Jeremy Corbyn wins!

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 pm, September 12th, 2015 - 271 comments
Categories: uk politics - Tags:

Jeremy Corbyn

Congratulations to Jeremy Corbyn new leader of the UK Labour Party. (Update: Guardian coverage – Corbyn took nearly 60% of the vote “a stunning first-round victory that was bigger than the mandate for Tony Blair in 1994”).

Everything about him appeals to me.  He really is the real deal.  The practice of politics needs to get away from careerists working out how to triangulate the centre to people talking about the real issues and proposing how we may address the world’s problems.

No doubt a more nuanced discussion will occur tomorrow but for now lefties throughout the world will be celebrating.

Meanwhile some UK Labour MPs need to learn how to switch their phones and their twitter accounts off …

And congratulations to the new deputy leader Tom Watson who accurately states that Labour needs to form the last line of defence between the poor and the tories …

271 comments on “Jeremy Corbyn wins! ”

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  1. Olwyn 1
    12 September 2015 at 10:50 pm

    Yeehah! He has one hell of a job ahead of him, with the Tory media yapping at his heels and dredging his bins for dirt. But for today, a decent left wing guy has finally got through the barricades, and it’s time to celebrate!

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      12 September 2015 at 10:55 pm

      He has one hell of a job ahead of him

      Him and the grass roots people who supported him. England’s 5 year electoral cycle will help with that in this case – they’ve got a few years to do that hard work in.

    • Chooky 1.2
      13 September 2015 at 9:51 am

      +100 Olwyn …great news….and hopefully a new era is being born for the Left in countries like New Zealand, Australia , USA, Canada

  2. r0b 2
    12 September 2015 at 10:58 pm

    We live in interesting times. Good luck, Jeremy Corbyn.

  3. millsy 3
    12 September 2015 at 11:01 pm

    Jez we did!

  4. millsy 4
    12 September 2015 at 11:02 pm

    Results according to the Guardian,

    Jeremy Corbyn: 251,417 – 59.5%

    Andy Burnham: 80,462 – 19%

    Yvette Cooper: 71,928 – 17%

    Liz Kendall: 18,857 – 4.5%

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:06 pm

      Jeremy Corbyn elected Labour leader in stunning victory

      Corbyn won with nearly 59.5% of first-preference votes, beating rivals Andy Burnham, who trailed on 19% and Yvette Cooper who received 17%. The “Blairite” candidate Liz Kendall came last on 4.5%.

      Which, IMO, proves just how out of step with the Labour supporters Blair and his followers are. They should probably up shift to the Tories now and stop this façade that they’re Left wing.

  5. miravox 5
    12 September 2015 at 11:03 pm

    An old un-PR-polished leftie unionist. Who would have thought it 3 months ago.

    We live in changing times. Congratulations Jeremy.

  6. millsy 6
    12 September 2015 at 11:03 pm

    This probably has to be the biggest upset I have seen anywhere in all my life,

    • Raf 6.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:27 pm

      There must be some kind of black hole in the polling systems for this to come out of nowhere. Nobody seems to have been looking while this rumble of discontent has been growing into a tidal wave. What other areas of the public mood are being missed, I wonder.

      • Chooky 6.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 9:56 am

        +100 Raf

        lesson: the msm and pollsters can be misleading…the people were making up their own minds and they were not duped.

        …the people woke up and ignored the right wing PR and said enough is enough!

        …lets hope the same happens in New Zealand!

        • Raf 6.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 10:14 am

          Tom Watson –
          “At the beginning let it be said that we commentators and media pundits deserve the first slice of humble pie. None of us saw this coming. Spending too much time, perhaps, talking to professional politicians and to each other, we missed the anger and the desperation for change which we now know was pulsating through the broader Labour community out in the country after May’s unexpected outright Conservative win.”

    • AmaKiwi 6.2
      12 September 2015 at 11:56 pm

      @ millsy: “This probably has to be the biggest upset I have seen anywhere in all my life.”

      Millsy, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The world economy is in disastrous shape, producing massive social upheavals. This next year political incumbents will topple like dominoes.

      While we lefties will rejoice at the demise of corporate controlled, militaristic, neo-liberal, old leaders, keep in mind the majority of revolutions do not end happily. One egomaniac replaces another.

      For me, the challenge is creating democratic forms of government, not changing leaders. Unfortunately, the NZ Labour party has never shown the slightest interest in reforming our semi-dictatorial system of governance. They just want their turn at playing dictator for 3, 6, or 9 years. God forbid Labour or National should change the system so the people decide anything meaningful.

      • RedLogix 6.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:09 am

        Also the people themselves have been damaged by 30 years of neo-liberal madness. It will take time for them to heal.

      • Alethios 6.2.2
        14 September 2015 at 1:57 pm

        An excellent point.

        Following the demise of the established order, an alternative government elected on a sweeping mandate of hope n change will inevitably have to deal with the legacy of decades (even centuries) of short sighted policy. In particular, we’re looking at increasing costs of climate change, and declining energy availability. Many, regardless of public policy, are going to find their standard of living in decline. The new new left will need to form policy adapting to this new reality, with a coherent narrative of shared struggle or whathaveyou. As you say, democratic reform is needed – people need to feel and be active participants. If this is not done, the ‘revolution’ will inevitably fail to deliver what it promised, and will succumb to counter-revolutionary backlash – possibly facist, and no doubt a great deal worse than what we have now.

        We’re all much too focused on the next electoral cycle. We need to wake up and see that which is unsustainable will not be sustained, and plan accordingly.

  7. Pasupial 7
    12 September 2015 at 11:04 pm

    That wasn’t just a win, that was a trouncing! 40.5% ahead of his nearest rival (Burnham on 19%). I hope the NZ Labour party Blair-rights are taking notice.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:07 pm

      They didn’t when Cunliffe won. In fact, they just doubled down on white-anting Labour.

      • Pasupial 7.1.1
        12 September 2015 at 11:34 pm

        DTB

        Cunliffe’s 51% to Robertson’s 33% (let alone Little’s 50.5% to R’s 49.5% on the third round) was a lot less convincing a victory than Corbyn’s. There doesn’t seem to be nearly as much white-anting of Little, but there has been a distinct chasing of the rightwards shifting centre.

        • weka 7.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 9:18 am

          Little isn’t scaring the horses as much as Cunliffe did.

        • adam 7.1.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 9:42 am

          Or it because Little, is doing so little?

        • Olwyn 7.1.1.3
          13 September 2015 at 11:27 am

          While I don’t think Little will turn out to be our version of Corbyn, I don’t think he will turn out to be a neoliberal “centrist” either. I think he will end up forming at least a modestly left-leaning position that he is able to defend. And I have never expected him to have much to say this year – there is more to Little than focus groups and shallow lunges at popularity. I suspect that our own neoliberal Labourites are still quietly beavering away on their own behalf, but I think it will be of little avail, and that Corbyn’s victory will if anything serve to strengthen Little’s hand.

    • maui 7.2
      12 September 2015 at 11:09 pm

      Yep, I’m still waiting on one policy idea from the Labour “think tank”. It may be better if they never release one however.

  8. Colonial Viper 8
    12 September 2015 at 11:13 pm

    Jeremy Corbyn has the mandate to clean out the Tory Labourites from the party, and he should do so before they poison his term as Leader.

    • Stephanie 8.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:17 pm

      One benefit of the five-year electoral cycle I guess – plenty of time to take charge and cement his position.

      • Ad 8.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 12:57 am

        Agreed. My one prayerful hope in all of this, that he’s given the time and enough caucus support to convert all this campaign poetry into hard prose.

      • Chris 8.1.2
        13 September 2015 at 11:03 pm

        Just a pity we’ve got another five years of our current Labour mob before they see the light. Hopefully though if UK Labour hike up the polls our tory Labourites might make even a tiny effort to be a Labour party before 2017.

    • millsy 8.2
      12 September 2015 at 11:25 pm

      The Blairites have no one to blame but themselves for this. If they didnt agree with 90% of what the Tories were doing and saying, Jeremy would still be on the back benches,

      Look the whole 97 manifesto. The whole thing screamed ‘ dont worry, we will be like the Tories, but without grammar schools’.

    • Citizen's Resistance 8.3
      13 September 2015 at 8:46 am

      Meanwhile the NZ Labour Party are silent on social media, well Facebook thus far.

      Listening to Chris Trotter on Chapman’s RNZ show this morning, what an idiot rant.

      • Raf 8.3.1
        13 September 2015 at 5:56 pm

        The unmistakable sound of someone hedging their bets because they have no idea what’s going on and which side of the fence they’re supposed to be.

    • tauputa 8.4
      14 September 2015 at 9:17 am

      Correct Viper, there will now be a ferocious war withing Labour, and existential battle really between the left and the blairite centrists and one side will need to be annihilated, Im expecting Corbyn to be white-anted and the left to be purged from the party – if not the right must be cleansed, they cannot coexists within labour.

