Strikes

[Paigntonian]

Interesting that 'Sir' Keir Starmer bans his shadow ministerial team from supporting trade unions on picket lines. I'm no Labour supporter but as the trade unions help fund the Labour Party this seems to me hypocritical. If a Labour MP chooses to support strikers on a picket line why should they not be able to do so?

[naomi24]

Gromit, //He has to lose one [a General Election] to be replaced. //

Unless that's a rule specific to the Labour Party - and I don't think it is - he doesn't have to lose a General Election to be replaced. We've just seen evidence of that.

[FatticusInch]

Ellipsis
> they’re speaking up for working people

//No, they're not, they're speaking up for some working people, i.e. their members.//

I meant working classes, but either way they’re taking and encouraging more action than Starmer, who as I said needs to capitalise if he wants to make political headway.

[ToraToraTora]

The problem Labour has derives from the public perception of unions. People still remember the wildcat strikes, the union dogma, the out of control union leaders like Red Robbo and Scargill. The strikes these days remind people of how they brought the country to its knees in the 60s and 70s. They try and distance themselves from their paymasters but it reality they need them so it's a bit of a tightrope walk. Real Labour cannot win with this state of affairs.

[naomi24]

//I meant working classes//

I often wonder who the working classes are. Most people are obliged to work for a living - and since they don't all belong to unions, the unions are far from representative of the 'working classes'.

[FatticusInch]

ToraToraTora
//The problem Labour has derives from the public perception of unions. People still remember the wildcat strikes, the union dogma, the out of control union leaders like Red Robbo and Scargill.//

Indeed. But ones at the GE the public may remember and will certainly be reminded of will be parties in lockdown, lies about sexual predators, the Brexit promises that have not even vaguely appeared yet, dishonesty in Parliament, spiralling crime figures, the cost of living and energy crises as bosses get huge bonuses, real-terms wage reductions and 12 years of Tory rule that has led to the present state of the country.
As IDS has said the Conservative party is staring into the grave, his words.

https://mobile.twitter.com/LBC/status/1566845817964691457

I’m not sure Truss realises the enormity of the task she’s chosen to take on, much less fathom it.
I hope I’m wrong.

[Ellipsis]

They are not speaking up for the working classes, they are (supposed to be) speaking up for their members. Their membership includes people who aren't working class, and the working class includes people who aren't their members.

Example: two rail unions, one goes on strike, the other doesn't. Which one speaks for the working classes? Neither of them! They each speak for their members. And Labour speaks for Labour.

[gulliver1]

Either one of the Miliband Brothers would make a good leader for Labour ,but of course they have the same problem as Sunak.

[FatticusInch]

I guess everyone has differing views on Lynch?
He’s certainly hitting the right notes with many.

https://www.ft.com/content/6aa489d8-32bb-4ac7-b064-d2efb9329eff

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/mick-lynch-the-working-class-hero-earning-grudging-respect-from-tory-mps-1703687

[naomi24]

Problem? How so, Gulliver? One of the brothers has already been leader. Not a good one, granted, but a leader nonetheless.

[gulliver1]

Naomi The brothers would never become PM Because of the same reason Sunak did not. Get it !

[naomi24]

No, I don't get it, gulliver. When a party wins a General Election its leader becomes PM. Miliband didn't win an election - and neither did his replacement.