Friday 8th.July 2016

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:35 am

Anyway, not all of those listed by SH are terrible. Lewis, Long-Bailey and Burgon are all talented people even if you do not share their political positioning.

(and Flynn would be a perfectly good addition too were he 20 years younger - you do know who he backed for leader last year btw?)

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:37 am

HindleA wrote:Thanks for the frock advice going for the £1,375 Latymer dress in black,in recognition of Toby's efforts.

Oh no, A.

That would never work. That whole colour-block/off-the-shoulder thing is sooooooo last season.

Anyway, you'd look much better, considering your imposing height and rampant hirsutism, in a Malvern black crepe jumpsuit (turn up the legs, very now, dahling) with spaghetti straps.

Obviously, you'd need some accessories. I'd go for leopard-print Louboutins, with a 5-inch heel (every little helps!) and one of those darling little totes from SamCam's shopette.

To finish it all off, I recommend (dear Roland again - can the boy do no wrong?) Alexandra silk-blend gold lame cape? Gorgeous. You'll be the Conchita Wurst of FlyTheNest. Truly.

BTW - for the Mouret, may I suggest the sale? You'll find it at - I KID YOU NOT - http://www.mytheresa.com/en-gb/designers/roland-mouret" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mwah Mwah!

Post by **PaulfromYorkshire** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:39 am

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Angela Rayner, the new Shadow Secretary of State for Education. So, I thought I'd just post her Maiden Speech to Parliament from 2 June 2015.

There has been an Ashton-under-Lyne constituency since 1832, and although there have been significant boundary changes during the last 183 years, the strength and character of the people of my constituency have not changed. It is the people of Ashton-under-Lyne who are at the start, the heart and the end of my maiden speech. It is to them that I owe this tremendous honour and privilege. They remain proud, warm and welcoming, and, most of all, resilient, although I fear that those qualities will be severely tested over the next five years.

My constituency consists of three distinct communities, Ashton, Droylsden and Failsworth. It has been well served by its elected representatives over the years, and I am proud to say that, since 1935, it has happily returned an unbroken line of Labour MPs. I pay tribute to David Heyes, my predecessor, whom Members will recall for his 14-year service in the House. A former advice worker and a proud fellow member of my trade union, Unison, David was adept at handling constituency casework, as I now know because of my casework load. He was also a real champion of our NHS, and, in particular, of Tameside general hospital, in our constituency.

All the previous MPs who have represented my historic constituency have had one thing in common that I do not share: they have all been men. Today, I stand here making my maiden speech as the first woman MP to serve Ashton-under-Lyne in 183 years, and, as the first woman MP, I promise that I will do all in my power to live up to the examples shown by my predecessors. Of course, I could never fill their shoes—mine tend to have three-inch heels and to be rather more colourful—but I walk in their footsteps. We are different, and I will be different, but we are equal too.

Today, in this House of democracy, we are making a little more history. I lay claim to being the only Member of Parliament ever to have worked as a home carer. I have known the insecurity of zero-hours contracts myself, as a worker, and also the insecurity of the people who depend on our care. I have also seen how quality care can change lives and make a real difference. One in eight adults in Ashton-under-Lyne is providing unpaid care by looking after a loved one. Carers make a remarkable contribution to our society, holding families together and enabling loved ones to get the most out of life. Their care saves the United Kingdom billions every year. I agree with all that was said earlier by my hon. Friend the Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley).

A careworker becoming a Member of Parliament: that is real aspiration for you. Perhaps I am also the only Member who, at the age of 16 and pregnant, was told in no uncertain terms that I would never amount to anything. If only those people could see me now! I am proud to be in this place, for myself, for my family, for my party, and for the people whom I represent. I am proud, too, for women, who are the backbone of our society and the rock of our families. As a mother, I know what it is like to struggle to make ends meet. However, I also know how Governments can change people’s lives for the better. It was my party—the Labour party—that in government founded the national health service. Many Members on both sides of this House will have cause to be thankful for the care the NHS has provided. One of my sons owes his life to our NHS. He was born at just 23 weeks’ gestation. He clung to life for months in an intensive care unit in Manchester’s St Mary’s hospital. He finally pulled through thanks to the care of our NHS staff. Members may therefore understand that I will be watching intently how this Government treat our NHS over the next five years both as an MP and as a mother, and let me give a warning—an angry mother is someone you just don’t want to tangle with.
I take my job—this, my only job—extremely seriously. I will bring determination and commitment to my socialist values in representing my constituents. The failures of the last Government on our NHS have led to crisis after crisis and countless broken promises. For all the talk from those on the Treasury Bench, they cannot hide from the daily misery people face up and down the country. Because of Government failures, the NHS has no money and not enough permanent staff, and GP services are overstretched.

