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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2015/sep/24/liam-byrne-praises-corbyn-as-craft-ale-of-the-labour-movement-politics-live
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| Labour seen as more divided, extreme and out of date under Corbyn, poll suggests - Politics live | Labour seen as more divided, extreme and out of date under Corbyn, poll suggests - Politics live |
| (4 months later) | |
| 2.27pm BST | |
| 14:27 | |
| Lunchtime summary | Lunchtime summary |
| 1 - A striking increase in the number of voters seeing the party as divided (75%, up 32 points since April), extreme (36%, up 22) and out of date (55%, up 19). | 1 - A striking increase in the number of voters seeing the party as divided (75%, up 32 points since April), extreme (36%, up 22) and out of date (55%, up 19). |
| 2 - Corbyn having worse ratings than Ed Miliband in April on being a capable leader, being good in a crisis, having sound judgment, understanding the problems facing Britain and being out of touch with ordinary people. On all these measures except for being out of touch, David Cameron also beats Corbyn. But although Corbyn’s ratings are lower than Miliband’s on these five measures, the differences are small. | 2 - Corbyn having worse ratings than Ed Miliband in April on being a capable leader, being good in a crisis, having sound judgment, understanding the problems facing Britain and being out of touch with ordinary people. On all these measures except for being out of touch, David Cameron also beats Corbyn. But although Corbyn’s ratings are lower than Miliband’s on these five measures, the differences are small. |
| 3 - Corbyn has a net satisfaction rating of -3. According to Mike Smithson, this is worse than for any Labour leader from the time of Michael Foot in their first Ipsos MORI poll. | 3 - Corbyn has a net satisfaction rating of -3. According to Mike Smithson, this is worse than for any Labour leader from the time of Michael Foot in their first Ipsos MORI poll. |
| Corrected chart showing Corbyn's opening Ipsos MORI ratings compared with other LAB leaders. pic.twitter.com/KE12uwqWAx | Corrected chart showing Corbyn's opening Ipsos MORI ratings compared with other LAB leaders. pic.twitter.com/KE12uwqWAx |
| But there are some more encouraging findings for Corbyn. | But there are some more encouraging findings for Corbyn. |
| 1 - Corbyn is more liked than Miliband was in March. Some 37% of voters like him, compared to 30% liking Miliband in March. | 1 - Corbyn is more liked than Miliband was in March. Some 37% of voters like him, compared to 30% liking Miliband in March. |
| 2 - Corbyn easily beats Miliband’s ratings in March on having a lot of personality (41%, compared to 20% for Miliband) and he beats him too on substance (only 25% think he is more style than substance, compared to 30% for Miliband) and on having a clear vision for Britain (47%, compared to Miliband’s 45%). | 2 - Corbyn easily beats Miliband’s ratings in March on having a lot of personality (41%, compared to 20% for Miliband) and he beats him too on substance (only 25% think he is more style than substance, compared to 30% for Miliband) and on having a clear vision for Britain (47%, compared to Miliband’s 45%). |
| 3 - Corbyn easily beats Cameron on not being out of touch with ordinary people, on being more honest than most politcians and on having substance. | 3 - Corbyn easily beats Cameron on not being out of touch with ordinary people, on being more honest than most politcians and on having substance. |
| 4 - The Tories’ overall poll lead is just five points. Ipsos MORI puts the Tories on 39%, Labour on 34%, the Lib Dems on 9%, Ukip on 7% and the Greens on 4%. | 4 - The Tories’ overall poll lead is just five points. Ipsos MORI puts the Tories on 39%, Labour on 34%, the Lib Dems on 9%, Ukip on 7% and the Greens on 4%. |
| This is all about me doing my job as chancellor. Bringing the jobs and investment to Britain, making sure that the British economy and the plan we have for its future is one that fits in with what is going on in the world. It would be so easy as finance minister to stay in Number 11 and stay in the Treasury and not reach out to the rest of the world and say ‘Come and invest in Britain’. But I’m not that kind of chancellor. | This is all about me doing my job as chancellor. Bringing the jobs and investment to Britain, making sure that the British economy and the plan we have for its future is one that fits in with what is going on in the world. It would be so easy as finance minister to stay in Number 11 and stay in the Treasury and not reach out to the rest of the world and say ‘Come and invest in Britain’. But I’m not that kind of chancellor. |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| Tomorrow I will be blogging from the Ukip conference in Doncaster. | Tomorrow I will be blogging from the Ukip conference in Doncaster. |
