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@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@thhamilton: Why did former Labour MP Chris Williamson lose his seat in 2015? Let's ask him! https://t.co/yucLsoRNdy

What does he mean when he says opinion polls cost him his seat? I genuinely don't get it.

He believed if the polls had accurately shown the Tories on course for a majority, then the soft left like the Greens would have voted for him to stop the Tories.

IIRC he lost by 40 odd votes whilst the Greens polled over 1,600 votes

Technically he might be correct in that the Greens cost him his seat, in which case Corbyn would fix that problem.

However practically if the polls where not showing it as a close race, then both Labour and the Tories would have lost a lot of votes to the smaller parties, due to less polarization.
The LD, the Greens, and UKIP lost winnable seats due to the perception that it was neck and neck.

TheScreamingEagles said:

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@thhamilton: Why did former Labour MP Chris Williamson lose his seat in 2015? Let's ask him! https://t.co/yucLsoRNdy

What does he mean when he says opinion polls cost him his seat? I genuinely don't get it.

He believed if the polls had accurately shown the Tories on course for a majority, then the soft left like the Greens would have voted for him to stop the Tories.

IIRC he lost by 40 odd votes whilst the Greens polled over 1,600 votes

It's tough for a politician to accept it's the fault of the voters sometimes - if they needed the threat of a Tory majority to vote for him, clearly they didn't care for him in the first place.

Scott_P said:

@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

Of all the options, the rebels sitting as Independent Labour somehow but not actually leaving the party (Unless expelled I guess) seems more likely than a formal split. Still wouldn't expect it to be many though - people were saying some shadow cabinet resigners are already saying they want back in.

Scott_P said:

Charles said:

Was on a flight today. How did PMQs go?

@edcumming: If you enjoyed that scene in Jurassic Park where the cow is lowered into the velociraptor enclosure, you will enjoy the next few PMQ's

No more till September

Scott_P said:

Charles said:

Was on a flight today. How did PMQs go?

@edcumming: If you enjoyed that scene in Jurassic Park where the cow is lowered into the velociraptor enclosure, you will enjoy the next few PMQ's

A shame we won't get another PMQs now until after the summer recess. No more Theresa The Leftie Slayer until Autumn...

numbertwelve said:

Scott_P said:

Charles said:

Was on a flight today. How did PMQs go?

@edcumming: If you enjoyed that scene in Jurassic Park where the cow is lowered into the velociraptor enclosure, you will enjoy the next few PMQ's

A shame we won't get another PMQs now until after the summer recess. No more Theresa The Leftie Slayer until Autumn...

It will make the memory of this one fade into legend, and make it hard for her to match the expectations next time I guess.

You know Godwin's Law? Sometimes you have to break it. Erdogan is literally Hitler c. 1933.

Mrs bucket is now shadow brexit - lol - ironic or what.

John_M said:

You know Godwin's Law? Sometimes you have to break it. Erdogan is literally Hitler c. 1933.

And how didnt that end - Russians in Berlin.

Constantinople has been salivated over by Russia for Centuries. If he pushes his luck he will make Putin's day.

kle4 said:

numbertwelve said:

Scott_P said:

Charles said:

Was on a flight today. How did PMQs go?

@edcumming: If you enjoyed that scene in Jurassic Park where the cow is lowered into the velociraptor enclosure, you will enjoy the next few PMQ's

A shame we won't get another PMQs now until after the summer recess. No more Theresa The Leftie Slayer until Autumn...

It will make the memory of this one fade into legend, and make it hard for her to match the expectations next time I guess.

Quite possibly. The "Remind him of anybody?" moment is destined for PMQs 'best of' reels until the end of time.

That said, I'm sure the Labour Party will be providing plenty of material in the next two months to give her a decent stab at the next round!

ThreeQuidder said:

kle4 said:

Charles said:

Was on a flight today. How did PMQs go?

May was assured and even cracked a few jokes. Corbyn was servicable.

And he got serviced.

I really hope you mean served not serviced

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

Of all the options, the rebels sitting as Independent Labour somehow but not actually leaving the party (Unless expelled I guess) seems more likely than a formal split. Still wouldn't expect it to be many though - people were saying some shadow cabinet resigners are already saying they want back in.

Well they can't practically win re-election in the next GE if they go independent.

The personal votes that they have are very small, and the policies they aspire quite unpopular in their seats, can you imagine Tristram Hunt trying to get re-elected in his seat as an independent or on some other party?

