Labour Leadership Contest

[AngryOfTuebrook]

[Rotpeter]

He has policy proposals on his website.

Yeah, but they're not the focal point right now. I fear when they are the effort and effectiveness of the attacks will increase.

[Jairzinho]

 

[Rotpeter]

Policies like increasing the highest rate of tax, nationalising the railways, reinstating the safety net for the poorest people, not slashing public services, smashing them up and selling the bits to your mates in the City... these are all perfectly achievable and utterly credible.  The right-wing cunt media will try to undermine them, but the big job (in Opposition and in Government) will be to keep fighting for the people and against those cunts.

YOU don't get to decide what's credible and not in a vaccuum. Less engaged people do and against a backdrop of relentless and orchestrated messaging. None of those policies you list are new. All have been successfully rebutted in the past. There's already a playbook written. Paint Corbyn as too nice or too marxist. And it'll be sisyphus all over again.

[Strontium]

Those saying Corbyn can't win ignore the fact that the Tories won the last election with less than 25% of those entitled to vote. Turnout was 66%, so there was a massive 34% of the electorate who didn't vote for one reason or another.

 

I don't think anyone is ignoring that fact, the trouble with hitching your hopes on persuading that 34% of the electorate to vote is that they are weighted towards seats that Labour already hold, and that is without considering the size of the challenge in getting them to vote in the first place.

[Jairzinho]

Jeremy Corbyn would clear the deficit – but not by hitting the poor

 

John McDonnell

 

As people wake up to the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn actually being able to win the Labour leadership, the reaction has become increasingly hysterical, especially from elements of the Labour establishment.

 

The near panic is especially evident in its response to the strategy outlined by Corbyn’s team of economic advisers.

 

A small band of shadow cabinet members have lined up to refuse to serve in posts they haven’t even been offered, on the basis of objection to economic policies they clearly haven’t read. Rebukes to Labour supporters to end their summer of “craziness” also not only insult the intelligence, idealism and judgment of our party members but have simply made them more determined to challenge this heavy-handed, domineering establishment attitude.

 

Some commentators have also prophesied economic and electoral doom if Corbyn is elected. Let’s see if, at least on economic policy, we can return to some level of rational debate. Let’s start by tracing out where there is absolute agreement.

 

First, it is unarguable that no modern party leader can win an election if behind in the polls on economic competence. Ed Miliband, sadly, was proof of this truism. Second, deficit denial is a non-starter for anyone to have any economic credibility with the electorate. This was a key finding of the poll recently published by Jon Cruddas, examining why Labour lost the election.

 

So let me make it absolutely clear that Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is committed to eliminating the deficit and creating an economy in which we live within our means.

 

Where the Corbyn campaign parts company with the dominant economic thinking of both the Conservative government and the other Labour leadership candidates is that we don’t believe that the vast majority of middle- and low-income earners who didn’t cause the economic crisis should have to pay for it through cuts in tax credits, pay freezes, and cuts in essential services. Instead we believe we can tackle the deficit by halting the tax cuts to the very rich and to corporations, by making sure they pay their taxes, and by investing in the housing and infrastructure a modern country needs to get people back to work in good jobs.

 

We accept that cuts in public spending will help eliminate the deficit, but our cuts won’t be to the middle-and low-income earners and certainly not to the poor. Our cuts will be to the subsidies paid to landlords milking the housing benefit system, to the £93bn in subsidies to corporations, and to employers exploiting workers with low wages and leaving the rest of us to pick up the tab.

 

Where we also part company with the economic orthodoxy of the Conservative and Labour establishments is that alongside tackling the deficit we also believe that we need an economic strategy to tackle the underlying flawed fundamentals of our economic system.

 

While our opponents wrongfully accuse anyone who disagrees with their austerity programmes as deficit deniers, they themselves seem to be crisis deniers. They fail to understand that the unregulated, law-of-the-jungle market system they advocate is inherently crisis-ridden. Unless we act on these fundamental flaws we really do doom the next and future generations to further inevitable crises.

 

In fact all the factors that caused the 2007-8 crisis are currently reappearing on the scene – frozen or low incomes, low productivity, asset inflation especially in housing, a hands-off government turning a blind eye to loose credit expansion and City speculation, and a growing debt bubble.

 

Just like 2007 all it needs is a spark like Northern Rock to set things off again. The rehypothecation taking place in the bond markets could be the trigger this time, when the US starts unwinding its quantitative easing programme.

 

So alongside deficit elimination, the Corbyn campaign is advocating a fundamental reform of our economic system. This will include the introduction of an effective regulatory regime for our banks and financial sector; a full-blownGlass-Steagall system to separate day-to-day and investment banking; legislation to replace short-term shareholder value with long-term sustainable economic and social responsibilities as the prime objective of companies; radical reform of the failed auditing regime; the extension of a wider range of forms of company and enterprise ownership and control including public, co-operative and stakeholder ownership; and the introduction of a financial transactions tax to fund the rebalancing of our economy towards production and manufacturing.

 

Public ownership does have an important role to play, but this will be through smart forms of 21st-century common ownership and control. For example, rail will be renationalised, but with a form of joint management involving workers and passenger representatives. Energy would be socialised from below by the massive expansion of renewable energy production and supply by local communities, local authorities and co-ops on the successful German model, removing the monopoly of the big six energy companies.

 

Conservatives claim they are “one nation” Tories when they have actually been a government for the 1% who have undermined our economic interests through their greed.

 

Politicians have patronised and talked down to us all when it comes to our economy, but ordinary working people have to manage on incomes significantly lower than the likes of George Osborne and his friends in the City. They could teach the bankers and many commentators a thing or two about managing a budget responsibly. Given the opportunity, we will use the sound common sense of our people.