  9. Ovid 9
    12 September 2015 at 11:18 pm

    Right. Next thing to hope for is Bernie Sanders gaining the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

    • AmaKiwi 9.1
      13 September 2015 at 12:02 am

      I just watched Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” on Sky history channel.

      Chilling!

      This is the overseas model Key/National are following.

      • North 9.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:31 am

        Likewise Michael Moore’s – “Capitalism – A Love Affair”. Repeatedly, unsuccessfully, searched for it on the web.

        A link anyone ?

  10. Bill 10
    12 September 2015 at 11:18 pm

    I don’t expect too many people to pick up on the significance of this, but when he welcomes Kezia Dugdale and mentions any kind of a come back in Scotland, but then repeatedly refers to Britain as ‘this country’, yeah – nah.

    • r0b 10.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:27 pm

      I am less than enthused by his proposal to reopen coal mines too.

    • weka 10.2
      12 September 2015 at 11:34 pm

      perhaps you could explain the significance?

      • Bill 10.2.1
        12 September 2015 at 11:56 pm

        With talk like that (this country), there will be no come back for Labour in next year’s Holyrood elections. As I’ve said before, and I’ll stick by this, Corbyn as leader will soften SNP support – but he really does need to get his head around political reality in Scotland, recognise Scotland (as a treaty partner) and give up dismissing the SNP and Scottish voting intentions (as he has done) as some kind of ‘flash in the pan’.

        English people are wont to refer to Britain as a country which is essentially (or code) for assuming Britain is England and England is Britain. Britain isn’t a country, it’s comprised of three countries – England and Scotland and Wales….just ask any Welsh or Scottish person 😉

    • Bill 10.3
      12 September 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Oh – as he demonstrated by his rhetoric, he simply doesn’t understand Scottish sentiments/politics. But that’s okay and not surprising given that he’s English (and no, that’s not a put down).

      He’s said he’ll work constructively with the SNP. There will be areas of disagreement and lots of areas of agreement. His problem, if it actually is a problem, is this: the SNP are the Labour Party in Scotland.

      But they have a more modern view of internationalism. It kind of runs like this (after Jimmy Reid) : you can’t have internationalism if there is no nationalism.

      But Corbyn sees internationalism as being diametrically opposed to nationalism – no matter how civic that nationalism it is.

      • Pasupial 10.3.1
        13 September 2015 at 12:00 am

        Bill

        You may appreciate the significance of this:

        [12:39] Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader and Scottish first minister, is challenging Jeremy Corbyn to clarify Labour’s position on Trident…

        It is a good question – and one calculated, of course, to cause trouble for Corbyn.

        At the moment it is not at all clear what Labour’s position on Trident is. Corbyn is opposed, and he won the leadership election with an overwhelming mandate, but party MPs were elected in May on a pro-Trident manifesto…

        [12:43] And this is interesting too. Nicola Sturgeon is also suggesting that the election of Jeremy Corbyn could boost the case for a second Scottish independence referendum.

        “If Lab can’t quickly show that they have credible chance of winning UK election, many will conclude that Indy only alternative to Tory gov”

        http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/sep/12/labour-announces-leadership-election-result-with-corbyn-tipped-to-win-politics-live

        • Bill 10.3.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 12:27 am

          Hmm. Maybe better to take the tweets out of the surrounding, and somewhat mischievous commentary.

          Take away the (I’d say wrong) assumptions of the ‘wrap around’ and then it’s just reasonable and fairly neutral to comment : “If Lab can’t quickly show that they have credible chance of winning UK election, many will conclude that Indy only alternative to Tory gov’

          (The commentary would have us assume that the SNP see Corbyn as a lemon. But seeing as how much of what Corbyn says is what the SNP say, well…)

          And of course, no surprise that the SNP are hoping for a firming up of Labour’s stance on trident

          “Hope Corbyn will give early and cast iron commitment that Labour MPs will join @theSNP in voting against Trident renewal.”

      • Stephanie 10.3.2
        13 September 2015 at 4:23 pm

        I like Corbyn, so I’m inclined to imagine an alternative: he does understand Scottish sentiment and politics, but he’s quite happy for the SNP to be the loud voice of the progressive movement up north until his own party gets their head around the idea that Blairism is dead.

        But in his victory speech he obviously had to tick the boxes of thanking and boosting everyone, especially in high-profile areas like the London mayoralty and the Scottish defeat.

  11. Melb 11
    12 September 2015 at 11:25 pm

    Congrats – Tories in power until 2025.

    • millsy 11.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:29 pm

      They probably would be anyway with any of the other lot as leader.

      Miliband had a pretty moderate manifesto, but still got creamed.

      Osborne will probably take public spending and service levels back to Walpole-era levels by 2020 anyway, and Labour will probably be lucky to get them back to pre-Crimean War levels after 2 terms.

    • Colonial Viper 11.2
      13 September 2015 at 12:06 am

      lol if you really believed that why the snide comment?

      • adam 11.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:03 am

        Like all Tory’s, they are scared witless.

        • Macro 11.2.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 2:08 pm

          That is for real. They are waking up to the fact that millions out there have had enough of the tory crap they have been served up for the past 3 decades, and are are now demanding change. It’s going to be a sad time for tory parties around the globe in the coming decades and they have only themselves to blame.

        • Melb 11.2.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 10:29 pm

          I recall past sentiment here that all those RWNJs were actually scared of Cunners when he was elected by the membership. That guy who led Labour to it’s second ever worst election result. The worst ever when you consider that 1922 Labour didn’t have candidates standing in a lot of electorates. So scary.

          In reality I find Corbyn highly amusing, in the same way that I find Donald Trump highly amusing. Both are currently polling well amongst their own side, but their ideas will fall flat when it’s time to put those ideas to the wider electorate. Neither will come close to winning higher office, but it will be a laugh watching them try, and then watching the impotent rage of their supporters when failure hits.

          • Colonial Viper 11.2.1.2.1
            13 September 2015 at 10:33 pm

            Melb:

            Your analysis is shite.

            Cunliffe let himself get captured by the Thorndon bubble mindset; in addition his caucus wanted him gone.

            As for Corbyn, he faces many of the same problems from a Blairite right wing Labour Party.

            But the Tory right (in both Labour and the Conservatives) are chicken shit scared of him for good reason.

      • Melb 11.2.2
        13 September 2015 at 10:31 pm

        A lot of people here think it’s awesome that Corbyn is elected – but what’s the point when UK Labour are trounced in 2020 because of it?

        • Colonial Viper 11.2.2.1
          13 September 2015 at 10:34 pm

          So you’re reading tea leaves now?

          If you weren’t shit scared of Corbyn and the grassroots movement he has activated, you wouldn’t be commenting.

          • Melb 11.2.2.1.1
            14 September 2015 at 12:25 am

            You didn’t answer my question – what is truly the point when it becomes obvious that Corbyn is Michael Foot Mk II?

            Will it still feel good to know that Labour have chosen a man of principle, despite those principles never seeing Government because the Tories will run the show for another five years (at least)?

  12. swordfish 12
    12 September 2015 at 11:27 pm

    Wooo hooooo !!!!!! (as I believe Homer Simpson once said)

    Fark, that’s decisive !

    59.5% in the first round.

    Even won decisively among the full members according to the BBC.

    The last (YouGov) Poll of the Labour ‘Selectorate’ (Early August) had Corbyn winning with 53% (67% Trade Union affiliates / 55% newly signed-up supporters / 49% full members)

    I’ll be interested to see how they actually broke on the day.

    And It’ll be fascinating to see how the ‘soft left’ caucus members react. They may very well split between Corbyn Shadow Cabinet/supporters and the Blairite/Brownite ‘Resistance’ (although I suspect the majority will respect the overwhelming mandate and plump for the former).

    • Raf 12.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:29 pm

      I’ll be more fascinated by our own Labour Party’s response.

    • swordfish 12.2
      13 September 2015 at 12:00 am

      Looks like a massive 85% of newly signed-up supporters backed Corbyn, with significant – but lesser – majorities among full members and trade union affiliates. So the YouGov Poll got that bit wrong. Can’t find the full breakdowns of the vote, though.

      Revitalisation and Renewal. Of Labour politics and, more broadly, of the British polity.

      • swordfish 12.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 1:12 am

        Final Breakdown of Vote:

        Members 245,520
        Newly signed-up Supporters 105,598
        Trade Union Affiliate Supporters 71,546
        (Figures rounded for simplicity)

        ……………………….Corbyn……Burnham……Cooper……Kendall

        Members………….. 50%………….23%………….22%…………..6%

        Newly signed-up
        Supporters………… 84%………….6%……………8%…………….2%

        TU Supporters……. 58%………..26%………….13%…………..4%

        TOTAL………………….60%………..19%………….17%…………..5%

  13. The Chairman 13
    12 September 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Mr Cameron said Labour is now a party that has completely vacated the intellectual playing field, dragging their politics so far to the Left that they no longer represent working people.

    He stated: “They pose a clear threat to the financial security of every family in Britain.”

