willpower3
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Post by willpower3 on Oct 8, 2022 10:43:49 GMT
He's back in the news again. What if the plan for him to succeed Corbyn after the EU referendum had succeeded? I would say that he had the charisma and sense to make Labour more electable and perhaps might have eeked out a minority government in an election against Theresa May.
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Post by Merseymike on Oct 8, 2022 10:47:09 GMT
He's back in the news again. What if the plan for him to succeed Corbyn after the EU referendum had succeeded? I would say that he had the charisma and sense to make Labour more electable and perhaps might have eeked out a minority government in an election against Theresa May. Charisma and sense. Right. Given his involvement in Operation Midland he isn't fit for any public office. His record indicates an inability to follow anything through. But given he represents everything wrong with Labour, it follows that he has been offered a peerage. |
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nodealbrexiteer
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non aligned favour no deal brexit!
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Post by nodealbrexiteer on Oct 8, 2022 12:06:08 GMT
He's back in the news again. What if the plan for him to succeed Corbyn after the EU referendum had succeeded? I would say that he had the charisma and sense to make Labour more electable and perhaps might have eeked out a minority government in an election against Theresa May. Charisma and sense. Right. Given his involvement in Operation Midland he isn't fit for any public office. His record indicates an inability to follow anything through. But given he represents everything wrong with Labour, it follows that he has been offered a peerage. That 'we're Remainers/Rejoiners' bollocks showed his lack of judgment |
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Post by Merseymike on Oct 8, 2022 12:08:53 GMT
Charisma and sense. Right. Given his involvement in Operation Midland he isn't fit for any public office. His record indicates an inability to follow anything through. But given he represents everything wrong with Labour, it follows that he has been offered a peerage. That 'we're Remainers/Rejoiners' bollocks showed his lack of judgment I don't think he would have stuck to the 2017 policy which was the correct one and should have been retained in 2019 - a soft Brexit but no second referendum. |
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nodealbrexiteer
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non aligned favour no deal brexit!
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Post by nodealbrexiteer on Oct 8, 2022 12:10:07 GMT
That 'we're Remainers/Rejoiners' bollocks showed his lack of judgment I don't think he would have stuck to the 2017 policy which was the correct one and should have been retained in 2019 - a soft Brexit but no second referendum. Whatever it was he needs a shake |
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slon
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Post by slon on Oct 8, 2022 16:21:59 GMT
I remember the hole in one at the open
And he was over 60 at the time
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johnloony
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Post by johnloony on Oct 9, 2022 9:02:00 GMT
What a bizarre thread! I don’t even remember there ever being any suggestion that he might take over. Generally speaking, that’s not what Labour Party deputy leaders are for.
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stb12
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Post by stb12 on Oct 9, 2022 9:15:21 GMT
He’d have been too stressed to lose all that weight
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The Bishop
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Post by The Bishop on Oct 9, 2022 11:52:04 GMT
What a bizarre thread! I don’t even remember there ever being any suggestion that he might take over. Generally speaking, that’s not what Labour Party deputy leaders are for. It *was* discussed a bit when the 2016 "chicken coup" against Corbyn was on. But so were quite a few other possibilities. Speaking as somebody who tried to warn people off voting for Watson back in 2015, I have no doubt he would have been a car crash as leader. |
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Chris from Brum
Lib Dem
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Post by Chris from Brum on Oct 9, 2022 13:14:15 GMT
When did a Labour deputy leader last become leader, not as a stand-in, but through election?
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Post by LDCaerdydd on Oct 9, 2022 13:31:06 GMT
When did a Labour deputy leader last become leader, not as a stand-in, but through election? Attlee in 1935 and Foot in 1980. |
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Post by mattbewilson on Oct 9, 2022 14:33:12 GMT
What a bizarre thread! I don’t even remember there ever being any suggestion that he might take over. Generally speaking, that’s not what Labour Party deputy leaders are for. there was talk in labour circles online about it. Someone dreamt up this idea that if 170 MPs defected they'd form the largest opposition party and Tom Watson would be leader of the opposition |
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sirbenjamin
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Post by sirbenjamin on Oct 9, 2022 19:37:11 GMT
He had a sort of 'relatability' that I very rarely personally find in Labour politicans.
Tony Banks, Jess Phillips, Alan Johnson, Caroline Flint, Ed Balls (only after he quit politics) and not many others.
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Post by mattbewilson on Oct 9, 2022 21:47:07 GMT
He had a sort of 'relatability' that I very rarely personally find in Labour politicans. Tony Banks, Jess Phillips, Alan Johnson, Caroline Flint, Ed Balls (only after he quit politics) and not many others. he's an interesting character but a bit like Jess Phillips I think there seemed to be two very different people occupying the same space. You had this Tom Watson that was taking tips from Corbyn on cycling to work, doing interviews about the bullet proof diet, etc. then this Tom that had this representation of busting militant, bringing down Blair, etc. Jess is the same. There's Jess who tours North Somerset pointing at everything she'd nationalise. Then there's Jess who is being nominated for leader by Wes Streeting, Peter Kyle and whatever is left of that 20 odd strong faction in the PLP. I think Ed Balls does have this new persona that exists in the world of Strictly, etc. but I don't think it existed when he was in parliament but his parliamentary persona still lurks underneath it seems based on recent interviews. Alan Johnson seems to have gone the other way. In parliament he seemed quite a relaxed character. I think a lot of people would have been comfortable with him as leader. I was disappointed when he had to go as shad chancellor. I think despite Ed Balls being more qualified, that Alan would have done better job. His book is really moving. Since leaving though he seems to have become the serious man of politics. I think Caroline is straight up a normal Labour politician you'd see in the last 20 years. Brexit I think gave her something to stand out from the crowd. I've seen many interviews with Tony Banks but it's been at least 6 or 7 years so will have to rewatch |
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