Who will be the next Labour leader?

[brogdale]

Free coffee.

 

[Mr Moose]

Free coffee.

No, Coffee, liberate yourself!

 

[brogdale]

No, Coffee, liberate yourself!

Get a free coffee whenever I can, (I tend to carry last year's 1/2 pint heavy duty plastic festie beer 'glass' with me), and always smile sweetly at the staff that get posted near the machines to 'check' you've made a purchase. Obvs I haven't...but they don't hassle much, apart from the one younger woman at the Croydon branch who sometimes sucks her teeth to show me that she knows!

 

[Mr Moose]

Get a free coffee whenever I can, (I tend to carry last year's 1/2 pint heavy duty plastic bestie beer 'glass' with me), and always smile sweetly at the staff that get posted near the machines to 'check' you've made a purchase. Obvs I haven't...but they don't hassle much, apart from the one younger woman at the Croydon branch who sometimes sucks her teeth to show me that she knows!

It’s like Abbie Hoffman is still with us.

 

[Raheem]

Odd and posho as John Lewis is, still the UK’s biggest staff owned business. A shame that the staff profit share plummeted this year as Jeff Bezos earnings grew to $2500 per second.

Ok not for all the workers for sure, but better for some.

I don't really know much about it, but I accept that some of all those extra 10p's might be paying for better conditions for the people who work there. But I don't know anyone who works in one for the same reason I never go to one.

It's just that I had imagined Waitrose would be a place where you can get all sorts of exotic and exciting stuff that the riff-raff are excluded from. Really surprising to find out that there are lots of people willing to shop somewhere that's more expensive simply because it is more expensive. A sort of snobbery supplement.

(Before anyone says it, I'm sure there are people who shop there because it's the only supermarket where they live, and for various possibly valid reasons I haven't thought of).

 

[two sheds]

I don't really know much about it, but I accept that some of all those extra 10p's might be paying for better conditions for the people who work there. But I don't know anyone who works in one for the same reason I never go to one.

It's just that I had imagined Waitrose would be a place where you can get all sorts of exotic and exciting stuff that the riff-raff are excluded from. Really surprising to find out that there are lots of people willing to shop somewhere that's more expensive simply because it is more expensive. A sort of snobbery supplement.

(Before anyone says it, I'm sure there are people who shop there because it's the only supermarket where they live, and for various possibly valid reasons I haven't thought of).

Have shopped online. Only alternatives I know of are Tesco's (hate their business model) and not too keen on Sainsburys either. Aldi deliver alcohol only as far as I can see (tempting though). Part of John Lewis makes me keener. So don't mind paying a bit more to avoid Tesco.

 

[killer b]

The staples are the same as all the other supermarkets (+10p), but Waitrose do have a load of stuff you can't get at the other ones.

 

[Proper Tidy]

Anyway back to the substance of the thread. Sir chin wears joules

 

[kebabking]

Anyway back to the substance of the thread. Sir chin wears joules

He's not very posh then - joules is not just tat, it screams 'try hard'.

 

[Proper Tidy]

He's not very posh then - joules is not just tat, it screams 'try hard'.

Its very middle class in that way though isn't it. A premium for shit and signifier over substance.

Crew clothing too I reckon.

 

[ska invita]

I presume the leadership election will be put on hold?

 

[killer b]

Not heard anything to suggest it will be yet, but it seems likely.

 

[brogdale]

I presume the leadership election will be put on hold?

Cometh the hour...he's already there?

 

[kebabking]

Cometh the hour...he's already there?

One of the parody twitter accounts has already done that....

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Not heard anything to suggest it will be yet, but it seems likely.

I think that is massively problematic. Leaving aside the fact that the whole process has already gone on far too long the idea that the pandemic will be gone in weeks and things will get back to 'normal' is not realistic. Like all leaders who announce their departure Corbyn is a lame duck - a disaster given when Labour needs to be holding the government to account

 

[killer b]

I think pushing ahead with a non-essential election at the actual moment of national/international crisis would be more 'problematic' tbh.

 

[campanula]

I think pushing ahead with a non-essential election at the actual moment of national/international crisis would be more 'problematic' tbh.

Exactly so. At a time when unity and solidarity are needed more than ever, continuing the Labour internal jostling is unedifying to say the least. What is the phrase...summat about optics? Well holding an election to elect a leader (who has no executive power whatsoever) looks more like witless posturing rather than any sort of constructive response to a crisis.

 

[killer b]

Fwiw while it's a bit lost in the noise, Corbyn has been pretty on point recently anyway. Difficult to imagine any of his replacements making themselves heard any better.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Exactly so. At a time when unity and solidarity are needed more than ever, continuing the Labour internal jostling is unedifying to say the least. What is the phrase...summat about optics? Well holding an election to elect a leader (who has no executive power whatsoever) looks more like witless posturing rather than any sort of constructive response to a crisis.

