Jeremy Corbyn - Not Not Labour Party(?), not a Communist (BBC)

[unchanged_lineup]

We should make one. It's time for a real alternative to the "next Labour leader" thread, as opposed to the "next Labour leader-lite" thread we have at the moment.

Here we go then...

Jeremy Bernard Corbyn (born 26 May 1949)[1] is a British Labour Party politician who is Leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North since 1983.[2]

Born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, Corbyn briefly attended North London Polytechnicbefore going on to work for the National Union of Public Employees and National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers as an official. He began his political career in 1974 when he was elected to Haringey Council, and also served as Secretary of the Islington Labour Party. He continued in those roles until his election as the MP for Islington North.

A self-described democratic socialist, Corbyn advocates the re-nationalisation of public utilities and railways, combatting corporate tax evasion and avoidance as an alternative to austerity, abolishing university tuition fees and restoring student grants, a unilateral policy of nuclear disarmament, quantitative easing to fund infrastructure and renewable energy projects, and reversing cuts to the public sector and welfare made since 2010 by the government of David Cameron. He is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign,Amnesty International and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and is the National Chair of the Stop the War Coalition.

On 6 June 2015, Corbyn announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Labour Party. Although he was initially regarded as a fringe candidate in theleadership election, Corbyn became the lead candidate in opinion polls and gained the support of the majority of trades unions affiliated to the Labour Party, as well as three non-affiliated trade unions.[3] On 12 September 2015, he was elected Leader of the Labour Party, with 59.5% of the votes in the first round of the ballot.[4][5]



I have a feeling I'm going to be utterly disgusted time and time again by both the Tories and the media. The question is, will they lose the run of themselves and go too far. I think they run the risk of that and making themselves look vicious. Twas pretty disgusting some of the stuff that took place during the GE.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Gonna copy over some of the relevant discussions from the other thread..

All going well then!

“We are taking a fair amount of shit out there about women."

“We need to do a Mandelson. Let’s make Angela shadow first minister of state. Like Mandelson was. She can cover PMQs. Tom (Watson) knows about this. Do the Angela bit now.”

At 12.19 am Labour headquarters sent out a second email, confirming that Eagle was to be shadow first minister of state. She would deputise at prime minister’s questions.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...its-not-been-the-best-start-for-jeremy-corbyn

I read that Lucy Powell, the Shadow Education Secretary had never met or even spoken to Corbyn. Odd way to build a trusted team of colleagues.

Nicked this from another forum but worth showing.

Here's what Corbyn and Cameron were both doing in the 80's.

Probably a good thing. It'd spare him the embarrassment of having to spin it into a "self defence" argument like Cameron did recently. I also doubt Corbyn would have a "kill list" on the issue too, another good thing.

I have no issue with terrorist filth getting what's coming to them but it leaves me a little uneasy when the government can just decide to murder folk and then scream "self defence!!! national security!!!" and it's simply left at that.

Pmq's will be interesting
I expect corbyn will at least ask the questions this week
Strike laws
Refugee crisis / migrant swarm
Syrian drone strike
Wonder what he will go with?... Of course he won't get anything other than Trident, Ira, hamas, and party jibes thrown back
Sadly I expect it to show the very worst of the commons - yah boo punch and Judy turned up to 11

I suspect Cameron got the Labour leader he wanted all along so he'll be sure to give Corbyn a warm welcome.

I don't really understand the bellyaching about Europe. It's clearly not perfect and needs to change, Labour MPs are out of touch with public opinion to both the left and right if they disagree.

As much as I'm pro-Europe as a concept it's not a black and white issue so it's stupid to go out and say 'the EU is all bad and we should pull out regardless' or 'the EU is all good we should stay in regardless'. Both of those are ridiculous statements and I think the public, if not the political class, are well aware of that.

If Cameron or Corbyn went into talks with the EU having publically said 'We demand change but we'll stay regardless', why on earth would the EU be inclined give any significant concession? For a PLP obsessed with being pro-business Labour's MPs seem to have no understanding of bargaining power.

 

[villain]

Just doesn't strike me as a "leader"

None of the politicians in this country do though, tbf.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Just doesn't strike me as a "leader"

None of the politicians in this country do though, tbf.

I wonder who would be comparable leader types around the world. Evo Morales, perhaps?

 

[Getsme]

If he ever becomes Prime Minister I'm leaving the Country.

 

[Shamwow]

The coverage on him is why we can't have politicians that aren't twats.

Disagree with his views and policies fair enough but what's going on now is a fecking joke.

Meanwhile Conservative MP David Davis has likened the proposed Trade Union bill to something that might happen under General Franco and there's no mention of it outside of the usual lefty publications.

 

[Mojo_]

Voting labour in the next election, feck it.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

I wonder who would be comparable leader types around the world. Evo Morales, perhaps?

