Where Now for Labour?

[Herbert Anchovy]

After the disaster of the election and with the dust beginning to settle, what now for Labour? In my opinion, they need to move back into the centre ground of politics. The far left experiment has clearly failed. The reason for the failure depends on who you speak to. I've been discussing this with many people who are members of the Labour Party and it seems that both Brexit and the leadership both bear some responsibility. One guy who lives in Lancashire was telling me that, while most people he spoke to agreed with much of the Labour policies, this simply wasn't enough to overcome their suspicions of Corbyn nor the anger at Brexit being 'ignored'. Another bloke was saying that he knew around 5 days before the election that it was going to end terribly for Labour because people were telling him that they were voting Tory for the first time, specifically because they wanted Brexit done.

One slight ray of light though was that people still seem to class themselves as Labour supporters, even though they voted Tory in this election. A Labour member in the North East said that a number of people viewed this election as a "one off" Tory vote. The indication being that if and when Labour sort themselves out then they'll be back.

For me a new leader should come from the centre left to lead Labour forward. Jess Phillips or Keir Starmer would be the best options in my opinion. The issue there though is that both (particularly Jess) are really, really unpopular with the far left within the party.

Nobody knows what will happen next, but Labour cannot carry on and continue down this path of self destruction. The potential support for Labour is still out there but the party needs to work on recreating the party that reflects the parties supporters and not reflecting an internal far left sect.

[Filo]

Keir Starmer for me, I don’t think Jess has the parliamentary experience yet

[BillyStubbsTears]

This is a long read but worth it for anyone supporting (or possibly supporting) Labour.

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/six-reasons-why-the-left-need-not-despair-labour-conservative-election

It mirrors some of what I said yesterday.

This is a disaster for Labour but not automatically an existential threat. What's needed is a combination of calmness but ruthlessly looking at our failings. It's not impossible but it needs honesty from all involved.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

What members should remember is they are picking a leader for he 2024 general election. That's 4.5 years away. With the majority as big as it is, Boris wont be calling an election anytime soon.

I suspect it will also have different electoral boundaries etc too, lots of things to consider.

[Bentley Bullet]

After the disaster of the election and with the dust beginning to settle, what now for Labour? In my opinion, they need to move back into the centre ground of politics. The far left experiment has clearly failed. The reason for the failure depends on who you speak to. I've been discussing this with many people who are members of the Labour Party and it seems that both Brexit and the leadership both bear some responsibility. One guy who lives in Lancashire was telling me that, while most people he spoke to agreed with much of the Labour policies, this simply wasn't enough to overcome their suspicions of Corbyn nor the anger at Brexit being 'ignored'. Another bloke was saying that he knew around 5 days before the election that it was going to end terribly for Labour because people were telling him that they were voting Tory for the first time, specifically because they wanted Brexit done.

One slight ray of light though was that people still seem to class themselves as Labour supporters, even though they voted Tory in this election. A Labour member in the North East said that a number of people viewed this election as a "one off" Tory vote. The indication being that if and when Labour sort themselves out then they'll be back.

For me a new leader should come from the centre left to lead Labour forward. Jess Phillips or Keir Starmer would be the best options in my opinion. The issue there though is that both (particularly Jess) are really, really unpopular with the far left within the party.

Nobody knows what will happen next, but Labour cannot carry on and continue down this path of self destruction. The potential support for Labour is still out there but the party needs to work on recreating the party that reflects the parties supporters and not reflecting an internal far left sect.

Herbert, your mates have said more or less what I have regarding the reason for Labour's massacre. Why did you malign my posts yet treat their thoughts, which equate to the same as mine, with enough respect to share them in a new thread?

Did you tell them that they didn't give a shit, and they will reap what they sow, and they should open their eyes, and NHS figures mean nothing to them, and they are part of the problem etc?

[bpoolrover]

Don’t be silly bb it was just a one off, there all idiots and stupid for voting leave as well 

[Colemans Left Hook]

After the disaster of the election and with the dust beginning to settle, what now for Labour? In my opinion, they need to move back into the centre ground of politics. The far left experiment has clearly failed. The reason for the failure depends on who you speak to. I've been discussing this with many people who are members of the Labour Party and it seems that both Brexit and the leadership both bear some responsibility. One guy who lives in Lancashire was telling me that, while most people he spoke to agreed with much of the Labour policies, this simply wasn't enough to overcome their suspicions of Corbyn nor the anger at Brexit being 'ignored'. Another bloke was saying that he knew around 5 days before the election that it was going to end terribly for Labour because people were telling him that they were voting Tory for the first time, specifically because they wanted Brexit done.

