Jeremy Corbyn stays Labour Party leader with more support
LONDON: Many Labour Party MPs and others hold the view that leader Jeremy Corbyn cannot win a general election, but party members once again reposed their trust in him, electing him with more support on Saturday than when he first became leader last September.
The election was triggered soon after the June 23 Brexit vote amid allegations that Corbyn did not campaign strongly enough for Britain to remain in the European Union. The Labour parliamentary party passed a no-confidence motion against him.
Britain’s principal opposition party is placed in a piquant situation of its MPs subscribing to the view that Corbyn cannot lead the party to power in the 2020 elections, but growing numbers of party members increasingly rally behind him - almost like a personality cult.
Corbyn promised to unite the party after the election results were declared in Liverpool, saying, “There is much that unites us than divides us”. He insisted that he can lead the party to power by defeating the Conservative in the next general elections.
Corbyn polled nearly 62% of the votes cast, increasing his support from the 59% in September 2015. His challenger, Owen Smith, polled 38% votes in an election that some believed was not necessary and in which Corbyn’s election was seen as a foregone conclusion. The leadership election campaign aroused much passion in a divided Labour Party that is widely seen as struggling to present a strong opposition to the Theresa May government, particularly in the post-Brexit vote situation. There has also been talk that Corbyn’s re-election may split the party.
The left-leaning The Guardian said it “would welcome an electable, effective Labour Party as an indispensible part of progressive politics. It would have important work to do. But for that Labour Party to return, the leader and his party must be judged on three main things, starting now”.
“The first is the leader’s ability to bring the party together again, not force it apart. That means mutual respect for all Labour’s currents of thought, not purges. Further leadership contests, deselection of MPs and organisational battles should end”.
“The second is his ability to reach out to the electorate and build support. That means listening more to the non-Labour and the formerly Labour parts of Britain, and working with them too, for Labour has never had the monopoly of progressive virtue and has never won without support in the centre.”
“And the third is the leader’s need to draw up a properly costed economic and social programme for government in the national interest, above all in relation to Brexit, in a general election that may come as early as next year.” WASHINGTON: Will Donald Trump talk abut the size of his hands again? Or will he withdraw into the background with his pout, only to charge back to viciously attack the moderator? Or, going by his recent makeover, will he be cool, restrained and presidential?
Will Hillary Clinton drown herself in policy minutiae? Or slow-bob her head as she listens, with a plastic smile slapped on? Or will she finally break out of her iron reserve and display a side of herself that is warm, endearing and believable?
Brew yourself a strong coffee or tea on Tuesday morning, when the first presidential debate gets under way in a New York university; it will be late on Monday in the US and the beverage of choice is likely to be something stronger, differently aromatic.
The first on-air showdown of the 2016 race for the White House is expected to draw upwards of 100 million viewers. It will be crucial as the race has tightened in recent days, with Trump not only wiping off the lead posted over him by Clinton after the Democratic convention but also overtaking her in some polls.
Ted Cruz announced on Friday he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face that may help unite the Republican Party months after the Texas conservative called Trump a “pathological liar” and “utterly amoral.” Trump had nicknamed him “Lyin’ Ted,” insulted his wife and linked his father to the John F. Kennedy assassination.
When asked abut his age and ability to cope with the rigours of office, Ronald Reagan deadpanned, “I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience”
As the room erupted, even Mondale couldn’t help himself and broke into a grin.
Michael Dukakis, opposed to the death penalty, was asked what if his wife was raped and murdered? Would he favour the death penalty for the killer?
Dukakis' principled answer made him look cold and heartless. Bush went on to win versus
Running for a second term, Bush seemed impatient debating challengers Bill Clinton and Ross Perot
He looked at his watch, misheard questions repeatedly, and had to be prompted by the moderator to clarify his answer. Bush lost to Clinton
Romney thought he’d caught Obama out on an inconsistency. “You said... the day after the (Benghazi, Libya) attack was an act of terror?"
Romney turned to the moderator, asking her to note and seal what he thought was a lie. But she sided with the president, saying, “He did, in fact, sir”