Current Affairs The General Election

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Public doesn’t see it that way.

We’re doomed mate. Country of half wits.

Probably hard to choose for some between Johnson the half - wit, and Corbyn the half - wit.

 

[larrygobfiend]

So, it looks like it's gonna be a Tory majority, a painful Brexit and the end of Corbyn. We'll just have to look out for one another for the next 5-10 years, because it's going to be a rough ride. Hopefully things will get better eventually....

 

[PSB1]

Probably hard to choose for some between Johnson the half - wit, and Corbyn the half - wit.

Yes. And, additionally, Labour members might want to consider whether castigating the middle ground, shifting, voters as stupid, wicked or both isn't particularly likely to gain their votes next time.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

once they get their Brexit done and awful Tory govt in charge, the next election will be a disaster for Tories, provided the Labour find younger version of Corbyn in the meantime.

 

[Jeff Jones]

I visit Britain a lot but I haven't lived there for a very long time, so I'm not really entitled to an opinion on this, I know. I support Labour ideologically, but I want
to see Brexit, which you voted for, and it will only happen quickly if Johnson wins.
I know many of you fear a no deal or bad deal exit, but I think Britain will thrive and be better off, eventually.

 

[havrey0123]

This election was always the Tories, that's why so many labour MP's voted against it.

Poor election campaign from Corbyn, they have turned away the Jewish community, clearly a remainer but doesn't want to say it, (at least the lib Dems said openly they would look to cancel Brexit). Has no idea on national security, has stood up for terrorists in the past and has a poor backroom and his spending is absurd, tax the rich companies and people and they would just leave the country plus it's not just tax the rich, he is also taxing the poor so it seems but didn't say so. With Corbyn in charge with his views the country would be in chaos and I think most of the country recognises that

Boris isn't great but knew as soon as he called an election with Corbyn in charge of labour he would be given a free hit.

 

[evilwebby]

Didn't you hear we are the 5th biggest economy in the world and survived two world wars. This negativity needs to stop, we can manage this government spending easily with a bit of hard work.

Study economic history. Argentina used to have an economy that was the envy of the world. Today it's a basket case.

Britain itself used to be the largest economy in the world. By the 1970s we had to go to the IMF for a bail out, and it's only through the economic reform of the 1980s that enabled the UK to reclaim its' position as a leading world economy.

 

[larrygobfiend]

This election was always the Tories, that's why so many labour MP's voted against it.

Poor election campaign from Corbyn, they have turned away the Jewish community, clearly a remainer but doesn't want to say it, (at least the lib Dems said openly they would look to cancel Brexit). Has no idea on national security, has stood up for terrorists in the past and has a poor backroom and his spending is absurd, tax the rich companies and people and they would just leave the country. With Corbyn in charge with his views the country would be in chaos and I think most of the country recognises that

Boris isn't great but knew as soon as he called an election with Corbyn in charge of labour he would be given a free hit.

And this is why we're screwed.

 

[catcherintherye]

Any such move would be seen as an act of desperation and probably backfire imo. You can't spend 4 years arguing for a radical set of policies and direction for the country and then on the eve of the poll do a face-swap because the public are not convinced by your arguments.

The public are convinced by the arguments. The problem is that the leader has a lot of baggage, we have a particularly partisan media who can hone in on it, and historic failures of previous Labour administrations to tackle the ravages of the free-market system mean many of (the particularly) older voters are very wary of them.

The Tories to their credit have began peddling far more protectionist ideas as well (who can forget Javid's comments at the start of the campaign wanting to borrow and spend more than has been seen since the 70's).

The ideas of neo-liberalism are completely done though. They've been ab abject failure wherever they have been tried. There will be no return to those beliefs.

 

[catcherintherye]

...I don’t know what his strategy would be, but it can’t be any worst than this bumbler. David Milliband is as sharp as a tack, voters would’ve taken to him or Andy Burnham in charge. Statesmanlike, sincere and smart. Like it or not, Corbyn is unpopular outside of voters who will vote Labour anyway.

Two things can be true at once eggs.

Corbyn is not a natural of effective leader. There is too much baggage. This might sound odd, but for large parts of the leadership he is simply not abrasive enough, but at the same time he has a past which is too abrasive.

However a return to a staunchly pro Remain, Labour moderate would see the party off once and for all. The one thing that has kept the party vaguely competitive (and lest we forget, the 3 elections before Corbyn saw Labour win only around 8 million votes) is that he has energised whole layers of new people to vote for the party.

They have won important arguments around the economy. The Conservatives are very much chasing them. There will be an implosion from the Conservatives going forward as and when the Brexit deal turns out badly and garage re-appears.

I'd like to see someone like Kier Starmer take charge. Someone who recognises the importance in the change of direction post Blair/Brown/Miliband that was needed, but has also done so in a more professional and competent way. He is not of the left himself, but has had the humility to accept we are a democratic party. I think toning down certain aspects to make it believable, but keeping the general thrust (that we need a radical shift in direction and the Conservatives won't deliver it) will be effective.

