Labour Leader They Should Have Had

Thought Harriet Harman was a top politician.

She is stepping down after nearly 40 years service


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59560336

David Milliband - huge gaffe by choosing the other one

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Originally Posted by Cowbridge Blue

David Milliband - huge gaffe by choosing the other one

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Not really. Chose money over politics now earning huge sums for a USA charity. Labour simply can't pick the right leader preferring to argue amongst themselves than choosing a leader that is electable. Harriet Harman could have been a good choice as would Rachel Reeves but instead they chose Starmer who is not much better than the clown Johnson. If the left had their own way they would choose Angela Rayner who would be as unelectable as Corbyn. There is no hope for potential Labour voters.

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Originally Posted by Vindec

Not really. Chose money over politics now earning huge sums for a USA charity. Labour simply can't pick the right leader preferring to argue amongst themselves than choosing a leader that is electable. Harriet Harman could have been a good choice as would Rachel Reeves but instead they chose Starmer who is not much better than the clown Johnson. If the left had their own way they would choose Angela Rayner who would be as unelectable as Corbyn. There is no hope for potential Labour voters.

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It's simple, all they need to do is put a Tory in charge and say that he or she are moderate. :hehe:

I always thought Hilary Benn had a good shout of being the party leader

I'm sure if Dai Milliband had become leader we would now be saying they elected the wrong Milliband brother too, although I have to say I preferred him.

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Originally Posted by Vindec

Not really. Chose money over politics now earning huge sums for a USA charity. Labour simply can't pick the right leader preferring to argue amongst themselves than choosing a leader that is electable. Harriet Harman could have been a good choice as would Rachel Reeves but instead they chose Starmer who is not much better than the clown Johnson. If the left had their own way they would choose Angela Rayner who would be as unelectable as Corbyn. There is no hope for potential Labour voters.

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Starmer isn't much better than....Johnson? Really?

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Originally Posted by Welshcake.

Starmer isn't much better than....Johnson? Really?

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I'd just say that Starmer is no opposition. As well as being Tory Lite.

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

It's simple, all they need to do is put a Tory in charge and say that he or she are moderate. :hehe:

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That's exactly how Tony Blair got into Downing Street.

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Originally Posted by blue matt

I always thought Hilary Benn had a good shout of being the party leader

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Nice man who fell out with Corbyn .

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Originally Posted by life on mars

Nice man who fell out with Corbyn .

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Hilary Benn is a weasel :thumbup:

Labour is dead in the water

Starmer has no charisma and no bollocks

The loss of so many seats in Scotland to the SNP was a fatal blow to Labours chance of getting a majority and traditional Labour seats in the North turning tory was a fecking pantomime

How any Labour voter can think that the party in its current state is going to win those back is beyond me

I think the Tories are laughing their heads off as they have a complete shower of clowns in charge

Rachel Reeves would make a good leader and there are other candidates but I think Labour has had its day

If we say that more people don't vote Labour than do ......and that's about right ...then I think it's time for Labour and the liberals to chuck in the towel and form a new party for 2021 as an alternative to the Tories

Because that gives people who are not Tories to have a chance of some sort of Liberal or Socialist policies in among middle ground politics

If this doesn't happen then the left and Liberal and centre will be waiting till hell freezes over to get rid of what we have .

I have seen one non tory government since I have been able to vote .

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Originally Posted by tforturton

That's exactly how Tony Blair got into Downing Street.

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Blair hit the ground running

Then he invaded Iraq and his arse fell off

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Hilary Benn is a weasel :thumbup:

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To be fair so was his old man

Loved to talk from the sidelines , slagged off Kinnock who was not perfect but was leader

Benn just sat on his arse , wrote books and said what a great job he would have done

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

To be fair so was his old man

Loved to talk from the sidelines , slagged off Kinnock who was not perfect but was leader

Benn just sat on his arse , wrote books and said what a great job he would have done

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Tony Benn was the original champagne socialist.

Labour should have a leader for each of their factions (how about Burgon for the left and Mandelson for the right?) to allow them to get on with what they seem to think is their primary function - tearing themselves apart while allowing the Conservative party to do as they please. They are letting down not only existing Labour voters, but also those in England and Waleswho believe that any Government should have an effective opposition to hold it to account.

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Originally Posted by tforturton

Tony Benn was the original champagne socialist.

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Corbyn , Benn , Abbott , completely inept

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Labour should have a leader for each of their factions (how about Burgon for the left and Mandelson for the right?) to allow them to get on with what they seem to think is their primary function - tearing themselves apart while allowing the Conservative party to do as they please. They are letting down not only existing Labour voters, but also those in England and Waleswho believe that any Government should have an effective opposition to hold it to account.

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Absolutely, its embarrassing stuff

Sludge makes a very good point about Labour in Scotland. It's a big loss of what would be perhaps 30-40 seats each election.

I've voted Labour generally but I will change my vote and I live in a seat that flips Labour / Tory so tbh I am the kind of person who winning parties need to attract.

