politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The left could be preparing for Corbyn to stand down & be replaced by McDonnell
There have been suggestions that Corbyn has found aspects of the job, particularly what could be seen as intrusions into his family life, difficult to cope with.
For me, there's a difference in Danger Level between McIRA and Jezza.
The latter is just inept, geography teacher CND Commie standard. With no self awareness when it comes to keeping his mouth shut. Uber nukes being the latest humdinger.
McIRA has that oily Gerry Adams smooth talker, smart suit snake quality. I'm actively concerned by him, Corbyn - never in a million years
Trump's vote is holding just like in the other half dozen N.H polls since Iowa, but Rubio is going up. One day till the GOP debate and 5 days till the snowstorm on polling day.
Luckily, the Labour leadership is not in Ken Livingstone's gift. Labour MPs wouldn't let McDonnell, who is widely and rightly detested, get the crown without a full contest. It would certainly be messy.
Whether McDonnell could end up winning would obviously depend on who his opponent or opponents was. He's probably pick up quite a lot of the same loony-left selectorate which propelled Corbyn into the leadership, but he's not as superficially likeable so it's not obvious.
On-topic: Surely this will involve changing the nomination procedure?
It is hard to imagine a nomination procedure that would get John Macdonnell onto the ballot. Nobody has yet devised a practicable way of using black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, any two of which would be required.
For me, there's a difference in Danger Level between McIRA and Jezza.
The latter is just inept, geography teacher CND Commie standard. With no self awareness when it comes to keeping his mouth shut. Uber nukes being the latest humdinger.
McIRA has that oily Gerry Adams smooth talker, smart suit snake quality. I'm actively concerned by him, Corbyn - never in a million years
Luckily, the Labour leadership is not in Ken Livingstone's gift. Labour MPs wouldn't let McDonnell, who is widely and rightly detested, get the crown without a full contest. It would certainly be messy.
Whether McDonnell could end up winning would obviously depend on who his opponent or opponents was. He's probably pick up quite a lot of the same loony-left selectorate which propelled Corbyn into the leadership, but he's not as superficially likeable so it's not obvious.
50/1 was a spiffing bet. 18/1 is still good IMO.
If it went to a full ballot, McDonnell wouldn't get enough MPs to get on it.
Jeremy Corbyn looks as though he has aged 10 years in the last few months, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is some truth in these rumours.
John McDonnell is a thoroughly nasty piece of work but always comes across as Mr Reasonable. To those who don't follow politics, he probably comes across quite well.
I'm reminded yet again of Kelvin McKenzie's comments on QT a few weeks ago, that by the time of the next election, some of Labour's message may start to resonate.
I don't think the next GE is a foregone conclusion and I'm old enough to have seen quite a few!
On-topic: Surely this will involve changing the nomination procedure?
It is hard to imagine a nomination procedure that would get John Macdonnell onto the ballot. Nobody has yet devised a practicable way of using black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, any two of which would be required.
Doesn't need black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, it just needs 35 bonkers Labour MPs. Not a particularly high bar.
Luckily, the Labour leadership is not in Ken Livingstone's gift. Labour MPs wouldn't let McDonnell, who is widely and rightly detested, get the crown without a full contest. It would certainly be messy.
Whether McDonnell could end up winning would obviously depend on who his opponent or opponents was. He's probably pick up quite a lot of the same loony-left selectorate which propelled Corbyn into the leadership, but he's not as superficially likeable so it's not obvious.
50/1 was a spiffing bet. 18/1 is still good IMO.
If it went to a full ballot, McDonnell wouldn't get enough MPs to get on it.
oh, he would. There are enough idiots wanting to get on to vote for him
The biggest obstacle will be to get McDonnell on the ballot, Corbyn has lost one MP due to death already, being replaced by a Liz Kendall one.
I don't see how he can get 15% of the Labour MP's this side of the GE. After the GE it's more probable that he will get the numbers to go on the ballot.
On-topic: Surely this will involve changing the nomination procedure?
It is hard to imagine a nomination procedure that would get John Macdonnell onto the ballot. Nobody has yet devised a practicable way of using black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, any two of which would be required.
Doesn't need black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, it just needs 35 bonkers Labour MPs. Not a particularly high bar.
