ReallyReallyGoodMeat

Indeed, you only need to watch a 40 year old episode of Yes Minister, or Yes Primeminister, to see how little politics really changes.

ScoobyWon't

This Corbyn fella just makes me think that Syriza has opened a UK office.

dpb

One more endorsement from Tb liar

the biggest champagne socialist in recorded history

andy97

iTrader: (1)

All I hear from the other election candidates is complaints about Corbyn, nothing what they can do, only how to stop him. Given his poll rating(Ahem, which we really believe) is now at over 50%, he is playing an excellent game, not joining in with the slagging off.

Alan Jeffery

Corbyn Labour leader? I'll place that order for the Allegro right away..

dpb

Its amazing how couples look alike isnt it

Yvette cooper could almost be ***** sister

andy97

iTrader: (1)

Seemingly betting companies are paying out already that Corbyn will win!

dpb

id love see him win , And **** over nulabia once an for all

Funkii Munkii

Had exactly the same thought

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

He is different and away from the blaire /cameron Etonian image with his casuals and rugged beard

More like a traditional hard working labour man who has dissapeared since Prescott retired and was replaced by the eton crew

He will struggle with the postion and I'm sure that many supporters will move over to ukip

Sad Weevil

iTrader: (1)

Corbyn has a lot of support from people of my generation (60+) and more importantly younger voters. They appreciate his straight talking, refusal to indulge in puerile attacks on his rivals, and policies that are aimed at improving the quality of life for all of us, not just the top 1%. What this country desperately needs is an effective and credible opposition party, and I think Corbyn could deliver that.

hodgy0_2

He will come under relentless attack from people who want to keep the status quo, and who peddle the increasingly ridulous myth that all that's required to get on in life is "working hard"

I meet plenty of people who "work hard", in reality they are destined for a pretty precarious and fragil future

As we carry on building a low wage, low skill, low aspiration economy

Sad Weevil

iTrader: (1)

I do think people are slowly waking up to this. In fact, I sometimes wonder if this present government will last the full term. I live in hope......

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

In your view, is Corbyn proposing anything that would change the facts on the ground, or would he merely be more open and honest than the rest about this being a myth?

SJ_Skyline

It's great to watch the so-called lefties running around foaming at the mouth in case a true left-wing politician is elected leader of a party that purports to be left-wing.


I sincerely hope Corbyn is elected leader as it will be truly catastrophic for the labour party.

hodgy0_2

We'll an easy place to start would be his policies on housing


http://www.theguardian.com/housing-n...-crisis-labour

They obviously would not benefit me, as I have done OK out of the housing policies of the last 30 years - but I suspect I am in a pretty small minority

dpb

The top brass are really panicked he might get in

hodgy0_2

Quite a large minority of people in London can't even afford a room (in a flat) these days

The new norm is room sharing

Sad Weevil

iTrader: (1)

The housing situation in this country is scandalous. Selling off social housing stock and creating a free market for homes was, to put it mildly, an act of gross irresponsibility, for the sake of political dogma and cynical vote winning. Social housing that is secure and affordable is an essential part of the country's infrastructure. Houses are supposed to be homes, not an investment opportunity. Same goes for other infrastructure - water, power, railways.

hodgy0_2

Yes I 100% agree

But I think people are so stupid they have simply bought the "hard work" narrative

They fail to appreciate that the cards are well and truly stacked (against them)

In a lot of ways, great for me and my children - the majority of the population, mmmmm I don't think so

c_maguire

'Right to Buy' was never a good idea and is the only one of Maggie's legacies that bugged me then and still does now. Not a cynical act on her part but the cynic in me certainly saw the naivety of it - you rent out property to (often) non-achievers at considerably below the market rate, then offer to help them buy the same at considerably below the market rate. And then expect them to become proud, responsible home-owners rather than sell it on for a profit (read 'another free handout').
Daft policy because it places an unrealistic expectation of responsibility on people who just aren't that bright. And causes resentment amongst those slightly higher up the ladder who have paid the going rate for what they have.

ScoobyWon't

Fixed that for you. The Ying and Yang as mentioned before.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I can see why she did it though; Many council houses were and still are poorly/cheaply built crap that needed billions to renew or renovate. What better way to off load the long term costs of sorting/maintaining them and privatise as much of the crumbling terraces, slab concrete prefabs, and those nice but expensive to maintain garden city projects.

This was never about "empowering the lower classes" a catchphrase I often here touted in the media. It was a cost saving exercise, and nothing more.

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

It's obvious from looking at that why the recent crop of Labour leaders have completely lost any appeal they had to the less well-off. The UK is probably unique now within the G20 in having neither a well-funded social housing system or an effective system of regulation for the private rental sector, with the obvious impact that has on anyone trying to get by on an average or below-average salary.

It makes no difference either way to me personally, but it would be interesting to see how this played out if he got in.

dpb

Have you seen the way a modern flat/house is constructed!

Maybe it's efficient , but its almost like it's temporary. Until some new richer foreign landowner has the cash to raze the lot and build something permanent .....

A lot of council houses of 40 years ago are solid

hodgy0_2

It was all about buying votes, nothing more

Thatcher had the same reservations as C.maguire, but she also understood homeowners were more likely to vote conservative

And as Dpb has pointed out, most Council house built 40 years ago make the current crop of new builds look like cardboard boxes

Anything that is not maintained goes to ****, and the councils had budgetary constraints that prevented them from doing just that

Sad Weevil

iTrader: (1)

Um, I don't think Farage is actually a candidate for the Labour party leadership.

JTaylor

Can you imagine Trump and Corbyn in a 'special relationship'?

dpb

What became of dame Shirley.

hodgy0_2

she fled to Israel and I believe she was successfully prosecuted (and fined) for gerrymandering