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/article11858320.ece#ooid=1vZzBodzpwk0GwStb8c5CAY2N2d3Oemk

    This is the sort of rubbish NZ Labour can expect to hear if they genuinely decide to move left.

    • millsy 13.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:32 pm

      “He stated: “They pose a clear threat to the financial security of every family in Britain.””

      And slashing public spending and services back to 18th century levels doesn’t,,

      • The Chairman 13.1.1
        12 September 2015 at 11:37 pm

        It’s called fear-mongering, Millsy, thus logic doesn’t apply.

        The fact they are resorting to it shows the establishment is running scared.

      • Matthew Hooton 13.1.2
        13 September 2015 at 5:19 am

        UK public spending and public services are at 18th century levels?

        • millsy 13.1.2.1
          13 September 2015 at 10:17 am

          They will be come 2020 if Osborne has his way.

          Regardless of whoever leads Labour, it will be a hell of a job to even get it back to where it was during the Crimean War/Indian Mutiny. The Blairites will probably just leave it at Napoleonic War levels.

        • Macro 13.1.2.2
          13 September 2015 at 2:18 pm

          Don’t you keep up Matthew? Britain is now operating policies last seen in DIcken’s era. ( You even get a police record if you dare to strike for a decent wage!) It won’t be long before they are back to the 18thC. But of course your lot will be completely comfortable with that – nice to have a few serfs and beggars to kick.

  14. Rodel 14
    12 September 2015 at 11:31 pm

    Congratulations to Corbyn. Would love to see him waste the etonian prattish born to rule PM they have at present. Also nice to see people rejecting Blair’s bleatings.

    • The Chairman 14.1
      13 September 2015 at 12:21 am

      Blair, another establishment hack, was also fear-mongering. And yes, good to see it was largely rejected by party supporters.

    • Chooky 14.2
      13 September 2015 at 10:03 am

      lets hope Blair is held to account for his crimes against humanity …and misleading Britain into the illegitimate war against Iraq…the devastation Blair helped create against the people of the Middle East….only then can healing begin

      • mary_a 14.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 1:51 pm

        Right on there @ Chooky (14.2) Tony Blair, along with George W Bush, both political war criminals should be tried in a court at The Hague for their crimes against humanity.

        Their criminal activity of destabilizing the Middle East on the pretense of a lie (retribution for 9/11), has resulted in the emergence of ISIL, with millions of desperate refugees from the war devastated region seeking sanctuary elsewhere in the world.

        Blair and Bush’s filthy, war mongering hands are stained permanently with the blood of innocent civilians!

        Can only hope now the election of Jeremy Corbyn as British Labour Party leader, is a game changer for the rest of the western world to emulate.

  15. Northsider 15
    12 September 2015 at 11:32 pm

    David Shearer, our very own ABCer, confirms that he prefers those who eschew any leftish tendencies in favour of a strategy to appeal to Tories.

    Have a look at his Facebook pierce. It confirms he is a certified idiot.

    As Frankie Boyle said of the Shearer type “…campaign is based on changing Labour to be whatever people who hate it want it to be.”

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/27/how-will-labour-top-losing-the-election-by-losing-its-own-leadership-contest

    • millsy 15.1
      12 September 2015 at 11:43 pm

      ‘Dont worry, I agree with everything that the Tories say’.

      • weka 15.1.1
        12 September 2015 at 11:58 pm

        David Shearer
        Yesterday at 12:05 ·

        Jeremy Corbyn looks likely to be elected the new UK Labour leader this weekend.
        He will win without the support of most of his caucus and with many senior members refusing to serve under him.

        Corbyn’s supporters could be right … for the first time in modern political history we may see a leader shun the centre, steer a party to the left and win an election.

        But more likely it will guarantee Labour stays in ‘glorious’ opposition as it did during the 1980s and 1990s – until finally it reached out to voters in the centre and won three elections in a row. But until then Thatcher and the Conservatives ran rampant for 18 years.

        Too often we forget that being in government is the objective. Anything else is just academic discussion.

        Meanwhile, the Conservatives are gleeful. Many joined the Labour Party under Labour’s new voting rules just so they could vote for Corbyn.

        Sadly, the stakes are heavily tilted against a positive outcome for Labour – and with it the majority of hardworking, decent Brits.

        https://www.facebook.com/davidshearernz/posts/741364445969757

        Gods, why don’t they just split Labour into 2 parties and be done with it?

        • The Chairman 15.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 12:26 am

          It seems they (the right within) prefer to control Labour from within.

        • Pat 15.1.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 8:41 am

          “Too often we forget that being in government is the objective. Anything else is just academic discussion.”

          and therein lies the problem…the objective is to represent the interests of your constituency and country, I believe thats the basis of democratic governance

          • weka 15.1.1.2.1
            13 September 2015 at 9:08 am

            “the objective is to represent the interests of your constituency and country, I believe thats the basis of democratic governance”

            Yes!

            It’s useful to have such a definitive statement from Shearer that what he really wants is the power.

            • red-blooded 15.1.1.2.1.1
              13 September 2015 at 11:58 am

              And how does a political party represent the interests of their constituency and country if they don’t have the power to make decisions and enact them?

              You have to read all of Shearer’s comment, not just cherry pick part of one sentence and try to rebut it. Have a look at his comment about Thatcher and the Conservatives running rampant for 18 years. While the Labour politicians of the time may have felt idealogically pure, they didn’t actually manage to help or protect anyone, did they? Surely that’s what being a politician of the left is all about?

              Hey, good luck to Jeremy Corbyn. He seems to be a good man and he’s galvanised a lot of people. I hope his party unites around him and he wins the next election. I’m not convinced this is going to happen, though.

              It wasn’t all that long ago that people on this site were celebrating the victory of Alexi Tsipras and saying that the international money-lenders would have to bow to the will of the Greek people…

              • weka …
                13 September 2015 at 12:26 pm

                “And how does a political party represent the interests of their constituency and country if they don’t have the power to make decisions and enact them?”

                And how does a political party represent the interests of their constituency and country if in order to gain the power to make decisions and enact them they have to throw their constituency under a bus?

                I did read all of Shearer’s comment, I even quoted it in full.

                Even if the Blairites were right (gain power, it’s better than letting the Tories win), that doesn’t apply now. We’ve just seen the people choose a left wing leader, and Shearer say that is wrong. When you get to that point you are all about the power, and patronising to boot. The people are wrong.

                It is possible to find a balance between power and principle. If the neoliberals like Shearer hadn’t had as much power, we’d be in a position now to demand change. As it is, the left in NZ is basicaly fucked until Labour die, or as Bill has pointed out, there is enough change overseas that people here start to realise that a left wing govt is not such a bad thing after all. Don’t know what we do at that point though, given Labour are incapable of being left wing.

              • Pat …
                13 September 2015 at 8:45 pm

                if you believe you must control the treasury benches to represent the interests of the constituency and country then you obviously fail to understand the Parliamentary system….the oppositions role is vital in its function.
                Challenging policies that are not in the best interest of the WHOLE constituency /Country and providing viable alternatives that do are where Labour have consistently failed to fulfill that role.

            • Jones 15.1.1.2.1.2
              13 September 2015 at 3:21 pm

              Which is precisely when he should never have it.

        • save NZ 15.1.1.3
          13 September 2015 at 9:29 am

          Maybe they should split Labour into two parties so at least voters have the choice which part of Labour they can vote for.

          • weka 15.1.1.3.1
            13 September 2015 at 9:35 am

            It might make things a lot clearer. Then we’d have NZF and the Pagani/Shearer party in the centre, Labour on the left, and the GP on the vertical axis but with a distinct left wing bent. Lots of choice is good, although there is still the very large problem of how those parties would form govt, and Labour would still have the problem of feeling like it needed to court the middle to get in power. Unless they moved to the real left and people started to vote for them again.

          • Chris 15.1.1.3.2
            14 September 2015 at 1:09 am

            That’s right. Deborah Russell on Q & A today talked about three British Labour MPs who abstained on a tory welfare bill because “they couldn’t bring themselves to vote against it.” Well our Labour party all voted with our filthy right wing government on the last government welfare bill, the Social Security (Fraud Measures and Debt Recovery) Amendment Bill. Was truly unbelievable, but then again, perhaps not. Although perhaps our current Labour party needs to disband and start again rather than splitting in two?

        • North 15.1.1.4
          13 September 2015 at 10:34 am

          Well said Dave in Weka’s comment @ 15.1.1 – you ‘winner’ you !

    • The Chairman 15.2
      12 September 2015 at 11:49 pm

      Seen Shearer’s facebook – poor form.

      Unfortunately, there isn’t a Jeremy Corbyn amongst them.

    • Colonial Viper 15.3
      13 September 2015 at 12:22 am

      Yeah I just jumped on Shearer’s FB page and gave him a serve back for his stupidity.

      This is the guy who barely lasted 6 months as Labour Leader for all his political nous. Idiot.

