Labour Party (UK) Leadership Election, 2016

[MaxQue]

I think the best thing that could happen would be for Corbyn to step down and enthusiastically back John McDonnell. McDonnell is basically the same as Corbyn on economics with the added benefit of having never been caught on tape praising Hamas. He could keep all of Corbyn's parliamentary support, probably hold on to a large chunk of his popular support, and hopefully win over some of the soft left and Old Labour MPs who only recently abandoned Corbyn.

For once I agree with you--that'd be an elegant and relatively painless solution to this mess, at least in the immediate term.

Instead, someone caught on tape praising IRA. That's much worse.

[MaxQue]

I think the best thing that could happen would be for Corbyn to step down and enthusiastically back John McDonnell. McDonnell is basically the same as Corbyn on economics with the added benefit of having never been caught on tape praising Hamas. He could keep all of Corbyn's parliamentary support, probably hold on to a large chunk of his popular support, and hopefully win over some of the soft left and Old Labour MPs who only recently abandoned Corbyn.

For once I agree with you--that'd be an elegant and relatively painless solution to this mess, at least in the immediate term.

Instead, someone caught on tape praising IRA. That's much worse.

Oh. I wasn't aware of that.

sh**t.

Watson?

I meant than McDonnell is worse than Corbyn, as he was caught saying, back in 2003.

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Such a leader would get bulldozed by opposition.

[MaxQue]

I feel like the Blairites (actual Blairites, not just people to the right of Corbyn) are defensively backing Eagle just because she's getting heat for the Iraq War.

They better get ready, because the report of the Chilcot Iraq Inquiry about Iraq War is out on Wednesday.

[MaxQue]

Hear there are going to be hustings between Eagle and Smith today in the PLP to see who faces Corbyn.

As I said before it all comes down to 'GBs v TB's' again. If Watson backs Smith then there's no way I can see Angela winning

What does GBs vs TBs mean?

Refers to the Brown Supporters v the Blair supporters- most MP's from the centre and right (even the ones elected in 2010/2015) tend to float towards the old brownites in the party (Tom Watson, Chris Bryant, Yvette Cooper, John Healey, etc) or the Blairites (Ben Bradshaw, Caroline Flint, Wes Streeting)
 
As said it's very little about ideology, and more about petty differences- to give a good example my local MP who's from the right of the party spend about 5 minutes last summer slagging of Tom Watson  (despite the fact he probably agrees with him on 99% of issues)

I see the Blairite wing is full of terrible people, even today.

[MaxQue]

Owen Smith launched today- apparently has the backing of over 100 MPs, appears to be picking up a lot of steam. Expect Eagle will drop out in exchange for shadow Chancellor+ 50/50 cabinet split promise.

A big Pharma lobbyist, really?

PLP really wants to lose the working class areas to UKIP.

[MaxQue]

Owen Smith launched today- apparently has the backing of over 100 MPs, appears to be picking up a lot of steam. Expect Eagle will drop out in exchange for shadow Chancellor+ 50/50 cabinet split promise.

A big Pharma lobbyist, really?

PLP really wants to lose the working class areas to UKIP.

Worked as there head of policy from 2006-2008. Considering he opposed the merger in 2014 involving Phzifer, and is on the soft left of the party I don't see it as much of an issue.

I honestly think someone from South Wales, with his policies and approach is going to do much better than a 66 year old Islington socialist who doesn't sing the national anthem

I honestly think they are both sub-par (and so is Angela Eagle). Labour big problem isn't Corbyn or the PLP or the NEC (but, honestly, all 3 are terrible at doing their job).

The issue is than there is absolutely no Labour MP right now with enough leadership to beat Conservatives right now. Too much people which never worked outside politics (and it's not being an adviser you develop leadership). There is huge structural issues, but, sure, that's easier to point the PLP or Corbyn instead of solving them.

[MaxQue]

According to twitter there are 183,541 registered supporters who signed up. That's a solid £4.6 million for the party.

I assume signed up means paying the one time £25 fee to become a “registered supporter”? Are all of them people who joined before Jan 2016?  I wonder which side this expansion of the electorate will help?

No, people who joined before January are full members, no need for them to pay more.

[MaxQue]

If I'm reading what's going on correctly the Corbynistas are presently busily turning the Labour Party into a pure left wing protest party.

That's all fine and dandy but the end result will almost certainly be an open ended period of Conservative government.

I really don't see the point of doing that in all honesty.

I suppose the Hard Left prefers losing the next GE with Corbyn rather than with Owen Smith. Because, let's be honest, does anyone here see Owen Smith beating Theresa May?

[MaxQue]

They should see if tony blair wants to make a comeback lol

Far, far more people would support expelling Blair from the party than his return as leader. And I'm referring to the people in the PLP as opposed to the wider membership.

I'm joking but it's funny considering he is the only person to lead labor to victory since the 1970's

Pretty much anyone could have done so in 1997.

[MaxQue]

Ugh. I thought Corbyn was at least above this kind of dishonesty. At this point I'll be heartbroken if he still somehow wins.

What do you mean by "somehow"?
Clarification to the foreign posters: he will win.

The likelihood doesn't make it any less baffling.

When your opponent is Owen "Let's talk with ISIS" Smith, I don't see how that's surprising.

[MaxQue]

Would I be wrong to say that momentum has shifted to Smith?

Yes, you would be wrong.

[MaxQue]

As I've said a million times we can thank the heavens that we've got Owen, and not Angela Eagle.

Even others like Dan Jarvis or Keir Starmer (both unknowns) lacked the experience to take on Corbyn. Labour crop of talent is awful at the moment- as I've also said hundreds of times in 2010 we should have had Harman, Johnson, or D Miliband rather than skipping a generation

Harriett Harman? There is actually people liking her? Even the moderates I know in Labour Party don't like her.