I will always tell it how it is—my constituents deserve no less—and I will do so in my own little northern way. I also have a message from my constituents to the Treasury Bench: stop privatising and selling off our NHS.

To sum up, I turn back to my constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne and its journey from mill town to, today, a centre for manufacturing and retail excellence, supported by excellent transport links, not to mention our award-winning market.

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:44 am

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Anyway, not all of those listed by SH are terrible. Lewis, Long-Bailey and Burgon are all talented people even if you do not share their political positioning.

(and Flynn would be a perfectly good addition too were he 20 years younger - you do know who he backed for leader last year btw?)

i may not be right about many things, but one thing I am definitely right about.

Richard Burgon is not a talented person.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:50 am

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... ays-ofsted" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Birmingham rejects Ofsted claim it is failing to safeguard children from extremism

Apologies if mentioned before

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:53 am

SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Anyway, not all of those listed by SH are terrible. Lewis, Long-Bailey and Burgon are all talented people even if you do not share their political positioning.

(and Flynn would be a perfectly good addition too were he 20 years younger - you do know who he backed for leader last year btw?)
i may not be right about many things, but one thing I am definitely right about.

Richard Burgon is not a talented person.

We have a Lord Chancellor who has no legal background whatsoever. Like the last one.

I may be wrong but I don't recall you ever mentioning this.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 10:54 am

SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Anyway, not all of those listed by SH are terrible. Lewis, Long-Bailey and Burgon are all talented people even if you do not share their political positioning.

(and Flynn would be a perfectly good addition too were he 20 years younger - you do know who he backed for leader last year btw?)
i may not be right about many things, but one thing I am definitely right about.

Richard Burgon is not a talented person.

OK, that may have been stretching things slightly. Though I heard him the other day and was pleasantly surprised, so maybe that is colouring things

NonOxCol · Post by **NonOxCol** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:03 am

It's nice to know that Leadsom has the support of UKIP, Farage, Britain First, Hopkins, Mensch et al, and appears to see waging war on political correctness as a priority, isn't it?

http://news.sky.com/story/polish-family ... k-10495419" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:04 am

Did get a pleasant surprise when ~~kidnapped~~ taken to a place I believe is called a clothes shop and saw jeans very much like my torn/frayed/stained ones and therefore up to current trends and there was no obvious need to ~~waste ridiculous amounts of money~~ add to my collection of three.

NonOxCol · Post by **NonOxCol** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:05 am

Isn't it, though, eh?

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2016-07- ... on-attack/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:07 am

RogerOThornhill wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Anyway, not all of those listed by SH are terrible. Lewis, Long-Bailey and Burgon are all talented people even if you do not share their political positioning.

(and Flynn would be a perfectly good addition too were he 20 years younger - you do know who he backed for leader last year btw?)
i may not be right about many things, but one thing I am definitely right about.

Richard Burgon is not a talented person.
We have a Lord Chancellor who has no legal background whatsoever. Like the last one.

I may be wrong but I don't recall you ever mentioning this.

Yes, a case can be made that it shouldn't be. This was started by Labour (Straw being first).

There is a case for having a non-lawyer in charge of the profession. Law like any profession can become a closed shop and lawyers do like their restrictive practices. And so having someone there who isn't a lawyer, a member of the club, could be a good thing. The last reasonable one was Falconer (a lawyer). Lord Irvine was positively good. Grayling the worst in living memory (which is the only reason Gove looks good). Grayling is a sure fire litmus test of Tory insanity. That Grayling backs May is very worrying.

So, in principle I don't mind having a non-lawyer in there to supervise the profession (though the AG must be a lawyer, which is why Labour can't fill the shadow AG post: none of the 30 or so prepared to serve are lawyers).

My objection to Burgon is not that he isn't a lawyer. it is that he is a complete fool.

And i should add, to be completely fair, one of the things Corbyn is very good on is access to justice (unlike Sadiq Khan who was not).

