What about a
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/qa-how-will-the-labour-party-choose-its-next-leader
more on how Labour will elect their next leader. They've first got to get 10% of the Parliamentary support from Labour MPs so at least 20. Not clear on MEPs counting if election is held by end of March.
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...ns-as-senior-figures-back-rebecca-long-bailey
yep. On face value she is way too light weight, but who knows how she would develop into leader. Enough to win in 5 years? Difficult to see at this point, but who else? Labour could also now do with a female leader, if Starmer doesn't get support from the Unions.
The only way Tories are going to lose a 80 seat majority in 5 years is if they really do stuff up Brexit and fail to deliver to the Northern voters who have really lent their votes to Boris to get the uncertainly over with. The only way now is for this majority to diminish next time round.
Electorally speaking Labour and Lib Dems couldn't be any lower. So the only way is up now.
I agree with your point that for there to be any hope of a hung parliament or a labour win then Conservatives really have to bugger up Brexit, have a struggling economy and still have huge issues with the NHS and other services like police. Possible, but a long way to go.
On top though they also need someone who can bring back the labour voters lost and win some centre voters from the Tories. That's simply not Rebecca Long-Bailey as long as the extreme left in Labour continue to believe that they can drag everyone over to their way of thinking. They need someone closer to the centre, but who is still far enough on the left to be different to the Tories and offer a clear alternative as Johnson is likely to take the party back towards the centre with this majority as he no longer needs to likes of the ERG. They also need to purge the party of anyone even remotely linked to antisemitism. If they still appear weak on it then they have no hope. Also need to limit momentum's influence and the NEC's. It's a big ask for any leader. I think Starmer won't have the support of the unions/far left of the party and as a londoner wouldn't be able to win back the north.
I'd personally go with Jess Phillips as leader (maybe early, but she's not a puppet of the left, she's young and northern and has shown that she can stand up to those in power and then have Starmer as chancellor/deputy leader to help bring those in the centre who voted Tory last time. Then maybe have a corbynite as deputy to represent that side of the party.
Thornberry would be another liability on the doorstep and is already underattack from those in her party, so is unlikely to bring it together.
I haven't read much about Lisa Nandy or Angela Rayner tbh, so can't give an opinion on them recently. Both are northerners though, so that's a plus for them.
I think Lib Dems should go with Ed Vaizey for experience and to try and keep what they gained, if not slightly improve next time, whilst looking for a younger/newer leader who isn't tainted by the coalition to take them further.
Finally apparently Diane Abbott ruled herself out of the race, telling the Guardian it was important that whoever was the new leader was able to stand up to "all the attacks that will come from Johnson and Donald Trump". She couldn't stand up to a wet paper bag. Saw a picture that she went a voted with two mis-matching left shoes on. Honestly I'm worried about her mental health and I wouldn't be surprised if she stands down in the near future. She comes out with some absolute nonsense and has become a huge liability for the party.
. Doubt he would accept it.
