Labour Party (UK) Leadership Election, 2016

[Blair]

The most heart breaking moment for me was seeing Tom Watson yesterday say that 'I've been called a fixer for years, yet I couldn't fix this''... if this was a novel it would be him saying that moderating influences of the Trade Unions and Soft Right (which removed Lansbury in '35, and stopped Benn in '82) is officially dead.

To make a bold prediction- they'll be a 'blairite' party that is out of touch, and a socialist party that is even more out of touch

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Clusterfyck day is off to a GREAT start as Corbyn's team are reported to have tried to bump Ashworth out of his NEC seat and are blocked by ShadCab. Lawd.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Why, why oh why?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

They're still in there at present. Who knows how much longer this will take or what they will decide. The GMB's delegate is not present however. Hospital apparently.

[Blair]

Can she vote by Proxy? From my own calculations if all 13 trade unions vote to put Corbyn on the ballot then he's easily home dry

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Can she vote by Proxy?

Don't believe so. If the vote is close and goes a certain way my God the conspiracy theories...

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Well no, he wouldn't be. He'd just be on the ballot.

[DL]

Apparently the NEC is voting by SECRET BALLOT on whether or not Corbyn needs signatures...this could make a huge difference since there are thought to be a lot of union reps who publicly want to be seen as loyal to Corbyn but who privately think he has got to go!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Yes, a secret ballot is the only way that he could be forced to collect signatures. Basically makes the situation entirely unpredictable.

[Blair]

Well a secret ballot makes it much better.

I just read that Paul Flynn told him to resign- that's right the 81 year old bloke with two cabinet jobs. At this rate I'm going to do my dissertation on the last two weeks alone in British Politics.

Also, how are they briefing from inside the NEC meeting? I mean are people literally pulling the old secondary school trick and having their phone underneath the desk

[Blair]

they voted 17-15 to have a secret ballot... surely you'd only vote for a secret ballot if you wanted JC to be stopped?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Michael Crick tweets that Corbyn has been told to leave the room (conflict of interest) but is refusing to leave.

...

...

Embarrassing.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He has now left the room apparently.

[Blair]

I feel like this is going to be a perfect political thriller in 5 years- Michael Caine as Jeremy Corbyn?

Worth noting that if Corbyn resigns a 'left winger' like Lewis/McDonnell would only need 35 nominations to get on the ballot, as it's different during a leadership election (rather than a challenge)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Can't work out what he was even playing at there; it's like one of the most basic principles of committees that if you have a conflict of interest you recuse yourself.

Worth noting that if Corbyn resigns a 'left winger' like Lewis/McDonnell would only need 35 nominations to get on the ballot, as it's different during a leadership election (rather than a challenge)

Important point, potentially.

[SPQR]

Michael Crick tweets that Corbyn has been told to leave the room (conflict of interest) but is refusing to leave.

...

...

Embarrassing.

This is beyond pathetic...

[Blair]

I'm not going to get my hopes up, because well I've been claiming for ages that he'll resign but I've got a bottle of 6.99 Prosecco ready

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Silence for a while now. Does that mean that ITS HAPPENING or just that someone has confiscated the phones?

[Blair]

Apparently the 15-17 vote was swung by two women who feared online abuse/threats against voting- whilst that doesn't mean anything one side certainly has more of a reputation for that.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

Silence for a while now. Does that mean that ITS HAPPENING or just that someone has confiscated the phones?

When Al is asking the questions and not providing the answer when it comes to British politics you know stuff are completely off the rails and upside down.   

[Antonio the Sixth]

Silence for a while now. Does that mean that ITS HAPPENING or just that someone has confiscated the phones?

When Al is asking the questions and not providing the answer when it comes to British politics you know stuff are completely off the rails and upside down.   

Indeed. God help us.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

It's going to last FOR EVER I think. Something that has emerged is that the General Secretary of the Party is only allowing one lawyer (a specialist in the laws of clubs and societies drafted in by those who want Corbyn gone) to present in person.

I think I've reached the point where I'm finding the divers shenanigans of both camps over the past 24hrs to be more amusing than depressing. This is psychologically healthy, probably.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It's going to last FOR EVER I think. Something that has emerged is that the General Secretary of the Party is only allowing one lawyer (a specialist in the laws of clubs and societies drafted in by those who want Corbyn gone) to present in person.

I think I've reached the point where I'm finding the divers shenanigans of both camps over the past 24hrs to be more amusing than depressing. This is psychologically healthy, probably.

What do you mean forever? Do you think it's going to go on well into the night/morning?

[Blair]

The big question is do I go to my ward CLP meeting tonight; which is often about 8 old people (myself the youngest by about 40 years) talking about the Guardian but could prove rather hostile tonight... or do I sit here on twitter waiting for the result?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Why not do both?

[Blair]

Why not do both?

Well according to the email it's being held in the pub because our usual hall is getting done up- could be interesting