Concern about Corbyn
Membership was right were right voting for Corbyn!
Frustrated about the Labour party membership voted for serious change. Party was unable answer voter concerns, submitting to poor choices. Organisation failed to understand, membership wanted organisation to think differently. Clear membership won’t be conned or fooled many want guarantees. Party won’t return to the good old days of immigration mugs.
Many corbyn voters have bunker mentality, organisation done same in the past. World is against you, wants to destroy what you started. Many feel party wants to go back to the good old days without you. Narrative of Westminster Elite who hate what you done. Creating some of mental bunker won’t help must address any critics. Criticism is healthy thing but many offer uncritical defence avoiding substance behind it. Avoiding the criticism failing to provide, solutions or address anything.. Dangerous position cost us power in the past.
Many ‘moderates’ willing to admit that Corbyn voters were right. Started something which many believed was not possible. Should be respected channelled into effective direction with strong machine behind it. Mass membership lacks clear direction to be any advantage. Organization however must make effective use of this movement. Massive membership does not mean mass movement has started.
Many joined the party under the same principles. Throwing insults freely around won’t help you win any arguments. News flash millions voted conservative insulting voters won’t get votes. Corbyn voters must understand people with doubts are not blairites. Critics are not evil vampires, valid amount of criticism should not be ignored.
Family spoke fondly of Labour growing up, remember meeting Labour councillors. Membership history joined after GE 2015 defeat. Welcome Corbyn standing opened up the internal party debate. Still believe Corbyn standing was the right thing to do. Corbyn gained my 2nd preference vote with Yvette first choice.
Lukewarm support
Corbyn had my lukewarm support, hoped he would do better. Tony Blair moment forced Labour rethink how organization was run, thinking differently to win. Given Corbyn time but can’t support Corbyn him. Unable to grow within the role of Labour leader. Lacking leadership skills required to lead. Based on reports with general performance largely ineffective with no internal debate. Organization has taken on bunker mentality, worse time any group could do it. Various reports ranging former advisors to MPs saying the same thing. Concerning Shadow ministers not having discussions can’t get hold of him. Corbyn voters complained party did not listen, now Corbyn is doing the same thing. Incapable of leading if you can’t have internal policy debate.
Necessary to unite the party around your leadership in order to fulfill role of opposition leader. Can’t be successful playing tennis on chessboard. Ineffective in getting his message to general population rather incompetence within westminster. Failed in his daily duties making Labour party suffer as organization. Real risk that Corbyn could split the party. Corbyn greatest gift to Labour won’t be his leadership what comes next.
Nobody wants to let the Tories do whatever they want. My generation likely to feel pain for decades due constant weak opposition. Choice in front of us reunite the party, reform it creating effective election winning machine or crack it apart. More than willing to support Owen Smith, who can finish the job Corbyn started. Corbyn needs plan to deal problems not just slogans. Smith must offer guarantees to the membership. Both leadership candidates need offer solutions to problems facing the party.
Let’s talk about evil word called compromise
Milk comes in various varieties whole fat, semi skimmed, skimmed and other called fat 1% milk. Example you like whole fat milk, don’t have the income to buy semi skimmed or whole fat. Rest of your family does not mind the cheaper skimmed milk. Normally people compromise take into account majority view and minority view. Politicians are required to compromise ones who don’t have means to avoid it. Talking about politicians who can avoid making unpopular decisions. Can still have principles doing any compromise. Pragmatism is required dealing with many real life problems. Reforms without pragmatism get overruled later down the line compared to solutions which do. Best modern example which comes to mind NHS. Service has many compromises in place in order to exist.
Trying to make the point that compromises are not pure evil. Should not dismiss view of others if they disagree with your own views but find common ground. Instead make arguments which allow you get the compromise you desire. Can all disagree over bits of policy without insulting each other.
End of the day can still have principles when making any compromise. Humans are irrational we all make bad decisions and choices. Labour party made series of terrible choices post 2008. Compromises which was made in bad faith against reality. Undermined economic link to European union which provided us with Brexit result. Helped caused defeat twice in row made us question many values we hold as a party.