| Thanks for the comments. | Thanks for the comments. |
| Updated | |
| at 2.44pm BST | |
| 1.55pm BST | |
| 13:55 | |
| Here’s the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, with Stephen Tall, Hugh Muir, Michael White andTom Clark discussing Lord Ashcroft’s book about David Cameron, George Osborne’s trip to China and the Lib Dem conference. | Here’s the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, with Stephen Tall, Hugh Muir, Michael White andTom Clark discussing Lord Ashcroft’s book about David Cameron, George Osborne’s trip to China and the Lib Dem conference. |
| 1.34pm BST | |
| 13:34 | |
| I’ve updated the Why Labour lost reading list at 12.26pm after getting suggestions from readers. You may have to refresh the page to get the update to appear. | I’ve updated the Why Labour lost reading list at 12.26pm after getting suggestions from readers. You may have to refresh the page to get the update to appear. |
| 1.15pm BST | |
| 13:15 | |
| Here’s a Jeremy Corbyn reading list. | Here’s a Jeremy Corbyn reading list. |
| Successful party leaders marry the enthusiasms of their supporters to the mood of the wider electorate. By this test, Jeremy Corbyn looks destined to fail. Exclusive YouGov research for the New Statesman finds that the two groups are divided by a gulf that is unprecedented in modern British politics. | Successful party leaders marry the enthusiasms of their supporters to the mood of the wider electorate. By this test, Jeremy Corbyn looks destined to fail. Exclusive YouGov research for the New Statesman finds that the two groups are divided by a gulf that is unprecedented in modern British politics. |
| Those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn overwhelmingly describe themselves as left-wing. They reject capitalism, and they admire Tony Benn more than they admire Tony Blair. Two-thirds of them want to abolish private schools and the monarchy, and favour higher taxes to pay for greater welfare. | Those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn overwhelmingly describe themselves as left-wing. They reject capitalism, and they admire Tony Benn more than they admire Tony Blair. Two-thirds of them want to abolish private schools and the monarchy, and favour higher taxes to pay for greater welfare. |
| Labour’s target voters think none of these things. Nor do many current Labour supporters. | Labour’s target voters think none of these things. Nor do many current Labour supporters. |
| YouGov polling for New Statesman showing gap between views of Corbyn supporters & potential LAB voters pic.twitter.com/XMed4MZeS2 | YouGov polling for New Statesman showing gap between views of Corbyn supporters & potential LAB voters pic.twitter.com/XMed4MZeS2 |
| While the left of the party have been building, Labour’s mainstream has lazily relied on the strength of the party machine and the profile of the leader. It is not a coincidence that this summer the moderate candidates were swamped on social media by so called Corbynistas. They don’t have a gang to fight for them. Facing ‘movement politics’, they had only the strength of their argument. In politics, that is never enough. | While the left of the party have been building, Labour’s mainstream has lazily relied on the strength of the party machine and the profile of the leader. It is not a coincidence that this summer the moderate candidates were swamped on social media by so called Corbynistas. They don’t have a gang to fight for them. Facing ‘movement politics’, they had only the strength of their argument. In politics, that is never enough. |
| Jeremy Corbyn didn’t win this election thanks to miscreant entryists, he won a majority among members and among legitimate Labour supporters. He didn’t win it because he’s personally charismatic. He didn’t even win it because Labour members suddenly surged to the left. He won because people were fed up with a tired status quo, and because Labour’s mainstream failed to organise and renew. | Jeremy Corbyn didn’t win this election thanks to miscreant entryists, he won a majority among members and among legitimate Labour supporters. He didn’t win it because he’s personally charismatic. He didn’t even win it because Labour members suddenly surged to the left. He won because people were fed up with a tired status quo, and because Labour’s mainstream failed to organise and renew. |
| This leadership contest was the New Labour phoenix going up in flames. Labour must now be reborn from the ashes. Jeremy Corbyn knows what party he wants to build. The question is: does everybody else? | This leadership contest was the New Labour phoenix going up in flames. Labour must now be reborn from the ashes. Jeremy Corbyn knows what party he wants to build. The question is: does everybody else? |
