Labour leadership

[Wilf]

Again ...tbf....they had made that requirement explicit in their FAQs. I suspect it was to keep the lawyers happy...ensuring that there was no interference from non-UK residents.

Yeah, sure, I recognise they are bound to use the register, it's just that an increasing number will, literally, be disenfranchised if they don't allow alternative proof of identity.

 

[DotCommunist]

Maybe conductors and adequate staffing levels to deal with rowdyism would be preferable?

'The bus conductors ended up in Un Lun Dun because people who don't take buses decided people who do didn't need them'

 

[brogdale]

Ok but its worrying that it should need to be discussed at all tbh. I don't like the way society is moving in that regard at all, it would be a huge step backwards and play into patriachal views of women needing to be 'protected'

Yes. I don't think it was politically astute, but if that's his biggest gaff...so far...

 

[teqniq]

blatant rigging

Looks that way. It would appear that the neoliberal consensus will brook no dissent.

 

[Plumdaff]

The underlined bit adds to the idea of it being a massive own goal. If Labour could have ignored their Corbyn obsession, they'd at least have allowed 'genuine' applicants a way of getting round that. Very time consuming, but they should logically have rung up anyone with a minor discrepancy and ironed it out over the phone i.e. avoided treating them the same way the DWP treats claimants. Really good way of pissing people off.

I got an email at about 4.45pm on a Friday from them querying my electoral record and giving me 72 hours to respond. Having a dull life I noticed getting an email at that time of the week and managed to get a scanned polling card to them in time. How many people didn't notice that email or didn't notice until halfway through Monday? The timing is dubious as hell, tbh so is the query, as my three Labour councillors and Labour MP managed to send me letters in the run up to the election.

 

[ska invita]

I got an email at about 4.45pm on a Friday from them querying my electoral record and giving me 72 hours to respond. Having a dull life I noticed getting an email at that time of the week and managed to get a scanned polling card to them in time. How many people didn't notice that email or didn't notice until halfway through Monday? The timing is dubious as hell, tbh so is the query, as my three Labour councillors and Labour MP managed to send me letters in the run up to the election.

i got that too, weeks ago, but couldnt be bothered to prove my name to them so left it.

 

[agricola]

The plot thickens.

 

[brogdale]

Early indication of which candidate is in lead...?

Spoiler: Yes Prime Minister?

https://vine.co/v/ejAJTxt7Ktj

 

[The Boy]

There's got to be a good novel to come out of this.

At best you'll get a docu-drama on E4 starring Michael Sheen.

 

[ska invita]

It's a damn shame Iannucci has called time on The Thick of It.

Christmas special written all over it this

 

[Favelado]

The plot thickens.

A hideous Richard Briers sitcom anecdote thrown on the end for good measure. Look what happens when the middle class meets funny foreigners!

Diplomacy up in smoke
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On our recent holiday in Greece, my wife and I were dispatched to the nearest village for supplies. One is given to understand that tourists spending money – particularly cash – are not just helpful, but vital in the current economic climate. At the same time, when loading up a supermarket trolley with wine, I wished I knew enough Greek to explain that there were nine adults in our party.

The last item on our list was a packet of small cigars favoured by one of those adults. The kiosk by the petrol station didn’t have any. Even the tobacconist on the square seemed to carry only cigarettes. The man behind the counter shook his head grimly when my wife asked him.

“No cigars,” he said. “Too expensive for Greeks.”

“Not for me!” said my wife, holding up her hands. She was trying to explain the cigars were for someone else, that she was running an errand, but it didn’t come out right. From the tobacconist’s expression it was clear that he understood her to mean that when it came to sourcing her favourite cigars, money was no object. Her flustered attempts to correct this impression were not convincing.

“He thinks that we are fat cats,” she said as we walked back to the car. “No, he thinks you are a fat cat,” I said. “I kept quiet.”

 

[Brainaddict]

A view from a right-leaning publication across the pond: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/26/lefty-christmas-grips-great-britain.html#

"A man who defends terrorists and dictators; favors the forced re-nationalization of private companies; and wants to disband NATO, has taken a shock lead in the Labour leadership race."

"The intervening weeks have seen the birth of an unprecedented, hard left grassroots movement; Corbynmania is real. There’s no sign of the condition sweeping into mainstream Britain, but a mania has certainly settled on the country’s disaffected protestor class."

'Protestor class' What's that when it's at home then?

