Next Leader of the Opposition

[ADK]

It has to be Jarvis. Great personal background, Blairite, not associated with the last Labour government, not a smug metropolitan like Umunna. Absolute no-brainer.

 

I think Jarvis with Umunna as chancellor would be the best combination.

[Bilo]

It has to be Jarvis. Great personal background, Blairite, not associated with the last Labour government, not a smug metropolitan like Umunna. Absolute no-brainer.

 

I agree with all of that, my only slight concern is his relative political inexperience.

 

That said, his CV outside of politics is outstanding. If he doesn't get the leadership, he deserves a high profile job in the Shadow Cabinet.

I think Jarvis with Umunna as chancellor would be the best combination.

 

Umunna is a great choice for Shadow Chancellor for Labour to be electable again in my view.

[inckley fox]

Just wondering. You refer to the British as "they", don't live in Britain, are completely out of touch with British culture, and the way you write is just a bit off. It struck me that maybe you're not actually British. Either that or you've psychologically renounced your citizenship. Was whatever happened to you over here really that bad? The bullying, was it?

 

I'm not for a second levelling this at you, but I think there's a huge problem with people talking about 'British culture' and 'British values'. Not because there's necessarily anything wrong with either, nor with wishing to defend liberty / freedom of speech / equality etc., but rather because the people who tend to talk about them are usually the people who know the least about them.

 

It's very difficult returning to town to see people I once taught spouting nationalistic nonsense in bars, when I remember full well that they had no interest in any of the cultural factors - be it Shakespeare, Blake, Olivier or Ray Davies - or the historical factors - from scientific to political innovation - which set Britain apart from other countries. And, I think UKIP and a great many Conservative followers need to ask themselves what 'British values' really are. I genuinely haven't got a clue.

 

So I can understand why people might feel detached from any sort of nationalistic sentiment.

 

As for Britain not wanting socialism, if Labour kids itself that this election was lost because of socialism then they'll miss the reasons behind their collapse in Scotland. The seeds of that collapse were set when Blair took over the party, not because he'd introduce devolution, but because he stripped Labour of their identity as a working class party. Instead of using his considerable charisma to sell socialism or, alternatively, address the day-to-day concerns of the working class, he opted for the easier way to win elections and shifted the party to the centre.

 

So if Labour turns back to Blairism it will also fail to notice the huge role negative press has in the UK compared to other countries, the lack of engagement that the working classes have with politics and the fact that elections are becoming more and more like X Factor, about how a person sounds, what they look like, how much people relate to them on a personal level, as opposed to anything remotely connected with ideology. If people can't see that Blair won his elections largely due to his charisma, rather than the substance of his beliefs, and Kinnock, Brown and Miliband were trounced because of their heavily caricatured lack of charisma as opposed to the substance of their beliefs (I mean, would Alan Johnson delivering the same message as Miliband have done anything like as badly?), then Labour will seal their demise for once and for all.

[MiniFox]

Chuka Umunna or Dan Jarvis for me.

 

Chuka seems a decent person in general, would probably be more popular in the south than up north, however in many northern seats they vote Labour whatever the case, the problem is being pro-business he could move too far right, being too similar to the Tories, offering little to no alternative.

 

Dan Jarvis is a likable person, particularly when you look at his history, looks like he would be more popular overall than Chuka (in northern places maybe, not so much in the south). It's hard to know a great amount about him though, politically. 

 

It's a tough one too call, could be someone else, but imo one of those two would be best.

[BlueSi13]

No, why would that even be the case?

 

It's pretty clear that a fresh start is needed and the pursuit of the centre-left is Labour's route to power in 2020. Trying to push the race angle is something that'll succeed only in pushing Labour further away from power and definitely won't be happening. There are several very good potential leadership candidates who've been mentioned on this thread who would be more than capable of challenging for power - Burnham, Jarvis, Cooper and Hunt are among them. There's plenty of talent on the Opposition benches, which is why I'm pleased Miliband has stood down when he has. It'll give the new leader more than enough to garner support, fight by-elections, local elections and boost the Labour vote again.

