I was looking at this the other day, and I think this is the main problem with the left. From Wiki the candidates are the following.... SDP David Bettney[9] North East Hilton Dawson[10] Women's Equality Gemma Evans[11] Conservative Jill Mortimer Northern Independence Thelma Walker[a][12] Labour Paul Williams[13] Of those, I'd consider them all left leaning, except the Conservatives. So many left wing parties take the votes away from Labour and will always put the Tories in power. The left need to sacrifice some ideals, get behind Labour and try to get a decent effective Labour leader. Someone who the media won't lie about (so not far left) but someone who has charisma and a chance against Johnson. Having said all that, in a safe Labour seat, I'd probably vote Socialist Labour if they stood. I'm not keen on Nationalist parties, but maybe this would be a good idea. Onto UKIP, or specifically Farage, he's split the tories and tricked them into an election on Europe (rights and wrongs of that are not relevant here) and everyone thought he'd go away once he got his wish. With hindsight does Cameron think he's be better splitting the party, as he (Farage) is back for more now? On about retirement, I think it's barmy people not climbing down gradually. I'm sure many do, but it has to be bad for the system to finish work at 5pm on a Friday afternoon and then never work again. Surely, your hours should get few over the course of a year or so. Keeps your hand in, but also keeps you alive.
But only if we stop seeing Left v Centre-Left battles within the party, Mr UTC. It seems that the answer to my question above is that this NIP is mainly a bunch of disillusioned Corbynites who are undeterred by the rejection of their man at the polls 14 months ago. To the extent that they gain traction they would presumably take some of the vote from the Labour candidate. Just to stir the pot a little bit more there is a candidate standing for the 'North East Party'. Then there is the potential kickback from the resignation under a cloud of the serving Labour MP. Labour are defending a majority of just 3,500, so the scope for the Tories (on the back of the 'Vaccination Boost') to get in by the back door is there for all to see.
Had to laugh at the 'big up' from the OP. The only way you'd think that Labour are rattled by NIP is if you occupy the social media echo-chamber of the Corbynista's. The fact that they're getting the support of the likes of arch-grifter Rachael Swindon, and arch-antisemite Chris Williamson, tells you all you need to know about the so-called popularity they're gaining. The party founder is a uni lecturer based in Brighton, and someone somewhere came up with the bright idea of them having a whippet in their logo, yet they're supposed to be considered as a serious party. Go outside the Twitter bubble and I doubt anyone has even heard of them. Their social media presence reads like a parody account. They've recruited an ex-Corbynite MP, who lost her seat to the Tories in 2019, as their candidate in Hartlepool. The result will be an inevitable lost deposit. The seat may well go Tory anyway, as it was only held by Labour due to the Tories and the Brexit party splitting the right-wing vote almost 50:50. Essentially, Labour are 'defending' the seat from a start point of an 8k deficit in votes, if you compare the 15k they won with to the the 23k or so who voted Tory or Brexit party. The real unknown is how that vote will split in the by-election. The by-election itself is fascinating, but NIP are nothing more than another fringe party struggling to keep their deposit, as we'll no doubt see when the result gets called.
There’s one aspect to the upcoming local elections that I’m looking forward to, because it will show how gullible (or not) the electorate is. For years the tories have been telling anyone who’d listen, how much better tory run towns and cities are. However, when asked why a massive majority of councils that had £millions pumped into them recently were tory, we were told it was due to‘levelling up’. Whether they can have it both ways will depend on the nous of the voters. I’m not holding my breath.
Labour aren't seriously rattled its laughable.... I thought it was bad and then you posted the draft manifesto and it just confirms it. Its a vanity project for momentum types who can't accept the 2019 GE rejected them. It does nothing more than open the door to the tories in marginal seats.
Well the Tories have no problem in ‘paying’ for things that don ‘t work and have been a complete waste of money. Except for the beneficiaries that also financially support their party or are linked to their family members. For the few not the many.
Ah politics ffs! Go on then one thing is clear the Labour Party needs something pretty damn soon or they are done, Corbyn drove a wedge down the traditional labour voters and the cardigan wearing quinoa munchers and Starmer is just a master of Hindsight
What a load of right-wing Tory Drabble typical of this poster. For example, a Union is only as strong as its membership will allow it to be. The Batley school thing is currently an ongoing situation. That teacher will be receiving behind the scenes assistance/ guidance from the Authorities and Union alike. Until the investigation is complete and an official statement released it would be stupid to for any party to say things which would be at least unhelpful. As for the Public Services pay, you can fek right off with that one, just look at the DWP staff, who now have many staff members who have many years experience in all benefits hovering just above the minimum wage. Now go off and trawl other right-wing ***** to post. You sad ****
Take back the billions given to Serco and Tory mates in the last year , make Amazon et al pay a fair amount of tax , ditch the refurb of nuclear weapons , force tax dodging hedge finders like Sunak to pay a fair amount of tax ,back dated 40 years ...for a start
Starmer has repeatedly called for specific actions ahead of the inevitable Johnson U-turn. Yet it's Starmer that's captain hindsight. The manipulation of public perception is one of the reasons that this country is so screwed.
It is... Those who left or have joined other parties had no intention of uniting the party so they aren't a huge loss.
And how is that playing out in the polls? Labour are 20 points ahead I presume...basically they have decided to chase the racist vote but the racists are happy where they are but are losing left voters to Greens and other parties. maybe if Labour were to propose some actual policies. Or commit to pre election pacts with a change in the electoral system they might be in with a shout as it is pale male and stale it’s worse than useless.
This 20 point myth really is pointless... From where Labour were in 2019 and this time last year its quite an achievement that they were in front in the polls in January. The racist vote? Seriously? This far from a GE would be ridiculous to start looking at pacts.
How much was Kieth looking to unite under corbyn? Just look at the video of Jess Phillips celebrating Labour losing for all you need to know. If you consider an inept leader that has reneged consistently on his leadership pledges, removing anything left of David Cameron and refusing to condemn unforgivable Tory behaviour a beacon for the future that is your business. Pushing for more flags is not uniting anything. It is a misguided understanding of what ‘electable’ means ie giving tories a reason to nod with approval as they still put the X in the conservative box. As it stands, he has lost myself and plenty I know who have been lifelong Labour voters. Dismiss it as good riddance I’d you like, but I suspect there’s plenty like me. Let’s see where it leads.