      • emergency mike 15.3.1
        13 September 2015 at 4:50 am

        Wow, Corbyn wins by a landslide on a progressive Labour platform and David Shearer reckons it’s a big mistake. Enough said really. What a loyal soldier for the tory left, tory right, two party system he is.

        Did we ever find out who it was in the Labour party who stabbed Cunliffe in the back at the last election?

        • Chooky 15.3.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 10:15 am

          re “who stabbed Cunliffe in the back”….i think there was a group of them…all hack wannabes (not all men)…and all went against the will and choice of the rank and file Labour Party membership whose choice was David Cunliffe….and they put the knife in again once Labour lost the Election

          I also think Mana/Int was/is more of a genuine Left NZ Labour Party…with people like Annette Sykes, John Minto, Laila Harre , Hone Harawira…pity the NZLP can not amalgamate with Mana…or at least work cooperatively with them to win the next Election

          • red-blooded 15.3.1.1.1
            13 September 2015 at 12:02 pm

            Hey, Mana/Int showed terrible judgement last time. Don’t let’s rewrite history; Sue Bradford was absolutely right to leave Mana when they took the money and signed up with Dotcom.

          • Hami Shearlie 15.3.1.1.2
            13 September 2015 at 1:25 pm

            The treatment of David Cunliffe after the election by the ABC crowd is what caused me to let my Labour Party membership lapse – they don’t give a damn about the Labour Party members – all they care about is their cosy position, their hefty salaries and their future prospects up the Labour or Corporate ladder – Selfish much??

        • Colonial Viper 15.3.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 10:46 am

          Did we ever find out who it was in the Labour party who stabbed Cunliffe in the back at the last election?

          primarily members of the Robertson faction but supported by the rest of the caucus right wing.

          • Belladonna 15.3.1.2.1
            13 September 2015 at 6:25 pm

            IMO David Cunliffe should have finance. Grant Robertson isn’t at all inspiring and not to be trusted along with his mates who did their best to undermine David Cunliffe.

            • Colonial Viper 15.3.1.2.1.1
              13 September 2015 at 6:31 pm

              Little’s promised one year major reshuffle is only a month or so away. We’ll know then where he is going – and how much power to elicit change he actually holds.

        • Bill Drees 15.3.1.3
          14 September 2015 at 9:11 am

          Stabbing Cunliffe was about shutting down the membership and affiliates who has the temerity to vote for democracy in the selection of party leader.

          Note in Shearers awful FB piece that he laments the selection of a leader that has majority support from the membership rather than the outgoing caucus.

          If Little gives in to the anti membership faction you will see Annette King, camp mother to the ABCs, hold onto the deputy role that Little said she’d vacate.

          Little has to assert his power by dumping King and repositioning the poor performers of the front bench.

  17. Clemgeopin 17
    13 September 2015 at 1:00 am

    Victory for a leader of the common people!

    “Things can and they will change,” Corbyn, 66, said in a victory speech which began with criticism of the British media for intrusive reporting and ended with a vow to achieve justice for the poor and downtrodden”
    ————
    “I say thank you in advance to us all working together to achieve great victories, not just electorally for Labour, but emotionally for the whole of our society to show we don’t have to be unequal, it doesn’t have to be unfair, poverty isn’t inevitable,”
    ————
    “When the results were announced he was cheered and hugged, even by some of his rivals”
    ———–

    Meanwhile, Cameron weeps.

    • Chooky 17.1
      13 September 2015 at 10:23 am

      +100 Clemgeopin….and re : “Cameron weeps”… Cameron also needs to be called to account for his warmongering against Gaddafi and Libya …and the ongoing devastation and refugee crisis after the bombing of Libya by NATO…Libya is now overrun by ISIS

  18. Frank Macskasy 18
    13 September 2015 at 1:30 am

    Watch the Right explode with hysterical fury. I can already hear brain blood-vessels popping at the thought! How dare people vote for something different!! That is NOT what Freedom in the West is for!!

    Next thing y’know, people will have real choice when it comes to elections!! We’re only supposed to have choice in supermarkets, between Canned Beans #1, Canned Beans #2, Canned Beans #3, Canned Beans #4, Canned Beans #5, Canned Beans #6, and Canned Beans #7!

    Choice is not for political thingies, don’t we know that yet? We’re not supposed to be interested in politics – not after years of Masterchef, American Idol, The Amazing Race, The Block, British Idol, The Batchelor, Australian Idol, The Batchelorette, Hell’s Kitchen, North Korean People’s Idol, America’s Next Top Model, Cops, More Cops, Cops 2, Cops Uncensored, Cops on Cops, Little Cops, Dancing with the Cops, Enough of F******g Cops, Survivor Island, Dancing with the Wannabee Stars, My Kitchen Rules, Big Brother, Dancing with Cops in Big Brother’s Kitchen, The Voice, and of course, that great socio-political event, Keeping Up with the Kardashians!!

    We’re supposed to be Relaxed. Like Dear Leader has shown the way. Relaxed. Comfortable. Not thinking…

    …Dumb.

    Corbyn has just gone and ruined things.

    Now people are going to be doing stoopid things. Like asking questions.

    Damn. This means the end of civilisation!! Worse still – the Share Market may drop a percentage point or two after this!!

    • Matthew Hooton 18.1
      13 September 2015 at 5:24 am

      I expect you’ll find the UK sharemarket, if it moves at all based on this, would rise, as a result of Conservative re-election in 2020 becoming more likely.

      • Gangnam Style 18.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 7:09 am

        thats it? thats the spin? pathetic, i am laughing at you, not with you. i can even hear your whiney hysterical voice revving up like a 250 cc motorbike engine. clown.

      • Quasimodo 18.1.2
        13 September 2015 at 7:36 am

        I think that should have read

        *their current perception of* Conservative re-election in 2020 becoming more likely.

      • Draco T Bastard 18.1.3
        13 September 2015 at 4:06 pm

        Gee, you’re a hoot.

        The Tories just lost which is why they’re all upset.

    • Wayne 18.2
      13 September 2015 at 9:06 am

      Frank,

      I presume you mean the Labour Right.

      Because the Conservatives definetly don’t have to “explode with hysterical fury.” All they have to do is govern sensibly and the say, “Do you really want the other side to wreck everything that has been gained?”

      • weka 18.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 9:16 am

        Keep calm and use dirty politics.

      • Lanthanide 18.2.2
        13 September 2015 at 9:51 am

        “Do you really want the other side to wreck everything that has been gained?”

        And then the public will take a critical look at what the ‘gains’ actually are, and decide that maybe poverty, austerity and an ever-increasing wealth-gap aren’t worth having after all.

      • Stephen 18.2.3
        13 September 2015 at 9:58 am

        What gains?

        • Macro 18.2.3.1
          13 September 2015 at 2:32 pm

          Wayne is talking about all the gains he and his mates have had – you don’t for one minute think that he would be thinking about anyone else do you?

      • Gabby 18.2.4
        13 September 2015 at 9:59 am

        To which Labour would presumably respond, ‘So, what have you gained? A richer boss doesn’t count.’

      • Clemgeopin 18.2.5
        13 September 2015 at 10:59 am

        Yep, gains for the wealthy, the upper class, the crooks and the corporates!

      • Draco T Bastard 18.2.6
        13 September 2015 at 4:10 pm

        Because the Conservatives definetly don’t have to “explode with hysterical fury.”

        And yet they will be because they know that they’re going to lose power in a big way. With Labour towing the same line as the Tories they kept power no matter who was in government but now that the people have decided that they’re sick of the rich screwing them over there’s no way that they’re going to keep getting richer and blaming on the poor.

        All they have to do is govern sensibly and the say,

        That’s just it though – the right-wing have never, ever government sensibly. It is because of them that we’ve got a declining civilisation and the world is heading to a climate catastrophe.

    • Lara 18.3
      13 September 2015 at 9:14 am

      +100 Likes Frank. As always, well said.

      The disengagement of young people from politics has been noticed for some time. Corbyn seems to be reaching them in the UK.

      NZ Labour take note. The “missing million”? Engage them with something that appeals to them, something that resonates with their daily lives. Higher minimum wages, UBI, cutting tertiary fees, getting rid of zero hours contracts…. you know, old original Labour values.

      Being National LIte and appealing to the “middle” isn’t working.

      • Colonial Viper 18.3.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:02 am

        NZ Labour has given up on the votes of the missing million and are concentrating on getting the votes of the 500,000 comfortable middle class.

    • Raf 18.4
      13 September 2015 at 10:31 am

      Excited too at the confidence this will give not only to our own angry grumbling masses but also to Little and co. Speak up, it works!

    • Reddelusion 18.5
      13 September 2015 at 1:31 pm

      hysterical laughter more likely frank

      I suggest labour parties around the globe will be uttering below their breaths, ” there go I but for the grace of God.” some one else is going to demonstrate why you should not let far left loonies get anywhere near power or their hands on the Labour Party

      • Macro 18.5.1
        13 September 2015 at 2:40 pm

        hysteria has many forms as you obviously know from personal experience. Never mind, calm down, it will be alright, the sun will rise tomorrow.