It would make the collapse of the LD look like a triumph, it would be lost deposits all over.
It would be 150 Independent Labour MP's losing their deposits in the next GE.

It might cost Labour seats though that it holds with majorities less than 2-3K votes, but there are not many in number.

Speedy said:

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

Of all the options, the rebels sitting as Independent Labour somehow but not actually leaving the party (Unless expelled I guess) seems more likely than a formal split. Still wouldn't expect it to be many though - people were saying some shadow cabinet resigners are already saying they want back in.

Well they can't practically win re-election in the next GE if they go independent.

The personal votes that they have are very small, and the policies they aspire quite unpopular in their seats, can you imagine Tristram Hunt trying to get re-elected in his seat as an independent or on some other party?

It would make the collapse of the LD look like a triumph, it would be lost deposits all over.
It would be 150 Independent Labour MP's losing their deposits in the next GE.

It might cost Labour seats though that it holds with majorities less than 2-3K votes, but there are not many in number.

I was presuming they'd go Independent Labour and not seek reselection (the few who would dare go Independent), so the long term damage would only be in terms of party management, not in contested seats, and the short term would be just formalising that the current crop of MPs, or at least those bold enough to take this step, see no point in being loyal to the leader

Jonathan said:

The Elite simply don't understand Corbyn. He is reshaping politics. He represents the 99% and will win for them

You're wrong Jonathan. They understand him far too well, they realise how dangerous he is. That is why the full force of the media has been used against him from day one.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/755864696511668224

Why do they use Ms? It's Mrs May, especially as our new PM doesn't seem like someone to have much truck with Ms.

MTimT said:

BigIan said:

Speedy said:

PlatoSaid said:

Is PB running it's own readership contest - which of the two new threads will win?!

What was the last new thread about ?

https://twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/755844322025549824

LOL. How does swingback work when an opposition party does worse as the parliamentary term goes on?

Judging by the last time something similar happened which was during the Brown honeymoon period in 2007 Corbyn will be forming a minority government despite trsiling in the polls as was Cameron then .

So, if the labour MPs sit as independents, then the SNP really could become the official opposition!

kle4 said:

BudG said:

Jonathan said:

The Elite simply don't understand Corbyn. He is reshaping politics. He represents the 99% and will win for them

You're wrong Jonathan. They understand him far too well, they realise how dangerous he is. That is why the full force of the media has been used against him from day one.

A political leader gets targeted by the media, this is unprecedented!*

*We can quibble about the degree to which it happens, but there's nothing unusual about it happening to some degree.

Of course all leaders come under scrutiny, it's the degree that I would quibble strongly about.

BudG said:

kle4 said:

BudG said:

Jonathan said:

The Elite simply don't understand Corbyn. He is reshaping politics. He represents the 99% and will win for them

You're wrong Jonathan. They understand him far too well, they realise how dangerous he is. That is why the full force of the media has been used against him from day one.

A political leader gets targeted by the media, this is unprecedented!*

*We can quibble about the degree to which it happens, but there's nothing unusual about it happening to some degree.

Of course all leaders come under scrutiny, it's the degree that I would quibble strongly about.

Ed M had plenty. And while you may accept all come under scrutiny, the way the argument is so often presented it comes across as people trying to make Corbyn seem more unusual, more transformative, than in fact he is.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

Hard to believe this woman was once considered "A List" material..

Well, I suppose she's A List something...

Speedy said:

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

Of all the options, the rebels sitting as Independent Labour somehow but not actually leaving the party (Unless expelled I guess) seems more likely than a formal split. Still wouldn't expect it to be many though - people were saying some shadow cabinet resigners are already saying they want back in.

Well they can't practically win re-election in the next GE if they go independent.

The personal votes that they have are very small, and the policies they aspire quite unpopular in their seats, can you imagine Tristram Hunt trying to get re-elected in his seat as an independent or on some other party?

It would make the collapse of the LD look like a triumph, it would be lost deposits all over.
It would be 150 Independent Labour MP's losing their deposits in the next GE.

It might cost Labour seats though that it holds with majorities less than 2-3K votes, but there are not many in number.

Thinking about it more given that there are boundary changes that will probably go through this time around its utterly pointless..

Any independent former Labour MP standing will need to pick their constituency knowing that x% have not had you as their MP previously. So they won't stand a pray in the next election..

The only chance that they could win is to group together and even then the things they will be standing for won't be what their constituents want (remember the layers of divorce)...

