Government watch

I am becoming increasingly impressed by the Labour Party in opposition. I watched Jon Ashworth challenging Jeremy Hunt today and Hunt looked as though he was about to be sick. In my opinion, the Labour Party has by far the more talented, committed and knowledgeable bunch of MPs (backbench included).

If the Labour Prty can sort out its internal differences, they have enough MPs to form a formidable government. The names I would like include are Jon Ashworth, Rachel Reeves, Debbie Abrahams, Jess Phillips, Hilary Benn, Wes Streeting and many others.

What differentiates the Labour Party from the Conservatives is that they really do seem to have "got" what most people are concerned about - homes, schools, the NHS, social care, reliable jobs, etc etc.

I still have reservations that nobody really seems to grasp macro-economics and the party is still peddling "no magic money tree" myths and, most of all, I'm concerned about their attitude to Brexit. Nevertheless, I think the Labour Party is on the rise and public opinion is increasingly on their side. The Conservatives seem to be in denial about how many people really hate them.

If this government actually manages to survive two years, I think they're going to make such a pig's ear of Brexit and alienate so many people with domestic policies that we could be looking at a Labour landslide.

I agree with you dj. An increasing number of people are seeing through the austerity BS.

Daphne, the Labour party 'got' that in 1945, which is why they set up the NHS, good schools for all, building lots of housing, etc.

Yes, I know. From a political strategy point of view, I think they'd be daft to want to overthrow the government now. Let the Tories dig themselves a bit deeper into a hole. Public opinion is shifting. Labour also needs to sort out its stance on Brexit and learn a few lessons about macro-economics. They need to develop some of the backbenchers. They've got a cracking government in the making - maybe without Corbyn, but they'll need to find somebody with similar views and ability to relate to people.

PS. Attlee was an introvert, but wasn't exposed to same kind of media that politicians are today.

As dj said earlier, I think they've really shot themselves in the foot with voting against the amendment to lift the cap on public service worker's pay. I realise that a government party is not likely to vote for a radical amendment to their own bill but, in view of all the publicity and heartfelt admiration which our frontline services have had in the past few weeks it looks very ugly to vote to continue to restrict their pay and to cheer when the amendment is lost.

What a kick in the teeth for police, nurses and firemen

Let the Conservatives keep shooting themselves in the foot. The message is getting through.

Give Labour a bit of time and they'll be able to form a majority government, which I didn't believe was possible six months ago.

The longer this farce goes on, the bigger the Labour majority will be.

daphne In the period before the snap general election was called, Jess Phillips, Rachel Reeves, Hilary Benn, Peter Mandelson, et al, used their energy to give interviews saying how ineffectual and unelectable Corbyn was. It was remarkable, given those relentless attempts to undermine him, that Labour achieved what it did in the recent election.

It is Corbyn and his team who have been steadfast in rejecting austerity and offering a more positive, fair and constructive way forward for this country. Under his stewardship, the Labour Party performed better than it did under Miliband and Brown.

Benn, Phillips, et al, broadly went along with the Conservative's austerity agenda and so offered no real alternative.

OK! I take it back. I don't watch much TV, so didn't see the interviews.

Not necessarily on TV - there were lots of interviews given to daily newspapers and other publications.

The Lib-dem amendment should be worth watching. Doesn't the DUP want a single market, as of course the majority of Tory MPs?

I probably saw the election through a number of filters. As you know, I've been preoccupied for weeks. I haven't had access to a TV and don't read print newspapers anyway.

I read loads of online sources, but don't usually bother with yah-boo, smearing articles (on either side). I've never been bothered about other people's opinions of any politician. My opinion of the Labour Manifesto and Corbyn is my own. I have reservations about the manifesto and still think there is work to do, to make it work, should Labour gain power - not least the policy on Brexit. My opinion is that Corbyn and his followers haven't got it right - yet. On the other hand, suggestions that the manifesto are "hard left" are ludicrous. Labour needs to sort out its internal differneces, just as all the other parties do (except the Greens).

My DD canvassed for Labour during the election. The overwhelming message was that people wanted to get rid of the Conservatives and were fed up with austerity, which they're beginning to realise was a con. The constituency is very strongly Remain and I think Labour Remainers are in for a shock when they realise that there is no such thing as "soft Brexit".

I'm not a Labour supporter, so what the party does is up to itself. I'm just relieved that we do seem to have a credible opposition, although it shouldn't be difficult against such a weak and instable government.

Does anyone know the exact wording of the Lib-Dem amendment?

No. But the DUP in its manifesto talks about a totally open market.

All I know is that they've tabled an amendment to stay in the single market and customs union. It depends whether the speaker allows a vote. There could also be some abstentions.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22542260

Interesting.

It's saying the Speaker has allowed three amendments to be tabled, not the two that the journalist though it was.

1. Abortion rights. Women in NI to be able to have free abortion on NHS in England.
2. Stay in Single Market.
3. Don't know what the third is yet - apparently there are usually only two and no one expected a third.

No 1 is a Stella Creasy amendment
No 2 is lib dem amendment
No3 might be from a smaller party as that. Would be in line with what he said.

Where did you find that GG? The Guardian is saying that the Speaker didn't choose the LibDem amendment, but one by Chukka Umunna, which might cause some Labour MPs to vote aginst its own leadership.

The Labour pay cap amendment has already been defeated.

I didn't see it but apparently the Tories cheered when the nurses pay rise was voted down.

I got the impression he might be supporting a smaller party too.

1. Is seen as a problem to the Cons (by one of their own)
2. Is seen as a problem to Labour (by Chukka Umunna's I think so one of their own)
3. I wonder if this is a Lib/Dem one?

Daphne it was whitewave who picked up on the LDs but it is generally about as clear a mud at the moment. Speaker Bercow being mischievous again?

SNP has lodged a formal complaint over the DUP deal saying it has deprived Scotland of £3bn because of the Barnet formula.

Over to you Wales

I saw it on TV he has a Scottish name ? Mc something?

Creasey asked Hunt about NI women, and he said we are in consultation. But the Dept. Of Health don't seem to know anything about this "consultation"

Are ministers allowed to lie?