Heh. You’d probably get a bigger turnout.
The point is that people were making out as if Benn was PM material. While FB can’t exactly be considered scientific, you can get an indication of levels of support for any figure or cause.
51 fucking members for “Hilary Benn for Labour Leader”. The Sotonians page has more likes 
Media guesses the reshuffle, gets it wrong, then dresses their own mistake up as a Corbyn U-turn.
Just a standard UK press day.
Worse than that, really. Media decides reshuffle is the only story of this week. Dodgy housing bill goes through this morning at 2am. Nearly all commentators focused on this reshuffle.
Some matey on Twitter was berating Corbyn for having the reshuffle now, as apparently that is going to prevent the new rail campaign from getting on the news. I explained that his position was based on the extremely shaky predicate of Corbyn having any control over what is written in the media about him, at all. If the reshuffle had not happened, we’d probably be discussing how his socks are a similar colour to a fucking terrorists or something.
And this is the real issue - all the trials and tribulations (real or otherwise) experienced by Corbyn are manna from heaven for the tories. They can slip out all sorts of bad news that would normally dominant the headlines. Whilst part of the noise will be right wing press agenda, and a 24hr news coverage that needs filling, I do think there is an element of media naivety in the Corbyn camp - whether that improves, remains to be seen
FWIW, I think DC played his hand as well as he could re the minister vote on Europe. Europe is massively devisive for the Tories and every leader going back to Heath has had problems with it. DC has at least headed it off at the pass. That said the campaign will still be acrimonious and painful, but not half as painful as ministers defying the whip.
Originally posted by @Intiniki
Shall we go? I’ve been to two. One in Glasgow (young people and women one) and one in Brighton (proper one).
I think it’d be worth it just to see the fringe meetings. What will they be now? Blairites huddling together for private finance initiatives in front of a shrine dedicated to Blair, Mandelson & Liz Kendall?
Sign me up!
I’ve been to a fair few in the past and even ‘moved a motion’ (!!!) at one, albeit a Regional one. My daughter went to the Women’s conference last year #proudmother
It used to be the case that you had to be nominated to be your constituency’s representative - is that still the case? I guess you can always go as observers and attend fringe meetings anyway.
Kevan Jones has stood down as Shadow Defence Minister, saying he disagrees with Corbyn on trident.
Who?
Originally posted by @hoofinruth
Originally posted by @Chertsey-Saint
Kevan Jones has stood down as Shadow Defence Minister, saying he disagrees with Corbyn on trident.
Who?
Dunno, but he’s the 3rd one to quit today!!
Yep, Jonathon Reynolds and Stephen Doughty. He wants to hope that this doesn’t turn into a mass resignation…
Three people that few have heard of. One is resigning because he would like to retain weapons of mass destruction, another is going because his mate was sacked.
Yet another “infinite crisis at the edge of doom” which is turning out to be nothing but.
Is there any point in Labour undertaking their defence review now - co-chairs who are unilaterists appointed by a unilaterist. What chance that they may say “actually this trident business is a good idea”
Actually if I were conducting the review on the basis of JC being PM, I would scrap trident because he has and will continue to tell whoever it is meant to deter, that he would never use it.
I went as a union rep previously so may try again. Probably as an observer you cold attend the fringe stuff.
Originally posted by @CB-Saint
Is there any point in Labour undertaking their defence review now - co-chairs who are unilaterists appointed by a unilaterist. What chance that they may say “actually this trident business is a good idea”
I think it’s crucial that they cover that policy area and get their case in order. Along with immigration, defence is the other area on which Labour looks weak. Trident is obviously part of that review, but they will have to suggest alternatives.
Personally, I’ve got huge problems with us using nuclear weapons in any sense - whether that’s using them or using them to threaten people. However, I understand that many don’t, and I could just about live with an independent nuclear deterrent, if that’s what people want. Trident is not an independent system; too many of the components come from the US and I suspect they’d never work unless we had US approval.
Actually if I were conducting the review on the basis of JC being PM, I would scrap trident because he has and will continue to tell whoever it is meant to deter, that he would never use it.
I think that’s where he’s heading. If he can perform the vital balancing act of beefing up the military in other areas that are of practical use to the armed forces, it’s not all that crazy an idea. Relatively few countries have nuclear weapons. Even fewer would want to use them. Only one has ever used them against a population.
Given all that, Trident is a bad deal. If we must have 'em, we should develop them ourselves. Otherwise, spend the 167bil on something we actually want to use.
Let’s hope our old pal Batman never sees this.
The bacon sarnie almost sent the fella over the edge.
So that live, on-air, shocking revelation.
Completely planned. Coming from the same organisation that used to imprison people for not paying for their propaganda.
BBC producer admits to setting the thing up. Deletes the blog post after the Internet goes fucking mental.
Are you really surprised - the BBC has just resorted to what the rest of the media has done for years. Every news oulet want to set the news agenda for the day, so timing is just as important as content. I remember reading in Piers morgans Diaries, that he used to be super smug if he managed to set the news agenda for the day when at the Mirror.
And that should probably read “ex BBC producer” now!!!
Originally posted by @CB-Saint
I remember reading in Piers morgans Diaries, that he used to be super smug if he managed to set the news agenda for the day when at the Mirror.
I suspect he probably didn’t need to pull that off to be smug.
I’m not surprised at all, but the BBC does need to adhere to its own charter. It could be argued that they’ve broken the rules of impartiality here, but then that’s just been the general direction of travel for the Beeb. Political team is now full of right wingers, Tory or otherwise.