  19. Katipo 19
    13 September 2015 at 1:41 am

    If as a result of this Labour split if won’t do them any favours come next election due to their “quant” FPP system

  20. emergency mike 20
    13 September 2015 at 4:31 am

    Well well, in turns out, that given the chance to vote for someone who doesn’t sound like a more-of-the-same careerist regurgitating the same old ‘steady as she goes it’ll be our turn someday’ scripted lines determined by focus group analysis, people vote for them. Fascinating.

    I’m given just a little bit of hope that some level of collective consciousness has suddenly realized that continuing to elect elitist tory psychopaths, whether with blue or red ties, as their ‘leader’ is urgently unsustainable.

    And how, not even dimly close. Mr unelectable got more votes than the other three options combined. Cue frantic hysterical character assassination and dirty politics of unprecedented scope. Oh wait hang on, no there won’t be any of that, no need at all, since he’s so unelectable.

    • miravox 20.1
      13 September 2015 at 5:43 am

      ” Oh wait hang on, no there won’t be any of that, no need at all”

      You should take a look at the headlines on the daily bigot – oops mail – to see how right you are. I can’t bear to click on them but wow! there’s some viciousness there.

      Also I don’t know what speech Matthew d’Ancona in The Guardian was listening to, but it bears no resemblance to what I was hearing.

  21. mary_a 21
    13 September 2015 at 7:57 am

    Brilliant news 🙂 Well done Jeremy and the British Labour Party members who supported him for flicking the odious Blairites down the toilet.

    First Jeremy Corbyn. Then perhaps next … Bernie Sanders in the US? The international political scene just might be moving towards a change for the better, as we wait for NZ’s champion of the ordinary Kiwi to emerge and shake the establishment here.

    Bring it on.

    • Colonial Viper 22.1
      13 September 2015 at 10:05 am

      3 terms for Corbyn then?

      • Clemgeopin 22.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 11:14 am

        One possible problem for Corbyn is the fact that there are still 5 more years until the national general election. If the election was in an years time, I think it would be easier to keep the momentum going strong and win. 5 years is a long time and that may work against his chances. (Just my guess, not my wish).

        • Jones 22.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 3:35 pm

          Four more years of austerity politics is going to give Corbyn plenty of fodder from which to establish Labour’s position on things. i think the momentum will be fine.

        • Draco T Bastard 22.1.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 3:56 pm

          One possible problem for Corbyn is the fact that there are still 5 more years until the national general election.

          That’s not a problem – that’s a benefit as it means he’s going to have the time to talk to all of England and the SNP (He really does need to say that Labour will not be trying for seats in Scotland as the SNP have it covered).

  23. KeepLeft 23
    13 September 2015 at 8:51 am

    At last! With Corbyn being a man that is all about talking rather than dropping bombs, and after decades of warmongering by the neo-CONz, we have a real chance of lasting peace in the Middle East!

  24. save NZ 24
    13 September 2015 at 8:54 am

    +100 The practice of politics needs to get away from careerists working out how to triangulate the centre to people talking about the real issues and proposing how we may address the world’s problems.

    And they also need to go further to actively solve them – I’m pretty sick of seeing lavish international talk feasts as a means to pretend politicians are solving problems – like climate change and refugees.

    Next step after talking, actually doing something concrete about it.

    Apart from War and invasions, where actually engaging in dialogue and non combat resolution rather than invading countries and then starting decades of international crisis is the way forward.

    But great news about Corbyn – the most powerful thing about him for me, is that he first started the idea of dialogue with the IRA. Something that would have been very poorly received at the time and probably got his radical ideas labeled him as a terrorist, but ultimately was the way forward. That takes guts and a deep understanding of problem resolution.

  25. BM 25
    13 September 2015 at 8:56 am

    That’s the end of the UK Labour party.

    There’s just no way in hell, he will be allowed to become PM.

    • Corokia 25.1
      13 September 2015 at 9:13 am

      “There’s just no way in hell, he will be allowed to become PM”
      “Allowed”- what if the electorate actually voted for a party led by him?

      • BM 25.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 9:28 am

        There is a very slim chance that the over whelming negativity and hit pieces rained down upon Jeremy Corbyn and the labour party over the next 4 years may not sway the voter at all but some how I really don’t think so.

        The UK has been moving in a particular direction for the last 30 year, fortunes have been made, powerful people, companies, organizations have come into existence.

        Do you honestly believe they will allow Corbyn to throw the UK economy in reverse and destroy it.?

        That is what Blair was warning against, he’s not a fool he knows how it works and if you want to ever get into power you’ve got the work with these groups not against otherwise you haven’t got a chance.

        • North 25.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 9:50 am

          BM salutes Democracy @ 25.1…….he obviously dearly loves that ‘Democracy Thing’ and ‘The People’.

          No way would BM sacrifice either in favour of – “fortunes…….made, powerful people, companies, organizations…….” No way !!!

          • Colonial Viper 25.1.1.1.1
            13 September 2015 at 10:07 am

            BM is right though, Corbyn’s days are already numbered, count on it.

            • swordfish 25.1.1.1.1.1
              13 September 2015 at 10:22 am

              Yep, there’s certainly gonna be a shitstorm of smears, abuse and ridicule from the MSM/establishment.

              I still hold out a vague hope that it might provoke some sort of public backlash against the media (at least among the roughly 50% of Brits who see themselves as Left-of-Centre on most substantive issues) – a kind of Honest Man of the People Jeremy unfairly bullied by a Corrupt elite establishment sort of thing – but you should never, of course, underestimate the MSM’s power to profoundly influence and distort perceptions.

              Nor the power of the Blairite/Brownite PLP to subtly and not-so-subtly undermine.

            • RedLogix 25.1.1.1.1.2
              13 September 2015 at 10:36 am

              Yeah – this mad far left idea of Corbyn’s to make corporates to pay their share of tax.

              Lunacy!

              • BM …
                13 September 2015 at 10:42 am

                Unless Corbyn intends to re write all the tax laws the corporates will not be paying any more tax.

                The only ones who will be paying extra are the middle class -upper middle class wage slaves who lack the ability to write off their income.

                • Citizen's Resistance …
                  13 September 2015 at 11:10 am

                  Bit out of touch with the times Sir/BM. The backlash against Corporations is building Worldwide. Both Corbyn & Saunders have wisely tapped this rich vein.

                  Here in New Zealand public anger has already been generated with anti TPPA resentment. An excellent platform to leverage upwards from.

                • Clemgeopin …
                  13 September 2015 at 11:22 am

                  “Unless Corbyn intends to re write all the tax laws”

                  That is what parliaments do. Write laws and make changes, including tax changes. That is why governments get elected!

    • Clemgeopin 25.2
      13 September 2015 at 9:23 am

      You know the minds of all the UK voters who each have an independent free vote?

      I think the Tories, the right wing rogues, the moneyed class, the miserable MSM and the crooked corporates in UK and every where else need to get worried about the slowly shifting sentiments everywhere in the democratic world. The time to keep lying and fooling the common people is coming to an end.

      A new type of silent revolution is beginning like the French revolution without guillotines but with the civilised and the more powerful votes.

      • James 25.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 9:37 am

        Everywhere in the democratic world – mwahahahahahahaha.

        Are you kidding – Lets just take NZ – how many years are we into Key’s run and National still poll at 50%ish.

        As preferred PM – he is so far ahead of anyone else its not funny.

        The Standard’s readers are not a reasonable barometer of the thinking of the country. He is, and remains an exceedingly popular prime minister.

        I think we (and most of the democratic world) can rest easy knowing that there isnt a revolution coming any time soon.

        • Clemgeopin 25.2.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 10:18 am

          You are scared of a fairer, more just, socialist society? Do you even realise that the world would have been in the dumps but for the societal changes to worker laws and living conditions brought about by socialist philosophy and practices in the democratic world? Be grateful that you now have the freedom to even criticise the government, its leaders and freely comment on a blog. In reality, only an unthinking fool or a crocked selfish rich prick will reject socialism.

        • North 25.2.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 10:19 am

          8 years of a gauche, rich, flake and liar holding power into a 3rd term says nothing James. In all time and in precedent prime ministerial tenure of that order is not even particularly remarkable.

          Keep whistling boy……you’ll feel a light switch on the wall……flick it at your will. Delivered from darkness you’ll see it’s labelled ‘Democracy’. I appreciate that’s inimical to the unprincipled E ! Channel politics you favour. Sorry buddy…….you’re just gonna have to get over your grief. A hobby might help.

        • swordfish 25.2.1.3
          13 September 2015 at 10:42 am

          Key “remains an exceedingly popular prime minister”

          Key’s been averaging 39% Preferred PM in the TV Polls. You, know – a minority. You call that “exceedingly popular” ?
          Despite what should have been an enormous name-recognition advantage, more than 60% of the public refuse to endorse him as PM. Not quite the Man with the midas touch portrayed in the media.

