Will the kiddie-winkies and the Neanderthals take over Labour?

I ask because that eye-ball rolling Leftie, Jeremy Corbyn MP, who entered the race for the leadership at 100/1 odds has now moved to 5/1 and there are distinct rumours circulating that he is now poised to take the Labour party leadership.  Obviously, the fact that he is somewhere to the Left of Karl Marx means that the Neanderthals who lead the unions are in full support.  In addition, there are the thousands of 'wannabe' Russell Brands who constitute the 'kiddie-winkie caucus' and provided that Corbyn can spell out his policies in words of only one syllable they, too, will rally in support.  That just leaves the rump of middle-aged, middle-class, traditional and fairly sensible Labour party members but their numbers, alas, have been shrinking for years and the past five years of 'the Milipede' have decimated their ranks.  On top of that, some Tories who are all "very naughty boys" have been joining the Labour party for £3 and voting for Corbyn - shockin'!

Whoever wins the leadership is going to face a truly Herculean task in making the Labour party electable.  Frankly, only an implosion by the Tory government will allow them even to sniff at victory for at least fifteen years.  (Mind you, the Tories are quite capable of it!)  Part of me is cheering and jeering but part of me is not.  Our system depends on a vigorous opposition to keep governments honest, well, fairly honest!  Fraser Nelson sums it up over at The Coffee House:

But on a serious note, Britain really would be the loser if Corbyn wins. If that happens, Labour really will go into meltdown – the question will not be whether it will win in 2020; it’s whether it will survive until 2020. Every government needs a strong, hungry and effective opposition – especially this government, which is prone to to alternate between complacency and panic. The depressing thing about David Cameron is that he just doesn’t function properly unless someone is holding his feet to the fire. [My emphasis]  If no one does, then we’ll have worse government. No one – Labour or Tory – will benefit.

Part of the problem is the decline of interest in politics in general.  The days when joining either Labour or Conservative parties was the norm for millions of people have long gone.  Ideology of any sort is not encouraged and government has become 'managerial', merely a corporate effort to ensure the trains run on time!

 

Comments

[backofanenvelope]

"merely a corporate effort to ensure the trains run on time!"

Not exactly succeeding there are they?

[David Duff]

Of course not, they never do but it occupies their little minds which should be concentrating on larger matters.

[backofanenvelope]

Perhaps if they concentrated on getting the trains to run on time, they wouldn't have the time to mess up "larger matters".

[JK]

"Polls" indicated Scotland was headed one place, "Poll's" indicated Greece another. UKIP "Polls" of course.

BOE should, in my opinion henceforth and forevermore run the "Polls" and we'll decide from then on

http://warontherocks.com/2015/07/memorializing-the-tunisia-attack-victims-and-camerons-phony-war-against-the-islamic-state/

[backofanenvelope]

I noticed the military style returns of the murdered holiday makers. And didn't approve.

[JK]

Not my flag certainly so I could not, in conscience ...

I'd hoped BOE you appreciated my regard

[Cuffleyburgers]

Labour are a worthless opposition party anyway, hopelessly wedded to tribalism and not a shred of principle.

Cameron's main opposition is within his own ranks, certainly on any important issues.

[jimmy glesga]

I too and my wife were a bit puzzled at the military style return to the UK. Seemed like a good Tory PR job that must have worked. Who would publicly complain! No doubt more civilians will be killed in the future by the fruitcakes so we may have established what will become a routine return of bodies.

[JK]

April 22, 1999 at 12:00 AM EDT

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR: "I am absolutely delighted to be the first serving British Prime Minister to visit Chicago."

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international-jan-june99-blair_doctrine4-23/

***

[Uncle Mort]

"The days when joining either Labour or Conservative parties was the norm for millions of people have long gone."

That may change if jointing your political opponents and voting for rubbish leaders becomes a national sport. Can't see it somehow, but the idea is appealing.

[BennyB]

Having spoken to some friends about the military return of the bodies there were apparently a few reasons:
1 - Acts of terrorism aren't usually covered by insurance so if it's decided that the taxpayer's money is going to be used to get the bodies home. It's easier to get the military involved who are more used to carrying multiple dead bodies at short notice than paying civilian airlines.
2 - The military likes doing things by the book and if the book says this is what you do when a dead body arrives, then that is what happens, if that means a few civilians get soldiers in dress uniform carrying the coffin then that's what happens.

I'm half surprised that the coffins weren't draped in the Union Jack / Flag (delete dependent on which type of pedant you are).

[JK]

"Delete which type of pedant you are"?

___________

Schoolmaster, from Middle French pédant or directly from Italian pedante, literally "teacher, schoolmaster." Person who trumpets minor points of learning.
___________

Shit BennyB, I are Arkansas. An' Hillbilly at that!

Where I was coming from and flags, in general, was simply to do with Honor. (Of course these days in the Southern USA ...

[jimmy glesga]

Some of those killed may not have wanted anything to do with the Union Flag. However I do think it was wrong for our government to do this. It is expected that a serving member of the military family permitting is entitled to a military funeral. A retired military member even in receipt of the VC is not entitled to a military funeral on death.