 

If Umunna takes the mantle, it'll be because of his policies rather than his skin colour. The idea that Labour would smear people who voted other parties as racists is the kind of narrative even the Daily Mail would reject out of hand.

 

Oh no doubt Labour have other options, indeed the unions will have a huge say on which direction Labour will now go, but if you seriously don't think Labour and news outlets such as the Guardian and the Daily Mirror won't play on that angle then that is an interesting viewpoint.  As a staunch ex-Labour man I believe this is something they would certainly play with in order to differentiate themselves. 

 

Considering that the vast majority of the population no longer sign up to Labours class-warfare bollocks, Labour will need a new differentiator in the eyes of the public, this could be it.

[Bilo]

Oh no doubt Labour have other options, indeed the unions will have a huge say on which direction Labour will now go, but if you seriously don't think Labour and news outlets such as the Guardian and the Daily Mirror won't play on that angle then that is an interesting viewpoint.  As a staunch ex-Labour man I believe this is something they would certainly play with in order to differentiate themselves. 

 

Considering that the vast majority of the population no longer sign up to Labours class-warfare bollocks, Labour will need a new differentiator in the eyes of the public, this could be it.

 

I imagine Labour will go with policies, you seem to think the Labour Party of 2020 will be unbelievably desperate to use race. That's one of the silliest political theories I've read on this forum for a while. 

 

Will there be some ill-considered commentators who make a play of his ethnicity? Probably. You'd have to be mad to think the Labour Party at large would campaign on it though.

 

For what it's worth, I don't think Umunna will get it. He's a bit young at 36, and I think he's more of a natural Chancellor than Leader at the moment. This leadership contest might have come a few years too early for him to win.

[purpleronnie]

Not that bothered TBH (although it is of course essential we choose the best candidate), I'm more concerned about the direction Labour has been going down over the past decade.  We seem not to stand for anything anymore.  Lot's of people took and continue to take a hurting over the last 5 years, a perfect opportunity for Labour but they royally fooked it up.  Surprisingly they took a similiar path to the Tories on Austerity, had no real view on immigration etc.

 

Despite the lurch to the right with UKIP and the Tories I truly believe there is a huge number of progressive voters out there but to engage them you have to offer them something and try and remove them from the trance they all seem to be in.  Let's face it only 37% of the voters actually want the Tories and we've seen with UKIP and the SDP that you can gain huge amounts of votes very quickly.

[lavrentis]

I wish there was an old school very left wing leader with old left wing ideologies. I would vote for that.

 

genuinly think the country will get worse after 5 years of the tories

[Bilo]

I wish there was an old school very left wing leader with old left wing ideologies. I would vote for that.

 

genuinly think the country will get worse after 5 years of the tories

 

If they didn't vote for Miliband, they definitely won't vote for a reborn Michael Foot.

 

Labour need a centre-left leader to win back power.

[Facecloth]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/32671418

Lammy's the first to say that he might stand.

[Facecloth]

For what it's worth, I don't think Umunna will get it. He's a bit young at 36, and I think he's more of a natural Chancellor than Leader at the moment. This leadership contest might have come a few years too early for him to win.

Only 2 years younger than Cameron was when he took over as Tory leader, and has been an MP a year longer than Cameron had been at the time. I don't think age would be an issue.

[BlueSi13]

I imagine Labour will go with policies, you seem to think the Labour Party of 2020 will be unbelievably desperate to use race. That's one of the silliest political theories I've read on this forum for a while. 

 

Will there be some ill-considered commentators who make a play of his ethnicity? Probably. You'd have to be mad to think the Labour Party at large would campaign on it though.

 

For what it's worth, I don't think Umunna will get it. He's a bit young at 36, and I think he's more of a natural Chancellor than Leader at the moment. This leadership contest might have come a few years too early for him to win.