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:07 am

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... xit-russia" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nato leaders look for reassurance after Brexit at Warsaw summit
Summit in Polish capital to authorise troop stationing and missile shield in attempt to show cohesion in face of Russian threat

NonOxCol · Post by **NonOxCol** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:09 am

These have all been reported in the last 24 hours, by the way:

http://linkis.com/www.rt.com/uk/349905/4EckG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:10 am

"However, a Nato official said the issue was driving anxious conversations behind the scenes ahead of the summit.

“How can it not affect western cohesion? How can trillions being wiped out in market value not affect perceptions of western strength?” the official asked. He predicted that David Cameron, having resigned as prime minister, would cut a much diminished figure at the summit.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:17 am

SpinningHugo wrote:

Yes, a case can be made that it shouldn't be. This was started by Labour (Straw being first).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Straw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Straw subsequently qualified as a barrister at Inns of Court School of Law, practising criminal law for two years from 1972 to 1974. He is a member of The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and remains active in lecturing to fellow members and students.

Lonewolfie · Post by **Lonewolfie** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:22 am

SpinningHugo wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote: i may not be right about many things, but one thing I am definitely right about.

Richard Burgon is not a talented person.
We have a Lord Chancellor who has no legal background whatsoever. Like the last one.

I may be wrong but I don't recall you ever mentioning this.

Yes, a case can be made that it shouldn't be. This was started by Labour (Straw being first).

There is a case for having a non-lawyer in charge of the profession. Law like any profession can become a closed shop and lawyers do like their restrictive practices. And so having someone there who isn't a lawyer, a member of the club, could be a good thing. The last reasonable one was Falconer (a lawyer). Lord Irvine was positively good. Grayling the worst in living memory (which is the only reason Gove looks good). Grayling is a sure fire litmus test of Tory insanity. That Grayling backs May is very worrying.

So, in principle I don't mind having a non-lawyer in there to supervise the profession (though the AG must be a lawyer, which is why Labour can't fill the shadow AG post: none of the 30 or so prepared to serve are lawyers).

My objection to Burgon is not that he isn't a lawyer. it is that he is a complete fool.

And i should add, to be completely fair, one of the things Corbyn is very good on is access to justice (unlike Sadiq Khan who was not).

I've no information specifically about Burgon the man....but Wiki (I know - not always accurate) states he was a Trades Union lawyer before becoming an MP...

Burgon was a trade union lawyer before being elected as the MP for Leeds East at the 2015 general election

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Burgon

So is that correct?...or are you right?...and morfters all...and apologies for biting on Labour again...and ttfn

nickyinnorfolk · Post by **nickyinnorfolk** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:25 am

Matthew Parris in the Spectator.

For the first time in my life, I feel ashamed to be British
I’ve seen a nasty side to our national character, and seen colleagues and friends pander to it in a way I never thought they would

.... these last few months I’ve seen a Britain, specifically an England, that I simply do not like. I’ve seen a nasty side, and seen colleagues and friends pander to it in a way I never thought they would. It has made me feel lonely in my own country, and the experience has touched me irreparably.

The reliance of the leaders and opinion leaders of the Leave campaign upon resentment of foreigners, dislike of immigration and — in many cases — hatred of immigrants, has been absolutely disgraceful. It should be a stain upon our conscience.

Anti-immigrant feeling won it for Leave, and they know it. They used it, rode it and are complicit in it. I’ve been dismayed to see people I’ve respected descend to this. I never thought either that the reserves of xenophobia in England were so strong, nor that people who should know better would play upon them with such careless cynicism. I was doubly naive.

And before you say ‘Oh, easy for you — you don’t live among immigrants’, let me tell you I haven’t spoken to a single colleague or voter here in Derbyshire who lives among immigrants. My fellow constituents are 99 per cent white and most are not poor. Yet the instinct to hate or blame immigrants is stronger than in multi-ethnic London. It has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with xenophobia and the urge to blame other people.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/07/for- ... e-british/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:35 am

Lonewolfie wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote:
RogerOThornhill wrote: We have a Lord Chancellor who has no legal background whatsoever. Like the last one.

I may be wrong but I don't recall you ever mentioning this.

Yes, a case can be made that it shouldn't be. This was started by Labour (Straw being first).