          He’s pretty much where Clark was at the same point in her final – I repeat, FINAL – term in Office.

          “National still poll at 50%ish”
          Again, the TV Polls have had the Opposition Bloc a few points ahead of the Govt/Right Bloc for a number of months now. Left up roughly 7 points on the last election, Right down 5.

        • Raf 25.2.1.4
          13 September 2015 at 10:46 am

          You’re sure of that? Tories, Blairites, voters, journalists all are reeling at this result which NOBODY saw coming. So you’re quite sure you can’t hear any distant rumbling in NZ?

    • AB 25.3
      13 September 2015 at 10:47 am

      Drone attack you think BM?

  26. rhinocrates 26
    13 September 2015 at 9:04 am

    Jesus H Tap-Dancing Christ, how about this article from the smug Grauniad:

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/12/a-haunted-corbyn-stares-into-the-abyss-of-triumph

    “They didn’t vote for OUR Tory candidate, what will happen to my property values now?! Waaah!”

    It says a lot about the comfortable liberal-for-appearances-sake-at-dinner-parties upper middle class.

    The comments are overwhelming in showing how out of touch the writer is.

  27. rhinocrates 27
    13 September 2015 at 9:07 am

    Looks like Jeremy Corbyn has a great deputy too:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYgXedpeMuc

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4oNjTuTz-8

    Seriously tho, Tom Watson has long been a principled and energised true Labour MP.

  28. North 28
    13 September 2015 at 9:19 am

    In the post, Michael Rosen’s prescient Twitter plea – “If Corbyn wins, can we please have hours and hours of analysis from people who never vote Labour as to why it’s a mistake ?” Don’t we know that so well here in NZ ?

    Michael Rosen, your plea has been granted……to wit Hooton at 18.1 above.

    Accordingly I shall avoid Kathryn Ryan “Nine to Noon” at 11.00 am tomorrow. I shall avoid also for this possibility……..”Mike Williams, what’s your take on Corbyn’s election ?…….’Well Kathryn I tend to agree with Matthew……’ ”

    There’ll be a good laugh however from intellectual colossus Mike (‘Key in Skinnies’) Hosking when twistedly miffed he prognosticates the falling in of the sky.

    So much for Mikey’s

    • rhinocrates 28.1
      13 September 2015 at 9:56 am

      Nine to Noon? It should be hosted by David Attenborough.

      “And here we see the Grosser Blue-Spotted Williams… and this is quite a remarkable moment, as it puffs up its plumage, and begins it’s distinctive mating call, ‘Iagreewithmatthew-Iagreewithmatthew’…”

      • mac1 28.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 3:01 pm

        Ah, political birds. In my follow-up to New Zealnd political weeds, here is a short resume of birds of the political world.

        The Blue-crested chaffinge (Infusus fisiani) is a bird often seen in New Zealand skies, about leader election time. Its cries alternate between a croaking laugh and a grizzling whinge as it comments upon rival nestlings on the other side of the river.

        Corvynus Jeremiah, however, is a bird of the deepest red plumage and whilst it has been out in the political wilderness for thirty years, where its crow-like premonitions of doom could often be heard but faintly, hence the jeremiah classification, its clarion call for justice is now heard throughout the British Isles, far outside of its native north Islington.

        A Kiwi variant is much-hoped for.

        Corvynus jeremiah’s three erstwhile competitors, tamed by years of Whitehall coteries, (one of which, kendallus blairsimile, of faint pink plumage, barely got off the ground in a recent flight test), were given the bird. The other two sub-species, variants cooperi and burnhaminus, were left right out.

        Other species are flying the coop, since they fear they cannot spread their right wings in the cages of Trotskyist cells that are left dominant.

        Meanwhile, closer to home the much feared migrant, peregrinus syriani, is set to increase in numbers as kiwi bird fanciers warm to the idea of an immigrant from a more mediterranean climate, where heavy predation threatens their Syrian nesting spots.

        Finally, in this edition of Avianus politicus, of what’s new in the world of songsters that are better seen and not heard, the TransPacificus Puffinus Americanus seems to have a delay put upon its planned introduction to these shores, as handlers in the US disagree over range, habitat and feeding costs.

        And, in breaking news, the feared black bird, Rickus Maccaw, has arrived in London, with a full flight of attendant crows to feast upon the remains of such enemies as the French cock, the American eagle, and the Australian galah.

        Kiwi head hunter, and triple-handler, John Key, hopes that the success of the current all black crows in Europe will flag away the third term blues and enable a fourth tug at the fiscal ponytail.

  29. Brian 29
    13 September 2015 at 9:30 am

    Congrats Jereny – this is great news.

  30. Aaron 30
    13 September 2015 at 9:32 am

    It’s nice to see democracy breaking out anywhere in the world but let’s not forget that little old New Zealand created the model for how to deal with Labour Party leaders that aren’t liked by their own MPs. I sure people in the UK are on the phone to our own ABCs as we celebrate.

  31. North 31
    13 September 2015 at 9:37 am

    …….continued from 28 – So much for Mikey’s extraordinary rant “UK’s biggest fool…..” re Corbyn. So looking forward to your ex post facto Mikey…….spare us the end of the world crap, please. Any lazy fool loudmouth can manage that.

    Show us your ‘class’ Mr Omniprescence !

  32. mac1 32
    13 September 2015 at 9:48 am

    ‘Imagine there’s no countries
    It isn’t hard to do
    Nothing to kill or die for
    And no religion too
    Imagine all the people
    Living life in peace…

    Imagine no possessions
    I wonder if you can
    No need for greed or hunger
    A brotherhood of man
    Imagine all the people
    Sharing all the world…”

    This is the song the feared marxist, socialist, coal-loving, trident-banning, Jeremy Corbyn was excoriated on twitter.

    Not a bad manifesto to turn into reality.

    This in a world run by ‘real’ politicians and leaders with war, famine, global warming, nuclear arsenals, chemical poisons in both war and agriculture, child abuse and murder, pornography, violence upon women, government-sanctioned torture, race hatred, religious hatred……………….. etc.

    Jeremy Corbyn, your ideas and ideals are welcome.

    • Raf 32.1
      13 September 2015 at 11:01 am

      Stop making people cry … risking being hopeful again hurts…

      • mac1 32.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 1:26 pm

        If you gonna have faith, Raf, you need hope as well; and God knows we need some charity in this neo-liberal world.

        Nine ducklings in the river opposite, on their first water outing. Two tuis singing, a cattle egret, pukeko and shags flying about, the sun shines and the easterly freshens the air. Who couldn’t have hope?

        • Barbara 32.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 1:36 pm

          What a lovely picture you describe – like you we have Mr and Mrs Blackbird right outside our bedroom ranchslider diligently building a nest in a climber growing up a pillar. Soon we will have eggs, then fledglings and then the pleasure of seeing the little ones testing their wings. Another generation of blackies to throw the bark about and generally mess up the garden – what fun.

  33. James 33
    13 September 2015 at 10:14 am

    Well, The polls sure picked it.

    Its interesting – He seems to be the leader that both the very left and a lot of the right wanted.

    So – I guess everyone is happy.

    Of course they both have very different motives here. The right believe that when faced with an election that his views, stances, and objectives are far away from what the general population of the UK believe and he will get nowhere the PM’s seat.

    There is a huge difference in being ‘the man’ for a ton of activist (which is a very small sub set of society), and being able to win ‘the rest’ over. I dont think he will – But hey – only time will tell. It will be interesting to revisit this post post the next UK election – Some of us are very wrong – and none of us know who yet.

    The one thing I do believe that Corbyn has right is that he does not “do personal” – Thats a hell of a change for the left in NZ to try and take on – heck – I bet a lot of the posters on here wont learn from that tho’

    • BR 33.1
      13 September 2015 at 3:52 pm

      Ten thousand Brits joined the Labour Party AFTER he was elected yesterday .
      Seems he’s hit a spot with all those who had no choice or who were sick of supporting a Labour party that had more in common with the Tories than with them

      • Colonial Viper 33.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 6:24 pm

        The last thing the Labour Party caucus wants is for all these troublesome left wing thinkers, believers and activists to join the party.

    • BM 34.1
      13 September 2015 at 10:32 am

      That’s disgraceful.

      • Lanthanide 34.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:54 am

        Yes, disgraceful that capitalism and globalisation in their ever-insatiable desire for profits have shipped jobs away from 1st world countries to 3rd world countries, where they can get away with paying poverty-level wages.

        These factory workers are actually being paid more than the average in their country.

        • Colonial Viper 34.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 11:07 am

          You have to wonder if those factory workers were bullied by their bosses in participating in that rag story

      • Clemgeopin 34.1.2
        13 September 2015 at 2:28 pm

        Spare those crocodile tears.