I am no fan of Labour MPs, but I cannot name 35 who are THAT bonkers.
Most such people are disbarred from standing on grounds of insanity.
Mr. Nabavi, quite, but the PLP has also seen what's happened with Corbyn.
That said, McDonnell would be a sort of status quo candidate rather than a leap from Miliband socialism to Corbyn communism, so it'd be less of an issue, and the leftists and three pounders would make their feelings quite well-known, I'd've thought.
Jeremy Corbyn looks as though he has aged 10 years in the last few months, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is some truth in these rumours.
John McDonnell is a thoroughly nasty piece of work but always comes across as Mr Reasonable. To those who don't follow politics, he probably comes across quite well.
I'm reminded yet again of Kelvin McKenzie's comments on QT a few weeks ago, that by the time of the next election, some of Labour's message may start to resonate.
I don't think the next GE is a foregone conclusion and I'm old enough to have seen quite a few!
I agree there is a chance that some of the economic and anti-austerity stuff might be starting to pick up votes, especially if there's another down-turn. Housing might be another area where the Tories suddenly find themselves in deep trouble with a growing part of the electorate.
But, and it's a massive but, this would need to trump the 'Corbyn is a huge risk to national security' card that is going to be played from now until 2020.
To be clear, I'm not suggesting a challenge to Corbyn, but a transition with Corbyn's support if he decided to step down because this politics malarkey turned out to be harder than he thought.
The biggest obstacle will be to get McDonnell on the ballot, Corbyn has lost one MP due to death already, being replaced by a Liz Kendall one.
I don't see how he can get 15% of the Labour MP's this side of the GE. After the GE it's more probable that he will get the numbers to go on the ballot.
The biggest obstacle will be to get McDonnell on the ballot, Corbyn has lost one MP due to death already, being replaced by a Liz Kendall one.
I don't see how he can get 15% of the Labour MP's this side of the GE. After the GE it's more probable that he will get the numbers to go on the ballot.
After the GE the way things are going he'll be the only MP left anyway.
(OK, that's an exaggeration. But Labour are imploding rapidly and this suggestion shows that they are not yet at bottom. This could make the Tories in the 90s look like a teddy bears' picnic.)
On-topic: Surely this will involve changing the nomination procedure?
It is hard to imagine a nomination procedure that would get John Macdonnell onto the ballot. Nobody has yet devised a practicable way of using black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, any two of which would be required.
Ken is a rogue - lovable or not according to taste - but not really close to anyone: Corbyn has quietly put him down several times now (no, Ken, we're not reviewing NATO membership, no, Ken, you're not co-chairing the defence review). I'm sure McDonnell would win if Corbyn fell under a bus tomorrow and the nomination procedures didn't prevent it, but otherwise Corbyn isn't going anywhere. Everyone in politics thinks leaderships change far more often than they actually do.
Personally I think the bet for people willing to hang on to the next Parliament or later is Khan. If he wins in May (probable) and there does eventually come a "Blair moment" when the party decides that being left-wing isn't enough and they need a proven winner, there's a reasonable chance that their gaze will alight on him. Not being an MP at that time would be a problrem, but not an inspuerable one, as Boris hopes to demonstrate.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
Well for one thing, I (and others on here) have been receiving leaflets from the Remain campaign. That's more than any of the Leave groups appear to have managed (I've not received any, and I haven't seen any reports on here from anyone receiving them).
The Leave campaign appear to be waiting for events to win it for them, and even then fighting against it. In fact events may well win it for them, but it won't be down to the quality of their campaigning.
I also remind you of the problems with relying on polling. I've got absolutely no idea what the true picture is out there on the street, and neither do you outside anecdata.
On-topic: Surely this will involve changing the nomination procedure?
It is hard to imagine a nomination procedure that would get John Macdonnell onto the ballot. Nobody has yet devised a practicable way of using black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, any two of which would be required.
Doesn't need black magic, alchemy or mass hypnosis, it just needs 35 bonkers Labour MPs. Not a particularly high bar.
I think from here on Labour MPs will take the nominating process desperately seriously. There won't be any sympathy nominations, no "broaden the debate" or "the left must have a voice" crap. McDonnell will be nominated if there are >=35 MPs who prefer him as leader to any other candidates.