There is a case for having a non-lawyer in charge of the profession. Law like any profession can become a closed shop and lawyers do like their restrictive practices. And so having someone there who isn't a lawyer, a member of the club, could be a good thing. The last reasonable one was Falconer (a lawyer). Lord Irvine was positively good. Grayling the worst in living memory (which is the only reason Gove looks good). Grayling is a sure fire litmus test of Tory insanity. That Grayling backs May is very worrying.

So, in principle I don't mind having a non-lawyer in there to supervise the profession (though the AG must be a lawyer, which is why Labour can't fill the shadow AG post: none of the 30 or so prepared to serve are lawyers).

My objection to Burgon is not that he isn't a lawyer. it is that he is a complete fool.

And i should add, to be completely fair, one of the things Corbyn is very good on is access to justice (unlike Sadiq Khan who was not).
I've no information specifically about Burgon the man....but Wiki (I know - not always accurate) states he was a Trades Union lawyer before becoming an MP...

Burgon was a trade union lawyer before being elected as the MP for Leeds East at the 2015 general election

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Burgon

So is that correct?...or are you right?...and morfters all...and apologies for biting on Labour again...and ttfn

I am sure wikipedia is right.

Again my objection to Burgon is not his legal knowledge. In that job you don't really need it, though you do need judgment, which Grayling never had. It is a management role nowadays. It used to be given to someone who could also serve as a senior judge (a law Lord) Irvine was the last of those.

Someone like Straw or Clarke (or even Blair) isn't really a serious lawyer. (Cheris Booth is). Falconer and Irvine were/are too.

if I were a dictator I'd return back to the old system as I didn't like that constitutional reform much, but it will never happen.

frog222 · Post by **frog222** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 11:55 am

RobertSnozers wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:
OK, that may have been stretching things slightly. Though I heard him [Burgon] the other day and was pleasantly surprised, so maybe that is colouring things
Burgon is clearly intelligent and capable - he would not have achieved what he has without being. However, he's obviously inexperienced in frontline politics at the top level, and is having to serve his apprenticeship in the glare of publicity. He's made a number of slip-ups, but he may well mature into a politician to be reckoned with. I'd suggest giving him a chance, but that seems to be in short supply in Labour at the moment.

Edit - Burgon was a trade union lawyer with Thompson's Solicitors. He did that for ten years. He is, I would think, far better suited to shadow justice than the shadow city brief.

Just adding these to lonewolfie's wikilink

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2015/10/wa ... interview/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/86d7276a-f5a6 ... 7d132.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apart from the republicanism, see wiki, which I think is for the mom not an electoral winner , his views on austerity and militarism are shared by very many not of the 'Hard Left' ?

Sunny again here, the tide is in, so off to the beach !

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:07 pm

Dave Anderson is, actually, another interesting one on that list - from a genuine working class background and strongly supported the Iraq war (at the time) from a left wing perspective.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:10 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/3 ... h-campaign" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Umunna leading Vote Leave Watch campaign

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:11 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Dave Anderson is, actually, another interesting one on that list - from a genuine working class background and strongly supported the Iraq war (at the time) from a left wing perspective.

And he has probably eaten a haggis, and may know what neeps are.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:13 pm

He may well have Scottish links, its not exactly unknown in that part of the world you know.

Btw the rumour is that Corbyn wanted to appoint Neil Findlay MSP to that position, would you have been happier with that?

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:18 pm

https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/racist-atta ... mc-agenda/?
In the light of the fall out from the EU referendum, particularly the big rise in racism and anti-foreigner abuse in Britain, the BMC will be pressing the NUJ leadership to organise a union-wide debate on the coverage of Brexit, looking at the pressures put on journalists and the need for a conscience clause and the reaffirmation of the union’s code of conduct and race reporting guidelines.

let's hope they publish the outcomes

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:18 pm

SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Dave Anderson is, actually, another interesting one on that list - from a genuine working class background and strongly supported the Iraq war (at the time) from a left wing perspective.

And he has probably eaten a haggis, and may know what neeps are.

That's just naughty.

mbc1955 · Post by **mbc1955** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:19 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:
SpinningHugo wrote:
AnatolyKasparov wrote:Dave Anderson is, actually, another interesting one on that list - from a genuine working class background and strongly supported the Iraq war (at the time) from a left wing perspective.

And he has probably eaten a haggis, and may know what neeps are.
That's just naughty.

That's a tattie joke.