| Around Westminster you hear of an interesting distinction that’s being drawn by critics of Jeremy Corbyn. There will be policy areas he’s allowed to meddle with, they say, and some that are “no go” areas that could spur walk-outs from his team – there will be “sandbox” issues he can play with (like housing, attacking Spending Round cuts, some though not all welfare changes) and issues like Trident, defence, Northern Ireland and Europe that are deemed amongst those outside the sandbox. | Around Westminster you hear of an interesting distinction that’s being drawn by critics of Jeremy Corbyn. There will be policy areas he’s allowed to meddle with, they say, and some that are “no go” areas that could spur walk-outs from his team – there will be “sandbox” issues he can play with (like housing, attacking Spending Round cuts, some though not all welfare changes) and issues like Trident, defence, Northern Ireland and Europe that are deemed amongst those outside the sandbox. |
| That language will goad Jeremy Corbyn’s many supporters. Some of them have already looked at the frontbench appointments and muttered that it doesn’t look radical enough. Others say, knowing her favourites, that it looks exactly like the frontbench team Rosie Winterton, the Chief Whip, would like to appoint and probably is exactly that. | That language will goad Jeremy Corbyn’s many supporters. Some of them have already looked at the frontbench appointments and muttered that it doesn’t look radical enough. Others say, knowing her favourites, that it looks exactly like the frontbench team Rosie Winterton, the Chief Whip, would like to appoint and probably is exactly that. |
| 1.00pm BST | |
| 13:00 | |
| Here are those Ipsos MORI figures in detail. | Here are those Ipsos MORI figures in detail. |
| Ipsos MORI/Standard poll on Cameron vs Corbyn http://t.co/Dx8eHfXtGU pic.twitter.com/TmBGxko6Dt | Ipsos MORI/Standard poll on Cameron vs Corbyn http://t.co/Dx8eHfXtGU pic.twitter.com/TmBGxko6Dt |
| Given that Labour clearly is divided, the Independent on Sunday’s John Rentoul is surprised only 75% are saying that it is. | Given that Labour clearly is divided, the Independent on Sunday’s John Rentoul is surprised only 75% are saying that it is. |
| 75% say Labour is divided. What's the matter with the other 25%? http://t.co/qMiSEUnknA | 75% say Labour is divided. What's the matter with the other 25%? http://t.co/qMiSEUnknA |
| Updated | |
| at 1.04pm BST | |
| 12.59pm BST | |
| 12:59 | |
| An Ipsos MORI poll for the Evening Standard shows that Jeremy Corbyn is seen as more honest than David Cameron, but that Labour is now seen as more divided and extreme, and less fit to govern, than it was before the general election. | An Ipsos MORI poll for the Evening Standard shows that Jeremy Corbyn is seen as more honest than David Cameron, but that Labour is now seen as more divided and extreme, and less fit to govern, than it was before the general election. |
| 12.52pm BST | |
| 12:52 | |
| As the Daily Telegraph reports, Kerry McCarthy, the new shadow environment secretary, has said that “meat should be treated in exactly the same way as tobacco, with public campaigns to stop people eating it”. She made the comment in this interview in Viva! in the spring, before the election. More recently she clarified her views on Farming Today, saying she accepted that we have a lifestock industry and that it needs to be economically viable. | As the Daily Telegraph reports, Kerry McCarthy, the new shadow environment secretary, has said that “meat should be treated in exactly the same way as tobacco, with public campaigns to stop people eating it”. She made the comment in this interview in Viva! in the spring, before the election. More recently she clarified her views on Farming Today, saying she accepted that we have a lifestock industry and that it needs to be economically viable. |
| 12.26pm BST | |
| 12:26 | |
| Why Labour lost the election - A reading list | Why Labour lost the election - A reading list |
| Earlier I said the bookshelves were groaning with reports trying to explain why Labour lost the election. (See 9.08am.) In the comments BarryPearson has helpfully compiled a list. | Earlier I said the bookshelves were groaning with reports trying to explain why Labour lost the election. (See 9.08am.) In the comments BarryPearson has helpfully compiled a list. |
| Some one actually realises why Labour lost. | Some one actually realises why Labour lost. |
| Part of why they lost! | Part of why they lost! |
| This is one of about 8 people or organisations that tell part of the story. Here is the list that I maintain: | This is one of about 8 people or organisations that tell part of the story. Here is the list that I maintain: |
| 1. The Smith Institute: red alert: why Labour lost and what needs to change? By Paul Hunterhttps://smithinstitutethinktank.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/red-alert-why-labour-lost-and-what-needs-to-change.pdf | 1. The Smith Institute: red alert: why Labour lost and what needs to change? By Paul Hunterhttps://smithinstitutethinktank.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/red-alert-why-labour-lost-and-what-needs-to-change.pdf |
