Labor tried to fool the public into thinking that money was no object, which made the manifesto look like the wish-list of a pressure group rather than a serious plan for a potential party of government. But the main problem at this election wasn’t the manifesto; the main problem was Corbyn. A weak, self-regarding, pious man incapable of leadership.
Indeed, most of his Momentum supporters despise the very concept of leadership. All decisions must be made by the rank-and-file, which effectively means a clique of activists and Len McCluskey.
The Working classes looked at Corbyn and saw somebody who was unpatriotic to the extent that the country’s enemies were his friends. They hated his pacifism, his simplistic division of the world between evil oppressors and their victims, his disdain of aspiration.
Most of all, they didn’t recognize themselves in Corbyn’s depiction of working-class people as having no individual identity, only a collective role as part of the downtrodden masses. They decided well before this election and irrespective of Brexit that they would never let him cross the threshold of Downing Street. ************
HuffPost’s executive editor for politics, Paul Waugh, says John McDonnell’s refusal to include Lisa Nandy in his list of preferred labor leadership candidates (Marr prompted him twice but McDonnell did not respond (see 9.) ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************is significant
The treasury minister, Rishi Sunak, was asked by Andrew Marr this morning about reports in the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph that the government plans to make sweeping changes to reform the civil service.
He replied:
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I think we want to make sure that government works effectively to deliver for the British people.
Pressed on the matter, Sunak did not answer directly.
He was also asked if non-payment of the BBC license fee should be decriminalized ( the Sunday Telegraph reported that Boris Johnson is planning to do just that, Sunak said:
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That is something the prime minister has said we will look at and has instructed people to look at that.
He was also asked about the delayed report on Russian interference in British politics.
BBC Politics(@ BBCPolitics)
# Marr: When will the Russia report be published?
Conservative Rishi Sunak: “I can’t tell you exactly when … it. will be published when it is appropriate ”https://t.co/MXoJrGRmmSpic.twitter.com/IYsnyrNwuh
December (****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************, ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I missed the beginning of the John McDonnell interview on Marr as I was tuned into Sophy Ridge on Sky but he apologized for his role in the election defeat.
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It’s on me, let’s take it on the chin, I own this disaster so I apologise to all those wonderful labor MPs who have lost their seats and who worked so hard.
I apologise to all our campaigners, but most of all I apologise to those people who desperately need a Labor government. Yes, if anyone’s to blame it’s me, full stop.
BBC Politics(@ BBCPolitics)
“If anyone’s to blame, it is me”
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell apologises on (# Marrfor Labor’s election campaign “disaster” (https://t.co/l3uOT6jUeT pic.twitter.com/IYkBh1Ycq0
Nicola Sturgeon insisted on the Andrew Marr show that Boris Johnson’s position on continuing to deny the SNP a second independence referendum is wholly undemocratic.
Describing it as a “subversion of democracy” that the Tories were “raging against the reality” of the election result in Scotland, which saw the SNP win (out of) ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** seats while the Scottish Tories’ MPs were reduced by half, she said: (**********************************
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It really is such a subversion of democracy that we’re sitting here the Sunday after an election and you’re talking to the leader of the party that overwhelmingly won the election and I’m under pressure to Say what I’m doing because the mandate that I won is not going to be honored by the party that got roundly defeated in Scotland. It is just such perversion and subservion of democracy that it will not hold.
Asked what she intended to do if Johnson continued to refuse to granT the s 32 order to hold a legal referendum, she repeated her pledge that she would not want to hold an illegal Catalan-style vote, but added:
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I said to him on the phone on Friday night, If he thinks saying no is the end of the matter he’s going to find himself completely and utterly wrong
You cannot hold Scotland in the union against its will. You cannot just lock us in a cupboard and turn the key and hope everything goes away. If the United Kingdom is to continue then it can only be by consent. IfBoris Johnsonis confident in the case for the union then he should be confident enough to make that case and allow the people to decide.
BBC Politics(@ BBCPolitics)Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland ‘cannot be imprisoned’ in UKhttps://t.co/UxZJK0VYqx (December) ,
Updated (at 5.) ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** am EST
Corbyn was undoubtedly part of the problem but it is too simplistic to say it was all about one man or one issue, says Nandy.
She says many people liked what they put forward in the manifesto.
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I think it’s about trust … we’ve got to rediscover how we can earn people’s trust.
Marr asks Nandy if she will vote for the withdrawal bill.
She says she will vote for it on the basis that Boris Johnsonand his Team are willing to consider a customs union at the committee stage. But Nandy says she doubts that will be the case and thinks the election campaign suggests the Tories will go for a hard Brexit. If that’s the case, Nandy will not vote for it, she says.
Lisa Nandy ‘seriously considering’ leadership bid
Here’s Labor MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy talking to Marr now. She is asked straightaway if she will stand as leader.
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I’m seriously thinking about it.
BBC Politics(@ BBCPolitics)
# Marr: Are you going to stand as Labour’s next leader?
Lisa Nandy: “I’m seriously thinking about it” (https://t.co/zpHFpvKnQVpic.twitter.com/zJga3g7woR (December) ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************,
She adds that the party. needs to take a look at how to take that long, hard path to power.