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:22 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:He may well have Scottish links, its not exactly unknown in that part of the world you know.

Btw the rumour is that Corbyn wanted to appoint Neil Findlay MSP to that position, would you have been happier with that?

Anderson has been around a while.

He hasn't as yet troubled the scorers, and I don't imagine he will.

Findlay is quite interesting. He is able, though his views are as far left as Burgon. There is a case for trying to outflank the SNP to the left in Scotland. I don't really know what can be done in Scotland as politics seems to be settling down to a straight

Unionist/Right v Independence/Left

battle that squeezes Labour completely. I'm not Scottish and so don't have a real feel for the place.

As for Duham being nearly Scotland, well....

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:31 pm

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/st ... ild-brexit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?
Am obliged to seethe as I am required to by Royal Order.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 12:51 pm

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cr ... 26706.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hate crimes surge by 42% in England and Wales since Brexit result

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36746763" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maeght · Post by **Maeght** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:21 pm

Richard Murphy went to a discussion in the City yesterday.

http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016 ... -the-city/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wanted to know what happened but have to say it was terribly depressing.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:24 pm

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pigs-saved-fl ... 26955.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
in case you fancy being moved to tears.

(I wasn't obv, given that along with being intelligent, charismatic in a good way and capable, I am as tough as an old* Corbyn)

*NB old in an idiomatic rather than age-related sense

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:27 pm

These Britain First fascists need to read up a little about the Jesus who died on the cross they brandish.
But I suppose they carry it in the same way the KKK do, without igniting it though, rather than as a symbol of Christ's message of peace and love.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:35 pm

The consumer confidence index has fallen by eight points to minus nine, last seen in 1994.

Not surprising is it ? After having had a lot of major new purchases and work done on the house we have decided it would be prudent to cut back. Uncertainty, further interest rate cuts, all make one twitchy.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:38 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pigs-saved-fl ... 26955.html
in case you fancy being moved to tears.

(I wasn't obv, given that along with being intelligent, charismatic in a good way and capable, I am as tough as an old* Corbyn)

*NB old in an idiomatic rather than age-related sense

If vermouth quaffing were on the Labour leader job description list you'd have my vote

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:49 pm

https://www.theguardian.com/housing-net ... ters-uncut" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How can women flee domestic abuse if they have nowhere to go?
Dawn Foster

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 1:53 pm

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 24586.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
8 K fine for wearing a burka
Also disgusting and no doubt where we're heading.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 2:00 pm

came across this indirectly via piece on the Leadsom creature

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/07/06/wa ... de-events/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Anti-gay Christian activists infiltrated Pride Toronto over the weekend to hand out fake condoms packets actually containing homophobic messages.

One wonders in what way such people could possibly be considered "C/christian"

Fishpointing suddenly starting to look not quite so bad after all.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 2:08 pm

Hi all.

I was intrigued by the Bristol West CLP meeting story, so I've been trying to get some more info via Twitter. The girl called Ruth who posted the comment about feeling intimidated at the meeting has taken quite a bit of flack from Corbyn fans on Twitter but is sticking to her story.

The opposite opinion from someone's mum as retweeted by Peter Jukes has been deleted.

I also came across this tweet:

Alison Allan‏ @pansypieface
@artymesia Thanks for your amazing overnight updating session on Tuesday. If we get Bristol West CLP tonight - it will be down to you! xx

ephemerid · Post by **ephemerid** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 2:12 pm

As it would appear that some are not obsessing about Corbyn being useless today, but being less than complimentary about other Labour MPs, perhaps we should have a little look at what's going on with Labour generally.

Since the General Election last year, the number of people joining the Labour Party has gone from 270,000 to 503,000.
Full membership of the Labour Party has tripled.

128,000 people have joined Labour in the past 10 days.
Of those, between 60% to 80% joined to support the current leader.

Momentum represents just 2% of the total membership.

Since the Brexit vote, 69 CLPs have held votes on the leadership.
Of those, 78% have full confidence in the current leader.

It seems to me that Labour is actually doing very well under the current leadership.
Some commentators are suggesting that people who left the party under Blair are now coming back.

Re. Shadow Attorney General - Emily Thornberry practised as a barrister in human rights law under the guidance of no less a person than Michael Mansfield QC; there are other lawyers in the PLP. Thornberry held that post under Miliband - she was pretty good at it.

