Gransnet forums

News & politics

Sensible Discussion on Labour Leadership hopefuls MK 2

(518 Posts)
POGS Fri 14-Feb-20 15:25:45

Bump

Galaxy Sat 22-Feb-20 09:15:49

10 years for electoral success by my estimate, I think it's possible the leadership campaign may have extended that to 15. I suppose it's possible Johnson may take a risk too far and that might save Labour. Other than that he will be there for a very long time. The Labour party arent listening to you though grandad, dawn butler for example has just been on the today programme having to admit that sex is realshock. They arent talking about economics they are becoming mired in identity politics.

Iam64 Sat 22-Feb-20 09:18:29

Phew, just read through this long discussion and feeling a need to walk my dogs, especially as it isn't raining here, which feels like a minor miracle.
Minor miracles, maybe we need a major miracle or three to unite those who would vote Labour. Grandad's references to where the power lies, that is with in his view, the Unions remind me of what it felt like to be a young woman attending CLP meetings in the early 70's. No spontaneity allowed, everything "through the chair" - disapproval because I brought a baby to one evening meeting.
The fact that KS has gained the majority of votes from CLP's gives me hope that we aren't going to be consigned to a continuity Corbyn candidate.
As for the trans issue, it can't simply be dismissed because the LP isn't the government. It's an issue that is taking off and causing all kinds of distress to many people on both sides of the argument.
I support the rights of trans people, agree there needs to be continued discussion about trans women who self id but don't transition and traditional safe spaces for women. I don't say all trans women should go through medical changes but remain concerned about the example given so often, that is the potential risk posed by a self id woman who is in fact a sex offender. They'll be very few in number of course. This isn't something anyone in any of the political parties can simply dismiss - unless they're the current government!

Galaxy Sat 22-Feb-20 09:51:50

I am64, I dont want to depress you but that was pretty much my experience of CLP in the nineties.

Cunco Sat 22-Feb-20 09:53:38

Galaxy If the Conservatives remained in power for 15 more years, it would make a run of 25 years. Thatcher/Major ran for 'only' 18 years although after the 1983 Election, signalling the end of Michael Foot as Labour Leader, it took 14 years before Labour again regained power under Tony Blair in 1997.

The years ahead look challenging for anyone in power, especially if the climate pessimists are correct. It might be an entirely different ball-game by 2035.

Grandad1943 Sat 22-Feb-20 09:56:45

Iam64, the trans issue will be a matter for the current government to deal with for at least the next four years. Undoubtedly the matter will be the subject of a number of competing composite motions to be debated and decided on by the grassroots membership at the Delegate Labour Party conference in September, and that's the way it should be.

Again In regard to your above post Iam64, whatever happened in the 1970s is now history and equality has moved all on within our society in the past fifty years.

Anniebach and any other forum member, could you please inform me who in this country would be likely to fully fund the Parliamentary Labour party outside of the trades unions (the broader Labour movement)

Many have thought that possible in the past and all have failed. Blair almost succeeded but that brought about the British end of the Banking crisis and the Iraq war. Many workers and their families then paid for that banking crisis with their jobs and their homes.

In that, not one of Blair and Browns banking chums have ever been brought to justice.

Anniebach Sat 22-Feb-20 10:09:42

I am a Labour Party member, grandad43 is not a Labour Party member, he speaks for UNITE union, this is an example
of the divide in the Labour Party,

1960’s and 1970’s the unions held the power, this gave us the
Thatcher years.

Galaxy Sat 22-Feb-20 10:16:38

Grandad I have just said it was exactly the same in the nineties, and as the labour party is currently threatening to expel women in their thousands I am not sure they have moved on very far. How can you have a debate if you plan to expel the 'opposite side'.

Galaxy Sat 22-Feb-20 10:20:06

And they are paying now because of Corbyn's utter self indulgence.

Grandad1943 Sat 22-Feb-20 10:26:02

Galaxy Quote [the labour party is currently threatening to expel women in their thousands] End Quote.

Galaxy would you care to expand on your above statement as I do not have any knowledge of "women being threatened with expulsion in their thousands" in any part of the Labour movement.

Iam64 Sat 22-Feb-20 10:31:23

Are you being disingenuous grandad. Haven’t you seen the “expel me too” hashtag? RLB and Lisa Nandy both signed the pledge . One of the central points they agree on is the right of trans women to self id. Feminists who raise genuine concerns about this are to be thrown out unless they agree to something they’re unhappy about.

suziewoozie Sat 22-Feb-20 10:36:27

Grandads posts on this thread demonstrate that he knows zilch about the trans issue and cares even less. He dismissed posts on the issue by some of us as ‘ranting’. It’s just not worth bothering addressing him on the issue - it’s just a ‘minority’ thing as it only affects women.

Davidhs Sat 22-Feb-20 11:11:10

The next election is not going to be decided on the trans issue, or the antisemitic or sex discrimination or about a dozen other single issue lobbies. It is going to be decided on broad fairness in society issues, to win a majority you have got to carry the middle ground floating voters.

It is reported that 100,000 new members have joined the party since the election was announced, let’s hope they were mainly moderates who want fairness for all. If they prove to be hard liners who only want more pay for union members, the Labour Party is sunk, not even useful as an effective opposition.

