Labour now

Why would he give up his support for unions now?
His whole working life was as a trade unionist before becoming an MP.

I am sad today learning if the death of Gerald Kaufman even though he was 86

What a loss to parliment . He has gone before witnessing the end of his beloved Labour Party

Anya, who were the labour leaders you claim were puppets to McClusky ?

durhamjen Fri 24-Feb-17 19:48:49

How many Labour voters can you name on here, roses?
Annie, Trisher, me? That's all I can name on this thread

Ah, but that was djen saying it, and it seems that djen can say anything at all.
Last night's comments were a perfect storm in a teacup, with some posters stirring the cup a little too much.

So it can't be a cardinal sin can it?

I was just answering durhamjen's question of 23.27 last night.

I missed that post Ana

Kept you busy, though, didn't it?
Stopped you stirring it on other threads while you were counting.

?

And it was good of you to remind me what I did say, because I really couldn't remember whether I'd meant on the thread or GN as a whole. Thank you. I knew one of you would look it up for me.

How very witty ( Oscar Wilde...eat your heart out.)

Didn't stop you though, did it? Nothing ever could...

Well of course it was obvious why you said it.

Anya. Talking about Len McClusky!

Len McClusky IS keeping his council a bit lately but only because he is trying to appear as though he is not as close to Corbyn/Momentum as the world and his dog know he is.

Why?

Because he has a Unite Leadership election of his own to contend with coming up very soon in March/April.

I hope Gerard Coyne wins the vote but my money is on McClusky retaining his position as he has so much ' help ' on his side as opposed to Gerard Coyne who is the ' Underdog '.

As a midlands gransnetter I have listened to Coyne on various local programmes etc. and if I was a Unite Member he would get my vote for sure. Nobody knows a persons true self but his character comes over as a genuine union man who has expressed his angst at 'too close connections' and will not be interested in the 'high living' the likes of McClusky enjoys.

Can what appears to be a decent bloke win? , if the members have any doubts as to the way Unite is travelling then I hope so.

If you no absolutely nothing about Gerard Coyne you might find these interesting.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/12/unite-leadership-challenger-gerard-coyne-launches-manifesto

The challenger for the leadership of Britain’s biggest union, Unite, has launched his manifesto with a promise to review rules that allowed the incumbent leader, Len McCluskey, to buy a flat with the help of union funds.

Coyne also plans to review the payment of more than £6m in affiliation fees by the union every year, including money given to the Morning Star newspaper. “I believe the Morning Star gets quite a lot of money, but I would run a rule over all of our expenditure,” he said.

Attacking McCluskey’s prominence on Labour issues, Coyne said at the launch: “Our current leader spends too much of his time - and your money - playing at Westminster politics. I will never try to be the puppet master of the Labour party.”

uk.businessinsider.com/gerard-coyne-accuses-len-mccluskey-and-momentum-of-trying-to-stitch-up-unite-leadership-election-2017-1?r=DE&IR=T

Well worth a read but won't be liked by anybody who supports Momentum.

OK then! Back to 'Labour Now'. There will be by-elections in Manchester Gorton and, almost certainly, in Leigh.

Both are Labour strongholds, although different. Gorton includes Fallowfield, where many Manchester Uni students live, and pockets of Asians. It's classified as an ultra-safe Labour seat, especially after the LD vote collapsed after the student fee debacle.

Leigh is more stereotypically 'Northern working class'. Unlike Gorton, it voted strongly for Leave.

I expect Labour will hold both, but it will be interesting to see what its pitch is (especially as one constituency is strongly Remain and the other is the polar opposite) and whether it hangs on to its substantial majorities.

Thank you POGS, most interesting. This is what Corbyn had in mind when he said he was staying as leader untill the job was done.

Thinking of Gerald Kaufman, he said of the election which took labour into the wilderness labour had the longest sucicide vote in history

He also said

Policies and principles with out power were simply not enough to deliver the better life he had fought for for his constituency

In that case ab....Gerald Kaufman knew a thing or two.

Anniebach

I like this you tube clip of Gerald Kaufman and it does feed into thatbags OP, thatbags might find it interesting too.

The interviewer is rather interesting as I have idea who he is or what he has done but given the death of Gerald Kaufman it is rather poignant at the end of the interview!

Gerald Kaufman's last interview on Corbyn, Brexit and Scottish independence - YouTube

I hope you enjoy it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLJCltQArrY

Ana

That's the one!!!

Thank you very much I couldn't work out where I went wrong.

Cheers.

Annie without McCluskey's direct action Ed Milliband would not have won the Labour leadership. And DJ I never said it was Corbyn who was in danger of dissolving the partnership....did I?

You're welcome! I just noticed there didn't appear to be a link in your post.

Anya, I was trying to think of two and could only think Milliband, forgot Corbyn , I fully sgree about Ed, David was ahead untill the union vote which got Ed in. Think I am having a senior moment , or day

I have those all the time.