I did that YouGov and wasn't impressed by the Your MP question. It was attempting to force me into saying I'd deselect mine for disagreeing with my views on the EU, I'd rather they voted with their conscience like the rest of us.
"What’s odd is that the former London Mayor should be talking in these terms at all barely five months after Corbyn was elected."
What's odd is that Ken has chosen to raise the issue of Corbyn's leadership at the first time since he was elected when it wasn't under some kind of crisis, courtesy of the Cameron's distraction.
However, while I agree about the value of the bet, I disagree with the thinking. I don't believe Corbyn is planning on standing down. Apart from anything else, how sure is McDonnell of gaining the nominations necessary? The MPs could easily keep him off the ballot. What I think this is about is Ken, on behalf of the left, making it clear that if Corbyn is somehow ousted, they won't take it lying down and will go for a win again.
Don't forget Corbyn's get his mitts on the Party's machinery. Given he thinks changing the entire UK electoral system without a referendum is a good idea, what are the odds he'll be happy to alter the Labour leadership rules to sideline the PLP even more?
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
Well for one thing, I (and others on here) have been receiving leaflets from the Remain campaign. That's more than any of the Leave groups appear to have managed (I've not received any, and I haven't seen any reports on here from anyone receiving them).
The Leave campaign appear to be waiting for events to win it for them, and even then fighting against it. In fact events may well win it for them, but it won't be down to the quality of their campaigning.
I also remind you of the problems with relying on polling. I've got absolutely no idea what the true picture is out there on the street, and neither do you outside anecdata.
50/1 is old hat, though I'm happy with that bet. I've got a rather longer shot for this market coming up.
Surely Ed Balls
It is a mark of how far Labour have fallen that I, who consider Ed Balls to be an egotistical fool with a much over-rated intellect and but a shaky grasp of politics or economics, have been wishing desperately he were back in the Commons to sort out this desperate mess.
That Labour should come to this after their narrowest electoral defeat. Oh how are the mighty fallen.
I think Rubio is going to win N.H barring an act of God. Which may happen if that snowstorm hits hard on pensioner turnout, for some reason his base of support are pensioners.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
In last couple of weeks Remain campaign have been pulled apart by Speccie for using dodgy numbers, claimed a think tank's number were suspect because Matt Elliott once worked there when he didn't, and had their main spokesman say Cameron's migration reforms won't work. They might be more competent than Leave campaign but there ain't much in it.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
50/1 is old hat, though I'm happy with that bet. I've got a rather longer shot for this market coming up.
Surely Ed Balls
It is a mark of how far Labour have fallen that I, who consider Ed Balls to be an egotistical fool with a much over-rated intellect and but a shaky grasp of politics or economics, have been wishing desperately he were back in the Commons to sort out this desperate mess.
That Labour should come to this after their narrowest electoral defeat. Oh how are the mighty fallen.
If only Alan Johnson could be persuaded that it was worth giving up the book tours. A change to Johnson a few months before GE 2020 would leave the contest wide open IMHO.
25s with Paddy £3.44 allowed 20s with Hills £4 22s with Skybet £2.27 allowed.
Betting by a thousand cuts !
I honestly don't know how you can be bothered
The other day @david_herdson said Priti Patel was worth a bet for next Tory leader and I agreed so deposited a score w Coral to back the 50/1... £1 allowed. Couldn't be bothered to take it
I think Rubio is going to win N.H barring an act of God. Which may happen if that snowstorm hits hard on pensioner turnout, for some reason his base of support are pensioners.
Cheering news for me before I head to the pub. I placed a bet on Rubio for POTUS only this morning.
Hmph. Although I really don't like McDonnell, since he gets involved in the kind of petty grudges and factionalism within Labour which Corbyn does largely eschew, I have to admit I do find his manner in media interviews oddly compelling.
No chance of Ed Balls. He is hated by the grassroots (not just Corbynistas) for "forcing" a pro-austerity stance on the party at the election, and blamed for the defeat.
It would be good for the country if he did become next Lab Leader as the Tories would have to shift to the right
It would be good for the country to have a competent opposition, and even better to lift the threat, no matter how remote, of a Corbyn/McDonnell government.
