Corbyn too frail to be PM?

Murdock billionaire owns The Times he that has a lot of say about government

I'd have called it " having a selective memory ".

Jura2 Quote [ Can you confirm GD1943- what the procedure would be. As said before, JC could not prepare and appoint a Leader of his choosing, could he?] End Quote.

Jura2 as I have stated previously I am not a member of the Labour Party, but I retain membership of the Unite Union out of respect, thanks and appreciation of what that organisation did for my education in years past. Therefore my knowledge of Labour movement matters comes from conversations with the above union's activists while acting as a tutor on trade union organised Workplace Safety Courses.

However, from what I have learned, should a Leader of the Palimentery Labour Party stand down, then the Ballot for a new leader has to be carried out across the entire Labour movement in the Country. That has to include all affiliate members, meaning all trades union members etc.

It was that membership I believe that has twice elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader with the largest majorities ever received by any candidate for that office.

An opposition leader who has to read out his questions at PMQ makes uncomfortable viewing, making a speech yes, asking a question, no.

The real issue is the unacceptable behaviour of the senior civil servants involved .

I am no Corbyn fan, but the situation stinks. Who are they to reveal this information?

In one fell swoop, Corbyn's capabilities and health is out there for general discussion. Unfortunately, mud sticks and I have the feeling Whitehall hoped for this response.

It doesn't help the Labour cause.

Perhaps the real issue could be secrets are being kept from the voters .

Annie please would you stop trying to make issues about what is and always has been common practice. I did notice in PMQT the other day that Theresa was reading her answers.

Very well said Day6. For me this is not just about not helping the Labour cause - it does not help all parties causes in the long run. This is not how our system of democracy should work. If senior members of the civil service are allowed to throw away the ‘rule book’ we will only have ourselves to blame if further down the line military chiefs decide they can do a better job. We have separation of powers for very good reasons - to uphold democracy fundamentally. It’s very short sighted if people applaud this behaviour re Corbyn simply because they do not want him as PM. We should all care about this and I have to say that I’m profoundly shocked today by this.

trisher every answer ? I think not. The leader of the SNP
certainly asks a lot of questions, without notes.

Reading every question is not what leaders do.

You wish to defend Corbyn regardless, whilst I wouldn’t expect you to ever criticise him can you truly say all previous leaders have read out all their questions?

I am not saying Corbyn does this because he has problems with his memory, he is an excellent soap box speaker because he speaks his thoughts and beliefs, I think his questions are written for him to ask.

The Times report is very interesting and contains snippets from all kinds of people including LP MP’s worried about the small clique surrounding Corbyn, Milne, Murphy,Murray and McCluskey.....the 4Ms.Corbyn is a mere puppet, which doesn’t surprise many.
It’s worth reading, LP supporter or no, since the LOTO is an important politician.The report says he is exhausted,and is not retaining information or making his own decisions.
It also says that Rebecca Long Bailey is being groomed to be the next LOTO, and could be easily stage managed by the hard left 4Ms. Which wouldn’t be any better for the country.

Frailty of body is not such a problem. FDR managed a record 4 terms in the White House. Frailty of mind and intellect is another issue. Perhaps tgis time the fee to join the party will be reduced to 1p and open to all out of nappies

Yes, it does say that membership is falling fast.

Thanks grandad. It is just as lemongrove said, that I have read that Rebecca was being 'groomed' and prepared to take over - and I thought this would not be possible, surely.

I am not anti Unions at all- they have a huge rôle to play and have played a massive part in the past. I was a Union Rep for many years too. But McCluskey cannot dictate to the LP how to act, not now, not never.

I would agree with Lemongrove on the prospects of Rebecca Long-Bailey becoming the next leader of the parliamentary Labour Party. While other potential leadership candidates seem to be determined to destroy their chances of gaining that office in recent weeks, Long-Bailey has been addressing trade union Reginal conferences whenever her parliamentary commitments have allowed her the time.

I believe Long-Bailey has realised that the grassroots activists in the movement are "thoroughly fed up" with the infighting in the Parliamentary Party, and it is those activists who very much voted to bring Jeremy Corbyn in as leader.

Long-Bailey has supported Corbyn throughout his leadership, and in regard to policies is most certainly "out of the same mould."

I believe that she also realises there is a real risk of the broader Labour movement in the country running out of patience with the infighting being carried out within the parliamentary party and severing its links should things not improve.

In short, the grassroots members of the Labour movement have organised themselves well in the past few years, while the parliamentary Labour Party has been a complete disaster due to the Blairite MPs not accepting the democratic election of its leader.

Rebecca Long-Bailey has realised the above and is making attempts to address it, much to the benefit of her political reputation

Way to go, most certainly.

Oh Annie your prejudice is actually funny when you try t support it with what you pretend are facts. The SNP leader asks one question and Corbyn asks many- e.g.22nd May- The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, asked about the school spending cuts and early school closures, pupil funding levels, creative arts cuts in schools and cuts in education.

The Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, asked about the new Brexit deal
I think most of us could manage one question..

Plus RLB is a woman. Time perhaps for Labour to have a female lead especially since Theresa May snarkily pointed out at PMQ’s recently that the conservatives had had two so far. (Not that she’s been any good herself and she was a lousy Home Secretary).

Grandad, I respect your view re Rebecca.

However, do you think it would be correct for her to be appointed by JC, and not the membership?

I don't see any noticeable signs that Corbyn's health or intellect have deteriorated, but I do think that the current puppetmasters, McDonnell, McCluskey, Milne and Murray, realise he is an electoral liability, and not nearly so malleable as they supposed.

Jura asks: "However, do you think it would be correct for her to be appointed by JC, and not the membership?"

Was James Callaghan appointed or elected on the resignation of Harold Wilson. I don't recall any election, just a smooth transition. Likewise, I'm pretty sure Gordon Brown was not elected by the LP membership.
Therefore, precedent seems to dictate that Corbyn's successor could be appointed rather than elected.

Golly the imaginings and suppositions on this thread surpass almost any so far on GN.
A group of civil servants discuss Corbyn's health and it gets leaked to he right wing press- surprise! If you haven't any real news make it up!
Labour membership is dropping - how would anyone know? and it would still be larger than the rest of the parties.
Rebecca Long Bailey is being 'groomed as leader' Really!? or is this once again pure conjecture?
Corbyn is going to appoint her-Really?! there is a democratic process to elect a Labour party leader.
The biggest load of bollocks I have ever read on any thread.

Thanks anno - just asking. It does not seem very democratic however.

Trisher, the grooming to prepare for rôle is from the Press. Again, just asking and trying to find out the facts. If you have any, please share.

jura2 the rules for electing a leader of the party are clearly set down in the Party rule book which you can read here labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Rule-Book-2019.pdf
if you are interested

The Labour party of today is a very different organisation from the days of Wilson, Callahan and even Blair.

The structure and organisation of the Labour Party and broader movement has been wholly changed while Corbyn has been leader and I cannot envisage any scenario in the present when a new leader would not be elected by way of the entire Labour movement including its affiliate members.

And that's the way it should be, I believe.

A democratic process to elect the leader ?

2010
Final round

Ed Milliband 57% Union vote

David Milliband 43% Union vote