Evo Morales is perhaps a little similar to Corbyn with regard to world view, but their backgrounds and routes to power are different. Morales came in on a surge of indigenous political power in a country where a majority indigenous population had been (and still is) oppressed, both by internal elites and external imperial interests. Because of this, class struggle and anti-imperialism is somewhat conflated with indigenois identity in the minds of much of the electorate. That broad identity politics doesn't exist in Britain (largely because as a colonial nation, the people who have historically treated our workers like shit are also british, not some foreign overlord.). Establishing (or perhaps reestablishing) a British left-wing identity is sort of what Corbyn talks about when he speaks of 'movement politics', I think.

 

[HabeasC]

The coverage on him is why we can't have politicians that aren't twats.

Disagree with his views and policies fair enough but what's going on now is a fecking joke.

Meanwhile Conservative MP David Davis has likened the proposed Trade Union bill to something that might happen under General Franco and there's no mention of it outside of the usual lefty publications.

It was always going to be bad though with him and it will get much worse as we get closer to the GE. Look at what the right wing rags did to Ed Miliband who was actually quite centrist and was definitely a part of the political class.

I don't think Corbyn will be as affected though and he clearly has no intentions of trying to appease the Sun, which for me is a huge positive.

 

[Shamwow]

It was always going to be bad though with him and it will get much worse as we get closer to the GE. Look at what the right wing rags did to Ed Miliband who was actually quite centrist and was definitely a part of the political class.

I don't think Corbyn will be as affected though and he clearly has no intentions of trying to appease the Sun, which for me is a huge positive.

Let's see, I don't think I'm going to enjoy the next 5 years much though.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

It was always going to be bad though with him and it will get much worse as we get closer to the GE. Look at what the right wing rags did to Ed Miliband who was actually quite centrist and was definitely a part of the political class.

I don't think Corbyn will be as affected though and he clearly has no intentions of trying to appease the Sun, which for me is a huge positive.

That's what I'm talking about. I think it's going to get gross. And, the way he doesn't get ruffled or bothered might make it worse. Still, this is where the labour party are now - thinking of plastic Burnham as leader, for example, makes me shudder.

 

[Marching]

Another bizarre Corbyn appointment is VEGAN Kerry McCarthy who has been put in charge of farming and agriculture.


She is the first shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs to reject eating or using any animal products, including dairy and leather goods.

 

[Shamwow]

Another bizarre Corbyn appointment is VEGAN Kerry McCarthy who has been put in charge of farming and agriculture.


She is the first shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs to reject eating or using any animal products, including dairy and leather goods.

Keep laughing at superficial shit. We've got a health secretary that believes in homeopathy by the way.

 

[Guy]

Keep laughing at superficial shit. We've got a health secretary that believes in homeopathy by the way.

And a prospective king that has already written to said office to push homeopathy.

 

[Getsme]

Keep laughing at superficial shit. We've got a health secretary that believes in homeopathy by the way.

It is funny though.
Corbyn believes in homeopathy as well doesn't he?

 

[jeff_goldblum]

Having a vegan in charge of the environment is probably the best appointment anyone's ever made given that livestock farming is incredibly bad for the environment and food security

 

[Marching]

Keep laughing at superficial shit. We've got a health secretary that believes in homeopathy by the way.

I'm sure Hunt and the other six million people who use complementary treatments each year have a point about their potential to offer clinically-effective and cost-effective solutions to common health problems.

I'm not so sure the farmers will see the point of someone who rejects eating or using any animal products being in charge of their future.

 

[VorZakone]

What's so bad about this guy?

 

[Getsme]

Having a vegan in charge of the environment is probably the best appointment anyone's ever made given that livestock farming is incredibly bad for the environment and food security

Yes, we should all eat leaves and grass.

 

[Dans]

I have been watching Sky News this morning and am quite appalled by the lines their reporters are taking, with one slating him for his dress sense. They have nothing positive to say about him at all and the only angles open to their reporters are character assasinations. Give him as the elected leader the chance to exercise his mandate without this incredibly nauseating incessant criticism of him. Sky can't be expected to be neutral with Murdoch pulling the strings, but the channel starts to resemble Fox and I always hoped the UK wouldn't become that degenerate.

 

[Ubik]

Keep laughing at superficial shit. We've got a health secretary that believes in homeopathy by the way.

Uh...you realise that both Corbyn and McDonnell frequently sign early day motions that promote homeopathy...

And here's the man himself

 

[Shamwow]

Uh...you realise that both Corbyn and McDonnell frequently sign early day motions that promote homeopathy...

And here's the man himself

*Sigh* That wasn't my point, hence calling it superficial shit.

 

[sullydnl]

From the little I know of UK politics, he seems like a very strange choice if they actually want to get elected into government.