| 2. The Fabian Society: Never Again - Lessons From Labour's Key Seats, edited by Sally Keeble and Will Straw.http://www.fabians.org.uk/publications/never-again-lessons-from-labours-key-seats/ | 2. The Fabian Society: Never Again - Lessons From Labour's Key Seats, edited by Sally Keeble and Will Straw.http://www.fabians.org.uk/publications/never-again-lessons-from-labours-key-seats/ |
| 3. bbm campaigns: Listening to Labour’s Lost Labour Voters By Alan Barnard and John Bragginshttp://labourlist.org/2015/07/research-into-labours-lost-voters-shows-party-faces-existential-crisis/ | 3. bbm campaigns: Listening to Labour’s Lost Labour Voters By Alan Barnard and John Bragginshttp://labourlist.org/2015/07/research-into-labours-lost-voters-shows-party-faces-existential-crisis/ |
| 4. Labour lost because voters believed it was anti-austerity. Jon Cruddas. (Web page, not full report)http://labourlist.org/2015/08/labour-lost-because-voters-believed-it-was-anti-austerity/ | 4. Labour lost because voters believed it was anti-austerity. Jon Cruddas. (Web page, not full report)http://labourlist.org/2015/08/labour-lost-because-voters-believed-it-was-anti-austerity/ |
| 5. The Fabian Society: The mountain to climb: Labour's 2020 challenge. Andrew Harrophttp://www.fabians.org.uk/the-mountain-to-climb/ | 5. The Fabian Society: The mountain to climb: Labour's 2020 challenge. Andrew Harrophttp://www.fabians.org.uk/the-mountain-to-climb/ |
| 6. Project Red Dawn: Labour's revival (and survival). Lord Ashcroft KCMG PChttp://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lord-Ashcroft-Polls-PROJECT-RED-DAWN.pdf | 6. Project Red Dawn: Labour's revival (and survival). Lord Ashcroft KCMG PChttp://lordashcroftpolls.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lord-Ashcroft-Polls-PROJECT-RED-DAWN.pdf |
| 7. Can Labour Win? The hard road to power. Patrick Diamond & Giles Radice (& Penny Bochum)http://www.policy-network.net/publications/4963/Can-Labour-Win | 7. Can Labour Win? The hard road to power. Patrick Diamond & Giles Radice (& Penny Bochum)http://www.policy-network.net/publications/4963/Can-Labour-Win |
| 8. RedShift: Looking for a New England: The Ten Shifts Labour Needs to Make To Win a Majority in England. Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, et alhttp://liambyrne.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Red-Shift-Looking-For-A-New-England-FINAL-VERSION.pdf | 8. RedShift: Looking for a New England: The Ten Shifts Labour Needs to Make To Win a Majority in England. Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, et alhttp://liambyrne.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Red-Shift-Looking-For-A-New-England-FINAL-VERSION.pdf |
| I’ve read most of these, and they’re good, although many of them are quite similar in their analysis, arguing that Labour lost because it was not trusted on issues like the economy, immigration and welfare, and because voters did not warm to Ed Miliband. | I’ve read most of these, and they’re good, although many of them are quite similar in their analysis, arguing that Labour lost because it was not trusted on issues like the economy, immigration and welfare, and because voters did not warm to Ed Miliband. |
| Here are some others I would add to the list. | Here are some others I would add to the list. |
| Dan Jarvis’s Reconnecting Labour report (pdf), which focuses on how the rise of Ukip contributed to Labour’s defeat. | Dan Jarvis’s Reconnecting Labour report (pdf), which focuses on how the rise of Ukip contributed to Labour’s defeat. |
| Feeling Blue (pdf), a report by James Morris, Labour’s pollster | Feeling Blue (pdf), a report by James Morris, Labour’s pollster |
| Jon Cruddas’s Labour is Lost in England lecture at the Mile End Institute | Jon Cruddas’s Labour is Lost in England lecture at the Mile End Institute |
| I’m conscious this list is short of reports with a more Corbynite analysis of why Labour lost. If you are aware of any that I have missed out, please do mention them BTL. | I’m conscious this list is short of reports with a more Corbynite analysis of why Labour lost. If you are aware of any that I have missed out, please do mention them BTL. |
| UDPATE AT 1.30PM: Here is one more report worth including - a report by John Curtice for IPPR. | UDPATE AT 1.30PM: Here is one more report worth including - a report by John Curtice for IPPR. |
| And here are links to five reports with five findings from Jon Cruddas’s review; the link above only takes you to a summary. | And here are links to five reports with five findings from Jon Cruddas’s review; the link above only takes you to a summary. |
| First message - Problem with Labour being seen as anti-austerity | First message - Problem with Labour being seen as anti-austerity |
