Labour party rebranding

Quoted from Manchester Mariner

I'm well up for some sort of proportional representation system rather than the first past the post set up. There was a referendum on it tagged onto a voting slip 10 years back or so, I forget if it was a general/local/council election but either way it was strongly voted against. People fear change and are sadly happy with just deciding red or blue.

I think it was more likely because the version of PR we were presented with as an alternative to FPTP was a version created by a government that was in power because of FPTP and didn't want to change things.It was deliberately made to look awful and it was. I always feel that if a true version of PR had been suggested then we may well be using it now.

PR or FPTP makes little difference if the leader is weak. We need strong leadership and I'm struggling to remember one in my life time.

FPTP in reality provides a dictator and I think of Blair. Thatcher was also the same but provided strong leadership at the time of the Falklands war.

Today we have wimps in parliament, let out a "leak" too many don't object so we'll make it policy!!!

Johnson is in the perfect position to be a politician in 2021, in our fast food world of journalism and media. He is quotable, instantly recognisable, aesthetically flies in the face of your stereotypical politician.

Think of all the millions of people who do not really "do" politics in any real depth... if you turn up to cast your vote in an election with zero notion of what anybody's actual policies are, but are vaguely aware of who the main players are, Johnson stands head and shoulders above Starmer.

I'm not convinced Johnson has much drive in terms of ideology or policy, but simply likes power and knows how to play the game.

Quoted from kafunanapar140909

Johnson is in the perfect position to be a politician in 2021, in our fast food world of journalism and media. He is quotable, instantly recognisable, aesthetically flies in the face of your stereotypical politician.

Think of all the millions of people who do not really "do" politics in any real depth... if you turn up to cast your vote in an election with zero notion of what anybody's actual policies are, but are vaguely aware of who the main players are, Johnson stands head and shoulders above Starmer.

I'm not convinced Johnson has much drive in terms of ideology or policy, but simply likes power and knows how to play the game.

As opposed to being one of the 600+ politicians who do you think stands out as a statesman today, to lead the country

Quoted from DB

As opposed to being one of the 600+ politicians who do you think stands out as a statesman today, to lead the country

Crikey, that’s a tough one! Depends what you mean by a “statesman”, or “leader”.  

In my opinion it’s about time Labour had a woman in charge. Ardern has been impressive down in New Zealand so it’d be good to see a strong character like her emerge. In Labour Lisa Nandy has been quietly building up her reputation, did far better than anyone expected in the last leadership campaign, though I think it’ll be a while before she can seriously make a stand for leader – she’s a little young atm. Angela Rayner seems fairly popular and Emily Thornberry is quite a strong character, but can anyone realistically see Labour coming close in the next election? My favourite female MP is Caroline Lucas but being a Green she’s never going to wield any real power.

I’m far less impressed with the male politicians in Labour currently. I rate McDonnell and Corbyn more highly than the current lot. I know someone who’s mates with Richard Burgon (MP for Leeds East) who was supposedly highly rated as a promising one for the future, but he was in under Corbyn - Starmer kicked him out of his shadow cabinet.

Short answer is I don’t know!

Quoted from kafunanapar140909

Crikey, that’s a tough one! Depends what you mean by a “statesman”, or “leader”.  

In my opinion it’s about time Labour had a woman in charge. Ardern has been impressive down in New Zealand so it’d be good to see a strong character like her emerge. In Labour Lisa Nandy has been quietly building up her reputation, did far better than anyone expected in the last leadership campaign, though I think it’ll be a while before she can seriously make a stand for leader – she’s a little young atm. Angela Rayner seems fairly popular and Emily Thornberry is quite a strong character, but can anyone realistically see Labour coming close in the next election? My favourite female MP is Caroline Lucas but being a Green she’s never going to wield any real power.

I’m far less impressed with the male politicians in Labour currently. I rate McDonnell and Corbyn more highly than the current lot. I know someone who’s mates with Richard Burgon (MP for Leeds East) who was supposedly highly rated as a promising one for the future, but he was in under Corbyn - Starmer kicked him out of his shadow cabinet.

Short answer is I don’t know!

Red or blue I cannot see one politician who stands out as a statesperson (hope the grammar is ok) or strong dominant leader for the country.