tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post3939762479281411030..comments2024-03-27T09:14:27.496+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: The Left and the Labour LeadershipPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-82051773686024644132010-05-19T18:28:39.048+01:002010-05-19T18:28:39.048+01:00Yes as a non Labour Party member I think he is an ...Yes as a non Labour Party member I think he is an effective speaker and I hope he gets enough nominations, although I suspect he wont be able toDerek Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462511891409913195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-85816846077118253612010-05-19T06:07:34.290+01:002010-05-19T06:07:34.290+01:00I guess words are important here. There isn’t room...I guess words are important here. There isn’t room for an openly labelled *socialist* or *communist* party, but there is certainly room for a openly labelled Left party that is affiliated with the European United Left “europarliamentary” group (getting past CPB nationalism by not being so chummy with continental Eurocommunist parties) and that has a socialist programme of some sort.<br /><br />After securing PR via German MMP or purer PR, all that is needed is for Labour guys like McDonnell to ditch "yellow" tred-iunion whoring (the whole history of Labour in comparison to the pre-war SPD, inter-war USPD, and even today’s Die Linke) and be Britain’s Oskar Lafontaine.Jacob Richternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-19092220333694347892010-05-18T21:27:20.844+01:002010-05-18T21:27:20.844+01:00John McD. to stand for Labour leader.
http://harp...John McD. to stand for Labour leader.<br /><br />http://harpymarx.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/john-mcdonnell-to-stand-for-labour-leader/HarpyMarxhttp://harpymarx.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-44514944786981586052010-05-18T15:39:29.744+01:002010-05-18T15:39:29.744+01:00Though I am an avowed (non-Labour) supporter of Mc...Though I am an avowed (non-Labour) supporter of McDonnell's, and am therefore likely to be considered unreliable, I have to agree with what JJJ says above. I have no association or knowledge of McDonnell as an orator prior to 2006, but his address to OU Labour Club in 2006, followed by his participation in the Meacher-McDonnell-Brown debate demonstrates his talent as a speaker. He is engaging and very able.<br /><br />After the aforementioned debate, plenty of those who wouldn't be seen dead supporting him conceded his speaking abilities.Dave Semplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11876639425450919663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-60629993500514124332010-05-18T13:42:16.597+01:002010-05-18T13:42:16.597+01:00He comes across as wooden and inflexible and witho...<i>He comes across as wooden and inflexible and without a shred of charisma.</i><br /><br />That might have been the case three or four years ago, but is about the opposite of what everybody I know has said after seeing John speak in the last couple of years.<br /><br />Certainly compared to the personality-devoid Milibands or frankly scary Balls.Jackson Jeffrey Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03325278801162478418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-12102997032282974152010-05-17T18:16:41.514+01:002010-05-17T18:16:41.514+01:00I think the leadership debates have basically remo...I think the leadership debates have basically removed the chances for a vast selection of the population to ever become a party leader. Ok this process of style over substance was gaining momentum anyway but this has sealed the deal.<br /><br />You can put money on Eton having lessons in leadership debates.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-91178581900294135892010-05-17T16:48:41.522+01:002010-05-17T16:48:41.522+01:00" If John is to successfully get his candidac..." If John is to successfully get his candidacy accepted the LRC has to look beyond itself and its natural allies on the far left outside Labour and think about how it can pull the softer, centre left in its train. The opportunity before the left is too great to pass up."<br /><br />Phil, I'm not in the Labour Party so perhaps it doesn't really fall to folk like me to make this sort of comment but ...McDonnell may be a deeply admirable man with whose politics you feel a lot of sympathy but he is quite simply a a poor candidate. He comes across as wooden and inflexible and without a shred of charisma. Not his fault I know - most of us present like that under the spotlight. So let's just say he's no Tony Benn. <br /><br />You may want to use the leadership contest simply as a platform to air socialist ideas, but the rest of your party members, including the soft left, will be looking for a leader who can win them an election. So presentation skills do matter. & on these grounds it is hard to imagine which member of the soft left of the parliamentary party is going to support McDonnell to even get on the ballot paper.CharlieMcMenaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00942021756417667913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-68795958720733522412010-05-17T16:18:35.587+01:002010-05-17T16:18:35.587+01:00It would seem that the LRC have taken the standard...It would seem that the LRC have taken the standard left of Labour view-that if only we mention socialism/nationalisation etc then all will be well, we will find massive support inside and outside Labour, and will rush to a speedy victory. Reality of talking to those polticised by the Tory victory is of a very confused anti Tory mood, yet wothout much in the way of ideological clarity-a sure sign that the legacy of defeat and decline still speaks in the present. the LRC would be best to stand a candidate and raise ideas as you say, but also make clear that they stand shoulder to shoulder with a candidates such as the two Ed's, who appear to have union backing, and who are making clear that the LP needs to get back to its working class roots via the union link to the working class. Any approach which takes some faux Trot abstentionist attitude when McDonnel fails to win even a nomination will rightfully be taken as crossing to the side of the do nowt ultras who so despoil our environment. good post.Michael Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16480865556221247687noreply@blogger.com