Better late than never and it is the only alternative!

 

Having a member-pushed change of direction is more than fine - it's democratic. Unlike Mad May beint apoplectic in parliament at Labour's moves to give members more power over MPs. For the born to rule Tory lot that is unthinkable! Dictator wannabes

There is a series of lectures on BBC Parliament at the moment about various senior politicians who never made it to Number 10. The last of them (so far) was on Tony Benn. In discussing Benn's influence on UK politics, his desire to give members more control was a key theme. The presenter, Steve Richards, noted that many Tory MPs are now heavily influenced by the views of the party members in their constituency.

But you're forgetting the point that Labour has a neutral stance during the EU Referendum, they likely could have easily swung the vote, but instead Corbyn chose to do nothing (and we all know that's because while his party is pro-EU, he himself largely is anti-EU). It's partly his fault we are in this situation as it is.

 

The sooner this alternative party rises from the right of Labour and the left of the Tories the better as far as I'm concerned, but obviously not going to happen until after Brexit.

 

Neoliberal parties and policies and nothing else is vile. We might as well live in a dictatorship. Let'a actually have some CHOICE.

 

That party is not happenin. Sorry.

 

There is a series of lectures on BBC Parliament at the moment about various senior politicians who never made it to Number 10. The last of them (so far) was on Tony Benn. In discussing Benn's influence on UK politics, his desire to give members more control was a key theme. The presenter, Steve Richards, noted that many Tory MPs are now heavily influenced by the views of the party members in their constituency.

 

Then why do they largely ignore them over most national issues and why can they not be recalled? Landed Gentry Tories are allll about power OVER people, not people power.

 

Oh, but it is the BBC - just like them to spin what should be a feel good Labour story into one supporting the Tories, no matter what the facts are.

Then why so they largely ignore them over most national issues and why can they not be recalled? Landed Gentry Tories are allll about power OVER people, not people power.

 

You do realise Tony Benn was both a Labour politician, and inherited a title?

Tony Benn was also largely left wing in spite of the title, not because of it. I'm sure he would have been happy seeing titles going the way of the dinosaur anyway.

Neoliberal parties and policies and nothing else is vile. We might as well live in a dictatorship. Let'a actually have some CHOICE.

 

That party is not happenin. Sorry.

 

The party will be 100% happen, both the Tories and Labour are venturing away from the Centre and far too away from lots of MPs ideologies. I can certainly see it happening unless both parties make concessions. There are lots of powerful MPs on the backbenches, too many tbh. Guess a lot all depends on if Boris becomes brave enough to get May out.

Then why do they largely ignore them over most national issues and why can they not be recalled? Landed Gentry Tories are allll about power OVER people, not people power.

 

Oh, but it is the BBC - just like them to spin what should be a feel good Labour story into one supporting the Tories, no matter what the facts are.

Most constituency Tory parties are ferociously right wing. Note that I said they were following their constituency party, not their constituents as a whole.

Labour have voted to change their rules for deselection of MPs, with MPs now being deselected if 33% of local members vote in favour of it.

 

If this leads to a purge of sitting MPs before the next election, this could cause problems for Labour's chance of getting a majority for 2 reasons - a) if the deselected MP decides to still stand as an independent, it could lead to the vote being split two ways, allowing another candidate to leapfrog them both into parliament, or b) even if said MP decides not to run again, if their personal vote is much higher than their party vote (which is especially prevalent if they have been a popular, long-standing MP), the same thing could apply.

We vote Labour, not the MP. You'll see. I can't wait to see us purge the party of Katey Hoey et al. Bye bye red Tories! It's time for REAL democracy, not neoliberal paint choosing.

Tony Benn was also largely left wing in spite of the title, not because of it. I'm sure he would have been happy seeing titles going the way of the dinosaur anyway.

 

Well well, we finally agree on something!

 

The party will be 100% happen, both the Tories and Labour are venturing away from the Centre and far too away from lots of MPs ideologies. I can certainly see it happening unless both parties make concessions. There are lots of powerful MPs on the backbenches, too many tbh. Guess a lot all depends on if Boris becomes brave enough to get May out.

 

A split may happen, but it will not be a success - they'd only have what they are against on common, rather than a distinct political strategy.

 

Labour have voted to change their rules for deselection of MPs, with MPs now being deselected if 33% of local members vote in favour of it.

 

If this leads to a purge of sitting MPs before the next election, this could cause problems for Labour's chance of getting a majority for 2 reasons - a) if the deselected MP decides to still stand as an independent, it could lead to the vote being split two ways, allowing another candidate to leapfrog them both into parliament, or b) even if said MP decides not to run again, if their personal vote is much higher than their party vote (which is especially prevalent if they have been a popular, long-standing MP), the same thing could apply.

 

Leaving the decision in the hands of party members alone is a fatal mistake - they can be influenced by the central party, and not necessarily in beneficial ways,,,

McDonnell hinting that there could be a second referendum but only on the terms of Brexit, with no option to stay in the EU.

 

No way out of Brexit under Labour then, how progressive!! Labour have let so many people down with their inconsistent Brexit policy

McDonnell hinting that there could be a second referendum but only on the terms of Brexit, with no option to stay in the EU.

 

No way out of Brexit under Labour then, how progressive!! Labour have let so many people down with their inconsistent Brexit policy

 

Tell me, which party *does* have a consistent Brexit policy :lol:

Tell me, which party *does* have a consistent Brexit policy :lol:

 

:lol:

 

It gets messier by THE DAY.

Tell me, which party *does* have a consistent Brexit policy :lol:

The Lib Dems.

 

I would be horrified if the Electoral Commission allowed a referendum with no Remain option.

I think the SNP, PC and Greens have also had a consistent policy of “let’s not”

As have the quasi-sensible Northern Irish parties.

A Scottish member of the Labour NEC got in hot water after he made an anti-Catholic jibe on stage during the conference, which Nicola Sturgeon, among others, criticised him for. I'm not sure if this type of sectarianism is rife within the Scottish branch of Labour, but it is rather unseemly.

More so amongst the Scottish Conservatives but the Unionist cause is a pure magnet for it and what’s left of the Labour base in Glasgow is rather anti-catholic. Scotland still has huge issues with sectarianism and it doesn’t help when the two main unionist parties adopt a Laisser-faire approach to removing it from their parties.

There is a series of lectures on BBC Parliament at the moment about various senior politicians who never made it to Number 10. The last of them (so far) was on Tony Benn. In discussing Benn's influence on UK politics, his desire to give members more control was a key theme. The presenter, Steve Richards, noted that many Tory MPs are now heavily influenced by the views of the party members in their constituency.

 

I watched loads of Steve Richards lectures on BBC parliament especially the ones on previous PMs, he's an excellent political commentator!

 

What can I type into the iplayer to get this series?

The Lib Dems.

 

I would be horrified if the Electoral Commission allowed a referendum with no Remain option.

 

I agree with McDonnell there should t be a remain option, if it's another referendum the best way would be to have a ref over the deal, you can't just ignore a referendum voted on by 17m people.