No chance of Ed Balls. He is hated by the grassroots (not just Corbynistas) for "forcing" a pro-austerity stance on the party at the election, and blamed for the defeat.
It would be good for the country if he did become next Lab Leader as the Tories would have to shift to the right
It would be good for the country to have a competent opposition, and even better to lift the threat, no matter how remote, of a Corbyn/McDonnell government.
Yes fair point
If he stood in Sheffield I would want him to win actually
It would be good for the country if he did become next Lab Leader as the Tories would have to shift to the right
It would be good for the country to have a competent opposition, and even better to lift the threat, no matter how remote, of a Corbyn/McDonnell government.
I love the crocodile tears PBTories are shedding over the "lack of competent opposition".
As useless as Labour are, it seems to me the Tories are thankfully facing a lot more resistance to their policies in this term so far than they did in the last parliament - largely, because the swing votes this time are a set of surprisingly good new Tory MPs who have a conscience (notably Heidi Allen), rather than the supine Lib Dem MPs. I highly doubt tax credit cuts and the Human Rights Act scrapping would've been U-turned on in the last parliament. I also hear Northern Tory MPs are getting increasingly angry about how Osborne is forcing to make councils make huge cuts, so a u-turn on that could be forthcoming too.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Sky News understands the Government is trying to elicit the services of Lynton Crosby over worries that David Cameron's EU deal is being portrayed too negatively by the press.
I love the crocodile tears PBTories are shedding over the "lack of competent opposition".
As useless as Labour are, it seems to me the Tories are thankfully facing a lot more resistance to their policies in this term so far than they did in the last parliament - largely, because the swing votes this time are a set of surprisingly good new Tory MPs who have a conscience (notably Heidi Allen), rather than the supine Lib Dem MPs. I highly doubt tax credit cuts and the Human Rights Act scrapping would've been U-turned on in the last parliament. I also hear Northern Tory MPs are getting increasingly angry about how Osborne is forcing to make councils make huge cuts, so a u-turn on that could be forthcoming too.
That's true, but it doesn't mean that it's a good idea for the opposition to go loony. In the short term it's not a problem, of course, and the majority is small so Tory rebels have a lot of influence. In the longer term, the lack of a sane opposition is a void in our democracy.
It would be good for the country if he did become next Lab Leader as the Tories would have to shift to the right
It would be good for the country to have a competent opposition, and even better to lift the threat, no matter how remote, of a Corbyn/McDonnell government.
I love the crocodile tears PBTories are shedding over the "lack of competent opposition".
As useless as Labour are, it seems to me the Tories are thankfully facing a lot more resistance to their policies in this term so far than they did in the last parliament - largely, because the swing votes this time are a set of surprisingly good new Tory MPs who have a conscience (notably Heidi Allen), rather than the supine Lib Dem MPs. I highly doubt tax credit cuts and the Human Rights Act scrapping would've been U-turned on in the last parliament. I also hear Northern Tory MPs are getting increasingly angry about how Osborne is forcing to make councils make huge cuts, so a u-turn on that could be forthcoming too.
It's not crocodile tears. Stop being partisan and think. Politicians, left to themselves, can easily make bad laws. They need proper scrutiny, regardless of the colour of their rosette.
The PLP is riven with dissent and conspiracies. That worries the hell out of me. They are not acting as an effective opposition. That's to the detriment of the country - and I'll always take country ahead of party.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Remain stuff seems to be mainly saying 'Important person wants to stay in' or publicising arguments on other side. Neither are persuasive arguments to Joe Bloggs.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
It's because Leave have better, more visceral arguments. They sound positive. They've got the emotional debate in the bag - Cry Freedom! Give us back our country! Strike off the chains!
REMAIN is all about dull facts designed to induce mild dread - 3 billion budgies will slowly die in Britain without access to European seeds etc etc
It's the same as indyref. With the notable difference that NO could rely on an emotional attachment to Britishness amongst 30-40% of Scots AS WELL as the effect of Project Fear.
It would be good for the country if he did become next Lab Leader as the Tories would have to shift to the right
It would be good for the country to have a competent opposition, and even better to lift the threat, no matter how remote, of a Corbyn/McDonnell government.