The idea that the candidates are going to stop jostling is pretty naive I'd suggest.

I'm past caring what Labour do or don't do to be honest, but there are obvious dangers with allowing the Tories free reign against a lame duck Labour leader.

 

[brogdale]

The idea that the candidates are going to stop jostling is pretty naive I'd suggest.

I'm past caring what Labour do or don't do to be honest, but there are obvious dangers with allowing the Tories free reign against a lame duck Labour leader.

If the LP have any eye on public concerns/opinion they'd be wise to suspend the process, pending an later announcement and let Corbyn do what he does best; sound and seem more reasonable, considered and empathetic than Johnson.

 

[Proper Tidy]

Say what you like about corbyn, he's got staying power. Might stick a tenner on a corbyn v javid GE in 2021

 

[Smokeandsteam]

If the LP have any eye on public concerns/opinion they'd be wise to suspend the process, pending an later announcement and let Corbyn do what he does best; sound and seem more reasonable, considered and empathetic than Johnson.

The idea that the public hearing more from Corbyn helps labour is an interesting one. That said the efforts of Waitrose, Nandy and RLB aren’t any better.

I just think that the idea of Corbyn remaining in charge for 6-12 months after losing an election, and then Labour restarting a process most members and affiliate members have already voted in is a shit one

 

[Proper Tidy]

Rather corbyn than posh chin

 

[brogdale]

The idea that the public hearing more from Corbyn helps labour is an interesting one. That said the efforts of Waitrose, Nandy and RLB aren’t any better.

I just think that the idea of Corbyn remaining in charge for 6-12 months after losing an election, and then Labour restarting a process most members and affiliate members have already voted in is a shit one

Yeah, i know what you mean...but I'm assuming that they could leave the (largely?) electronic ballot open till April 2nd, then just 'bank' the result for later...when it seems a bit more appropriate to dwell on party political matters. In a few weeks things could be properly fucking bleak tbh; the last thing anyone will be interested in is the LP's leadership.

I'm not really saying that anyone necessarily wants to hear more from Corbyn, but undeniably he has the ability to conduct himself properly and effectively through this period.

Who knows what they'll do, though?

 

[brogdale]

Rather corbyn than posh chin

Essentially yes, and JC is undeniably good on the 'arm around shoulder'* stuff.

*obviously not literally, now.

 

[Proper Tidy]

Yeah, i know what you mean...but I'm assuming that they could leave the (largely?) electronic ballot open till April 2nd, then just 'bank' the result for later...when it seems a bit more appropriate to dwell on party political matters. In a few weeks things could be properly fucking bleak tbh; the last thing anyone will be interested in is the LP's leadership.

I'm not really saying that anyone necessarily wants to hear more from Corbyn, but undeniably he has the ability to conduct himself properly and effectively through this period.

Who knows what they'll do, though?

Thing is, if they essentially freeze as is, when probably the new leader has already been determined from completed ballots, then just announce when things calmer we could be in a quite different situation which would have resulted in a different outcome.

 

[brogdale]

Thing is, if they essentially freeze as is, when probably the new leader has already been determined from completed ballots, then just announce when things calmer we could be in a quite different situation which would have resulted in a different outcome.

Good point; no easy outcomes at present.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Thing is, if they essentially freeze as is, when probably the new leader has already been determined from completed ballots, then just announce when things calmer we could be in a quite different situation which would have resulted in a different outcome.

If they freeze it then the question ‘why’ needs to be answered. If they rerun it (which would be the only logical decision - presumably to allow those who can’t send an email/post a ballot due to the Coronavirus to vote) then I’d imagine legal challenges would ensue from Starmer

 

[Proper Tidy]

If they freeze it then the question ‘why’ needs to be answered. If they rerun it (which would be the only logical decision - presumably to allow those who can’t send an email/post a ballot due to the Coronavirus to vote) then I’d imagine legal challenges would ensue from Starmer

True. Mind you couldn't end well for him that could it. Be interesting to see how this pans out

 

[brogdale]

If they freeze it then the question ‘why’ needs to be answered. If they rerun it (which would be the only logical decision - presumably to allow those who can’t send an email/post a ballot due to the Coronavirus to vote) then I’d imagine legal challenges would ensue from Starmer

I can see a 'third way' in which they freeze the ballot on the published day (April 2nd) then hold with JC holding on until calmer, more appropriate times...then give a fortnight re-opening for anyone unable to vote in the last/current 3 weeks of the ballot. Then anoint Starmer...giving him a 'clean skin' start that's untainted by any collaboration with Johnson's handling of the CoronaShitshow and a free rein to exploit the situation for party political gain.