The EU debate - Part II

Worse, they will destroy the Labour Party has hundreds of thousands at least will never vote for them again and they will lose any credibility as they'll have trashed democracy and gerrymandered their victory

 

This whole mantra that Corbyn is 'unelectable' is bollocks in my opinion, and moreover it's a deliberate attempt to try and destabilise him. I would hope that they more politically astute would see that and see through the media soundbites for what they are. Politics is about policy, not personality.

 

I've done this before, but I'll repeat it for those who didn't see it.

My old grandad was born in the East End well over 100 years ago. His working life started in the docks at the age of 13.

His whole life he voted Labour, despite the fact he'd eventually done relatively well for himself. I hate to admit it, but he was Alf Garnett incarnate. He, and his friends would have gladly strung up all the queers - his words not mine - from the nearest lampost. And put all the 'darkies' on the first boat home.

Now, I'm not saying that that extreme attitude is largely prevalent nowadays, but a diluted version of it still is amongst working people.

 

Of course there's no evidence apart from the evidence of history. You must have the swing voter to win a GE. They will never vote for Corbyn!

 

You're right. Please feel free to go ahead and try it. If you'd like a bet on the outcome, I'm well up for that!...

 

There are varying opinions across the whole Labour movement and the working class. But times have moved on, working class people now encompasses black, gay, immigrants, it isn't just the traditional white working class anymore. I grew up in what would have been considered a white working class environment and there was a degree of bigotry, and whilst that still exists the demographic has changed. There is a massive groundswell of support for left wing politics from the young, who will be the next generation of mainstream voters. The old 'I'm not racist, but.....' types are dying out.

 

So if I understand it, you are saying that despite leaking millions of voters since 1997 for being perceived as too right wing, and being wiped out in Scotland for being seen as Tory-Lite. Labour should continue to chase the 25% of the electorate that voted Tory instead of actually going for the other 75%, including the 35% who were too disenchanted to vote, the 40 SNP seats, and the people who voted UKIP because they didn't feel either Labour or the Tories represented the working class?

 

I just think you're a bit entrenched in your opinion. If people simply accept the media BS that Corbyn is unelectable then sure, he won't get elected. It needs people to stand up and actually make the difference, instead of giving up and saying 'it'll never happen'.

 

Labour still won every election from 1997-2010! Yes, they eventually lost favour- it happens - as it did to the Tories after 18 yrs...

 

Maybe Corbyn is electable. But only in a parallel universe. Maybe politics shouldn't be about personalities, but it is; Corbyn's core values, out of fashion for a long time, probably do strike a chord with a lot of people in austerity ravaged and recession hit modern Britain. But the man himself has zero charisma. He's like one of those hip vicars that gets a few youngsters to come to church on a Sunday but drives away what's left of the regular congregation - and the youngsters are just visiting anyway. Half of them will be voting tory once they're out of uni and into well paid jobs. Meanwhile, who is left to speak for the ordinary working joe?

 

I pay very little attention to media opinion. I read it, from both sides. But my opinons are my own.

Evidence from many, many GE's tells me that the British in general dislike extremism. They will take the middle path most of the time.

To win a GE, Labour and Corbyn would have to win back those swing constituencies that voted Labour in 97 and after, but turned Tory in 2010.

 

Yes my point, they lost voters continually until 2010 and then still tried chasing the story vote with Tory-Lite policies and ended uploading the whole of Scotland and haemorrhaging votes to UKIP, Tories, SNP, Plaid and the Greems. So not sure why you think a similar policy will work now. Especially as, unlike between 1997-2010, the press is mainly pro-Tories.

 

I totally agree about extremists, which is why I'm supporting Corbyn

 

Extremely cynical Would you vote for him if you thought he could be elected ?

 

Again, it happens! It has happened throughout electoral history. The public get tired of the prevailing Gvt, for whatever reason and change.

However, they are not going to change to Corbyn!....

 

In my view, and that of many others, he's an outdated extremist!...

 

I guess that would be Hilary Benn, Liz Kendall, Harriett Harmann, Chuka Umman, Owen Smith....

Ohh wait, actually most of those supported austerity and helped privatise the NHS by the back door

 

The thing is, Corbyn isn't extreme or particularly radical. But politics has swung so far to the right, that the media paint him as some kind of Trotsky loon who's hell bent on revolution. His policies would actually benefit the majority of working people in the UK, as I've said it's almost like Stockholm syndrome in modern politics, we think the nastiest, most ruthless people should be in control. Crazy.

 

Again your opinions have no basis to back them up and could have been plucked from the air or from the Sun's editorial.

Which policies do you find extreme?

 

And voted for Trident, bombing Syria and abstained on the Tories Welfare bill. 'Speaking up' for the working man like .....