Y0kel said:

At the current rate of going Erdogan will end up sacking himself.

In doing what he is doing though he is sowing the seeds of his own elimination.

Sometimes in our moments of seemingly greatest strength we fall prey to our greatest weaknesses. As Cameron could tell us.

kle4 said:

Speedy said:

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

Of all the options, the rebels sitting as Independent Labour somehow but not actually leaving the party (Unless expelled I guess) seems more likely than a formal split. Still wouldn't expect it to be many though - people were saying some shadow cabinet resigners are already saying they want back in.

Well they can't practically win re-election in the next GE if they go independent.

The personal votes that they have are very small, and the policies they aspire quite unpopular in their seats, can you imagine Tristram Hunt trying to get re-elected in his seat as an independent or on some other party?

It would make the collapse of the LD look like a triumph, it would be lost deposits all over.
It would be 150 Independent Labour MP's losing their deposits in the next GE.

It might cost Labour seats though that it holds with majorities less than 2-3K votes, but there are not many in number.

I was presuming they'd go Independent Labour and not seek reselection (the few who would dare go Independent), so the long term damage would only be in terms of party management, not in contested seats, and the short term would be just formalising that the current crop of MPs, or at least those bold enough to take this step, see no point in being loyal to the leader

In any case it would be a solution for Labour's problems.
A replacement of most of the current Labour MP's with people who are more in line with their local Labour voters and Labour members, would solve the problem of most Labour MP's lecturing their people instead of listening to them.

It's like replacing the scottish Labour MP's with new people before SLAB collapsed.

Erdogan Declares State Of Emergency In Turkey
http://news.sky.com/story/erdogan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-turkey-10507647

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

Oh that's good. It's embarrassing she used to be an MP.

Just imagine if she hadn't stood down as an MP, she might have filled the Andrea Leadsom role.

She could have become PM this year!

Speak to some physicists and there's a universe where she did. Although possibly not for much longer

Never mind Mensch.. just think how lucky the Tories are to have Mrs May instead of Leadsom.

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/755864696511668224

Why the feck are the Independent entitled to "front pages" any more on paper reviews and the like?

Tissue_Price said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/755864696511668224

Why the feck are the Independent entitled to "front pages" any more on paper reviews and the like?

As the nature of the headline itself shows, media people don't like to move away from how things used to be.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

I was reading the details of that story earlier.. The dark arts of social media land are alien to me, but it was fascinating stuff.

Mensch really is a bit mental. Aside from the fact she made a complete bellend of herself with that tweet, the fact she waded in on the side of that Milo fella when he had blatantly instigated the horrible, gratuitous racist abuse suggests she needs a serious word with herself.

I learnt a new word too - noxxing!

FrancisUrquhart said:

Erdogan Declares State Of Emergency In Turkey
http://news.sky.com/story/erdogan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-turkey-10507647

He certainly seems set on dismantling the secular Turkey set up by Ataturk in 1922.

Paul_Bedfordshire said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Erdogan Declares State Of Emergency In Turkey
http://news.sky.com/story/erdogan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-turkey-10507647

He certainly seems set on dismantling the secular Turkey set up by Ataturk in 1922.

And the people, a majority at least, seem perfectly happy about that.

Tissue_Price said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/755864696511668224

Why the feck are the Independent entitled to "front pages" any more on paper reviews and the like?

Plus, although I don't wish to spoil The Independent's pity party here, can they really say Theresa has 'stirred antagonism in Europe'? From everything I've seen she's been businesslike, calm and collected. She hardly barged into Berlin, handbag at the ready and demanded her country back within the day!

Err do the BBC really have Mrs Clegg on as an impartial voice?

Scott_P said:

Charles said:

Was on a flight today. How did PMQs go?

@edcumming: If you enjoyed that scene in Jurassic Park where the cow is lowered into the velociraptor enclosure, you will enjoy the next few PMQ's

LOL!

Fenster said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

I was reading the details of that story earlier.. The dark arts of social media land are alien to me, but it was fascinating stuff.

Mensch really is a bit mental. Aside from the fact she made a complete bellend of herself with that tweet, the fact she waded in on the side of that Milo fella when he had blatantly instigated the horrible, gratuitous racist abuse suggests she needs a serious word with herself.

I learnt a new word too - noxxing!

Sorry - I meant doxxing...

Autocorrect trap.

numbertwelve said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

numbertwelve said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

Oh that's good. It's embarrassing she used to be an MP.