| Second message - Collapse in working class support | Second message - Collapse in working class support |
| Third message - Labour’s failure on aspiration | Third message - Labour’s failure on aspiration |
| Fourth message - Cultural divide between Labour and voters. | Fourth message - Cultural divide between Labour and voters. |
| Fifth message - Labour’s brand being toxic. | Fifth message - Labour’s brand being toxic. |
| Updated | |
| at 1.31pm BST | |
| 11.59am BST | |
| 11:59 | |
| George Osborne, the chancellor, has said that he expects billions of pounds of Chinese money to be invested in UK development projects like HS2, the Press Association reports. It has filed this from China, where Osborne has completed a five-day tour. | George Osborne, the chancellor, has said that he expects billions of pounds of Chinese money to be invested in UK development projects like HS2, the Press Association reports. It has filed this from China, where Osborne has completed a five-day tour. |
| Osborne unveiled Treasury analysis suggesting that 265,000 jobs in Britain “only exist because of our links with China” and said his aim was to create hundreds of thousands more. | Osborne unveiled Treasury analysis suggesting that 265,000 jobs in Britain “only exist because of our links with China” and said his aim was to create hundreds of thousands more. |
| He hinted that significant new investments could be announced when President Xi Jinping conducts China’s first state visit to the UK for a decade next month. | He hinted that significant new investments could be announced when President Xi Jinping conducts China’s first state visit to the UK for a decade next month. |
| “I’m pretty confident we are going to get more and more Chinese investment and I think we will have some good announcements in the coming weeks,” said the chancellor. | “I’m pretty confident we are going to get more and more Chinese investment and I think we will have some good announcements in the coming weeks,” said the chancellor. |
| Osborne’s trip at the head of a large delegation of business figures and leaders of Northern cities has seen him cover thousands of miles and visit four major cities - including the capital of remote Xinjiang province, where no British minister had previously been. | Osborne’s trip at the head of a large delegation of business figures and leaders of Northern cities has seen him cover thousands of miles and visit four major cities - including the capital of remote Xinjiang province, where no British minister had previously been. |
| His pledge to make Britain “China’s best partner in the West” was well received by the China Daily - usually seen as a mouthpiece for the Communist government - which drew a contrast with the chilly relations after David Cameron met the Dalai Lama in 2012. | His pledge to make Britain “China’s best partner in the West” was well received by the China Daily - usually seen as a mouthpiece for the Communist government - which drew a contrast with the chilly relations after David Cameron met the Dalai Lama in 2012. |
| Describing the outcome of the trip as “a win-win result” for China and Britain, the paper’s editorial said: “Compared to the difficult period around 2012, China-UK interactions today present a desirable and harmonious picture under which the two sides are learning to respect each other’s concerns and accommodate each other’s interests, despite their ideological differences.” | Describing the outcome of the trip as “a win-win result” for China and Britain, the paper’s editorial said: “Compared to the difficult period around 2012, China-UK interactions today present a desirable and harmonious picture under which the two sides are learning to respect each other’s concerns and accommodate each other’s interests, despite their ideological differences.” |
| 10.55am BST | |
| 10:55 | |
| Here is another excerpt from the Red Shift report (pdf) that summarises its argument. | Here is another excerpt from the Red Shift report (pdf) that summarises its argument. |
| In May, the electorate simply did not know who Labour stood for. One voter in Watford told us, “I don’t know [who Labour] stands for anymore. I don’t know if they know what they are about anymore.” Another in Derby said; “Labour used to stand up for working class people – but it has lost its way.” | In May, the electorate simply did not know who Labour stood for. One voter in Watford told us, “I don’t know [who Labour] stands for anymore. I don’t know if they know what they are about anymore.” Another in Derby said; “Labour used to stand up for working class people – but it has lost its way.” |
| We’re uncomfortable talking about our English identity – when voters want us to be more patriotic. We haven’t figured out how to talk about our record in a way that works: we suffer a form of self- flagellating amnesia. We’re simply not trusted with public money. ‘Labour just wanted to waste my money’ as one voter told us angrily. | We’re uncomfortable talking about our English identity – when voters want us to be more patriotic. We haven’t figured out how to talk about our record in a way that works: we suffer a form of self- flagellating amnesia. We’re simply not trusted with public money. ‘Labour just wanted to waste my money’ as one voter told us angrily. |