[Scooby Dudek]

[Charles Penrose]

I signed up as a member the day after the election. I'll be voting Corbyn when the time comes. However I knkw next to fuck all about any of the Deputy Leader nominees. Who is Corbyn likely to favour?

[Jairzinho]

I signed up as a member the day after the election. I'll be voting Corbyn when the time comes. However I knkw next to fuck all about any of the Deputy Leader nominees. Who is Corbyn likely to favour?

 

Watson, I'd have thought.

[Jairzinho]

Corbyn now 2/5 to become leader.

[Anubis]

I signed up as a member the day after the election. I'll be voting Corbyn when the time comes. However I knkw next to fuck all about any of the Deputy Leader nominees. Who is Corbyn likely to favour?

Watson or Eagle.

 

If I was shallow and voting in fuckability it would be Creasy. But I'm not. So I won't.

[Bobby Hundreds]

I'm gonna vote Watson but i'll be thinking about Creasy.

[Strontium]

I signed up as a member the day after the election. I'll be voting Corbyn when the time comes. However I knkw next to fuck all about any of the Deputy Leader nominees. Who is Corbyn likely to favour?

This is as good a place as any to put Ed Fordham's Corbyn joke:

 

- Knock knock

- Who's there

- Deputy leader

- Deputy leader who?

- Good question, and the only question we don't know the answer to

[Teasmaid]

I've been a full member for years, but I've not heard a dickie bird from any of the bastards. It's like phone companies schmoozing for new blood, while not giving a shiny shit about their current clientele. It's funny how they emailed me 14 times a day asking for money in the run up to the general election. Shower of cunts.

[Bobby Hundreds]

I got an email today telling me to expect emails from the candidates, this is sometime after I've already received them. Typical backwards meffs.

[Dr Nowt]

Got a mail today thanking me for donation and advising that I can vote in the upcoming election.

 

No begging letters or calls yet, presumably I need to receive my voting forms via post? 

[Anubis]

I've been a full member for years, but I've not heard a dickie bird from any of the bastards. It's like phone companies schmoozing for new blood, while not giving a shiny shit about their current clientele. It's funny how they emailed me 14 times a day asking for money in the run up to the general election. Shower of cunts.

Liz Kendall probably thinks you're nailed on as you both share the same name.

[lifetime fan]

 

 

He's wearing a Jumper a Tshirt underneath and shorts. THE GUY IS A FUCKING MAVERICK!!!!!

The more I hear the more I like the guy.

 

He's not even saying anything special, just talking common fucking sense.

[Anubis]

Caroline Flint.

 

Dear Paul

 

You may think you know me.

 

So let me tell you who I am, why I'm Labour and why I'm standing to be Deputy Leader.

 

My mum was a lone parent at 17; I never knew my real dad.

 

We never owned a home.

 

Twice in my teens I had to live away from home; the second time because of my mum’s alcoholism – an illness that would kill her.

 

Going to university was not my destiny. It was an escape.

 

By my mid-twenties I was on my own with two children under two. I know what it’s like to be on benefits, to worry about money, to need a job, childcare and a secure roof over your head.

 

I know what it's like to need a Labour Government.

 

 

Millions of people felt as devastated as we did when they saw the results come in on election night.

 

Our Labour Party exists to win elections to improve lives and make the world a better place.

 

To do so, we need support from all classes, all backgrounds, all corners of the country.

 

We will only reach out if Labour offers real community leadership – a force for change – especially where we do not have a Labour MP.

 

A grassroots movement – not a Westminster elite.

 

The Deputy Leader has to support the next leader – whoever they are – to rebuild and win again.

 

I know our party from the grassroots up and I’ve campaigned in hundreds of constituencies since 2010 as a Shadow Cabinet member.

 

But we also need a Deputy Leader unafraid to go on the Today programme or Question Time, especially on difficult days.

 

Somebody ready to deputise for the Leader in the House of Commons at Prime Minister's Questions.

 

Most of all, we need somebody who both members and voters can connect with – those many voters we need to win back.

 

I'm standing for Deputy Leader because, with over 30 years’ experience in the Labour Party and as a trade unionist, I can help us win in 2020.

 

 

I lead by example. I'm a hands-on constituency MP, a doorstep and community campaigner, a creative policy maker, a Commons performer and someone who has fought our corner on TV and always put the Labour Party first.

 

I've fought many battles in my life. With your support, this is one we can win together for Labour.

 

So, are you with me?

 

Abstained on Welfare Bill.

[Gnasher]

Is she trying for a boot camp slot on the X factor?

[ZonkoVille77]

Caroline Flint.

 

 

 

Abstained on Welfare Bill.

Did you reply with some generous phrasing?

[Strontium]

Caroline Flint's daughter is a Daily Mail journalist, true story. It's journalism I can get behind, however.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3002516/Personalised-fittings-sweat-LOTS-lubricant-One-woman-finds-takes-pull-latex-like-Kim-Kardashian-star-s-designer-makes-bespoke-dress-her.html

[lifetime fan]

Caroline Flint's daughter is a Daily Mail journalist, true story. It's journalism I can get behind, however.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3002516/Personalised-fittings-sweat-LOTS-lubricant-One-woman-finds-takes-pull-latex-like-Kim-Kardashian-star-s-designer-makes-bespoke-dress-her.html

I'd do her with a hang over horn.

[Red_or_Dead]

I'd shit on both of their faces with my IBS.  Cunts.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Caroline "heart of" Flint is, indeed, "a creative policy maker".

 

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/feb/05/uk.topstories3