For me to go back to Labour they need to do a few things.

1 / Get a competent leader. They now have this. He's not exciting but he's sensible, moderate, realistic etc

2 / Move on from Brexit. Honestly, Labour flirting with a second referendum genuinely repulsed me. I thought it absolutely disgusting. How dare they try to overturn what the people (and the overwhelming majority of poorer people) voted for. They have to accept it, talk about the future and what they will do with new powers.

3 / linked to the above, they need to respect voters more. A lot of Labour activists on social media really do not come across well at all. Very rude and disrespectful. It puts people off. When Angela Rayner calls people scum, in my opinion she called me scum for voting Tory in 2019. That didn't win me round. If she said that in an election campaign, that alone would lose them my vote.

4 / stop be so fkn woke. Just reign it in. Most of it is divisive bollocks that doesn't improve many lives. Stick to solid policies that will improve working people's lives. It really does come across that a lot of Labour types don't like this country much. It's always very negative and I get tired of it. Millions do.

5 / Show some economic competence. This is rapidly improving from the Corbyn etc but still needs some work. I get a lot of it is the yah boo of party politics but when they just ask for more funding for thigns that simply isn't viable. I want to know how they will find things properly.

Personally I think Andy Burnham is absolutely fantastic. Lisa Nandy is alright. Cooper, Benn, Starmer, Milliband, all competent. They need someone patriotic, respectful, not into identify politics and moderate though. Starmer is probably as close as it gets

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Sludge makes a very good point about Labour in Scotland. It's a big loss of what would be perhaps 30-40 seats each election.

I've voted Labour generally but I will change my vote and I live in a seat that flips Labour / Tory so tbh I am the kind of person who winning parties need to attract.

For me to go back to Labour they need to do a few things.

1 / Get a competent leader. They now have this. He's not exciting but he's sensible, moderate, realistic etc

2 / Move on from Brexit. Honestly, Labour flirting with a second referendum genuinely repulsed me. I thought it absolutely disgusting. How dare they try to overturn what the people (and the overwhelming majority of poorer people) voted for. They have to accept it, talk about the future and what they will do with new powers.

3 / linked to the above, they need to respect voters more. A lot of Labour activists on social media really do not come across well at all. Very rude and disrespectful. It puts people off. When Angela Rayner calls people scum, in my opinion she called me scum for voting Tory in 2019. That didn't win me round. If she said that in an election campaign, that alone would lose them my vote.

4 / stop be so fkn woke. Just reign it in. Most of it is divisive bollocks that doesn't improve many lives. Stick to solid policies that will improve working people's lives. It really does come across that a lot of Labour types don't like this country much. It's always very negative and I get tired of it. Millions do.

5 / Show some economic competence. This is rapidly improving from the Corbyn etc but still needs some work. I get a lot of it is the yah boo of party politics but when they just ask for more funding for thigns that simply isn't viable. I want to know how they will find things properly.

Personally I think Andy Burnham is absolutely fantastic. Lisa Nandy is alright. Cooper, Benn, Starmer, Milliband, all competent. They need someone patriotic, respectful, not into identify politics and moderate though. Starmer is probably as close as it gets

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They are all old faces , get them out of the way

Burnham is a good guy but even if he was in charge I still think the mountain is too high

Time for a new party

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Corbyn , Benn , Abbott , completely inept

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PLEASE don't mention Abbot in a thread about potential Labour leaders.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

They are all old faces , get them out of the way

Burnham is a good guy but even if he was in charge I still think the mountain is too high

Time for a new party

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What kind of new party? Wokey, middle class, guardian, £3.85 coffees, yellow EU stars on Facebook profile pics?

Or

Wetherspoons, factory workers, tabloid, less PC, more working class?

Hard for Labour to have both

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

What kind of new party? Wokey, middle class, guardian, £3.85 coffees, yellow EU stars on Facebook profile pics?

Or

Wetherspoons, factory workers, tabloid, less PC, more working class?

Hard for Labour to have both

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The party is called

Abolish the whole thing , merge with the liberals and other interested groups , stop splitting the anti tory vote

Get a leader like paddy ashdown in charge but tell him to keep his hands off the secretary

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Sludge makes a very good point about Labour in Scotland. It's a big loss of what would be perhaps 30-40 seats each election.

I've voted Labour generally but I will change my vote and I live in a seat that flips Labour / Tory so tbh I am the kind of person who winning parties need to attract.

For me to go back to Labour they need to do a few things.

1 / Get a competent leader. They now have this. He's not exciting but he's sensible, moderate, realistic etc

2 / Move on from Brexit. Honestly, Labour flirting with a second referendum genuinely repulsed me. I thought it absolutely disgusting. How dare they try to overturn what the people (and the overwhelming majority of poorer people) voted for. They have to accept it, talk about the future and what they will do with new powers.

3 / linked to the above, they need to respect voters more. A lot of Labour activists on social media really do not come across well at all. Very rude and disrespectful. It puts people off. When Angela Rayner calls people scum, in my opinion she called me scum for voting Tory in 2019. That didn't win me round. If she said that in an election campaign, that alone would lose them my vote.

