Off Topic Political Debate

I thought of replying too but decided the comment was too wide and woolly to be answered. Do we really think that either right or left wing groups have suddenly transformed themselves overnight - organised groups always produce an effect - they ebb and flow.

 

As we have discussed perception by the public is crucial when choosing a leader. Lets face it not many political party members really know enough about each individual candidate. Cameron was only elected instead of Davis because of his ability to conduct a rambling speech without notes, is that a reason to elect a PM? As I said JRM needs to tweak the public's perception of him, silly events like last night can make a difference.

 

You could easily be right. However if I were a betting man I would think that a moderate but younger leader would best get the next Conservative vote out. I am slightly puzzled by your stance. You recognise that Corbyn being towards the left harms Labour who probably need centrist votes to achieve power but then you think a Tory towards the right would not harm the Conservatives. Will the next election be fought and won in the middle ground?

 

The perception of Corbyn for many people is anti royal, a terrorist apologist and disliked by most of his MPs that presumably know him fairly well. He is also regarded by many older voters as an oddball objector allied to the far left and unions rather than as a uniting force.


I am obviously favouring JRM for his Brexit stance and his downright competence (so far). He would have to make the public forgive his privileged background and show compassion and strive to give opportunity for all, difficult I know for somebody with his polished accent. I am reminded of the troubles in Ireland when only real progress was made when the two extremes became involved. He could be a great or useless PM, who knows? He does seem to be one of the brightest and most original politicians around at the moment. He would have to claim to represent the middle ground, but don't they all?

 

JRM's blind adherence to some tenets of his faith and casual disdain of other elements should be enough for him to be allowed nowhere near No 10. They have no place whatsoever in a progressive enlightened society.

 

I am not sure what you mean by "allowed to be nowhere near No 10" but if you mean that the great British voting public should or would reject him then I am with you.

 

Hmmm. The reasons you cite to reject Corbyn are going to be by those who would never consider a left leaning Labour leader - I think his position on other matters - especially those that resonate with the young could be put on th eother side of the scales.
JRM on the other hand is not likely to attract anybody of a moderately left persuasion and many Remainers in the Tory fold may also find it difficult to support him. They tend to be to the left of the Tory party. If the Tories choose a leader towards their left those on the right wing will still support the Conservatives as they have nowhere else to go.
At the moment I think the Tories will hold onto May as she has a death-job on brexit that nobody else wants.

 

The SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson who was rejected by the electorate at the last election has resigned today. The SNP lost a large number of seats at the last election, has he realised it was all downhill from now on and abandoned a sinking ship?

 

Yes it was a bit incoherent <blush> I cannot blame it on alcohol so it's probably my intolerance of the man. I meant he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near No. 10 with his beliefs. What makes me most angry is that he clings to his catholicism to justify views on abortion and gay marriage but holds views on treatment of the poor which do not tally at all with the teachings of the Gospels.

For what it's worth I won't vote for Labour under Corbyn due to similar inconsistencies though that's obviously more to with ideology than religion if that makes sense.

 

Why do you think the ship is sinking? I still think Sturgeon is one of the best politicians in the UK.

 

I am the last person to try to support any religion - least of all the vile Catholic church. However they specifically have a teaching on abortion that rightly or wrongly JRM accepts "on faith". They are a lot more woolly on poverty and human rights though as you would expect from one of the most insincere and rich entities on Earth.

I would vote for Corbyn tomorrow if he allied with SNP/Plaid/and LibDems and campaigned to overturn the referendum result.

 

I probably would vote for Corbyn in those circumstances but am still pretty hacked off that he wouldn't put scrapping trident in the manifesto. That's the main reason I didn't vote for him but not the only one.

As a mischievous aside, I wonder how those nice people in the DUP would react to JRM as PM in the current Parliament...

 

That's a bit unfair. Corbyn would scrap trident tomorrow I am sure - but on this one he really is up against powerful forces in his party. Plus the great British public are a warmongering load of *******s. No other party will scrap trident.
Now you have brought a smile to my face considering JPM and the DUP.

 

The SNP lost more than a third of its seats at the last election. The prospect of Scottish independence seems well off the table now. The financial reality of not relying on subsidies from Westminster and the backing of the Bank of England has finally dawned on the majority of Scots. Scotland's current growth is a third of the UK level, not a good statistic for the present Scottish government. The recent tax hike for middle earners in Scotland may well see some leave for the rest of the UK.

 

No doubt the DUP would much prefer JRM to the prospect of an IRA supporting Corbyn government, no contest.

 

Yeah fair comment on Trident.

 

I am sure they would prefer the Tories under any leader - but it is still amusing to think of those arch Protestants faced with an out and out Catholic.
Yes nice soundbite about Corbyn and the IRA but apart from not really being very accurate it is a bit out of date isn't it?

 

The loss was from an unsustainable high though wasn't it? And the Scottish Tories fought a good campaign. The SNP will never abandon independence but may well choose when to fight that fight again. How does Scotland's growth compare with some of the English regions?

 

Yes.................

 

This may happen by the back door anyway. If the opinion polls are to be believed, unless there is a dramatic change, then we would end up with a hung parliament with Labour as the biggest party. Is Corbyn able to lead a centre left coalition ?