Nandy says regional and constituency offices have very little power with the HQ in London.
The trouble is unless we tackle structural problems we won’t be able to hear what people are saying outside London and address their concerns.
She says there is no reason for the party HQ being in London.
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Our headquarters should be moved outside London.
She also says party conferences should be held in towns and not just cities.
Updated (at 4.) ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** am EST
He responses 8 – 09 weeks, sometime in the New Year.
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We’ll have a new generation of leaders coming in.
Are you and Corbyn hanging on to ensure your choice – Rebecca Long-Bailey – gets in, Marr asks?
McDonnell insists they’re not able to do that but adds: “Becky is brilliant.” He also name checks Angela Rayner.
Could he stomach Jess Phillips, an ardent critic of Corbyn, as leader?
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I’d prefer others.
A couple of times, Marr suggests Lisa Nandy, who fits McDonnell’s profile as a non-Metropolitan, northern, woman, but McDonnell does not directly reply.
Updated (5). ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** am EST
John McDonnell blames Brexit and the media for Labor’s defeat
Over on BBC One, the shadow chancell or, John McDonnell is speaking to Andrew Marr.
Marr says Corbyn went down very, very badly on the doorstep.
McDonnell tells Marr: “If anyone is to blame it is me, full stop.” He also says it was Brexit that did it but also that “the media did a job on Jeremy for four years” .
He says that when Corbyn had the opportunities on broadcast media he was seen as the most trustworthy leader.
Marr says his leadership poll ratings were “catastrophic.”
McDonnell says Boris Johnsonis a “proven liar”, while Corbyn is know for his honesty and principles.
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We need to examine the nature of our politics.
He refers to a study which found that
McDonnell says Corbyn was targeted as is anyone who challenges the establishment.
BBC Politics(@ BBCPolitics)
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell discusses Laborer’s defeat on# Marr
*** The establishment owns the media in this country … anyone who challenges the system, of course the system will throw the kitchen sink at you “https://t.co/mLkgssZMx8pic.twitter.com/VXbBatGJjG
He says he does take responsibility for the defeat and one of the things he takes responsibility for is underestimating the extent of the media attack.
Updated (at 5.) ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** am EST************
Iain McNicol, former Labor general secretary, tells Sophy Ridge, that not enough resources were put into holding onto Labor seats.
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Too much of the resources … was going into Chingford, Uxbridge, seats we were never going to win.
He also saysJeremy Corbynwas a negative factor on the doorstep.
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The biggest issue … was Jeremy and [people doubting] his ability to become prime minister.
Sophy Ridge on Sunday(@ RidgeOnSunday)‘The biggest issue was Jeremy and his ability to be prime minister’ – former Labor General Secretary
@ IainMcNicolsays Jeremy Corbyn and Corbynism needs to take responsibility as to why the Labor Party suffers its worst general election performance since 1935.# Ridgepic.twitter.com/IDdiaToR (December) **********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************,
McNicol says Corbyn should stand down now and there should be a caretaker leader such as Harriet Harman, Hilary Benn or Yvette Cooper.
McNicol is asked if he takes any responsibility for the failure to tackle antisemitism as John McDonnell said it dated back to his stewardship.
McNicol says he does but ultimately Corbyn was leader and it “started and rose under Jeremy Corbyn”.
explains his role in the antisemitism problems within the party.# Ridge
For more, head here:https://t.co/MO2scDZSUr****************************************************************************************************** pic.twitter.com/Xr5SnOusRr
************ (December) ,
Updated (at 5.) am EST
(4.) amEST06:
If you refresh this page, you will see that I have added some video clips from some of this morning’s interviews. Please also note that comments are now open.
Richard Burgon backs Rebecca Long-Bailey for Labor leadership
Ridge asks Burgon what the biggest mistake was?
He says time is need to analyze that but it was perhaps underestimating the desire of people who vote to leave to exit the EU.
Sophy Ridge on Sunday(@ RidgeOnSunday)
“I think the biggest mistake the Labor Party made was perhaps underestimating the desire for people who voted Leave to leave the European Union.”)
Shadow Justice Secretary @ RichardBurgontells@ SophyRidgeSkythinks Brexit was the greatest factor in Labor’s defeat. (# Ridge) pic.twitter.com/uYsq2K (w8) ************** (December) **********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************,
Ridge says Jeremy Corbyn came up over and over on the doorstep (in a negative way).
Burgon says people repeated headlines the Sun and the Daily Mail published. He says that when he campaigned on the doorstep for Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband, concerns were also raised on the doorstep.
Burgon says on the doorstep people said Corbyn was racist and a terrorist sympathiser but says these were lies that were the product of right wing newspapers.
Ridge suggests he is treating voters as stupid, implying they are unable to think for themselves.
Will Burgon run for the leadership?
He says he would like to see Rebecca Long-Bailey as leader because she understands Northern seats and could help win back seats Labor has lost.
Sophy Ridge on Sunday(@ RidgeOnSunday)
“I’d like to see Rebecca Long-Bailey as leader of the Labor Party.”
Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon backs the shadow business secretary to be the new leader of the Labor Party.
Burgon says he is considering running as deputy leader. But he says the focus for now should be the people “missing out” because we haven’t got a Labor government.
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