        In the meantime, consider these few points:
        (a) Corbyn is not responsible for the unfair doings of the moneyed goons in Haiti.
        (b) Change takes time.
        (c) At least a few poor Haiti shirt workers earned a few bob to feed their family. Should they be paid more? Probably: Can’t say for sure, not knowing the cost of living there and other factors. Did Corbyn buy these to exploit the poor workers? Do you really think he did?

    • Paul 34.2
      13 September 2015 at 10:49 am

      I’m sure the The Daily Mail will apply the same blow torch of investigative journalism to links between Cameron and the military industrial complex.

  35. North 35
    13 September 2015 at 10:27 am

    Is James @ 33 an example of what Michael Rosen on Twitter – see in this post above – is talking about ?

    • James 35.1
      13 September 2015 at 10:32 am

      No North – I have not said it was a mistake at all.

      For all I know it could be Genius. Truth is none of us will know until election time. He may well inspire a generation – or be a disaster.

      The left want the former – the right the later.

      But now he is a master of his own destiny, and we can only wait and see what happens.

      • ankerawshark 35.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:47 am

        I am not sure unfortunately he is master of his own destiny. I am really thrilled
        he was elected leader, but I fear how the msm in the UK will portray him as already seen by the piece on the Standard from Private Eye.

        This is what happened to Cunliffe

    • James 35.2
      13 September 2015 at 10:33 am

      Oops – North – Unless you are referring to my t-shirt comment. Again Im not saying it is right or wrong – Im just asking if you would were his t-shirt knowing where it was made.

      • North 35.2.1
        13 September 2015 at 10:41 am

        I was harsh James, sorry…….you didn’t claim fantastical powers of prophesy. How ’bout you caution your mates though……hubris is less and less digestible……as the gap gets more and more pronounced.

        • James 35.2.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 10:46 am

          I have mates from a couple of political spectrums (Hell even one is a greenie – but Im not too sure about him).

          Would you like me to have all my friends not comment – or just the ones you disagree with?

          • North 35.2.1.1.1
            13 September 2015 at 11:38 am

            You know that’s not what I’m counselling James @ 35.2.1.1. You also know whom I’m talking about. They are not the people you describe. “H” is for hubris is for Hosking is for Henry is for Hooton is for hacks. Right ?

            Re the T-Shirt……fair question when not out of the mouths of the Right who piously choose to turn “Progress Not Perfection” on its head as a weapon to attack Corbyn for progress to an end. An end they’ve always opposed in any event.

            Shades of the loathsome Collins’ rant about Metiria’s Coat ?

  36. swordfish 36
    13 September 2015 at 11:09 am

    As someone recently tweeted: “NEWS FLASH: Labour loses support of the Conservative Party”

    My thoughts and best wishes are with Josie Pagani and Phil Quin at this desperately sad time in their lives.

  37. johnm 37
    13 September 2015 at 11:12 am

    Mark Mcgowan, the artist taxi driver:

    Corbyn red flag
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP5s_fpRx0

    Petrified of Jeremy Corbyn
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ8h8HSlelo

    Selma

    • North 37.1
      13 September 2015 at 12:04 pm

      Note the snotty pejorative betrayed in the voice over at the end of the “Corbyn red flag” clip…….

      “Errh, they’re comin’ out…..they got no tickets ?” – (read – ‘Corbyn’s inclusivity a sham….’)

      “Hah, do anything for a teacher !” (read – ‘Corbyn supporters bunch of misdirected schoolkids…..’)

      The other clip, choice ! Thanks JohnM…….had a mental note to YouTube the Taxi Driver. You beat me to it.

  38. Colonial Viper 38
    13 September 2015 at 11:28 am

    RT covers Corbyn’s victory speech/party in full:

  40. Smilin 40
    13 September 2015 at 12:55 pm

    Hooray finally we are getting some political traction by someone who is calling it the way it really is
    Lets hope the truth that is emerging and not an assassination like JFK for trying to shutdown the WAR MACHINE and THE MAFIA

  41. Chooky 41
    13 September 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Fight is now on to defeat the Torys.. Cameron and Boris Johnson in the next General Election…..and interestingly a major platform of Corbyn’s is to renationalise the British railways…and bring energy companies back into public ownership

    (something which this jonkey nactional government has and is doing its best to destroy …with their State Owned Asset sales and their running down and then privatising KiwiRail)

    ….”Corbyn has also pledged to renationalise Britain’s railways and bring energy companies into public ownership if he became prime minister. He is in fact the public’s favorite Labour candidate to be the next Prime Minister, second only among all candidates, to Boris Johnson.

    At his final rally, Corbyn told supporters he was determined to win back those who do not vote at general elections”…

    https://www.rt.com/uk/315154-jeremy-corbyn-labour-election/

  42. Peter 42
    13 September 2015 at 3:35 pm

    I don’t think the industrial military complex and the banks will allow this to happen they will destroy Mr Corbyn with lies, sleese, and back stabbers in the Labour party. They will get at him through his family friends something he said on his cell phone years ago, because the stakes are billions of dollars and they are not going to stand by and watch it taken from them, if all else fails some jihadist or refuge or mental patient will be brain washed to get rid of him.

    • Colonial Viper 42.1
      13 September 2015 at 6:22 pm

      I think this is likely too. Knowing the power elite, the man’s days are numbered, God bless his soul.

  43. BR 43
    13 September 2015 at 3:49 pm

    So, how come the resounding silence from NZ Labour Party leaders today ?
    Where are the FB posts and tweets expressing delight ?
    Silence from Little , silence from the lot of them.
    What’re they doing ? Seeing how the media plays it before they dare to speak ?
    Checking a focus group ? Ringing Rodger Douglas to see what they think ?

    What a bunch of lily-livered neo-liberal cop outs the NZ Labour Party is and how lucky are all of those millions in Britain who have been looking for someone wit some guts to get behind .
    I see 10,000 people joined the UK Labour Party after Corbyn was elected leader.
    TEN THOUSAND !

    • lprent 43.1
      13 September 2015 at 4:29 pm

      Silence from Little

      Huh? At 2pm I was driving and listening to NatRadio and heard a statement from Andrew Little about the election result.

      Yep… http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/284060/corbyn-to-tackle-uk's-'grotesque-levels-of-inequality‘ That took 1 minute to find – “Jeremy Corbyn Andrew Little”. Didn’t you look?

      Authentic voice – Little
      The leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, Andrew Little, said Jeremy Corbyn had an authentic voice and that is why people voted for him.
      Mr Little said Mr Corbyn’s campaign reached out to those who felt excluded from the political process.
      “Jeremy Corbyn spoke to a part of the constituency at the sharp end of austerity and other major cutbacks that clearly feels left out and hasn’t had a voice. He’s given them a voice and he’s won a lot of popular support for that.”
      Mr Little said Mr Corbyn’s campaign was amazing and reached out to those who felt excluded from the mainstream political process.
      He said there would be a lot of hard work ahead to unite the caucus of the British Labour Party.

      Do you have a problem using google? Or are you merely incompetent? I’d presume that the rest of your comment demonstrates the same degree of inventive laziness.

      But I suspect that you are just another fool wanting to lie to run a meme without being too worried about facts… Lazy dickhead.

      • The Chairman 43.1.1
        13 September 2015 at 4:46 pm

        His comments were far from expressing delight in a far left win.

        Moreover, there was nothing suggesting he would take note and consider moving further left himself, reaching out to the many disenfranchised we have here.

        • John Shears 43.1.1.1
          13 September 2015 at 5:53 pm

          “His comments were far from expressing delight in a far left win.”
          Is English a 2nd language for you Chairman?

          Authentic voice – Little
          The leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, Andrew Little, said Jeremy Corbyn had an authentic voice and that is why people voted for him.

          and

          Mr Little said Mr Corbyn’s campaign was amazing and reached out to those who felt excluded from the mainstream political process.

          None so blind as they that cannot see.

          Perhaps you should consider resigning from the Chair.

          • The Chairman 43.1.1.1.1
            13 September 2015 at 6:00 pm

            Authentic – of undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine.

            I can see there is clearly no expression of delight with the far left win.

            Complimenting him on his authentic voice and its reach isn’t expressing delight on his far left stance and acknowledging that’s how he rallied the disenfranchised.

            Nor was there any indication he would follow suit.

            • Colonial Viper 43.1.1.1.1.1
              13 September 2015 at 6:21 pm

              NZ Labour believe that moving to the left = unelectable.

              • The Chairman …
                13 September 2015 at 6:45 pm

                A labour party that largely don’t want to be left.

                Therefore, if they do eventually win, it won’t be a win for the left.

                And they expect the left to vote for that? You can see why they are struggling in the polls.

                The right are happy with National and Labour give the left no hope.

              • Ron …
                13 September 2015 at 9:19 pm

                Not surprising when their definition of Left is slightly to the left of Genghis Khan

                NZ Labour believe that moving to the left = unelectable.

          • The Chairman 43.1.1.1.2
            13 September 2015 at 6:39 pm

            Furthermore, John, authentic is an interesting word of choice.

            Corbyn is far from authentic, he’s old school left. Parroting the old school values Labour used to hold dear.