4 / stop be so fkn woke. Just reign it in. Most of it is divisive bollocks that doesn't improve many lives. Stick to solid policies that will improve working people's lives. It really does come across that a lot of Labour types don't like this country much. It's always very negative and I get tired of it. Millions do.

5 / Show some economic competence. This is rapidly improving from the Corbyn etc but still needs some work. I get a lot of it is the yah boo of party politics but when they just ask for more funding for thigns that simply isn't viable. I want to know how they will find things properly.

Personally I think Andy Burnham is absolutely fantastic. Lisa Nandy is alright. Cooper, Benn, Starmer, Milliband, all competent. They need someone patriotic, respectful, not into identify politics and moderate though. Starmer is probably as close as it gets

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Right, we know the standards you expect from Labour before you vote for them, I’d be fascinated to know if you have any you expect from the current governing party (especially in light of the news which broke last night) before they get your support?

'Kill migrants to appeal to the working classes'

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

The party is called

Abolish the whole thing , merge with the liberals and other interested groups , stop splitting the anti tory vote

Get a leader like paddy ashdown in charge but tell him to keep his hands off the secretary

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If voters currently perceive a huge tension between the left and the right of the Labour party I can't see how joining forces with other political entities will help one iota. Until the left v right conflict subsides it's unlikely that the Labour Party will be electable even when the Conservatives are performing absolutely abysmally. My personal opinion (worth sod all in the great scheme of things) is that Labour has no option but to move away from the left of the party that seems to have more in common with the 1970's rather than the 2020's.
The likes of Corbyn and Abbott will never attract the middle ground of voters and where the floating contingent lies.
I think it unfortunate that the SDP never really took hold and that the Lib Dems faded into obscurity when the likes of Vince Cable departed the leadership. The Conservatives are an unholy mess and riddled with corruption but they seem to have a direction, a factor that the floating voters seem to go for.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

The party is called

Abolish the whole thing , merge with the liberals and other interested groups , stop splitting the anti tory vote

Get a leader like paddy ashdown in charge but tell him to keep his hands off the secretary

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Amen:thumbup: Sadly a lot of Labour voters liked Corbyn and that has damaged them as they see any other version is a lite Tory which is very narrow minded in my view , as the Tory party are part middle left these days , Blair could have lead the current party in power with ease , its was the left sided Osborne that brought in the triple lock ???

I cant relate Thatcherism to this Tory party , I'm sure there are some vague shades still existing, however in realty its more of a centralist party these days and that is where Labour are heading , and very much in line with your comments .

I don't think Sir Kier is the answer Labour needs to break their behaviour, and give the role to a centralists woman with style /intelligence/eloquence i.e. Yvette Cooper , not Angela Raynor , Abbott , Rebecca Long-Bailey .

If not let Jess Phillips she is wonderful to listen too and resonates with the electorate I'm sure the North would love her .

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Right, we know the standards you expect from Labour before you vote for them, I’d be fascinated to know if you have any you expect from the current governing party (especially in light of the news which broke last night) before they get your support?

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I would expect continued economic competence (judged by falling unemployment, rising wages, GDP growth etc), a broadly libertarian approach to things, a push back against identity politics and a continued positive vision of what the country can become in the future.

I have to say, my opinion of the government, Johnson in particular is significantly shaken at present. If there were an election tomorrow, it would be pretty 50/50 who got my vote.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

I would expect continued economic competence (judged by falling unemployment, rising wages, GDP growth etc), a broadly libertarian approach to things, a push back against identity politics and a continued positive vision of what the country can become in the future.

I have to say, my opinion of the government, Johnson in particular is significantly shaken at present. If there were an election tomorrow, it would be pretty 50/50 who got my vote.

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Cheers :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

I would expect continued economic competence (judged by falling unemployment, rising wages, GDP growth etc), a broadly libertarian approach to things, a push back against identity politics and a continued positive vision of what the country can become in the future.

I have to say, my opinion of the government, Johnson in particular is significantly shaken at present. If there were an election tomorrow, it would be pretty 50/50 who got my vote.

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To add my two penn'orth if there was an election tomorrow I wouldn't leave the house (Nor get a postal vote).
Unless he rdeeems himself greatly in the next couple of years( including much of what you say and more besides) I am unlikely to vote for a party lead by Boris again

I only voted last time because I detested Corbyn so much.

I'm yet to be convinced by Sir Keir. Bringing back Yvette Cooper was a good step. I've never particularly liked her but she is undoubtedy an articulate and competent politician.

Don't like yvette Cooper, too much of a Blair clone

Starmer?

The era of centre-left, uncharismatic ex-lawyer pro-european politicians as European leaders is over.

Oh hang on,.....Olaf who?

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Originally Posted by Swiss Peter

Starmer?

The era of centre-left, uncharismatic ex-lawyer pro-european politicians as European leaders is over.

Oh hang on,.....Olaf who?

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😅