Meanwhile - 150,000 Conservative Party members get to anoint a new Prime Minister.

I can only conclude from all this that our "democracy" is a bit pants, really.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 2:12 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:came across this indirectly via piece on the Leadsom creature

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/07/06/wa ... de-events/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Anti-gay Christian activists infiltrated Pride Toronto over the weekend to hand out fake condoms packets actually containing homophobic messages.
One wonders in what way such people could possibly be considered "C/christian"

Fishpointing suddenly starting to look not quite so bad after all.

It seems to me that a lot of Christians are really old-time Old Testament pre-Christians.

Having said that - I've no time for organised religion of any stripe although I accept that religion is a comfort to many people and I wouldn't seek to take that away from them (provided no-one is harmed). And so long as they keep it to themselves, that's fine by me.

howsillyofme1 · Post by **howsillyofme1** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 2:33 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 24586.html
8 K fine for wearing a burka
Also disgusting and no doubt where we're heading.

This is the problem with referenda and bloody backwards places

Tessin is very reactionary and also takes the most reactionary position

Luckily I live in the French speaking part of the country which is by far the most progressive

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:07 pm

I don't like referenda,I propose a referendum to end them for eternity,to be repeated as necessary until they are no longer required.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:11 pm

"7000 disabled people/carers who get benefits abroad after European Court ruling could lose them if UK no longer in EU/EEA unless govt acts"

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:13 pm

Chukka telling the world how much he admires the Tory leadership model,and how many Labour MPs would like to follow suit.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:18 pm

I don't pretend to understand these things but the above doesn't appear to lend itself to plenty of time to sort things out/it stays the same until we do ,or are there specific things in the meantime it can/has to do to protect matters?

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:19 pm

Also,Graham Jones saying that they will get rid of Corbyn.
Even if it takes 5 to 10 years.!0 years sounds about right to me,seeing as Corbyn will be 77,and possible be tired of PLP shenanigans by then.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:21 pm

PorFavor wrote:
tinyclanger2 wrote:came across this indirectly via piece on the Leadsom creature

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/07/06/wa ... de-events/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Anti-gay Christian activists infiltrated Pride Toronto over the weekend to hand out fake condoms packets actually containing homophobic messages.
One wonders in what way such people could possibly be considered "C/christian"

Fishpointing suddenly starting to look not quite so bad after all.
It seems to me that a lot of Christians are really old-time Old Testament pre-Christians.

Having said that - I've no time for organised religion of any stripe although I accept that religion is a comfort to many people and I wouldn't seek to take that away from them (provided no-one is harmed). And so long as they keep it to themselves, that's fine by me.

The Christian Right in the USA are very fond of the book of Revelations.

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:21 pm

And Ms Eagle tells us that Jeremy is losing support in the country,if he doesn't resign she will challenge him.
But she doesn't give a time frame,unlike Mr Jones.

SpinningHugo · Post by **SpinningHugo** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:22 pm

ephemerid wrote:As it would appear that some are not obsessing about Corbyn being useless today, but being less than complimentary about other Labour MPs, perhaps we should have a little look at what's going on with Labour generally.

Since the General Election last year, the number of people joining the Labour Party has gone from 270,000 to 503,000.
Full membership of the Labour Party has tripled.

128,000 people have joined Labour in the past 10 days.
Of those, between 60% to 80% joined to support the current leader.

Momentum represents just 2% of the total membership.

Since the Brexit vote, 69 CLPs have held votes on the leadership.
Of those, 78% have full confidence in the current leader.

It seems to me that Labour is actually doing very well under the current leadership.
Some commentators are suggesting that people who left the party under Blair are now coming back.

Re. Shadow Attorney General - Emily Thornberry practised as a barrister in human rights law under the guidance of no less a person than Michael Mansfield QC; there are other lawyers in the PLP. Thornberry held that post under Miliband - she was pretty good at it.

Meanwhile - 150,000 Conservative Party members get to anoint a new Prime Minister.

I can only conclude from all this that our "democracy" is a bit pants, really.

And the crowds. Don't forget the great big crowds at rallies.

Some of them are huge.

Really big.

HindleA · Post by **HindleA** » Fri 08 Jul, 2016 3:32 pm

If Jeremy Corbyn becomes PM,I nominate my brother to run naked along the Mall with a sausage up his jacksey.You cannot say I am not fully committed.