Op-ed: According to an ICM poll Monday their latest poll figures suggest the Labour party is not as far ahead as it should be at this stage of the political game. ICM quote: ICM Phone: CON 38%, LAB 33%, LDEM 7%, UKIP 13%, GRN 3% ICM Online: CON 36%, LAB 31%, LDEM 7%, UKIP 16%, GRN 4% The problem with polls is they are not reliable but they are usually used to suit. Ahead of the GE 2015 pundits were predicting a hung parliament and then miraculously as the actual polls closed switched to show a majority Tory vote which proved to be correct. That means the latest ICM polls can and will be viewed to suit but may be flawed. One writer at the Labour List, Luke Akehurst, a man standing for election to the NEC, Labour's governing body, was quick to respond to the polls tweeting: "Corbyn should put party above faction & resign. He has wrong politics to win an election, & lacks skills & experience to lead effectively." Why would a man who feels this way want to work as part of Labour's NEC? But Mr Akehurst has been saying similar for some time; he has openly showed a lack of respect for the party leader and more. I imagine that may appeal to those actively working to oust Jeremy Corbyn as party leader but will anger many more supporters and voters. Currently the Tory party is not just split it is disintegrating mainly over the EU referendum. Now could be the perfect time for Labour to unify and organise but many will think it will be a case of fighting a losing battle as self-servers within the party continue on their merry way. Tuesday Akehurst posted "Time for a reality check: Labour is plunging to historic lows" at the Labour List a website that often bears little resemblance to the Labour party and its supporters; it often reads more like an opposition publication. One can almost read the glee Mr Akehurst feels in posting yet another damning report undermining Corbyn's leadership. Akehurst may choose to believe that "ICM are often described as the gold standard of opinion pollsters in terms of accuracy" but we do not. He adds "And ComRes also showed us 5% behind this week" for good measure. Jeremy Corbyn has been party leader since September 12, 2015, and has faced a barrage of criticism from day one; criticism from within the party but mainly employees such as politicians not supporters and voters. He was elected with a huge mandate but some people will not be happy until he is ousted and the party split. You could understand that if attacks were coming from the Tory party but they are not. In January 2016 the Telegraph ran a live blog titled "Labour revolt: Shadow minister quits on live TV in fury over Jeremy Corbyn's revenge reshuffle - live." It is telling that report included tweets from Akehurst and some of his little gang. Jamie Reed @jreedmp tweeted "So people who campaigned, worked & sacrificed so much to establish the UK's most redistributive gvt ever are now 'hard right'. Inexplicable." And accepting the prompt John Woodcock MP tweeted ""Hard right" in British politics means the BNP. Shadow chancellor on media about his own MPs - destructive madness." Yet it appears fine for those three men to call Mr Corbyn's supporters hard left which following that logic must mean we are all raving communists? As a handful of disgruntled Labour activists and politicians jockey for position we the ordinary voters and party supporters are watching. That is not any sort of threat but a reminder that YOU are not the party. We are all the Labour party and without supporters the Tories will be in office for decades. Perhaps those planning a coup or coups think they can act this year and give themselves time to recover before the 2020 scheduled election but they are wrong. A coup could be that straw that breaks the camel's back for many Labour supporters. Those touted to replace Mr Corbyn may appeal to floating voters but will offer little to socialists or left-wing politics supporters. We do not need another centre right of politics party; we need a left wing political party in government and with help from those riding the gravy train that could become reality. Having tweeted for Corbyn to resign Akehurst back pedals slightly in his report Tuesday saying: Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have two and a half weeks to turn round our performance and win the May elections. How do you feel Comrades when you read that?
Oh the arrogance. I doubt Akehurst et al will be delighted if Labour does well in the May elections but it will shut the coup gang up at least temporarily. Most times we blame the right wing MSM for undermining Corbyn and causing party splits but who do we blame when it is these people and includes one man expected to be elected to the NEC? What future for the NEC and more importantly what future for Labour? Related: Open Letter to BDS, the Labour Party, NEC hopefuls Left Futures- Young Labour in Left landslide but chaos, manipulation & smears mar NEC election
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British political scene
The next General Election in the UK may not be scheduled any time soon but the British political landscape is changing. With that in mind this blog will concentrate on the political scene but with a left wing perspective. Opinion pieces and news will bring you the stories that the MSM prefer to ignore. Archives
September 2018
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