One slight ray of light though was that people still seem to class themselves as Labour supporters, even though they voted Tory in this election. A Labour member in the North East said that a number of people viewed this election as a "one off" Tory vote. The indication being that if and when Labour sort themselves out then they'll be back.

For me a new leader should come from the centre left to lead Labour forward. Jess Phillips or Keir Starmer would be the best options in my opinion. The issue there though is that both (particularly Jess) are really, really unpopular with the far left within the party.

Nobody knows what will happen next, but Labour cannot carry on and continue down this path of self destruction. The potential support for Labour is still out there but the party needs to work on recreating the party that reflects the parties supporters and not reflecting an internal far left sect.

Herbert, your mates have said more or less what I have regarding the reason for Labour's massacre. Why did you malign my posts yet treat their thoughts, which equate to the same as mine, with enough respect to share them in a new thread?

Did you tell them that they didn't give a shit, and they will reap what they sow, and they should open their eyes, and NHS figures mean nothing to them, and they are part of the problem etc?

he's not the only one who has posted on this thread that suffers from "multiple personality" postings and BB isn't one of them

[Herbert Anchovy]

After the disaster of the election and with the dust beginning to settle, what now for Labour? In my opinion, they need to move back into the centre ground of politics. The far left experiment has clearly failed. The reason for the failure depends on who you speak to. I've been discussing this with many people who are members of the Labour Party and it seems that both Brexit and the leadership both bear some responsibility. One guy who lives in Lancashire was telling me that, while most people he spoke to agreed with much of the Labour policies, this simply wasn't enough to overcome their suspicions of Corbyn nor the anger at Brexit being 'ignored'. Another bloke was saying that he knew around 5 days before the election that it was going to end terribly for Labour because people were telling him that they were voting Tory for the first time, specifically because they wanted Brexit done.

One slight ray of light though was that people still seem to class themselves as Labour supporters, even though they voted Tory in this election. A Labour member in the North East said that a number of people viewed this election as a "one off" Tory vote. The indication being that if and when Labour sort themselves out then they'll be back.

For me a new leader should come from the centre left to lead Labour forward. Jess Phillips or Keir Starmer would be the best options in my opinion. The issue there though is that both (particularly Jess) are really, really unpopular with the far left within the party.

Nobody knows what will happen next, but Labour cannot carry on and continue down this path of self destruction. The potential support for Labour is still out there but the party needs to work on recreating the party that reflects the parties supporters and not reflecting an internal far left sect.

Herbert, your mates have said more or less what I have regarding the reason for Labour's massacre. Why did you malign my posts yet treat their thoughts, which equate to the same as mine, with enough respect to share them in a new thread?

Did you tell them that they didn't give a shit, and they will reap what they sow, and they should open their eyes, and NHS figures mean nothing to them, and they are part of the problem etc?

BB, my post makes it clear that they were relying what people had told them and not sharing their own personal opinions so I'm not sure why I would tell them that? Also, if you have been reading my posts you will see that, at least 3 times, I have stated that the primary reason Labour lost lies with the leadership.

Those people in those northern towns who've voted Tory are part of the problem. I stand by everything that I've said to you and to anyone who's voted Tory. It angers me that people have been conned into believing that a party that has caused so much misery in their towns for the past 40 years will suddenly become a nice, caring socially aware party. On election night when Andrew Neil was interviewing Mark Francois, he asked what the Tory party will do to help people in these town. He didn't know. AN then pointed out that there was absolutely nothing in the Tory manifesto that mentioned anti austerity policies. Nothing at all. They've caused misery in those towns and there's no reason to suggest they will deliver anything significant to make the lives of these people any better.

[Bentley Bullet]

Herbert, you started your post by agreeing with what I've been saying since the result.

"After the disaster of the election and with the dust beginning to settle, what now for Labour? In my opinion, they need to move back into the centre ground of politics. The far left experiment has clearly failed."

Then you went on to say what your mates (none of who had voted Tory, apparently) said they had been told by defectors why they had defected.

I never voted Tory either, and I also believe to be true what labour defectors have told me to be their reason for defecting.

[Sprotyrover]

This is a long read but worth it for anyone supporting (or possibly supporting) Labour.

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/six-reasons-why-the-left-need-not-despair-labour-conservative-election

It mirrors some of what I said yesterday.

This is a disaster for Labour but not automatically an existential threat. What's needed is a combination of calmness but ruthlessly looking at our failings. It's not impossible but it needs honesty from all involved.

Nothing in there about purging the far left snowflakes out of the Party until they do that the Idiots will be running the asylum .

[SydneyRover]

That's disrepectful to talk about your new leader in that wat sprot