Sensible discussion on Labour Leadership hopefuls

At the risk of making a joke - would flip flopping be called 'thonging' in Australia?

I agree. I've flip flopped once and I'm a chronic flip flopper in local elections. Surely that's the only way democracy can work. Even a once popular government needs to be held to account, when they act in ways that the public doesn't like. That's what happened with both Thatcher and Blair.

I've flip flopped as Grandad so eloquently puts it, for the last few elections. I would have thought that that was the mature thing to do; rather than blindly vote for one particular party who's leader and manifesto you don't really support but don't want to be "disloyal". Surely its far better to vote for the party, and it's leader, that you feel is right for the country, not out of misguided, blind loyalty.

I wonder if the Labour Party will refuse to accept the votes of flip flop voters in the "northern heartlands", who voted Conservative this time. It does seem a very strange strategy, if they ever intend to be in power as a result of an election rather than a revolution.

Indeed! And never has flip flopping seemed so attractive .

growstuff in other words, if the LP is ever to be elected then they need the votes of the flip floppers.

I don't like Jess Phillips either Eloethan, for similar reasons; but I do quite like Starmer and he would get my vote. RLB and LN not at all.

The trouble is Grandad is that if the Labour Party is ever to be in power it needs to appeal to millions of people who aren't currently members or affiliate members. It's unlikely to do that if people think members are a load of boorish oafs, who couldn't care less about other people's opinions.

So, no need for all this debate on the Labour Party by non members

I don't think that's how an open discussion forum actually works Grandad. The subject is up for discussion by Labour Party supporters; Tories and Lib Dems alike. As someone who didn't want to vote for Boris and who couldn't bring themselves to vote for Corbyn (dislike the man intensely, like so many other voters), I would like to think that the Labour Party will take this opportunity to have a leader who is able to engage with voters and not alienate them. If they elect RLB, who is Corbyn's protege, I suspect that they will spend another 5 years flailing around in the wilderness, trying to gain popularity with voters. It was made crystal clear to the Labour Party in the last election, that there is no appetite for Corbyn's politics, not even "in the North", and it will be their own lookout if they fail to listen to their core voters opinions and don't heed what they've been told.

I don't dislike Keir Starmer but he doesn't impress me very much. Although he was a human rights lawyer, I find his whole persona ineffectual and unreliable. Jess Phillips I dislike and always remember her sniggering amusement when she recounted to an interviewer that she had recently told Diane Abbott to "fuck off". I wonder if she would have been so bold and proud if she had spoken in such a way to one of the establishment's darlings, such as Harriet Harman.

My choice would be Rebecca Long Bailey or Lisa Nandy.

Well, those that do not like the Labour Party in its present stance and the stance that it will retain into the future, in all likelihood, can always flip flop across to the LibDems.

After all, they did very well in the general election and that was nothing to do with Brexit, just like the Labour Party.

So, no need for all this debate on the Labour Party by non members, as that will be decided by it's direct members and affiliate members, and that the way it should be.

I just think there’s an interesting and important discussion to be had about all this and I was trying to contribute to that but clearly wires were crossed.

Right, I’m off to me bed. I’m not daft .... I’m quitting while I’m on a roll. Night all. x

Well done Urm spot on example

Thank you (says she, blushing). High praise from you indeed sw!

Well that’s spot on as well*Urm*.

Plus suzie you also have to factor in differing levels of intelligence.

Well done Urm spot on example.

Well I can’t always tell what’s meant to be ‘funny’ but then I don’t find the quality of what passes for humour on GN exactly high - it’s often really a ‘didguise’ for quite nasty comments.

True Calli unless of course you hit a nerve.

Those with something sensible to say usually say it. Those who haven’t are often just flippant or make things up

Most people with a SOH can understand a jokey comment or banter.

It’s hard to know sometimes when something’s bsnter or serious comment isn’t it? But it’s easy to recognise quite mean spirited nasty comments

Know what suzie ?

Performances on Marr are a pretty shallow way to judge anyone in the round. We didn’t even get the chance to see how BJ performed with AM did we? Of the candidates there are, I believe KS has the possibility to be the best hope. Flashy performances aren’t needed but the ability to build a team and get a proper opposition in place are. Slow and steady, considered and thoughtful, attention to detail, the long game.