The end of the Labour party

[Mister M]

I think there is more of a possibility that the Labour Party will split, than it ceasing to be an electoral force in British politics.

No political party has a God given right to rule, and lessons from history tell us that parties in power for a long time can become arrogant and complacent.

Also I think that in common with other Western European countries, a democratic socialist alternative should and will exist. For amongst other reasons, it represents a set of values / ideals that are not prioritised by Conservative or reactionary parties.

I can't remember but I'm sure that after 18 years in Government, the Tory Party were lectured by commentators in the press about who they needed to choose as leader; what policies they should put forward, and which direction they should travel in - I believe they went through 2 or 3 leaders before settling on David Cameron.

Jeremy Corbyn, is as much a reaction to the previous 2 leaders of the Labour Party who were ideologically divorced from the Labour Party, and consequently were felt to be a let down - especially after the rightward movement of the political centre of gravity in the previous 18 years.

I guess very few in the press were complaining that IDS or Michael Howard were too right wing (as opposed to saying that Jeremy Corbyn is too left wing), which kind of tells you how certain assumptions about politics, the economy, and society are taken for granted and promulgated as 'normality'. Which is especially strange after the financial crash of 2008.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Mister M

[Guest]

Jeremy Corbyn is too old to be a long term "problem" (if that's how you want to view him) for Labour, but in the meantime back bench Labour MP's should just stick it out and back him on things they agree with him on and vote against him where they don't agree. I suspect that reality will eventually moderate Mr Corbyn and he'll formulate workable policies.

 

When all said and done Que Sera Sera.

[unbeliever]

Jeremy Corbyn is too old to be a long term "problem" (if that's how you want to view him) for Labour, but in the meantime back bench Labour MP's should just stick it out and back him on things they agree with him on and vote against him where they don't agree. I suspect that reality will eventually moderate Mr Corbyn and he'll formulate workable policies.

 

When all said and done Que Sera Sera.

 

If, after the 2020 election, Labour are not the second largest grouping in the commons, they'll be neither the government, nor the official opposition for the first time since 1922.

The way the polls are going this is highly plausible.

Do you think they'll come back from that?

[pacifica]

I think there is more of a possibility that the Labour Party will split, than it ceasing to be an electoral force in British politics.

No political party has a God given right to rule, and lessons from history tell us that parties in power for a long time can become arrogant and complacent.

Also I think that in common with other Western European countries, a democratic socialist alternative should and will exist. For amongst other reasons, it represents a set of values / ideals that are not prioritised by Conservative or reactionary parties.

I can't remember but I'm sure that after 18 years in Government, the Tory Party were lectured by commentators in the press about who they needed to choose as leader; what policies they should put forward, and which direction they should travel in - I believe they went through 2 or 3 leaders before settling on David Cameron.

Jeremy Corbyn, is as much a reaction to the previous 2 leaders of the Labour Party who were ideologically divorced from the Labour Party, and consequently were felt to be a let down - especially after the rightward movement of the political centre of gravity.

 

I can agree with much of that but would add a couple of points of my own.

The liberal party were a major force in british politics. But then the party split and became irrelevant.

I agree that the public tire of any party that has been in power for too long. I would imagine that another 2 terms and that will happen with the current regime, but of course there is no guarantee that when that happens there will be a labour party capable of gaining enough seats to form a government.

[tinfoilhat]

If, after the 2020 election, Labour are not the second largest grouping in the commons, they'll be neither the government, nor the official opposition for the first time since 1922.

The way the polls are going this is highly plausible.

Do you think they'll come back from that?

 

That wont happen, you'd need a bigger party than them to lead the opposition. Who would that be - the SNP? Wont be LibDems so your left with labour and leading the opposition and tories in charge with a huge majority.

[unbeliever]

I can agree with much of that but would add a couple of points of my own.

The liberal party were a major force in british politics. But then the party split and became irrelevant.

I agree that the public tire of any party that has been in power for too long. I would imagine that another 2 terms and that will happen with the current regime, but of course there is no guarantee that when that happens there will be a labour party capable of gaining enough seats to form a government.

 

The SNP could do worse than look to extend their remit into England and Wales.

There's a void to be filled.

 

---------- Post added 31-08-2016 at 17:53 ----------

 

That wont happen, you'd need a bigger party than them to lead the opposition. Who would that be - the SNP? Wont be LibDems so your left with labour and leading the opposition and tories in charge with a huge majority.

 

It could be the SNP. In fact if no single Labour faction can muster 50 seats it will be. It may seem silly, but those are the rules.

[banjodeano]

Who are you talking to.

Nobody is under any illusion that Owen Smith will win the leadership election.

We're talking about whether Labour itself will, in the long run, survive the likely Corbyn victory.

 

I find it very interesting though that you seem to support Corbyn and UKIP. How'd you come to that?

 

This is not a forgone conclusion, the right of the party are purging the left leaning voters at an alarming rate, the fiasco would not look out of place in North Korea,sadly there is little reported about it in the media

[unbeliever]

This is not a forgone conclusion, the right of the party are purging the left leaning voters at an alarming rate, the fiasco would not look out of place in North Korea,sadly there is little reported about it in the media

 

That's rather a ridiculous characterisation, but I expected nothing less.

Most will be aware the the Labour NEC has excluded many associate members from voting. This is hardly monstrous. All full members can vote whoever they intend to vote for.

[Santo]

This is not a forgone conclusion, the right of the party are purging the left leaning voters at an alarming rate, the fiasco would not look out of place in North Korea,sadly there is little reported about it in the media

 

Why is it not being reported in the media? Who is telling them not to report it?

[banjodeano]

That's rather a ridiculous characterisation, but I expected nothing less.

Most will be aware the the Labour NEC has excluded many associate members from voting. This is hardly monstrous. All full members can vote whoever they intend to vote for.

No they cant, that just shows your lack of knowledge on the subject at hand, people are being blocked from voting for various trivial reasons, people who have been party members for years are being purged in an effort to rig the vote...

 

---------- Post added 31-08-2016 at 19:16 ----------

 

Why is it not being reported in the media? Who is telling them not to report it?

 

good one, you tell me the answer