Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...

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  1. #1Genius's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by HJV)
    This isn't Formula 1 where you need to go change the wet tyres at the correct time to win the race.
    It's not hiking where you need to wear in your uncomfortable boots and hope they don't give you blisters either.
  2. MJE's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    I think, rather perversely, Labour need to lose the election, perhaps an absolute crushing defeat. Spells in the political wilderness can be very beneficial.

    But with regards to who leads the Labour Party, I have no idea. Gordo is useless but I'm quite sure all the rest of the Cabinet would be even worse. I have absolutely no idea why people are talking up that screeching harpies chance, Harriet Harman, and also David Miliband. Alan Johnson seems to be the best of a (very) bad bunch to me.
  3. #1Genius's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by MJE)
    Alan Johnson seems to be the best of a (very) bad bunch to me.
    I'm afraid there's no chance of that; he's come out and said that he lacks the "intellect" to be PM...rather unreassuring for a cabinet minister to claim he's not clever enough to carry out a hierarchical public job, but there we go...

    As for Harman, well I think she blew her chances yesterday at PMQs.
  4. MJE's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by #1Genius)
    I'm afraid there's no chance of that; he's come out and said that he lacks the "intellect" to be PM...rather unreassuring for a cabinet minister to claim he's not clever enough to carry out a hierarchical public job, but there we go...

    As for Harman, well I think she blew her chances yesterday at PMQs.
    Yeah, I unfortunately know Johnson doesn't want to stand. But who is a fan of the likes of Miliband, Purnell, Harman etc? Where do they find these people?

    Maybe they should have Frank Field as leader. I think he could make a good shot of it.

    And yes, Plane Harman crashed and burned yesterday, thank God.
  5. MJE's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by Demokrat)
    I can't find a link to yesterday's PMQs, it's usually there on the BBC site. Rep for anyone who can :p:
    Thar you are: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7490110.stm
  6. #1Genius's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by MJE)
    Yeah, I unfortunately know Johnson doesn't want to stand. But who is a fan of the likes of Miliband, Purnell, Harman etc? Where do they find these people?

    Maybe they should have Frank Field as leader. I think he could make a good shot of it.

    And yes, Plane Harman crashed and burned yesterday, thank God.
    It is an undeniably grim list. Milibland would possibly be the dullest statesman for many a decade, and Purnell's barely out of short trousers.

    If Harman had mounted a leadership challenge, I think I might just have fulfilled her prophecy and fled for the nearest airport.
  7. MJE's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by Demokrat)
    God Bless you, I'll rep you when I can (after 12pm).
    lol are you actively watching PMQ's? It wasn't that good, although Hague v Harman often has some funny moments.
  8. #1Genius's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by Demokrat)
    But it's not abseiling either, you have to moderate your rate of descent, you can't just go down as fast as you can. You always have to remain connected and have a firm grip of the rope.

    (I'm sorry, this metaphor is intentionally meaningless.)
    Indeed, I think we've exhausted the irrelevant sporting metaphors. The thing is, though, this isn't a conventional course of action, and that's the beauty of it. As a Conservative, I'd hate to see it, but as a Politics student I can admire original strategy when I see it. I think that this is something that could easily go wrong, but what is the alternative?

    Even if the economy picks up (it won't) and the Conservatives win a second term, it'd be no worse than what will happen in 2010. Labour will not see power before 2020 anyway.
  9. billyboymccoy's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    Labour really can't afford an election right now. They have something like 30 million pounds of debt and all their usual money sources are holding up there noses.
  10. MJE's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    This is mostly relevant, but Labour Party rules make it exceptionally difficult to remove an incumbent leader, don't they, especially in comparison to the Conservatives.

    I think what would be needed is for several high-ranking Cabinet members to approach Gordo and tell him to go quietly.

    Also, I can't quite remember where or when he said it, but he said he would step down as leader halfway through the next Labour term ... as if they're going to win the next election.
  11. kftjkp's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    I think if he ends up going it will be under his wife's steam. He will get a nice job in Europe or with the World Bank if he leaves now. The main reason there wouldn't be an election now is entirely financial as far as the Labour Party are concerned as someone stated. But, I wouldn't agree that Labour will be in the political wilderness until 2020 - I think people will realise that modern tories are entirely vacuous after a term.
  12. #1Genius's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by billyboymccoy)
    Labour really can't afford an election right now. They have something like 30 million pounds of debt and all their usual money sources are holding up there noses.
    Do you really see that changing in 2 years' time?
  13. billyboymccoy's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by #1Genius)
    Do you really see that changing in 2 years' time?
    Not really. But maybe if they get there act together they can reduce it somehow.
  14. #1Genius's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by billyboymccoy)
    Not really. But maybe if they get there act together they can reduce it somehow.
    I think the financial deficit is something that Labour will just have to live with. They've been in debt for absolutely years now, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better; even their attempts at fundraising have gone belly-up. I can't really see what they can do to conquer their debt without conceding ground to the unions, and by all accounts they're holding out against this at all costs.
  15. Master Polhem's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    No I cannot add

    " Labour could do no bett... 10-07-2008 21:46 Hey, could you please add:

    -for wanting a similey at the end of this signature.

    Cheers. "

    You selfrighteous ****.
  16. billyboymccoy's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by #1Genius)
    I think the financial deficit is something that Labour will just have to live with. They've been in debt for absolutely years now, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better; even their attempts at fundraising have gone belly-up. I can't really see what they can do to conquer their debt without conceding ground to the unions, and by all accounts they're holding out against this at all costs.

    I gathered from the amount of raffle tickets they've been sending me.
  17. mfm89's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by billyboymccoy)
    I gathered from the amount of raffle tickets they've been sending me.
    Reminds me ive forgotten to vote for the NEC thing, again, oh well.


    On the plus side for labour, we have got Alex Ferguson and a BeeGee.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...bour.tonyblair
    Last edited by mfm89; 11-07-2008 at 18:33.
  18. billyboymccoy's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    (Original post by mfm89)
    Reminds me ive forgotten to vote for the NEC thing, again, oh well.


    On the plus side for labour, we have got Alex Ferguson and a BeeGee.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...bour.tonyblair

    Havn't we also got some woman out of coronation street? I'm not gonna bother voting in that NEC thing. I got bored reading it.
  19. mfm89's Avatar
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    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    Same
  20. meenu89's Avatar
    • '... the Lady's not for turning....' RIP xxx
    • Location: Leamington Spa/ Cheylesmore
    • Posts: 8,729
    Re: Labour could do no better than calling a General Election...
    you guys had better read this, looks like you will lose Glasgow East

    http://www.iaindale.blogspot.com/

    scroll down to the SNP storm ahead
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