O/T Theresa

[jackal2]

I think most on here on here are correct in their assessments of the weaknesses and liabilities of the various politicians on both sides, but that gives Labour the much bigger job. As the Tories go (slightly) right and Labour further left the divide gets bigger and it becomes more difficult to get voters to swap sides. Currently both sides are playing to their own ********* but without a significant shift to Labour they will remain in opposition for ever. Labour's (allegedly) brighter stars aren't helping, with Clive Lewis bashing those unions involved in the nuclear industry as being the 'voice of big business' for daring to (wait for it) ... look after the interests of their members. Does this man know what a union is? Gaff of the week goes to John McDonnell, for me Labour's biggest liability-in-waiting, - he is 'making plans for a run on the £'. Why not make plans for there NOT to be a run on the £, eh John? - like get a policy or 2 in place which won't screw over the economy. Just a thought.

JC has done a few clever things tho. Firstly, kept quiet while May dies on her a**e, but he can't do that forever. Also, a few clever policies emerging which might appeal to all ie Land Value Tax (but hardly radical and a Miliband policy). The rest is soundbites and platitudes - as ever. Time for JC to step up, not hide away, methinks. Nobody does unity better than the Tories when the chips are down and if (when) May is replaced the boat will have sailed. Interesting times.

I think a lot of Corbyn's "momentum" comes from the relative novelty in this day and age of having a political leader with a genuine ideology that has remained broadly (not wholly, but broadly) consistent through his career. People know where he's coming from, and those that agree with him are enthused by this sense of purpose.

The Conservatives need someone who fits the same bill from their perspective, because they really haven't had one (as leader) since Margaret Thatcher. If they can identify someone who can do this, then as I've said above, there can be a true ideological battle which will serve the purposes of democracy very well, engage the public and give them a real choice. Corbyn's surprisingly good performance at the last General Election undoubtedly owed much to the mediocrity of his opponent.

Pretty much since Thatcher left office, the public have been presented by both sides with a procession of soulless career politicians whose only unwavering commitment is to themselves. The worst examples were of course Blair and Cameron, who passionately believed in, and parroted, whatever the most recent opinion poll told them the public was thinking. These types of politicians did horrendous damage to our democracy, not least because a generation of young aspiring politicians have grown up thinking this is the formula for success.