Just imagine if she hadn't stood down as an MP, she might have filled the Andrea Leadsom role.

She could have become PM this year!

That's the sort of nightmare alternative timeline that gives you sleepless nights...

Here's a thought that will make Mensch as PM seem like a pleasant dream.

At the next general election the choice could have been Corbyn v Leadsom, in one universe, that'll be the option.

Even worse - Angela Eagle vs Leadsom!

I admire Angela Eagle. She stepped up while all the so-called big beasts were cowering on the back benches and bitching about Corbyn in the corners. Labour's grandees have absolutely no balls.

MaxPB said:

Err do the BBC really have Mrs Clegg on as an impartial voice?

They've used convicted criminal Mrs ex-Huhne very regularly.

TheScreamingEagles said:

numbertwelve said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

Oh that's good. It's embarrassing she used to be an MP.

Just imagine if she hadn't stood down as an MP, she might have filled the Andrea Leadsom role.

She could have become PM this year!

That's the sort of nightmare alternative timeline that gives you sleepless nights...

Here's a thought that will make Mensch as PM seem like a pleasant dream.

At the next general election the choice could have been Corbyn v Leadsom, in one universe, that'll be the option.

Oh well, at least the UK public voted for Brexit

Tissue_Price said:

MaxPB said:

Err do the BBC really have Mrs Clegg on as an impartial voice?

They've used convicted criminal Mrs ex-Huhne very regularly.

We don't hear that much from Mr Huhne these days.

numbertwelve said:

John_M said:

numbertwelve said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

numbertwelve said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

Oh that's good. It's embarrassing she used to be an MP.

Just imagine if she hadn't stood down as an MP, she might have filled the Andrea Leadsom role.

She could have become PM this year!

That's the sort of nightmare alternative timeline that gives you sleepless nights...

Here's a thought that will make Mensch as PM seem like a pleasant dream.

At the next general election the choice could have been Corbyn v Leadsom, in one universe, that'll be the option.

Even worse - Angela Eagle vs Leadsom!

I admire Angela Eagle. She stepped up while all the so-called big beasts were cowering on the back benches and bitching about Corbyn in the corners. Labour's grandees have absolutely no balls.

Fair play to her for that, though it was after day upon day of incessant dithering that made Brown look positively swift acting.

I'm half convinced she never intended to declare at all, but it got reported that she was so many times she had no choice.

HurstLlama said:

Verulamius said:

Charles

I understand that you have an interest in matters high Anglican.

+londin announced the timing of his retirement yesterday: http://www.london.anglican.org/articles/bishop-london-announces-retirement-2017/

I would be interested in your thoughts on his potential successor, although any decision is unlikely to be made for many months.

Bloody hell, Chartres is chucking his hand in. Bloody shame, I twice hoped he make ++Canterbury. A bloody good egg, sound and with bottom. Genuinely sad to see him go, but I suppose he isn't getting any younger.

On the betting side of this I think you are very wise to ask Mr. Charles. He has in the past been particularly fortunate in his information about episcopal appointments, allowing me to make a few quid. The old Dean has gone now so I don't suppose the market will be as liquid as it once was.

Nonetheless, come on Mr. Charles, nose to the grindstone, old boy, ear to the ground and ferret out those tips for us.

He was never going to be translated to Canterbury - the women priests thing made it just too difficult despite his other merits (although +Richard's limp handshake was another terrible black mark in my view. Worst I've ever come across - like shaking damp spaghetti)

+Fulham was pushed aside last year, so manouvering has been going on a while. I just haven't spent the time to figure out who's been chosen yet.

Haven't validated yet, but I doubt that - despite the media articles - they will appoint a woman to +Londin yet. It will happen some day (either London or York will be first depending on the statement they want to make) but to do it straight after +Richard would be to spite him

HurstLlama said:

Verulamius said:

Charles

I understand that you have an interest in matters high Anglican.

+londin announced the timing of his retirement yesterday: http://www.london.anglican.org/articles/bishop-london-announces-retirement-2017/

I would be interested in your thoughts on his potential successor, although any decision is unlikely to be made for many months.

Bloody hell, Chartres is chucking his hand in. Bloody shame, I twice hoped he make ++Canterbury. A bloody good egg, sound and with bottom. Genuinely sad to see him go, but I suppose he isn't getting any younger.