I love the crocodile tears PBTories are shedding over the "lack of competent opposition".
As useless as Labour are, it seems to me the Tories are thankfully facing a lot more resistance to their policies in this term so far than they did in the last parliament - largely, because the swing votes this time are a set of surprisingly good new Tory MPs who have a conscience (notably Heidi Allen), rather than the supine Lib Dem MPs. I highly doubt tax credit cuts and the Human Rights Act scrapping would've been U-turned on in the last parliament. I also hear Northern Tory MPs are getting increasingly angry about how Osborne is forcing to make councils make huge cuts, so a u-turn on that could be forthcoming too.
I think what we lack is an opposition that is a believable alternative government. That in itself encourages internal opposition within the Tory Party because they (some of them at least) think the next election is in the bag. We still get some scrutiny of individual policies, as you say, but we don't get the feeling that we could throw this particular set of rascals out and we always want governments to have that thought in their minds.
I am genuinely worried as to what a Conservative government might look like by the mid 2020s if it feels there is no threat to its existence. Would it be competent or clean? I can guess.
Sky News understands the Government is trying to elicit the services of Lynton Crosby over worries that David Cameron's EU deal is being portrayed too negatively by the press.
Apologies for linking the story about Sir Terry Wogan, I'm merely doing it to show that they have not referred to Lynton as "Sir Lynton" in the piece, which he is by fact........
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Remain is putting out tweets like this, from a few minutes ago:
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
It's because Leave have better, more visceral arguments. They sound positive. They've got the emotional debate in the bag - Cry Freedom! Give us back our country! Strike off the chains!
REMAIN is all about dull facts designed to induce mild dread - 3 billion budgies will slowly die in Britain without access to European seeds etc etc
It's the same as indyref. With the notable difference that NO could rely on an emotional attachment to Britishness amongst 30-40% of Scots AS WELL as the effect of Project Fear.
All Remain has is Fear.
Considering you're saying events with Syria and immigration may well win it for Leave (which it might), then it's clear all Leave has is fear.
I dislike Remain's economic arguments: the jobs ones are particularly ridiculous given their history. The business arguments (on both sides) are also rather crass: we can be a success in or out of the EU in the short term (I tend to agree with RCS about the medium and long term situation wrt a two-speed Europe, and this is one of the main reasons I'll probably vote to leave)
You may say that Leave have better, more visceral arguments, but that's pointless in my case as I haven't seen them. No FB posts. No mailshots. No ads on websites I visit. I have seen a fair few for Remain. If they're going down the new media route then they're fighting with one hand tied behind their back. It didn't do Labour much good at the GE.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Remain is putting out tweets like this, from a few minutes ago:
twitter.com/StrongerIn/status/695682367768367104
It's a very questionable assertion and even if true, is both of minimal impact to most people and smacks of patronising attitude that EU Knows Best.
There is a audience that might play with. It doesn't post on here.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Remain is putting out tweets like this, from a few minutes ago:
It's a very questionable assertion and even if true, is both of minimal impact to most people and smacks of patronising attitude that EU Knows Best.
The UK is streets ahead of other countries when it comes to LGBT rights. Several EU countries still require sterilisation before gender change is permitted. As you say, 'tis bollocks and patronising bollocks at that.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Remain is putting out tweets like this, from a few minutes ago:
(snip) It's a very questionable assertion and even if true, is both of minimal impact to most people and smacks of patronising attitude that EU Knows Best.
Remain seem at least "half competent"? Interesting. In what way? Can you name one single dazzling performance by a Remain campaigner, one speech, one article, one solitary sentence which has demonstrably affected the public mood in favour of IN?
No. You can't. All we've seen is Stuart Rose mumbling and fumbling, Alan Johnson saying"we should listen to the prime minister because he's the prime minister," and that same prime minister bringing home a "whole new relationship with the EU" which turns out to be an extra go on the Berlaymont pooltable, every second Friday, if the French head home before 10pm.
Indeed, such is the brilliance of this fantastically competent Remain campaign, the PM's deal has driven LEAVE to its highest polling in many months.
