How to choose a leader

Ip Dip Dip My Blue Ship trisher

I usually use that one, quite effective, usually gives me the answer I want if I start with the right one

but there was Mandelson in the background
and the unelected Campbell annieb

By the way, they are elected for two years. I think that's important, too.

I think that there were only 40+ who voted for none of the above.
Jonathan Bartley and Caroline Lucas got 86% of the first preference votes for leader. No problems there.
Deputy leader went to fourth preference before Amelia Womack got over 50%. That's where the re-open nominations votes came in.

I quite like the "None of the above " idea I suppose the trouble is you could finish up having loads of elections because nobody had enough popularity to win.
Everyone knows Margaret Thatcher was groomed for the leadership, the problem was like Frankenstein's monster she took on a life of her own.
I'm wondering about "Eeeny, Meeny. Or maybe the shortest straw.

NHAP are having a leadership election in their AGM in the autumn. It will all be done very amicably. They need a new leader because the previous one stepped down as he is an oncology surgeon, and needs to concentrate on that.
They have an interim leader, who is one of the executive team, and is a retired GP, so no conflict there.

Yes it is a discussion on choosing leaders , do you expect a discussion of leaders without mention of leaders names?

Some Tory history, thatcher was only voted leader because Joseph had blotted his book and couldn't stand so he pulled thatchers strings, this happens in leadership contests

This is the wrong thread to debate the history of the labour party

Not at all hard to believe, many are but they don't become militants .

Blair actually told Michael Foot that he came to socialism through Marxism. Hard to believe now.

Jamila, I cannot dismiss the good done in those years. It started to go wrong when Blair lost his way after the second election. If Brown had stood against Blair I would have voted for Brown , but there was Mandelson in the background as there is McDonald now

I know ab but it doesn't mean to say that the Labour Party didn't go downhill or change for the worse.

Hardly scheming if Brown supported Balir in his leadership bid, Brown was free to stand for leader, like Robin Cook he put the party first , it's what those who want labour in power do

Shows how scheming Tony Blair was even then.

We won three elections Jalima after all those years in the wilderness . John Smith wanted .gordon Brown to suceed him as leader

It all went downhill from thereon (John Smith's untimely death).

You play 'Simon Says' or some other silly game such as 'Statues', 'Pass the Parcel', 'Sleeping Lions'

Last one in wins the poisoned chalice leadership

So what do you think to the argument that it was John Smith who laid the ground for the Labour victory and not Tony Blair? And that he would not have invaded Iraq but stayed out and maintained Labour's integrity.

Thank you moderator

Wrong thread, Annie.

Two labour whips have resigned over the sacking of Rosie Winterton,

Green Party also have 'none of the above' equivalent, i.e., you can vote to re-open nominations.

Green Party do it the most sensibly.
Support of 20 members.
Have to have been a member for at least 3 years.
One month for nominations
One month for campaigning
Onr month for balloting
Use STV or alternative vote.

Quite simple and transparent.

There was no McDonald in the labour party then.

When Blair was voted leader he stood against Beckett and Prescott , McDonald wanted to stand but couldn't get support.

I wonder who would have won if Robin Cook had stood , he refused to stand , he said he was not attractive enough for the general electorate and this would damage the party at the election. He would have made a great PM in my opinion but I agree with his decision