On the betting side of this I think you are very wise to ask Mr. Charles. He has in the past been particularly fortunate in his information about episcopal appointments, allowing me to make a few quid. The old Dean has gone now so I don't suppose the market will be as liquid as it once was.

Nonetheless, come on Mr. Charles, nose to the grindstone, old boy, ear to the ground and ferret out those tips for us.

I'm not a religious person but Chartres has always seemed pretty solid to me. Am I correct in thinking that London is seen as just below the two arch episcopal sees? Interesting timing too giving Mrs May the first opportunity to use one of the few remaining prerogative powers. Wonder if she will appoint a woman or play it safe?

eek said:

Speedy said:

kle4 said:

Scott_P said:

@dizzy_thinks: Heard more than one Lab person say a mass of indys in Parliament could occur instead of a formal split. Much worse for Corbyn if true.

Of all the options, the rebels sitting as Independent Labour somehow but not actually leaving the party (Unless expelled I guess) seems more likely than a formal split. Still wouldn't expect it to be many though - people were saying some shadow cabinet resigners are already saying they want back in.

Well they can't practically win re-election in the next GE if they go independent.

The personal votes that they have are very small, and the policies they aspire quite unpopular in their seats, can you imagine Tristram Hunt trying to get re-elected in his seat as an independent or on some other party?

It would make the collapse of the LD look like a triumph, it would be lost deposits all over.
It would be 150 Independent Labour MP's losing their deposits in the next GE.

It might cost Labour seats though that it holds with majorities less than 2-3K votes, but there are not many in number.

Thinking about it more given that there are boundary changes that will probably go through this time around its utterly pointless..

Any independent former Labour MP standing will need to pick their constituency knowing that x% have not had you as their MP previously. So they won't stand a pray in the next election..

The only chance that they could win is to group together and even then the things they will be standing for won't be what their constituents want (remember the layers of divorce)...

I don't see how operating as 150-odd independents does them any good. I suppose it would make the rest of this parliament more bearable for them, but it's going to be a hinderance both to them and to moderate Labour beyond the dissolution of this parliament.

Long term, the only option I see is a split followed by some sort of arrangement with the remaining Lib Dems. Moreover, I'd expect such an arrangement to be electorally successful - detoxifying Labour by removing all of their most voter-repellent characters at one stroke.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tissue_Price said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tissue_Price said:

MaxPB said:

Err do the BBC really have Mrs Clegg on as an impartial voice?

They've used convicted criminal Mrs ex-Huhne very regularly.

We don't hear that much from Mr Huhne these days.

The period of silence from him has been welcome.

Remember when Chris Huhne was the major story on PB for months?

The government should hire him to work on the points-based system.

williamglenn said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tissue_Price said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Tissue_Price said:

MaxPB said:

Err do the BBC really have Mrs Clegg on as an impartial voice?

They've used convicted criminal Mrs ex-Huhne very regularly.

We don't hear that much from Mr Huhne these days.

The period of silence from him has been welcome.

Remember when Chris Huhne was the major story on PB for months?

The government should hire him to work on the points-based system.

Good idea. I'm sure he could get up to speed quite quickly.

BudG said:

Jonathan said:

The Elite simply don't understand Corbyn. He is reshaping politics. He represents the 99% and will win for them

You're wrong Jonathan. They understand him far too well, they realise how dangerous he is. That is why the full force of the media has been used against him from day one.

Ha haha brilliant. Oh you're serious.

I'll not have a bad word said against Chris Huhne.

Chris Huhne, alongside Rupert Murdoch were the main reasons I ended up becoming guest editor of PB.

Accrington Stanley!

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

numbertwelve said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

ToryJim said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Haha, in shocking news to PBers, Louise Mensch made a complete arse of herself on twitter today

http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/louise-mensch-tried-to-defend-milo-yiannopoulos-and-scored-a-spectacular-own-goal-instead--WyQKZKr6bLb

Oh that's good. It's embarrassing she used to be an MP.

Just imagine if she hadn't stood down as an MP, she might have filled the Andrea Leadsom role.

She could have become PM this year!

That's the sort of nightmare alternative timeline that gives you sleepless nights...

Here's a thought that will make Mensch as PM seem like a pleasant dream.

At the next general election the choice could have been Corbyn v Leadsom, in one universe, that'll be the option.

That would be a terrible universe.

But in this universe, the next POTUS is between Donald and Hilary.

Actually, come to think of it, I would rather either Donald or Hilary lead my country than Jeremy or Andrea.