I've Followed both Leave and Remain campaigns on Twitter and Leave (principally @LeaveEUOfficial) is putting out more stuff and much better stuff than anything that Remain (@StrongerIn) has come up with.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
That's interesting. Leaving aside the question of how effective a medium Twitter is for such things, it'd be good to know why their stuff is much better.
Remain is putting out tweets like this, from a few minutes ago:
Comments
WBUR/MassINC Trump 29, Rubio 12, Cruz 12, Kasich 9, Bush 9, Christie 6, Fiorina 8, Carson 4
(in terms of delegates: 16,2,2)
Boston Globe/Suffolk Trump 29, Rubio 19, Cruz 7, Kasich 13, Bush 10, Christie 5, Fiorina 4, Carson 4
(in terms of delegates: 11,4,0,3,2)
Trump seems to be fading, but while the field remains so wide, he can afford to.
Atropos might just decide to intervene in unexpected ways
This is beyond anything that would be considered credible in fantasy fiction
Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing.
The latter is just inept, geography teacher CND Commie standard. With no self awareness when it comes to keeping his mouth shut. Uber nukes being the latest humdinger.
McIRA has that oily Gerry Adams smooth talker, smart suit snake quality. I'm actively concerned by him, Corbyn - never in a million years
B.G/Suffolk
Trump 29 +2
Rubio 19 +9
Kasish 13 +1
Bush 10 -1
Cruz 7 -5
Christie 5 -1
Fiorina 4 0
Carson 4 -1
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/2016/FINAL_GOP_Marginals_Feb_NH.pdf
WBUR (last one in December)
Trump 29 +2
Rubio 12 +1
Cruz 12 +2
Kasich 9 +2
Bush 9 +2
Fiorina 8 +5
Christie 6 -6
Carson 4 -2
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/2016/Topline_WBUR_NH_Primary_7.pdf
Trump's vote is holding just like in the other half dozen N.H polls since Iowa, but Rubio is going up.
One day till the GOP debate and 5 days till the snowstorm on polling day.
Whether McDonnell could end up winning would obviously depend on who his opponent or opponents was. He's probably pick up quite a lot of the same loony-left selectorate which propelled Corbyn into the leadership, but he's not as superficially likeable so it's not obvious.
50/1 was a spiffing bet. 18/1 is still good IMO.
God help Labour, that sounds like a far more attractive option...
If it went to a full ballot, McDonnell wouldn't get enough MPs to get on it.
John McDonnell is a thoroughly nasty piece of work but always comes across as Mr Reasonable. To those who don't follow politics, he probably comes across quite well.
I'm reminded yet again of Kelvin McKenzie's comments on QT a few weeks ago, that by the time of the next election, some of Labour's message may start to resonate.
I don't think the next GE is a foregone conclusion and I'm old enough to have seen quite a few!
I don't see how he can get 15% of the Labour MP's this side of the GE.
After the GE it's more probable that he will get the numbers to go on the ballot.
I think PBers are looking at the Rule Book and not the behaviour of the players.
Most such people are disbarred from standing on grounds of insanity.
That said, McDonnell would be a sort of status quo candidate rather than a leap from Miliband socialism to Corbyn communism, so it'd be less of an issue, and the leftists and three pounders would make their feelings quite well-known, I'd've thought.
But, and it's a massive but, this would need to trump the 'Corbyn is a huge risk to national security' card that is going to be played from now until 2020.
Admittedly, that was because many of them were so stupid they didn't even understand how their own leadership election worked...
(OK, that's an exaggeration. But Labour are imploding rapidly and this suggestion shows that they are not yet at bottom. This could make the Tories in the 90s look like a teddy bears' picnic.)
Personally I think the bet for people willing to hang on to the next Parliament or later is Khan. If he wins in May (probable) and there does eventually come a "Blair moment" when the party decides that being left-wing isn't enough and they need a proven winner, there's a reasonable chance that their gaze will alight on him. Not being an MP at that time would be a problrem, but not an inspuerable one, as Boris hopes to demonstrate.
The Leave campaign appear to be waiting for events to win it for them, and even then fighting against it. In fact events may well win it for them, but it won't be down to the quality of their campaigning.
I also remind you of the problems with relying on polling. I've got absolutely no idea what the true picture is out there on the street, and neither do you outside anecdata.
But that wasn't an option. Poorly worded stuff.
