John McDonnell scares me rigid. His ability to peddle hard left (and frankly farcical) leadership lines in such a believable and, dare I say it, empathic way is far, far better than Corbyn.
Which is why I think it will be McDonnell, not Corbyn, who leads Labour in 2020
Issue with McDonnell is he completely lacks judgement and is very easy to wind up - little red book incident not an aberration.
I doubt he would get to No 10 even if he did get the leadership
Carmichael scandal doesn't seem to have damaged the Lib Dems up there. Still one outpost that the nationalist surge can't stretch to. Nigh on 5k Lib Dem majority.
John Mann on Sky saying it will be Cataclysmic if Lab come 3rd in Scotland!
One interesting story, the Labour candidate in the Sheffield by-election is the widow of the man whose untimely death from cancer caused the by-election.
Voted for them twice today. Haven't done that for 20 years or so.
I was going to give all 3 of my votes to Lib Dems - I got in the booth and gave 2 to the blues - sorry Lib Dems!
Are you a sentimental romantic without the courage of you convictions?
Or maybe you are more sensible than me!
On the walk to vote from train station I decided that increasing the blue vote to hurt Labour was more important than voting for the better councillor team. I did however still vote for the Lib Dem councillor that I have dealt with and know personally (through those dealings)
What sort of swing Lab/Con is needed to give Zac the job? We look to be in the ballpark using my guessing stick.
London is not Nuneaton!
London is not immune either (as I recall the London regional swing was much less than the national one last year) and UNS is not a bad predictor even in the world of ARSE and ELBOW.
@wallaceme: John Mann on Sky: "We were all told Jeremy was going to be bringing these 5 million voters who haven't voted before...that hasn't happened."
Sadly, there are few on the Left who are listening to Mann just now.
@BBCsarahsmith: Labour seem pretty sure they have lost every Glasgow constituency seat and fear a very bad night across Scotland.
If Labour have lost every seat in Glasgow - GLASGOW FFS!!!- then let me stop you right there. Labour have ALREADY had a very bad night, whatever else happens.
That's like the Republicans losing Utah. It's just explody-head stuff.
Perhaps people finally got sick of voting for the donkey with the red rossette.
@wallaceme: John Mann on Sky: "We were all told Jeremy was going to be bringing these 5 million voters who haven't voted before...that hasn't happened."
You should know that they are a sleeper cell yet to be activated!
John McDonnell scares me rigid. His ability to peddle hard left (and frankly farcical) leadership lines in such a believable and, dare I say it, empathic way is far, far better than Corbyn.
Which is why I think it will be McDonnell, not Corbyn, who leads Labour in 2020
Blairites won't stand for that.
Would trigger SDP Mk II.
Only reason that Corbyn is still in place is because of his incompetence.
Where is the SDP Mk II going to win under FPTP, Blairites will not even be able to do a deal with Farron's LDs. They will have to grit their teeth and wait for Chuka in 2020
SDP Mk II would have more hope against a divided Tory party.
The worry from a Blairite POV is that McDonnell does enough to survive.
@BBCsarahsmith: Labour seem pretty sure they have lost every Glasgow constituency seat and fear a very bad night across Scotland.
If Labour have lost every seat in Glasgow - GLASGOW FFS!!!- then let me stop you right there. Labour have ALREADY had a very bad night, whatever else happens.
That's like the Republicans losing Utah. It's just explody-head stuff.
Perhaps people finally got sick of voting for the donkey with the red rossette.
If that donkey would shed the stupid red rosette it may well win in many constituencies as the best candidate.
John McDonnell scares me rigid. His ability to peddle hard left (and frankly farcical) leadership lines in such a believable and, dare I say it, empathic way is far, far better than Corbyn.
Which is why I think it will be McDonnell, not Corbyn, who leads Labour in 2020
Blairites won't stand for that.
Would trigger SDP Mk II.
Only reason that Corbyn is still in place is because of his incompetence.
Where is the SDP Mk II going to win under FPTP, Blairites will not even be able to do a deal with Farron's LDs. They will have to grit their teeth and wait for Chuka in 2020
SDP Mk II would have more hope against a divided Tory party.
The worry from a Blairite POV is that McDonnell does enough to survive.
Under PR maybe, not under FPTP. If McDonnell fails to lead the largest party or get enough seats to form a government the Blairite MPs will oust him but he will probably step down anyway
@rosschawkins: Labour Portsmouth leader @John_Ferrett tells us UKIP polling 40% of vote there, Labour lost significant numbers to UKIP - a disaster he says
Incidentally if Zac wins I will be very sad. Not just because of my £100 loss (I may have mentioned that bet slightly) but because the polls will have been shown to be total bullshit. Not just "wrong but barely within MOE" but "totally and utterly wrong in a great heap of wrongness" way
@nicholaswatt: Been leaked copy of @UKLabour internal 'close of poll script' with Q&A for loyal frontbenchers to help answer media Qs. On @BBCNews liveblog
John McDonnell scares me rigid. His ability to peddle hard left (and frankly farcical) leadership lines in such a believable and, dare I say it, empathic way is far, far better than Corbyn.
Which is why I think it will be McDonnell, not Corbyn, who leads Labour in 2020
Blairites won't stand for that.
Would trigger SDP Mk II.
Only reason that Corbyn is still in place is because of his incompetence.
Where is the SDP Mk II going to win under FPTP, Blairites will not even be able to do a deal with Farron's LDs. They will have to grit their teeth and wait for Chuka in 2020
SDP Mk II would have more hope against a divided Tory party.
