Chuka Umunna

I don't think Change UK is called Change UK today is it? I thought they had moved to TIGFC - The Independent Group For Change.

Must say I am truly puzzled Grandad- what is your particular stance, not on JC, but on Brexit?

Are you basically anti EU, like JC and others?

Do you still believe that JC will be able to avoid disastrous No Deal? And that he would be able to negotiate another Deal, with all the trimmings, à la carte, with a say at top table, and none of the duties or responsibilites?

Or - or - or ?

jura2, Corbyn cannot come away from the Delegate Conference adopted policy of seeking as first priority a General Election.

The reason for the above would be that many in the Labour Heartlands of the North voted leave. Therefore for Corbyn to come out fully in support for remain or even a second referendum could cost the Labour Party dear in any future General Election.

However, some on the Labour Party benches in the House of Commons appear not to realise that fact.

I personally believe that the policy of seeking a General Election remains the best way forward for the whole Labour movement and that General Election has never looked more likely to come about in this Parliament.

Corbyn sat on the fence, dreams of clutching the keys to
No 10 and sod the mess we are in over Brexit.

I will have to read that tomorrow, Grandad
Tired now!

You mean Corbyn is afraid to be honest and say what he supports, which, lets admit it, is probably that he supports Leave because the Labour heartlands in the north voted Leave. That really does leave me confused.

Or are there others in the party that have a bigger squeeze on Corbyn than the electorate and they are Remainers so he finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place?

And even if there is an election how will Labour policy on Brexit be articulated in the Manifesto?

jura2, in regard to your post @ 21:51 today (14/06/18) can I at first state that I am not a member of the Labour Party. However, I am a member of the Unite Union and maintain that membership in appreciation of what that union gave me in regard to my education in previous years.

In the above, I often act as a tutor on Industrial/workplace safety courses on behalf of my company at Unite and GMB education schedules. In carrying out those duties, I have learned from those attending those courses, the constitution and structure of the Labour movement and Parliamentary Party. While learning the foregoing, I have also built up tremendous respect for those trade union workplace reps who so often place their own jobs on the line in support of others.

Regarding my personal views on Jeremy Corbyn, I have great respect for him being responsible for gaining those above lay member union reps and others a far greater say in the policy making and Executive decisions in the running of the Labour party.

In regard to Corbyns continuing leadership of the Palimentery Party, well, the Party could benefit from a more charismatic leader. However, as Jeremy Corbyn had stated that he will not lead the party into the next scheduled General Election in 2022 due to his age, that problem may well be solved in the near future. That stated, should that General Election come about later this year due to Brexit, then there is none better than Corbyn on the campaign trail.

M0nica, in regard to your post @22:31 today, then the Labour Party policy on Brexit should they win a General Election called in the near future is clear.

That policy is, to try to negotiate a withdrawal agreement with the European Union, which would include a customs agreement. Whatever the outcome of those negotiations, that would then be placed before the electorate for acceptance or rejection. In other words, as I view it, leave on those terms or remain.

A "no deal" leave situation would not be on the table or placed in front of the electorate.

Grandad1943, we have more in common than just our birh year. I am a Unison member and have remained one since I retired, because, having worked for large companies and small, I am only too aware of the protection the union gives employees when faced with unfair treatment at work.

In the current dog eat dog economy, I cannot understand why more people, especially those in the gig economy and zero hours jobs cannot see the benefits membership would give them.

However, I never paid the political levy and I believe that the unions should not have political allegiances or be funding political parties. Their job is to represent their members and support their members by encouraging and lobbying governments of any party to legislate for the improvement of working conditions and employment rights and other issues associated with these main aims.

Currently by so aggressively lining up with one party and funding it they drastically reduce their power as lobbyists on behalf of their members when other parties are in power.

It was stated earlier than it can't be argued that Chuka Umunna is an ambitious opportunist because no way could joining the Lib Dems be perceived as career-enhancing.

But CU didn't join the Lib Dems. He joined with other disaffected remain MPs in a new party which, it was hoped, would capitalise on voter disenchantment with the mainstream parties and, in particular, attract remain voters in substantial numbers. When that didn't materialise, he then jumped ship and joined the Lib Dems which suddenly seemed a much better bet than Change - or whatever it's now called.

The Conservative Party is funded almost entirely by big business now - what it obtains from ordinary membership subs is minimal. And the party is in deep financial trouble, being propped up largely by one multi-millionaire. The Labour Party has very large membership and represents working people, some of whom are in unions. It is my understanding that union members can opt out of paying the political levy if they so wish. The customers and employees of businesses, for example rail companies, banks, health providers, etc, indirectly and without a specific intention to do so contribute to the often very large donations those companies make to the Conservative Party.

Shirley Williams has often be praised in this forum.

she, David Owens ,the Gang of Four, left the Labour Party because the party had turned to the far left.

They set up a new party, The Social Democrats, a new centre left party. The party fail, they joined with the Liberals, The Liberal Democrat Party.

Was Shirley an ambitious opportunist ?

To say Chuka should have stayed and fought in the Labour
Party is a fantasy. Anyone who speaks out against the Marxist leader will be hounded out by Momentum.

Anniebach, Jess Phillips has harshly criticised Jeremy Corbyn in recent weeks in regard to his leadership of the party and over the handling of the antisemitism allegations in the party.

I do not see her being hounded within the party for her actions, and she remains in very high regard by a great many in the broader Labour movement.

Possible next leader even, I feel.

chuka is a flip flopper, takes his chances wherever he can, to try and remain in a job, never mind what his constituents voted

So was Shirley Williams ?

Chuka was shadow business secretary, he resigned and returned to the back benches when Corbyn became leader

An ambitious opportunist ?

"Jess Phillips has harshly criticised Jeremy Corbyn in recent weeks in regard to his leadership of the party and over the handling of the antisemitism allegations in the party.

I do not see her being hounded within the party for her actions,"

Perhaps Momentum recognise Corbyn as the lost cause he is and are pulling in their horns until they get their next puppet elected

WadesNan, if anyone thinks that Jess Phillips would be willing to become a glove puppet for any group in the Labour Party, then they most certainly have other thoughts coming.

Phillips has most definitely demonstrated any number of times that she is very much her own woman in the party with her own views.

So will never be leader of the party , Momentum and McClusky will chose the next leader

He is a duplicitous, two-faced careerist. I hope he is booted from his constituency. MPs who jump ship should have to stand for immediate election and pay £10,000 towards costs. The standard of MP/politician in recent years has reached the level of the cardboard gangster. Its time to clean the swamp.

I doubt the Labour Party wants a by election now

Streatham had a strong remain vote

This is a very interesting thread with a lot to think about.

Grandad - I didn't Jess Phillips will be a "glove puppet". I said Momentum are pulling in their horns (and not attacking her) until they can get the next puppet elected

didn't say

Chuka Umunna isn't Shirley Williams and, from my recollection, she was fairly consistent in her views and behaviour.

How was Shirley different ?

She left the party because it had gone far left, started a new party which failed then joined the Liberals

Chuka left the party because of racism and he supported a people’s vote. He started a new party, it failed , he joined the
Libs , he too was consistent, he resigned from the shadow cabinet when Corbyn ,far left, became leader,

Attacking a man who joined a centre left party, supported his constituents in the brexit referendum, spoke out about
anti semetism in the party.

Would Shirley Williams have accepted racism in the party .

‘Call off the dogs Corbyn’