What's odd is that Ken has chosen to raise the issue of Corbyn's leadership at the first time since he was elected when it wasn't under some kind of crisis, courtesy of the Cameron's distraction.
However, while I agree about the value of the bet, I disagree with the thinking. I don't believe Corbyn is planning on standing down. Apart from anything else, how sure is McDonnell of gaining the nominations necessary? The MPs could easily keep him off the ballot. What I think this is about is Ken, on behalf of the left, making it clear that if Corbyn is somehow ousted, they won't take it lying down and will go for a win again.
Wife crashes her own funeral, horrifying her husband, who had paid to have her killed
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/05/wife-crashes-her-own-funeral-horrifying-her-husband-who-had-paid-have-her-killed/?tid=ss_tw
That Labour should come to this after their narrowest electoral defeat. Oh how are the mighty fallen.
Trump 29 -6
Rubio 19 +10
Cruz 15 +5
Kasich 13 -2
Bush 8 +1
Christie 6 -2
Carson 4 +3
Fiorina 4 -1
http://www.oann.com/pollnh/
I think Rubio is going to win N.H barring an act of God.
Which may happen if that snowstorm hits hard on pensioner turnout, for some reason his base of support are pensioners.
Remain isn't competent. It is, however, united.
20s with Hills £4
22s with Skybet £2.27 allowed.
Betting by a thousand cuts !
Safe seat by election looming
The other day @david_herdson said Priti Patel was worth a bet for next Tory leader and I agreed so deposited a score w Coral to back the 50/1... £1 allowed. Couldn't be bothered to take it
Never, say never...
http://www.cityam.com/220432/ed-balls-never-say-never-political-comeback
It would certainly electrify things if he did stand in the by-election.
I wonder whether Tom Watson has dropped by the Cooper-Balls household recently?
Refugee crisis: Austria talking about sending the army into Serbia to stop the flow of migrants. Have I heard about this development somewhere before?
Apols to @JosiasJessop I am discussing one of the things I said I never did in response to him on last thread
If this actually happens, I'll be straight out to buy Southam a "With Deepest Sympathies" card.
If he stood in Sheffield I would want him to win actually
http://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations
As useless as Labour are, it seems to me the Tories are thankfully facing a lot more resistance to their policies in this term so far than they did in the last parliament - largely, because the swing votes this time are a set of surprisingly good new Tory MPs who have a conscience (notably Heidi Allen), rather than the supine Lib Dem MPs. I highly doubt tax credit cuts and the Human Rights Act scrapping would've been U-turned on in the last parliament. I also hear Northern Tory MPs are getting increasingly angry about how Osborne is forcing to make councils make huge cuts, so a u-turn on that could be forthcoming too.
The PLP is riven with dissent and conspiracies. That worries the hell out of me. They are not acting as an effective opposition. That's to the detriment of the country - and I'll always take country ahead of party.
I am genuinely worried as to what a Conservative government might look like by the mid 2020s if it feels there is no threat to its existence. Would it be competent or clean? I can guess.
http://news.sky.com/story/1633092/sir-terry-wogan-dies-after-brave-cancer-battle
Apologies for linking the story about Sir Terry Wogan, I'm merely doing it to show that they have not referred to Lynton as "Sir Lynton" in the piece, which he is by fact........
https://twitter.com/StrongerIn/status/695682367768367104
It's a very questionable assertion and even if true, is both of minimal impact to most people and smacks of patronising attitude that EU Knows Best.
I dislike Remain's economic arguments: the jobs ones are particularly ridiculous given their history. The business arguments (on both sides) are also rather crass: we can be a success in or out of the EU in the short term (I tend to agree with RCS about the medium and long term situation wrt a two-speed Europe, and this is one of the main reasons I'll probably vote to leave)
You may say that Leave have better, more visceral arguments, but that's pointless in my case as I haven't seen them. No FB posts. No mailshots. No ads on websites I visit. I have seen a fair few for Remain. If they're going down the new media route then they're fighting with one hand tied behind their back. It didn't do Labour much good at the GE.
I think it's a subtle dog whistle to some voters that UKIP opposed gay marriage and think gay marriage causes flooding.
Do you really want to be on the same side as these people.
Deary me !