POGS Sat 22-Feb-20 12:02:03

For weeks I have not received an answer to a question, on this thread or the other one, so I will keep trying by repeating the question in the hope someone will answer.

I keep asking why is Starmer deemed to be centrist?

He gives little impression in the debates/hustings to denote he is a centre/centre right Labour MP as far as I read into his words.

Example he has said :-

'What Corbyn bought to the Labour party was a change of emphasis - radicalism that really matters - we need to build on that, not oversteer and go back to a bygone age."
-
Does his following comment cement his disapproval of the Blair /Brown government of the Centre. :-

“A Labour party that strays too far from its values, loses. In the end, the Labour party strayed too far from its values between 1997 and 2010,”.

Yes he challenges matters such as the way Labour handled the antisemitism problem and the underhanded use by the NEC over the Labour ' LONG LIST ' shenanigans but it would be hoped All Labour MP's with any decency irrespective of whether they are far left/left/centre/centre right of the party would challenge such matters.

Can anybody enlighten me?

ananimous Sat 22-Feb-20 12:04:32

Labour are doomed!

Not one real leader.
The withered ghost of Tony Bliar sounds like Hamlet, act two...

suziewoozie Sat 22-Feb-20 12:08:36

It’s all relative POGS. Least worst at worst, hope for the future at best.

Grandad1943 Sat 22-Feb-20 12:33:34

Anything contained in the “expel me too” pledge will have to comply with the legal obligations laid out in the Equality Act 2010.

That Act states as it's primary function that it is against the legislation laid down in that legislation to discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, religious belief, gender or sexual preference. Therfore any pledge contained within Labour movement policy would have to comply with the above or without doubt legal challenges would very soon be filed against the Labour movement.

The above is the reason I stated in an earlier post in this thread that the only body which can deal with this matter is the annual Labour Delegate Conference which is to be held as usual in September.

Doubtless, several composites and opposing motions will be on the agenda for debate, and that will allow the movements General Secretary Jenny Formby to advise on the legal position of any proposed policy adoption.

suziewoozie, in regard to your post @ 10:36 today, once more you join this thread and imeaditly engage in personal insults against contributors. Already you have made yourself appear foolish in trying to carry out such activities in your post of the 17th February @09:35 in this thread.

Perhaps suziewoozie if you were to remain within the ongoing debate and spend less effort in personal affront contribution you would get more respected in your point of view.

suziewoozie Sat 22-Feb-20 12:42:07

Funnily enough I don’t need the respect of anyone for my views. And there are some people who if I did have their respect I’d be seriously worried about what I was thinking. Re #ExpelMe - LN and RLB signed upto that, that’s all I ( and many many others) need to know. Whether and how it might happen is irrelevant. They backed it - called WomansPlace and others ‘hate groups’.Neither is fit to be a leader.

suziewoozie Sat 22-Feb-20 12:43:26

And I certainly CBA to go back several days to find what I said - I would still agree with it anyway I’m sure?

Grandad1943 Sat 22-Feb-20 12:52:45

POGS, you make a very good point in your post @12:02 today. Where Kier Starmer stands on several issues is enclosed in the vagueness of a attorneys speak. I believe he is attempting to be "all things to all members" in this election campaign.

However, I feel there is a deep suspicion of where he will really attempt to take the Parliamentary Labour Party in terms of left/right general stance which is in all probability why he has spent much of this week confirming his allegiance to the Policies that have been brought forward under Corbyn's leadership. Whether a majority trust him in those statements is anyone's guess

Therefore I am as confused as you POGS on the real political stance of Starmer.....trustworthy?????

ananimous Sat 22-Feb-20 12:57:23

Kier Starmer tried to thwart Brexit, so there is that... maybe he's on loan from Boris? An inside plant to bring down
cheapLabour

His eyes are mighty close together.

Grandad1943 Sat 22-Feb-20 12:59:20

ananimous.
???

Galaxy Sat 22-Feb-20 13:05:50

There are currently legal challenges against the labour party with regard to this issue grandad.

Galaxy Sat 22-Feb-20 13:21:09

Also quoting the equality act to women who have been fighting this issue for years is like me explaining trade union membership to you grin.

Iam64 Sat 22-Feb-20 13:29:19

POGS Keir was elected at our CLP recently, by a majority of 4 (total of about 65 members present). RLB was second and Lisa Nandy third. Like most CLP's we had an increase in Corbyn supporters, some of whom remain and are committed to RLB, they were very disappointed she didn't win. The balance was tipped I think by the members who are either re-joiners, or new members who want rid of Corbyn's legacy.

He is seen as moderate in comparison with RLB and LN, though I've heard some members refer to Lisa as a Tory in disguise.

The party remains divided and Starmer is pushing to be seen as the candidate who has best hope of unity. As can be seen on this thread and in other discussions, not all LP members support him so we wait and see.

Grandad1943 Sat 22-Feb-20 13:29:57

Galaxy Quote [There are currently legal challenges against the labour party with regard to this issue grandad.] End Quote.

Have you any links to the above Galaxy, I would be genuinely interested in reading them.