Last line is good though.

 

[ska invita]

"The intervening weeks have seen the birth of an unprecedented, hard left grassroots movement; Corbynmania is real. There’s no sign of the condition sweeping into mainstream Britain, but a mania has certainly settled on the country’s disaffected protestor class."

'Protestor class' What's that when it's at home then?

Last line is good though.

biased rhetoric aside it is still unproven whether a Corbyn government could win the support beyond the old labour core and into swing voters. I reckon he can as the stuff about hard left of course isnt the case, and given a national platform he has a real chance. But pick up ANY newspaper and its amazing what kind of a hatchet job theyre trying to do on him. For example saw a copy of the Sun in the caf on Sunday and Tony Parsons had been given a two page spread that was just jaw dropping in its characterisation. An only slightly toned down thing in the Times too. Every day there is more attack Can anyone fight against the relentlessness of all that? Yes, but its going to be hard...

 

[Wilf]

The plot thickens.

I take the point that they, reasonably, couldn't have expected the numbers that have tried to sign up. However they could have at least tried to be consistent in the way the did the checks. They are not even an efficient bureaucracy. This little anecdote suggests it really is interns in Labour's call centre googling names at random.

 

[ska invita]

v funny frankie boyle piece

 

[Sprocket.]

Christmas special written all over it this

If the BBC are allowed to make such gems or if they still exist by then!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34064794

 

[agricola]

v funny frankie boyle piece

I cannot stand him, but his description of Burnham:

who looks as if he has carved Fireman Sam’s face off and laid it carelessly across his own skull

did make me laugh.

 

[brogdale]

v funny frankie boyle piece

Yes, even the click-link made me laugh...

 

[DotCommunist]

investigating me furiously.

must be refreshing for you to be investigated furiously eh.

 

[DotCommunist]

That Louise Mensch is proper caining the coke since she went over to the States.

my theory is that as she is going out with metallicas manager she probably now has access to chang straight off the colombian boat, the sort of stuff that makes ours look like mellow birds in comparison.

 

[J Ed]

Some interesting stats on Corbyn voters https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/08/27/you-may-say-im-dreamer-inside-mindset-jeremy-corby/

 

[kabbes]

must be refreshing for you to be investigated furiously eh.

I like the smell of being investigated furiously in the morning.

 

[kabbes]

In Soviet Russia, furiously investigates you.

 

[Argonia]

I wasn't sure about this Corbynator song at first but have found myself humming it when out and about. Are there any other Corbychev-inspired songs out there?

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

Some interesting stats on Corbyn voters https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/08/27/you-may-say-im-dreamer-inside-mindset-jeremy-corby/

...when asked to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, Corbyn supporters self-identify as much stronger in verbal intelligence and imagination than for example Yvette Cooper’s supporters, who score themselves higher than average on mathematical intelligence and processing speed. Put simply, this group is not going to be ‘reasoned with’ - they are looking to be inspired.

Or put even more simply, the Blairites are all fucking robots! Who identifies as having mathematical intelligence and good 'processing speed', for goodness' sake? Bunch of weirdos.

 

[NoXion]

Or maybe the Corbynites have a more realistic self-assessment of their intelligence?

 

[kabbes]

Or put even more simply, the Blairites are all fucking robots! Who identifies as having mathematical intelligence and good 'processing speed', for goodness' sake? Bunch of weirdos.

Their revelation is that voters choose by emotion and attitude rather than logic and policy? That's no revelation, that news is as old as the hills. People base their voting practice on what their perception of "people like them" vote for. This study is no different.

 

[DotCommunist]

policy

especially as the last thirty years have shown they'll say anything to get elected and then act directly in contrast to your interests once in the big chair. Thats not even illogical, its just knowing how it is.

 

[kabbes]

Look at this nonsense:

What’s more, when asked to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, Corbyn supporters self-identify as much stronger in verbal intelligence and imagination than for example Yvette Cooper’s supporters, who score themselves higher than average on mathematical intelligence and processing speed. Put simply, this group is not going to be ‘reasoned with’ - they are looking to be inspired.

fine... Except that last statement also applies to Cooper's supporters, who are being contrasted! They also score themselves higher verbally and on emotional intelligence than mathematical ability or processing speed. The author is guilty of picking and choosing facts to confirm his theory.

 

[killer b]

people have been doing that on twitter (from both sides) all afternoon. I'll just find my favourite, gimme a minute.