tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post8218546276417004116..comments2023-08-16T12:07:22.995+00:00Comments on The Daily (Maybe): Guest Post: Opportunities for ChangeJim Jeppshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-85058112621374133972008-07-13T16:17:00.000+00:002008-07-13T16:17:00.000+00:00Jim said 'Now, would I be entirely out of place in...Jim said 'Now, would I be entirely out of place in saying at this point "Ashley Gunstock, your time has come!"'<BR/><BR/>He could be right!weggishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04651722712995395981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-81416025607227489562008-07-07T00:00:00.000+00:002008-07-07T00:00:00.000+00:00Wot no Sian Berry?Wot no Sian Berry?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-26526223427135359522008-07-06T23:57:00.000+00:002008-07-06T23:57:00.000+00:00I do hope that there is real choice between the ca...I do hope that there is real choice between the candidates. I was not in the party at the time that there was the move to have a leader, but personally I feel like it was a bad move. I can see the arguments from both sides, but I am inclined to go with how it was before. However, I will positively engage with what the majority of the party freely voted for.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01530489078188780416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-75980748138034705022008-07-06T10:15:00.000+00:002008-07-06T10:15:00.000+00:00One of the reasons why Gordon Brown is in a democr...One of the reasons why Gordon Brown is in a democratic deficit pickle is that he was uncontested as leader. Even folks like Callaghan and Major (pre-1992) had more legitimacy, due to leadership contests against big beasts within their party. It would not be healthy to have an uncontested Lucas/Ramsey ticket at our first leadership conference.scott reddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16201040172369428187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-2086260596882957902008-07-05T19:26:00.000+00:002008-07-05T19:26:00.000+00:00I'm not saying you do Mike, not at all. There *are...I'm not saying you do Mike, not at all. There *are* some who do though and haven't been able to accept the change - I'm not numbering you among them.<BR/><BR/>I don't accept the idea that it was passive members who wanted a leader and activists who were opposed (nationally) I do think different areas seem to have different ratios so that may be true in your local area. Nor do I accept that activists are more important than less active members anyway as these are not facts that are set in stone.<BR/><BR/>But the key point is what do those who don't/didn't want a leader want the party to do about that? Not have the election? Not discuss it? Not have internal campaigning? I don't think any of that would be reasonable.<BR/><BR/>The structural change has been decided on, it is not insensitivity to crack on with elections to the national executive. I think the most useful discussion we should be having at the moment is the politics around who to elect and why.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-24442900738046896062008-07-05T19:17:00.000+00:002008-07-05T19:17:00.000+00:00I don't want to rerun the leadership referendum is...I don't want to rerun the leadership referendum issue, Jim. But more than a quarter voted against, so it is not that small. And my point is, in the main, these were activists, rather than passive members.<BR/><BR/>The Labour party in my area find it very difficult to get activists out canvassing etc. One activist in my local Green party resigned his post over this.Mike Shaughnessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796480031110991460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-73233868942088084592008-07-05T19:01:00.000+00:002008-07-05T19:01:00.000+00:00Well the people who were for the leader were in th...Well the people who were for the leader were in the clear majority as the vote showed. I don't think the no vote people can hold the yes voters to ransom.<BR/><BR/>If people are offended by discussion of the leadership election that we are bound by referendum to have (and it seems some people are, I'm not refering to you Mike, of course) then actually it's their problem and they should grow up.<BR/><BR/>It is politically very important who the GP leader and deputy will be - and I hope the discussion will be as extensive as possible without any walking on egg shells because a very small number of people cannot accept what has happened.<BR/><BR/>The election process has started - we're not re-running the referendum which has taken place. i hope that doesn't sound too harsh, I just think it's best to be as clear as possible as early as possible on this.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-61576874897454920452008-07-05T18:47:00.000+00:002008-07-05T18:47:00.000+00:00The discontent in parts of the party over this who...The discontent in parts of the party over this whole leadership thing is a worry. Many, if not most of the activists were against moving to having a leader, and this feeling is still festering away. The leadership faction should be wary of the New Lab example, too many chiefs and not enough indians.<BR/><BR/>Mike777<BR/>Green Socialism @ Red Pepper<BR/>http://forums.redpepper.org.uk/Mike Shaughnessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796480031110991460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-36493107890243034802008-07-05T11:14:00.000+00:002008-07-05T11:14:00.000+00:00Young left tiger? Intriguing! :)Anyone have any ne...Young left tiger? Intriguing! :)<BR/><BR/>Anyone have any news on who is definitely standing?<BR/><BR/>MattMatt Sellwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03065263755893515703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-111863924532053802008-07-05T01:42:00.000+00:002008-07-05T01:42:00.000+00:00Now, would I be entirely out of place in saying at...Now, would I be entirely out of place in saying at this point "Ashley Gunstock, your time has come!"Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.com