What now for Labour Party ?

Again, I reiterate I am no fan of Corbyn or McDonnell; in fact left the Labour Party because of them. But how anyone can compare McDonnell with Cummings is beyond me.

ELECTED

Yes, unlike China we had a properly democratic election.

Iam64 Quote [surely that just confirms the party is in the hands of a cult ]End Quote.

Anniebach Quote [ The party is in the hands of a cult] End Quote

Jeremy Corbyn won the 2016 leadership election with 313,209 votes, increasing his share of the vote from 59.5% to 61.8% compared with the result of the 2015 leadership election, and receiving some 62,000 more votes than in 2015.......Some cult.

The two above quoted posts are absolutely rediculas as if there are 20,000 new members to the Labour Party (which I doubt) how would anyone know whether they were left or right in their political leanings at this point in time

Having just returned from the huge attendance at a Unite Union Branch meeting that has been discussing the future of the relationship between the trades unions and the Labour Party, I believe that it would be wise to wait and see what happens in that respect.

The Labour Party as it is formed and sustained in its present structure may not even exist in six months time, if it exists at all?

I think of Cummings as comparable with Campbell.

Watch this space then Grandad?

You can think what you want. There is no comparison.

One was an elected member of parliament.
The other is a dodgy bloke with Russian connections and links, unelected and acting as puppet master to a weak PM who can't be trusted to make his own decisions.

You can think what you want

Thank you.

Campbell was a member of the Labour Party. Cummings is not a Conservative.

Callistemon Quote [Watch this space then Grandad?]

Most certainly Callistemon. To say that the Resolution the meeting has forwarded to the Unite Regional Committee was "Damming" would very much be an understatement.

It would seem that judging from that meeting there is a grassroots upheaval begun in regard to the support that many in Parliamentary Labour Party have shown towards the trades unions in recent times. However, the Labour Party are still very ready to accept the affiliation subscriptions from those union members while once again giving them nothing, not even verbal support in times of disputes.

That was very much the essence of a very good and frank meeting.

Campbell also didn't slouch around the corridors of power looking like a vagrant...

I don't know enough about him to conclude that Cummings is a power hungry psychopath but I'm open to persuasion on that one. I'll read up on him.
I don't see the comparison between Cummings and McDonnell as being similar to be accurate either. McDonnell is an elected, long standing left Labour man. He's very bright and would have liked to be leader so he's working hard in support of the people he believes will serve the party best. I disagree with him but that's no secret.
Cummings is one of those sinister looking men I'd avoid in social gatherings. Sorry, I recognise that isn't a forensic assessment. What he isn't though, is a member of the Conservative party or an MP yet he has huge influence.

Am not sure that special advisors have to be actual members of a political party to do their jobs.
Cummings is another Campbell, very intelligent, driven, and feared.
You don’t have to be a nice person to do that job either, in fact that would likely be a hindrance.Think Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It ( based on Campbell.)
Cummings’ advice and strategies have paid off, but the real power comes as always from the electorate, who have given a resounding NO! To Jeremy Corbyn leading a government.

It isn't whether they HAVE to be members or not really. It is more the fact that Cummings has absolute control. If he was just in an advisory capacity, it might be different. But he controls Boris.

Maybe he should become an official Conservative, then that issue would become a moot point.

No, he doesn’t have ‘absolute’ control, though no doubt Johnson has relied heavily on him, especially through the campaign.
Cummings seems the restless type who needs a constant challenge so may move on in the next year to something else.
Johnson doesn’t need him as much now as he did, in any case.

Boris needs Cummings. You've only got to read reports from his old boss to know that. If Cummings leaves, the s**t will start hitting the fan.

If I was a Tory, I'd be lobbying to 'Keep Cummings'. Suits the soundbite generation too.

Frankly, you're being ridiculous. I understand that anyone who supported Corbyn may well be feeling a bit peevish at the obvious and well-foretold GE result, but at least try to stay within the realm of common sense.

The whole world isn't going to be run out of Cummings’ shirt pocket.

He's not generally visible to public gaze
slouch around the corridors of power looking like a vagrant
I can think of an MP, now leader, who did that for years until he smartened himself up considerably!

Anyway, I think Cummings is withdrawing shortly due to health problems.
Can't say I'm sorry.

I agree with Urmstongran in her above post. This whole thread has become rediculas in its speculation, moving from a cult running the Labour Party to a single person running the country.

It must be the silly season Urmstongran and Grandad

Sherry anyone?

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POST - if the appointment is to be made on merit from the available pool, then IMHO Keir Starmer is by far the best qualified and experienced for the job but I doubt he will win because he is erudite, clever, a knight of the realm, white, male, upper middle class ( although from relatively humble roots) and appears, for a politician, to be a decent trustworthy human being with sufficient degree of presence to hold his own, whether in a room of ordinary people or on a world platform, if you are to be a leader.

Two words. Echo. Chamber.

Sad really.

Merry Christmas Grandad1943! We both speak the voice of reason on here this morning it seems.
?

No, please spare us all from Sir Keir! Once he gets up on his hind legs there’s no stopping him. He bores most people into submission!

Well, so far Labour have had a Sir and a Lady expressing interest in the leadership contest of the Labour Party....

What has to be "sorted out" within the Labour Party is where in the full spectrum of British politics it wishes to stand.

Does it wish to be a Tory Light" party in the image of the Blair era, which in the view of many was not in any way a socialist party whatsoever, or does it wish to be a true socialist party in the image of Atlee and Wilson?

Just electing a new leader whoever that may be will not resolve the deep divisions between the left and right wings of the Parliamentary Labour Party which now in the present time would seem to be unbridgeable.

I believe that the above was very well summed up at a meeting I attended last night where an on-site Unite Union rep stated, "there are many among the Labour MPs in Parliament who view their supposed companions from the trades unions in the same manner as they would view a lump of dog sh*t on their shoes".

That I believe that statement very much states the depth of the problems in the Labour Party and broader movement, and those problems have to be resolved "once and for always".

After the 5 Year Atlee government we had 23 years Tory
government.

After Wilson/Callaghan government we had 18 years Tory
Government.