| We haven’t grasped the enormity of the radically changing nature of work, the huge rise in self- employment and enterprise. We have little to say about how we’ll create better jobs to replace the ten million British jobs set to be wiped out by technology in the next 20 years. The way we talk about public services belongs to the 20th century, not the 21st. We seem ‘disconnected’ as one young voter told us bluntly. | We haven’t grasped the enormity of the radically changing nature of work, the huge rise in self- employment and enterprise. We have little to say about how we’ll create better jobs to replace the ten million British jobs set to be wiped out by technology in the next 20 years. The way we talk about public services belongs to the 20th century, not the 21st. We seem ‘disconnected’ as one young voter told us bluntly. |
| Our appeal is much too narrow. We had little to say to older voters – while the Tory majority amongst pensioners rose to over 2 million votes. We struggled to connect with people who were doing OK, ‘living in the new build estates’, as one party activist put it. And all too often we failed to talk to young people in a language that works – and we left the conversation much too late. Many young voters, growing up in swing voter households, simply don’t feel equipped with the information they felt they needed before they would support us. And finally, our ground game, was simply out-classed. We had millions of ‘transactional conversations’ when voters wanted a party more serious about building a relationship. | Our appeal is much too narrow. We had little to say to older voters – while the Tory majority amongst pensioners rose to over 2 million votes. We struggled to connect with people who were doing OK, ‘living in the new build estates’, as one party activist put it. And all too often we failed to talk to young people in a language that works – and we left the conversation much too late. Many young voters, growing up in swing voter households, simply don’t feel equipped with the information they felt they needed before they would support us. And finally, our ground game, was simply out-classed. We had millions of ‘transactional conversations’ when voters wanted a party more serious about building a relationship. |
| And here are two graphics from the report that are interesting. | And here are two graphics from the report that are interesting. |
| This one shows how self employment (the blue line) is expected to overtake public sector employment (the brown line). It is based on projected figures, and runs from 2010/11 to 2020/21. | This one shows how self employment (the blue line) is expected to overtake public sector employment (the brown line). It is based on projected figures, and runs from 2010/11 to 2020/21. |
| And this one shows how the Tories are increasing their share of the over-65 vote. | And this one shows how the Tories are increasing their share of the over-65 vote. |
| 10.14am BST | |
| 10:14 | |
| My colleague Patrick Wintour says Labour members are trying to get an emergency motion debated at next week’s conference that would commit the party to opposing air strikes against Islamic State in Syria without UN authorisation. | My colleague Patrick Wintour says Labour members are trying to get an emergency motion debated at next week’s conference that would commit the party to opposing air strikes against Islamic State in Syria without UN authorisation. |
| Emergency motion on Syria circulating for Labour conference rejecting UK air strikes without explicit UN authorisation, & other conditions. | Emergency motion on Syria circulating for Labour conference rejecting UK air strikes without explicit UN authorisation, & other conditions. |
| 10.08am BST | |
| 10:08 | |
| Two Green politicians, Caroline Lucas and Jenny Jones, have also joined up with the human rights charity Reprieve to pursue a legal challenge against the government over its decision to target Islamic State terrorists in Syria despite parliament refusing approval for airstrikes. | Two Green politicians, Caroline Lucas and Jenny Jones, have also joined up with the human rights charity Reprieve to pursue a legal challenge against the government over its decision to target Islamic State terrorists in Syria despite parliament refusing approval for airstrikes. |
| 10.04am BST | |
| 10:04 | |
| The Green party conference starts tomorrow. Amelia Womack, the deputy leader, has announced that the party will be asking members who attend to contribute money for refugees at Calais. | The Green party conference starts tomorrow. Amelia Womack, the deputy leader, has announced that the party will be asking members who attend to contribute money for refugees at Calais. |