 

I think you both read a little too much into my posts and take them a little too seriously.  I said that Labour are desperate to find a new reason for being.  They know they need a new look, new ideas, and something that would represent a clear choice for the electorate.  A young black state-educated leader could be just the ticket for them, and make no mistake, the Labour machine would play on it (Play, not campaign exclusively as you seem to be implying).

 

But lets see first, has there been any word from the unions as to who they'd prefer?  I doubt Umunna would be a favourite of theirs due to his views being more centrist and pro-big business.

[Bilo]

I think you both read a little too much into my posts and take them a little too seriously.  I said that Labour are desperate to find a new reason for being.  They know they need a new look, new ideas, and something that would represent a clear choice for the electorate.  A young black state-educated leader could be just the ticket for them, and make no mistake, the Labour machine would play on it (Play, not campaign exclusively as you seem to be implying).

 

But lets see first, has there been any word from the unions as to who they'd prefer?  I doubt Umunna would be a favourite of theirs due to his views being more centrist and pro-big business.

 

Some parts of the left-wing press might play on it, but given that numerous elements of the Tory machine were only too happy to play on Miliband 'stabbing his brother in the back' and the fact he looked weird while eating a bacon sarnie means it'd be fair game. 

 

I'm not sure he is state educated either, I think his parents had him privately educated when he got to secondary school as they didn't rate the local schools. 

 

In terms of state educated, the party would probably be more inclined to go with Burnham or Jarvis. I also imagine The Sun would be less keen to personally attack an ex-Paratrooper with an MBE for military service (Dan Jarvis) than they were with Miliband. 

[Strokes]

It would be fair game, image in politics is much more important these days, I think his race would win him as many votes as it would lose. It would be a shame if it overshadowed any campaign, not that much policy has been displayed in the last.

[Rincewind]

They need a leader that is in touch with the average working man. A left of right Farage and right of left Dennis  Skinner. Many politicians from all parties seem out of touch.

[Grewks]

Can you really see a guy called Chuka Umunna take any votes from UKIP?

[Strokes]

Can you really see a guy called Chuka Umunna take any votes from UKIP?

Voting UKIP isn't about hating immigrants or blacks, its about control and not just of our boarders.

[Finnegan]

Abbot.

[Facecloth]

Abbot.

If they never want to win another seat, then yes.

[Bilo]

Abbot.

 

Only if Labour want to make the Lib Dems look successful.

 

Thankfully, there's no chance of her winning a leadership battle.

[The Doctor]

Abbot.

 

Tories to hit 600 seats. Fortunately that'll never happen - 100/1 in the odds, twice as long as a Blair return. 

 

Can get Clegg for the next conservative leader at the same price 

[Bettsj2]

Voting UKIP isn't about hating immigrants or blacks, its about control and not just of our boarders.

For some yes.

Denying that some of UKIP's voters and members aren't all about hating immigrants or black is as blind as those Labour supporters who thought Ed could actually win a majority.

[Bilo]

For some yes.

Denying that some of UKIP's voters and members aren't all about hating immigrants or black is as blind as those Labour supporters who thought Ed could actually win a majority.

 

[Carl the Llama]

I actually don't have a problem with people like her.  She's clearly aware how irrational it is to dislike an entire section of society for the way they were born, and it's well documented that the human brain has a tremendous capacity for illogical instincts based on illogical fears, so I don't think it's fair to hold being racist against her so long as she keeps her logical hat on and doesn't act out of malice.  

 

It's like the paedophile argument I suppose: It's alright to be born attracted to kids (as in you can't be faulted for it), and I'd even go so far as saying that it's alright for Paedos to distribute child porn in the form of fictional drawings, any sort of irrational instinct is fine as long as the individual retains the vigilance to accept that the urges their chemical imbalance causes should never be acted on.  I'd say this lady falls into that category (not the paedophile category, the someone in control of their actions one).

[Guest]

What nationality are you, Fif? Have you ever lived in England?

 

You do ask a lot of personal questions without answering any.

 

I'll happily answer these 2 again after you answer these 3:

 

How old are you?

 

What is your present job?

 

What academic qualifications do you hold?