History will remember Corbyn fondly. He will go down as the man who started the revival of Labour and ended the orthodoxy on austerity.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Can anyone recall any of the leave supporting parties talking about the positive future they think will be possible once they 'get Brexit done'? Actual stuff that doesn't include keeping horrible foreigners (except kings and ballerinas) out?

 

[evilwebby]

The public are convinced by the arguments. The problem is that the leader has a lot of baggage, we have a particularly partisan media who can hone in on it, and historic failures of previous Labour administrations to tackle the ravages of the free-market system mean many of (the particularly) older voters are very wary of them.

The Tories to their credit have began peddling far more protectionist ideas as well (who can forget Javid's comments at the start of the campaign wanting to borrow and spend more than has been seen since the 70's).

The ideas of neo-liberalism are completely done though. They've been ab abject failure wherever they have been tried. There will be no return to those beliefs.

I don't know what polls are are looking at. All the polls show Labour are far behind on issues of Economic competency (which is the topic I was really referring to). It was one of Tony Blair's key strengths that for a long time he led a party that was not overly hostile to business and so neutralised and even led public opinion on economy competency.

Best Party On Key Issues: Managing the Economy

Q I am going to read out a list of problems facing Britain today. I would like you to tell me whether you think the Conservative party, the Labour party or the Liberal Democrats has the best policies on each problem.

www.ipsos.com

 

[Khalekan]

...clutching at straws here, but thinking of our game on Saturday I wonder if Labour finally kick Corbyn into touch that there might be a late surge.

Probably not. Useless Labour need people with big brains.

I shall keep clutching at those straws until the bitter end, Eggs

So I am postung this fellow’s thoughts.





“they aim to demoralise....let it harden your resolve instead”.

 

[catcherintherye]

I don't know what polls are are looking at. All the polls show Labour are far behind on issues of Economic competency (which is the topic I was really referring to). It was one of Tony Blair's key strengths that for a long time he led a party that was not overly hostile to business and so neutralised and even led public opinion on economy competency.

Best Party On Key Issues: Managing the Economy

Q I am going to read out a list of problems facing Britain today. I would like you to tell me whether you think the Conservative party, the Labour party or the Liberal Democrats has the best policies on each problem.

www.ipsos.com

Managing the economy is different to policies. Yougov have done a poll on each of the policies, and the majority of them are overwhelmingly supported by members of the public.

The intriguing thing, then is to understand why there is such a disconnect between the two. Essentially a range of policies people like, but people don't trust Labour on the economy.

I mean there's a lot of conclusions on this. The first is that people in Britain want to have their cake and eat it. They want low taxes and high public services. You can't really have both. America is low tax, low public service, Nordic countries the opposite.

I'd also say, Labour are very bad at communicating their core message, or until Mcdonnell they have been. Years of accepting the other sides orthodoxy have hurt them. So too has been their cowardice in pointing out, that overspending in the public sector did not cause the last crisis (at best it could be argued that it was a consequence of this).

The media have some role to play in this too. Not just private newspapers, but our public bodies are inept. Absolutely inept. I can't think of any other country, where such idiocy of "Labour crashed the economy" would not be fact checked as a lie.

The reality is though, the Tories have a core problem, In essence they have to pretend what they are in order to win. Thatcher was able to win by setting out a monetarist agenda and pick up enough support. This lot have to make out they are going to go on a huge spending splurge in order to win. It's easy to see the contradiction that emerges further down the line.

 

[dannyboy]

Two things can be true at once eggs.

Corbyn is not a natural of effective leader. There is too much baggage. This might sound odd, but for large parts of the leadership he is simply not abrasive enough, but at the same time he has a past which is too abrasive.

However a return to a staunchly pro Remain, Labour moderate would see the party off once and for all. The one thing that has kept the party vaguely competitive (and lest we forget, the 3 elections before Corbyn saw Labour win only around 8 million votes) is that he has energised whole layers of new people to vote for the party.

They have won important arguments around the economy. The Conservatives are very much chasing them. There will be an implosion from the Conservatives going forward as and when the Brexit deal turns out badly and garage re-appears.

I'd like to see someone like Kier Starmer take charge. Someone who recognises the importance in the change of direction post Blair/Brown/Miliband that was needed, but has also done so in a more professional and competent way. He is not of the left himself, but has had the humility to accept we are a democratic party. I think toning down certain aspects to make it believable, but keeping the general thrust (that we need a radical shift in direction and the Conservatives won't deliver it) will be effective.

History will remember Corbyn fondly. He will go down as the man who started the revival of Labour and ended the orthodoxy on austerity.

Good post. I personally wouldn't vote for Starmer but would accept him as leader providing he has a diverse shadow cabinet. It is the best the right of the party could hope for, that's for sure.

My only worry is that in this age of personality politics that Starmer is a little dry.