Bloody homeopathy too? *sigh*

 

[Shamwow]

I have been watching Sky News this morning and am quite appalled by the lines their reporters are taking, with one slating him for his dress sense. They have nothing positive to say about him at all and the only angles open to their reporters are character assasinations. Give him as the elected leader the chance to exercise his mandate without this incredibly nauseating incessant criticism of him. Sky can't be expected to be neutral with Murdoch pulling the strings, but the channel starts to resemble Fox and I always hoped the UK wouldn't become that degenerate.

It's quite sickening isn't it?

 

[Drifter]

What's so bad about this guy?

He cares.

 

[rednev]

Uh...you realise that both Corbyn and McDonnell frequently sign early day motions that promote homeopathy...

And here's the man himself

Urgh, he's gone down a notch in my estimation. I assumed he would be on the side of scientific fact.

Does anyone know what his religious views are? I can't find seem to find any information on the matter.

 

[DOTA]

Let's see, I don't think I'm going to enjoy the next 5 years much though.

I'm starting to think it's considerably more fun having a leader you don't like and moaning about them than having a leader you do like and seeing how little chance they have to be judged on merit.

 

[Shamwow]

I'm starting to think it's considerably more fun having a leader you don't like and moaning about them than having a leader you do like and seeing how little chance they have to be judged on merit.

I think you might be right! Even @Ubik who has previously stated that Corbyn was the closest candidate to his beliefs is taking any chance to have a pop at the guy.

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

Anyone who believes homeopathy works should not only be kept away from real power, but should be put into a sack and beaten.

 

[Ubik]

I think you might be right! Even @Ubik who has previously stated that Corbyn was the closest candidate to his beliefs is taking any chance to have a pop at the guy.

That was before I found out more about him in fairness.

 

[Drifter]

That's Germany,Ireland, Royal Family , France all in for a sack beating then.
.

 

[Shamwow]

That was before I found out more about him in fairness.

Your criticisms recently are mirroring the Sun headlines more than they should be.

I don't want people to have to like the guy. I'm undecided on much of what he seems to stand for. But much of what's going on now is everything that is wrong with politics.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

That's Germany,Ireland, Royal Family , France all in for a sack beating then.
.

Eh? What's that about Ireland?

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

That's Germany,Ireland, Royal Family , France all in for a sack beating then.
.

Thats fine, I have a big sack

 

[jeff_goldblum]

Yes, we should all eat leaves and grass.

Or y'know, vegetables, grains, pulses etc. None of them are livestock and we're already growing a lot of them to feed the livestock in the first place (e.g - most of the soybean plantations in the Amazon rainforest are for livestock consumption, not human consumption.)

On the homeopathy thing, personally I'm entirely certain that's it's bollocks. But the numbers show that, for people who believe in homeopathy it does work, precisely because they believe it will.

Whilst the idea really rankles me, if giving those people who fervently believe that shit some mineral water makes them better without the need for medication that's cost effective as hell. If letting the hippies have their quadruple-distilled tap water means we spend less money on more expensive treatments so we can provide a better service all-round I think that's a greater good. I think that's how Germany justify it.

edit - that said, if we're spending more money on it than it's saving, get rid no questions asked.

 

[Drifter]

Eh? What's that about Ireland?

High number of parents using alternative medicine with their children.

 

[rednev]

Or y'know, vegetables, grains, pulses etc. None of them are livestock and we're already growing a lot of them to feed the livestock in the first place (e.g - most of the soybean plantations in the Amazon rainforest are for livestock consumption, not human consumption.)

On the homeopathy thing, personally I'm entirely certain that's it's bollocks. But the numbers show that, for people who believe in homeopathy it does work, precisely because they believe it will.

Whilst the idea really rankles me, if giving those people who fervently believe that shit some mineral water makes them better without the need for medication that's cost effective as hell. If letting the hippies have their quadruple-distilled tap water means we spend less money on more expensive treatments so we can provide a better service all-round I think that's a greater good. I think that's how Germany justify it.

edit - that said, if we're spending more money on it than it's saving, get rid no questions asked.

They don't have a very good history in that department, to be fair.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

High number of parents using alternative medicine with their children.

Ah ok. But that's not supported at state/government level. That's what I thought you meant.

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

They don't have a very good history in that department, to be fair.

 

[Marching]

I have been watching Sky News this morning and am quite appalled by the lines their reporters are taking, with one slating him for his dress sense. They have nothing positive to say about him at all and the only angles open to their reporters are character assasinations. Give him as the elected leader the chance to exercise his mandate without this incredibly nauseating incessant criticism of him. Sky can't be expected to be neutral with Murdoch pulling the strings, but the channel starts to resemble Fox and I always hoped the UK wouldn't become that degenerate.

If he can't stand the inevitable press intrusion into every part of his life he should have done what Ummuna did and stand aside for someone with a thicker skin.

I did think all the attention might subside a little but the more that's revealed about him and what we can expect from his politics the papers will continue to have a field day at his expense....because of course they are only in it to sell newspapers.