public. To date, for the leadership, he has spoken only to Party Members, supporters and affiliates. Now he needs to speak to the general, voting public. No use converting the converted. It's the other lot he needs to convince.

Well said Devorgilla.

I just cant see how the left can get enough votes in a general election by starting from the quite extreme left and moving in towards central ground.

The Tories are the ones currently with the majority in Parliament and will therefore always win on a vote they introduce unless some Tories rebel or the varied opposition parties gain a majority no matter how slender and all vote as one which is not 'a given'. The Tories will try to push through as much as they can while they have that majority. That is why the election of an electable Labour Leader was vitally important. But the next General election isn't for another five years. We can protest both in Parliament and out but until we have that magic majority it will be in vain.

Votes just been on.
Government won by 31 votes, the closest vote I've seen for a long time.
It has an opposition at last.

fullfact.org/factchecks/strike_regulations_toughest_in_uk-2962

But that's just it - I do!

So should you, Ana.

durhamjen, as the GN master of sarcasm, surely you should be able to recognise it when you see it!

Pleased you agree, Ana. Can't say there should be more people in favour of strike action, then complain if there are.

Yes, that'll be really good for the country...

Perhaps now Corbyn is in charge of the Labour Party, on 59.5% of the vote, union members will take a greater part in voting for strike action.

Although Union leaders can apparently be voted in on a whim and a prayer...