The worry from a Blairite POV is that McDonnell does enough to survive.
Under PR maybe, not under FPTP. If McDonnell fails to lead the largest party or get enough seats to form a government the Blairite MPs will oust him but he will probably step down anyway
Why would he step down? You're fundamentally misunderstanding the hard left takeover of the Labour party.
Incidentally if Zac wins I will be very sad. Not just because of my £100 loss (I may have mentioned that bet slightly) but because the polls will have been shown to be total bullshit. Not just "wrong but barely within MOE" but "totally and utterly wrong in a great heap of wrongness" way
Source BBC news If Rutherglen is replicated across Scotland Labour would win NO constituency seats
Labour refusal to talk about independence seems to be hurting them. Separate nationalist Labour and unionist Labour parties to emerge someone suggesting!
@rosschawkins: Labour Portsmouth leader @John_Ferrett tells us UKIP polling 40% of vote there, Labour lost significant numbers to UKIP - a disaster he says
Well an apparantly terrorist sympathising, jew hating leadership will do that to a party.
Turnout in Dundee (from the count) at 51% and 51.8% in the 2 constituencies. 2 very easy SNP holds guaranteed but poor turnout. Again wonder if the Labour vote has turned out.
John McDonnell scares me rigid. His ability to peddle hard left (and frankly farcical) leadership lines in such a believable and, dare I say it, empathic way is far, far better than Corbyn.
Which is why I think it will be McDonnell, not Corbyn, who leads Labour in 2020
Blairites won't stand for that.
Would trigger SDP Mk II.
Only reason that Corbyn is still in place is because of his incompetence.
Where is the SDP Mk II going to win under FPTP, Blairites will not even be able to do a deal with Farron's LDs. They will have to grit their teeth and wait for Chuka in 2020
SDP Mk II would have more hope against a divided Tory party.
The worry from a Blairite POV is that McDonnell does enough to survive.
Under PR maybe, not under FPTP. If McDonnell fails to lead the largest party or get enough seats to form a government the Blairite MPs will oust him but he will probably step down anyway
Why would he step down? You're fundamentally misunderstanding the hard left takeover of the Labour party.
He failed to win the election that is why and as I said if he did not the MPs would have the excuse to oust him they did not pre-election
John McDonnell scares me rigid. His ability to peddle hard left (and frankly farcical) leadership lines in such a believable and, dare I say it, empathic way is far, far better than Corbyn.
Which is why I think it will be McDonnell, not Corbyn, who leads Labour in 2020
Blairites won't stand for that.
Would trigger SDP Mk II.
Only reason that Corbyn is still in place is because of his incompetence.
Where is the SDP Mk II going to win under FPTP, Blairites will not even be able to do a deal with Farron's LDs. They will have to grit their teeth and wait for Chuka in 2020
SDP Mk II would have more hope against a divided Tory party.
The worry from a Blairite POV is that McDonnell does enough to survive.
Under PR maybe, not under FPTP. If McDonnell fails to lead the largest party or get enough seats to form a government the Blairite MPs will oust him but he will probably step down anyway
Why would he step down? You're fundamentally misunderstanding the hard left takeover of the Labour party.
He failed to win the election that is why and as I said if he did not the MPs would have the excuse to oust him they did not pre-election
As I said, misunderstanding the hard left takeover of Labour leadership.
Comments
One interesting story, the Labour candidate in the Sheffield by-election is the widow of the man whose untimely death from cancer caused the by-election.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-council-election-results-2016-11285224
But he is right.
LD 7,096, SNP 2,562, Tories 435, Labour 304
Swing 16% SNP to LD
Orkney
Lib Dems 67.4% +31.6
SNP 24.3% -0.8
Conservatives 4.1% -4.3
Labour 2.9% -2.7
Conservative gain Galley Common in #Nuneaton from Labour
The LibDems have gone from 36% to 67% in Orkney. That's incredible.
LOL - I like voting but.....................................
The worry from a Blairite POV is that McDonnell does enough to survive.
Well the first one has been chalked off - can believe Shetland after this. The other two - hmmmmmm?
I have no idea why that is.
Local election result for Tilbury St Chads: UKIP 606; LAB 570; CON 89; -- UKIP GAIN
SNP 15,222, Lab 11,479, Tories 3,718, LD 2,533.
SNP gain from Labour, swing of 9%
SNP gain Glasgow's Rutherglen from Labour with 15,222 votes to 11,479 #sp16
http://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/applications/2/elections/LocalGovernment.aspx?id=30
All Labour hold and 1 gain from Con
How long before Labour swing into negative change in seats territory? Up 3 at the moment.
In Portsmouth Labour councillor @John_Ferrett says the Labour leadership is 'absolutely incompetent' @BBCRadio4
Local election result for Aveley & Uplands: UKIP 1011; LAB 449; CON 392; -- UKIP GAIN
http://twitter.com/JJShetland/status/728373112451022848/photo/1
Lab -0.7%
Con +2.3%
UKIP +12.3%
Greens +7.9%
Ind -13.5%
Lib -1.7%
Others -6.6%
Rallings & Thrasher predicted a 1% Tory lead, the BBC's analysis of ward results so far project a 1% Tory lead.
Has Tom Watson lost weight?
And we have the first Tory gain of thr night in Westhoughton North and Chew Moor
Labour sources saying pattern emerging of fall in turnout in key Labour areas, but increase in key Tory areas.
zac o'clock