Will June 8 Mean The End Of Labour?

[Kromovaracun]

I recall a few discussions on here about whether losing the next election would mean the end of the Labour party.

Apparently, most of the members might actually want that to happen...

http://www.politico.eu/article/1-in-4-labour-supporters-want-party-to-split-if-it-loses-election/

//
Fewer than 40 percent of respondents said the opposition party should remain in its current form and many — emboldened by Emmanuel Macron’s victory in France — see an opportunity to rebrand Labour, the Telegraph said.//

//Sixty percent said they would like to see Labour merge with the Liberal Democrats if both are defeated by the Conservatives, //

Pitifully small sample size of 500 though. Do you think this survey is representative among Labour supporters?

[jim360]

"I can see that [the election] resets the 5 year term."

What five-year term? We had a Fixed-Term Parliament Act and May just showed that in practice it carries no weight, as no opposition will ever vote against a call for an election. It will carry even less weight in future because the Tories have promised to repeal the Act for good.

[ichkeria]

Meanwhile the Tory lead continues to narrow: admittedly only to the level of 'huge gap' rather than 'enormous chasm'

[youngmafbog]

Yes Naomi, I certainly think students and the great unwashed dont look further than the end of their nose. If JC cn get them out of bed he may well pose a real threat.

TM needs to up her game, it should be hers for the taking but nothing should be taken for granted, look at the EU referendum!

Jim, the 5 year act was really to keep the Liberals/tories in so that the country could be got back on its feet. There is no need for it now so it should be repealed. I would expect all parties to vote yes on the repeal as it benefits no one.

[Old_Geezer]

Still there at present Jim.

[ichkeria]

The fixed term act still benefits the ruling party as it makes a vote of no confidence very hard to pass. A complacent government with a large majority might well see fit to bin it

[New Judge]

"Jim, the 5 year act was really to keep the Liberals/tories in so that the country could be got back on its feet."

I think it was more of a sop to Clegg to guarantee him the spare keys to No.10 for five years. I said at the time that Cameron should have bitten the bullet, formed a minority government, been defeated a couple of times in the Commons and called a fresh election. But hey-ho.

The FTPA is a nonsense as recent events have clearly demonstrated and it should be consigned to the bin.

[jim360]

Well certainly there's no point in keeping it in its current form. Still, I think the UK is fairly unusual in having flexible election schedules that are effectively set by the Prime Minister of the time (albeit with a maximum five-year limit). Obviously most countries have a no-confidence condition for early elections (with the possible exception of the US?) but otherwise fixed cycles are fairly common. It could have worked here too, and I don't think it's a bad idea in principle to take away the power to call elections as a political tool. But the FTPA clearly doesn't do that.

Personally I'd just stick to repealing Sections 2 (1) and (2), and leaving the rest of the act unchanged. Whether it would make a material difference or not to change the motion from “That there shall be an early parliamentary general election," to "That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government,” I don't know, but presumably it looks rather a lot worse to declare no confidence in yourself.

[Khandro]

Breaking news: I've just filled in my postal voting ballot paper and for the first time in my life voted Conservative.

[naomi24]

Well done Khandro!!