Off Topic The QPR Not 606 Rolling Election Poll

A lot of hunts on QT tonight!

 

So far, it's been interesting to see Farage being bullish and trying to be all smiley, Tristram Hunt is coming across as an arrogant, loudmouthed activist, Brian May wants to divert the questions all the time, the lady from the Grauniad seems to be switching between all the parties (arguably because she doesn't know who is the strongest) and Jeremy Hunt appears the calmest of the lot - although he is letting Tristram Hunt have it now they are talking economy)

 

The woman is editor in chief of the Economist mate. Slightly different viewpoint. Stopped watching when I noticed Family Guy was on.

 

She didn't really impress on me that she had any personal viewpoint, so I was left wondering why she was there at all

 

We have a Double referendum vote in Ireland next Friday to make amendments to the constitution to allow;

1. Same sex marriage.

2. Lowering the age required for a Presidential candidate from 35 years to 21 years of age.

 

So your nephew I met could soon be in with a shout?

 

Or even Joey Essex...

 

Chuka Umunna has decided not to run for Labour's top job after realising how much scrutiny prospective leaders get.....

 

But he's not Irish?

 

Skeletons in the cupboard? You don't honestly think he had a 'eureka moment' do you? Not your usual Labour type...

 

Mandleson's protege.......would never win back the temporary kippers up north. Bullet dodged by Labour, though the rest don't seem an inspiring bunch so far.

 

Can't imagine Tristram being popular oop north. Yvette Cooper is probably the most able, but Andy Burnham would have the most public appeal.

 

Plus Yvette Cooper would have hubby as a sounding board, get Cooper get Balls, so to speak.......

 

I think Alan Johnson is probably their best bet as someone who will be respected and has the experience required. Unfortunately, there are far too many senior Labour politicians who are so conceited they think the voters are wrong, a bit like the condescending luvvies who have been choking on their muesli since last week.

Whoever gets the job faces a hell of a battle as the unions are becoming the albatross around Labour's neck...

 

Johnson's ruled himself out, sadly.

I wouldn't have thought the unions are much of a factor any more.

 

They're enough to influence the manifesto, that was a part of the settlement of the review of Public Sector Pensions in 2005. As long as they have that hold on Labour it will be very difficult for them to win over the middle ground where elections are won or lost...

 

Alan Johnson is a life long Rangers fan by the way.

I sat next to him a couple of seasons ago. Nice chap.

 

It's looking like the Labour leadership will go to the last one not to drop out. A dispiriting bunch.

I was quite taken with Stella Creasey on QT tonight, but she's not standing, sadly.

 

Labour leadership now feels like an irrelevance to me. Nearly everyone going on about 'aspirations', support for business, immigration etc and essentially how they need to be more like the Tories. Usually when faced with a choice between a real something and an ersatz something I'll pick the real one.

 

I'm no political commentator but surely the Labour party can collectively see the pointlessness of emulating the Tories.

If the next five years go well then the Tory swing voters would stick anyway.

They just need to do what they always do which is appeal to the younger and the poorer. There should be a number of those in the UKIP vote which should diminish anyway once the referendum has been done.

The biggest way the election was lost was by uninspiring leadership and the petit "not them" debate rather than a strong "this is us" identity.

A strong, charismatic leader who places the party as a viable alternative is more appealing than one that hopes everyone prefers red than blue when voting for the same.

If they rush it then they'll end up with a more ambitious type whereas if they let candidates appear on the back of parliamentary debate and vote then they'll end up with a more robust idealist one. They should go for the latter IMO.