| 9.56am BST | |
| 09:56 | |
| Here is some Twitter reaction to Liam Byrne’s interview. | Here is some Twitter reaction to Liam Byrne’s interview. |
| Deborah Mattinson, a former Labour pollster, says being associated with a “craft beer” is actually a liability. | Deborah Mattinson, a former Labour pollster, says being associated with a “craft beer” is actually a liability. |
| Useful LiamByrneMP report but ironic that he describes Corbyn as 'craft beer' (authentic). Voters use same term for Labour's 'poncification' | Useful LiamByrneMP report but ironic that he describes Corbyn as 'craft beer' (authentic). Voters use same term for Labour's 'poncification' |
| David Aaronovitch, the Times columnist and no Corbyn fan (to put it mildly), found Byrne’s defence of Corbyn unconvincing. | David Aaronovitch, the Times columnist and no Corbyn fan (to put it mildly), found Byrne’s defence of Corbyn unconvincing. |
| The New Politics was not obvious in the mangled logic and obvious evasiveness of @LiamByrneMP's defence of Mr Corbyn on @BBCr4today. | The New Politics was not obvious in the mangled logic and obvious evasiveness of @LiamByrneMP's defence of Mr Corbyn on @BBCr4today. |
| But Byrne has launched a Twitter meme. | But Byrne has launched a Twitter meme. |
| Ok, if Corbyn is 'craft ale' we need more #LabourDrinks | Ok, if Corbyn is 'craft ale' we need more #LabourDrinks |
| @DavidPrescott I would have thought @johnprescott would have to be some sort of punch #LabourDrinks | @DavidPrescott I would have thought @johnprescott would have to be some sort of punch #LabourDrinks |
| Chateau Charles Clarke. A full bodied Red Whine #LabourDrinks | Chateau Charles Clarke. A full bodied Red Whine #LabourDrinks |
| Tristram Shandy obviously. And a chukka umunna would be a not very strong cocktail with a little umbrella in it #LabourDrinks | Tristram Shandy obviously. And a chukka umunna would be a not very strong cocktail with a little umbrella in it #LabourDrinks |
| 9.29am BST | |
| 09:29 | |
| Liam Byrne's Today interview - Summary | Liam Byrne's Today interview - Summary |
| I’ve already posted Liam Byrne’s quote about how Jeremy Corbyn could help Labour win back power because he is seen as distinctive, as a “craft ale of the Labour movement”. (See 9.08am.) Here are some other lines from his Today interview. | I’ve already posted Liam Byrne’s quote about how Jeremy Corbyn could help Labour win back power because he is seen as distinctive, as a “craft ale of the Labour movement”. (See 9.08am.) Here are some other lines from his Today interview. |
| We found that voters really didn’t know any more who Labour stood for. We had lots of people who just thought that we had lost touch with our roots, we had lost our soul, and they just weren’t sure what to make of us. And I’m afraid that went alongside distrust of our record and our plans. | We found that voters really didn’t know any more who Labour stood for. We had lots of people who just thought that we had lost touch with our roots, we had lost our soul, and they just weren’t sure what to make of us. And I’m afraid that went alongside distrust of our record and our plans. |
| What we heard from people is that Labour had lost touch with its roots, Labour had lost touch with the people it had stood for. Now, you’ve got to put alongside that a plan, a bold vision for how, actually, Labour owns the future. So one of the biggest things that I think came through the report is the sense that we didn’t have a plan for business, we didn’t have a plan on the economy. And, actually, if Labour’s going to win a majority in England, we’ve got to be the party of the self-employed, of entrepreneurs, of high-tech jobs with policies, yes, for the people that we’re in politics to change things for but also for the kind of jobs for the future. | What we heard from people is that Labour had lost touch with its roots, Labour had lost touch with the people it had stood for. Now, you’ve got to put alongside that a plan, a bold vision for how, actually, Labour owns the future. So one of the biggest things that I think came through the report is the sense that we didn’t have a plan for business, we didn’t have a plan on the economy. And, actually, if Labour’s going to win a majority in England, we’ve got to be the party of the self-employed, of entrepreneurs, of high-tech jobs with policies, yes, for the people that we’re in politics to change things for but also for the kind of jobs for the future. |
| I’ve taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. | I’ve taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. |
| 9.08am BST | |
| 09:08 | |