Centre ground problem
Centre ground large majority of voters who come together on series of issues. Political victories require compromises can’t win over any majority without it. Majority made up vast groups of voters, can’t win without winning large groups. Each group has own set of concerns, values and ideas. Worse certain groups are more likely to vote compared to others. Polling suggests Corbyn is deeply unpopular with every voter group. Weak support with young voters which is declining. Almost no support with big important voter demographics. Can’t reach every group using social media echo chamber.
Opportunity
Opportunity post Brexit building majority of voters. Party must be willing to listen, learning from the past. Fear small minority within the party, who don’t wish take advantage. Current leadership unable use movement it created. Hate terms like right/left wing apologize in advance for next sentence. Right created majority could times in row. Bringing together key groups to bring us Brexit vote victory. Left have created a movement, which must listen not become echochamber. Series of compromises is required can’t ignore that. All wings must come together can’t ignore each other. Left keeping the right honest giving it much needed courage. Right giving the left must needed lesson can’t change everybody minds. Compromises are required to rule and get what you want done. Leadership challenge provides Labour with major opportunity for us to work together again.
Big opportunity post Brexit and post Corbyn. Speaking for majority who clearly not happy. Very real opportunity to get the compromises required that so many desire. Very real opportunity to be destroyed.
Yes man
Corbyn greatest achievement could be Owen Smith. Like many of you don’t know anything about Owen Smith. Understand how some feel that Owen is just another PLP yes man who does not care. Every MP cares which why they decided to stand for public service.
Would you want job which get tons of abuse from the public? Death threats even the real threat of violence?
Already done job like that gave me mental breakdown. MPs are just normal people doing this role due caring. People can make choices you disagree with however they still care. May disagree with choices being made by these MPs but does not make them bad people. We all make choices which many don’t agree with. Understand how some feel that Owen is just another PLP yes man who does not care. Every MP cares which why they decided to stand for public service. Viewing them as the enemy won’t get us far. Rejecting viewpoints as bad faith does not win people. Labour party needs MPs to function within westminster. Stop treating people like dirt you would hate to be treated the same.
Dislike the show
Don’t dislike the politics of Corbyn however do dislike his leadership. Failed to turn the Labour organization around into winning machine. Media operation lacks the talent using mainstream media and social media to full effect. Total disregard for appearing on TV stations during prime time. Backroom operation needs complete redesign bringing in the best talent. Can’t place the blame at somebody else’s door forever. Can’t go on blaming the ‘media’ for various mistakes you done. Party is not functioning correctly time to change operation behind it. Journalists have reported finding it difficult meeting Labour leadership. Labour Members of Parliament reported the same issues. Press releases hours late, Journalists given it to late. Can’t name single new Corbyn policy discussed by Labour. Just views held by Corbyn on subjects quite frankly don’t care about.
Failed create clear coherent position which voters can remember. After European referendum made clear current operation is broken.
Government in waiting
Labour right now does not look like Government in waiting. Corbyn does not command the support of the party. No clear coherent policy position, opponents have defined us. Labour needs rethink current approach organization requires deep reform. Being honest can’t see anyway Labour can be in power. Principles are sound execution is incoherent, amateur student politics. Members of Parliament have tried hold Corbyn to account. Members who voted for him must hold him to account stop blaming others or media. Now in control of the party do something about it.
Political opponents have in past defined you, now time to define your own image. Clear coherent narrative is required. Fear small minority not up to the challenge. Corbyn Labour failing in the same way as new Labour did in the past
Way forward
Journalist Owen Jones produced this post on medium. Corbyn needs to address points by Owen Jones with solutions. Chris Dillow produced various blog posts on Labour. Most interesting talking about common aim shared by left/right wing view points. Radical idea floating around shared leadership, great solution which Corbyn could do. Shaking up the backroom operation at Labour is required. Organization should seek out talent over like minded yes men. Organization should combined resources upgrading digital backbone. Begin to address the communication problems between leaders office and party whips. Seeking out better ways to communicate with membership. Seeking out yes men who have no experience or talent won’t help. Locking people into small bunker does nothing.
Supporting Smith
Unwilling to offer unconditional support to Owen Smith. Leadership bid had better media management compared to Corbyn. Early days yet Smith showing strength even with social media. Addressing problems facing us plus providing solutions. Saying going to do better is not enough. Clear plan is required bringing on the best talent. Corbyn allies have blamed poor performance on others. Smith cannot be allowed to do the same. Do believe Smith is better suited and has solutions.