| The space on the bookshelf set aside for reports on why Labour lost the general election is already getting quite full, and today we’ve got another to add to the collection. It’s from Red Shift, a group that includes Liam Byrne, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, Heidi Alexander, the new shadow health secretary, Shabana Mahmood, the former shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Nic Dakin, the shadow education minister, and Caroline Badley, a Birmingham councillor. | The space on the bookshelf set aside for reports on why Labour lost the general election is already getting quite full, and today we’ve got another to add to the collection. It’s from Red Shift, a group that includes Liam Byrne, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, Heidi Alexander, the new shadow health secretary, Shabana Mahmood, the former shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Nic Dakin, the shadow education minister, and Caroline Badley, a Birmingham councillor. |
| The report proposes 10 “shifts” that Labour needs to achieve to win back England. | The report proposes 10 “shifts” that Labour needs to achieve to win back England. |
| It is very critical of Ed Miliband’s “one nation” Labour strategy. | It is very critical of Ed Miliband’s “one nation” Labour strategy. |
| When Ed Miliband tried ‘One Nation’ it was doomed. | When Ed Miliband tried ‘One Nation’ it was doomed. |
| The policies did not reflect the brand. One Nation became a label not a policy prospectus. | The policies did not reflect the brand. One Nation became a label not a policy prospectus. |
| The One Nation pamphlet – a collection of essays by new MPs published at Conference 2013 – illustrates the point. Designed to show the direction of travel for a new philosophy, it was in fact merely an interesting collection of personal essays by MPs into which the words ‘One Nation’ were inserted to boost the One Nation brand. | The One Nation pamphlet – a collection of essays by new MPs published at Conference 2013 – illustrates the point. Designed to show the direction of travel for a new philosophy, it was in fact merely an interesting collection of personal essays by MPs into which the words ‘One Nation’ were inserted to boost the One Nation brand. |
| But it was brand rooted in nothing. | But it was brand rooted in nothing. |
| Byrne is seen as being on the right of Labour, and he backed Yvette Cooper for the Labour leadership, so you would expect him to be sceptical of Jeremy Corbyn. But when he was asked on the Today programme this morning whether Corbyn could help Labour to regain power, he said he could. | Byrne is seen as being on the right of Labour, and he backed Yvette Cooper for the Labour leadership, so you would expect him to be sceptical of Jeremy Corbyn. But when he was asked on the Today programme this morning whether Corbyn could help Labour to regain power, he said he could. |
| I think he can definitely start us on the route back, because one of the things that people said to us is ‘look, we don’t know who you stand for, you used to stand for the man and woman in the street, you used to stand for the people’. And actually what I think Jeremy has done is he’s brought a bit of soul force back to the Labour party. In many ways he is the kind of craft ale of the Labour movement – he’s authentic, he’s got strong flavours, he’s seen as something very different to the bland mediocrity of politics. | I think he can definitely start us on the route back, because one of the things that people said to us is ‘look, we don’t know who you stand for, you used to stand for the man and woman in the street, you used to stand for the people’. And actually what I think Jeremy has done is he’s brought a bit of soul force back to the Labour party. In many ways he is the kind of craft ale of the Labour movement – he’s authentic, he’s got strong flavours, he’s seen as something very different to the bland mediocrity of politics. |
| The full 29-page Red Shift report is here (pdf). And there is a good summary here, on the Staggers website. | The full 29-page Red Shift report is here (pdf). And there is a good summary here, on the Staggers website. |
| I will be posting more from Byrne’s interview and from the report itself this morning, as well as looking at the reaction it is generating. | I will be posting more from Byrne’s interview and from the report itself this morning, as well as looking at the reaction it is generating. |
| As usual, I will also be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary at lunchtime. | As usual, I will also be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary at lunchtime. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on@AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on@AndrewSparrow. |
| Corbyn "craft ale of Labour movement. He's authentic, he has strong flavours," @LiamByrneMP: http://t.co/rxPG0I0r8l pic.twitter.com/YEXJstpWI2 | Corbyn "craft ale of Labour movement. He's authentic, he has strong flavours," @LiamByrneMP: http://t.co/rxPG0I0r8l pic.twitter.com/YEXJstpWI2 |
| Updated | |
| at 9.19am BST |