            • Karen 43.1.1.1.2.1
              13 September 2015 at 6:58 pm

              What utter tosh Chairman.
              Corbyn has retained his Labour Party values – he isn’t “parroting” them. He is seen as authentic because he is. Simple.

              I have no problem with Little’s response. Shearer, on the other hand, continues to exhibit the Blairite tendencies that made me relieved when he lost the leadership of the Labour Party.

              • The Chairman …
                13 September 2015 at 7:23 pm

                Old school Labour Party values are not authentically his. They are values that have been around for some time.

                If you are delighted with Corbyn’s win and wish to see Labour (NZ) genuinely live up to its old school principles, then you should be disappointed in Littles comments thus far. There was no indication he would follow Corbyn’s lead.

                Claiming to have no problem with Little’s response merely indicates to them the spin worked on you.

                Little, like all the comments from our Labour lot that I’ve seen so far have been polite, but they are clearly not aligning themselves with Corbyn’s left wing stance. And this is a prime opportunity for them to do so. That’s if they are that way inclined, clearly they’re not, hence you should be disappointed.

                • Ron …
                  13 September 2015 at 9:08 pm

                  Agree Chairman very lukewarm response. If I was Little I would not get around to sending him an email next day WTF is wrong with picking up the phone and congratulating Corbyn on his historic win.
                  Not good enough

                  Little, like all the comments from our Labour lot that I’ve seen so far have been polite, but they are clearly not aligning themselves with Corbyn’s left wing stance. And this is a prime opportunity for them to do so. That’s if they are that way inclined, clearly they’re not, hence you should be disappointed.

        • lprent 43.1.1.2
          13 September 2015 at 7:46 pm

          I have no idea why he would say anything other than what he said. Andrew Little is usually a person with few carefully understated words, with the odd exception when the circumstances demand it.

          But of course as a troll, you would tend to favour arselicking sycophants with the dribbling habits of a Labrador. For instance, Mike Hosking with his cheek fetish for John Key.

          • The Chairman 43.1.1.2.1
            13 September 2015 at 7:54 pm

            I’m a lefty expressing my opinion – not a troll, thanks.

            • lprent 43.1.1.2.1.1
              14 September 2015 at 8:48 am

              I was expressing my opinion of what your comment read like. I really don’t give a pigsarse about what you say you are. I care about how you act.

              Trolls come in all political persuasions and types. I have had a *lot* of practice at spotting them by what they say and how they say it.

              I was particularly referring to the types of trolls

              1. who claim to be something that they are not

              and/or

              2. deliberately try to undercut by pushing memes without bothering to express their own opinion.

              To me, you look suspiciously like one or more of those two styles. You don’t act like a member of the NZLP, yet you express a false concern for it in a way that seems to say it should move in a direction you prefer. The style of your comments was (in my view) carefully designed to allow you to start a flamewar while keeping your hands cleanish. This is a pretty standard PR / political operative approach to social media.

              I don’t like people who behave like that, and I don’t care what part of the political dimension they come from. I keep an eye on them whenever I detect that their behaviour indicates that is what they are doing.

              This is a place for individuals to express exactly and clearly what they think and to argue about it. To do the latter, you must show why you think things, not just be a graceless coward floating ideas on behalf of some faction or organisation for other people to fight over.

              That is the Farrar technique, and I despise it. It is the technique used when people want to get syncopated arselicking. It is a way of shutting down discussion.

              Your reaction is pretty classic troll as well. Congrats. You’ve made it to my watch list.

              • The Chairman …
                14 September 2015 at 11:03 am

                I have no problem with you expressing your opinion. Moreover, you can believe what you will.

                All I can say is you’re incorrect in your assessment of me.

                I come here to commentate on political and economic matters, merely calling it as I see it, which tends to create discussion, not shut it down.

                • lprent …
                  14 September 2015 at 11:20 am

                  So don’t “float” ideas and then move away, which is what you seem to be doing a lot. It is a behaviour that I associate with trolls and the odd PR hack.

                  State what you think should happen and why. Then engage in any argument that results to defend your ideas against attack. Of course you might get lucky and find everyone else agrees. But it’d be damn strange if that ever happened.

                  That is the robust debate this site was founded to promote. Engage in it. You can’t lose much apart from some paint off your ego.

                  • The Chairman …
                    14 September 2015 at 11:46 am

                    I can’t force people to change their beliefs, but I can enlighten them with a different point of view and perhaps widen their perspective.

                    For the point in case. I didn’t have anything to do with the comment Little decided to make, I merely critiqued it as I saw it.

                    As a lefty, clearly I was disappointed. It wasn’t so much what Little said, but more what he didn’t say.

                    Again, complimenting him on his authentic voice and its reach isn’t expressing delight on his far left stance and acknowledging that’s how he rallied the disenfranchised.

                    Nor was there any indication Little planned to follow suit, hence my disappointment.

                    If it isn’t clear by now, I’m a lefty that expects a Labour Party to be left. After all, this is the Labour Party – not the Centrist Party.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      16 September 2015 at 8:51 am

                      One good reason not to go as far as “delight” just yet is that Corbyn still needs to lead Labour to an election win.

                    • The Chairman …
                      16 September 2015 at 11:39 am

                      @ One Anonymous Bloke

                      With the similar division within, thus confusion of direction the party faces here, one would expect some acknowledgment and delight in the left stance clarity voters expressed over there. Especially from a union man.

      • The Chairman 43.1.2
        13 September 2015 at 4:59 pm

        Shearer has already expressed his sentiments (bringing into question why he joined and remains in Labour).

        And as expected, we see Robertson distancing the party from Labour’s (UK) shift to the left.

        http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/economy-plan-robertson-video-6386766

        Additionally ,Robertson claims the lesson for NZ Labour is the party needs to send voters a clear and direct message on where it stands.

        However, they seldom do that. Take their position on the SFF for example.

        CGT is another. First it was on the table, then taken off, now apparently it’s being reviewed. Therefore, once again no one knows where they stand. And we are coming up to one year in now.

        • Colonial Viper 43.1.2.1
          13 September 2015 at 6:21 pm

          Superannuation eligibility age. They want to raise it, but after two tries are now dead scared of the voter backlash.

        • Ron 43.1.2.2
          13 September 2015 at 9:04 pm

          Shearer should never have been parachuted into that seat. Lets hope his LEC grow some testicles and refuse to endorse him next election.
          One also hopes that Conference will endorse some new rules around selection of new candidates. Little by Little (no pun intended) we have to rebuild the party to ensure it is a truly democratic socialist party.

      • BR 43.1.3
        13 September 2015 at 6:14 pm

        “Where are the FB posts and tweets expressing delight ?”

        Is what I said , somebody from Nat Radio obviously rang Little and asked for a quote , he certainly hasn’t offered one up on Labour Party social media .

        It was only a day or so ago that Shearer was warning that ‘hardworking Brits’ would be suffering if Corbyn was elected.

        I think it’s time you went and took a valium ..or five ..you sound way too angry to be allowed near a keyboard

        [lprent: Ah usual kind of idiot troll running a line falls into the usual response trap (that is one of the three I use as a fast dump). Interesting IP numbers. You really shouldn’t do that. Pre-emptively banned this handle permanently as a waste of time. ]

      • The lost sheep 43.1.4
        14 September 2015 at 9:39 am

        It would be easy to draw a conclusion from Little’s comments that he was carefully emphasising that Corbyn’s support has come from a marginalised grouping rather than the mainstream…
        “Mr Corbyn’s campaign reached out to those who felt excluded from the political process.
        “Jeremy Corbyn spoke to a part of the constituency at the sharp end of austerity and other major cutbacks that clearly feels left out and hasn’t had a voice.”

        The question I would love to hear Mr Little answer straight up and honestly would be….
        “Does a similar constituency exist in NZ, and if so, should the NZ Labour Party be making a stronger effort to reach out and provide them with a voice as Corbyn has done in the U.K.?”

        • lprent 43.1.4.1
          14 September 2015 at 12:26 pm

          What do you think that the argument over Shearer’s appointment by the caucus and only the caucus was about? Cunliffe eventually got elected after the caucus had its exclusive voice removed and the party membership got involved. The problem was that was that it happened less than a year before the election – which was politically a bad and probably unwinnable move.

          Little got 2 and half years to get the caucus and the party members onside – which he appears to be doing remarkably successfully. Then to keep pushing the message that we’re all in this society together to get the wider support from both the disenfranchised and the remaining voters. You need both to win elections. It is a tight timetable.

          Corbyn has 4 and half years.

          • The lost sheep 43.1.4.1.1
            14 September 2015 at 1:58 pm

            If you believe Andrew Little’s leadership qualities, internal party stability and the continuation of a mild Center left message is a strong enough combination to give Labour the edge at the next election, then I’d agree the best strategy for the coming 2 and a half years would be to consolidate those factors.

            But my assessment is that Andrew Little lacks the right stuff to take ‘leader market share’ from Key, National has an advantage of years on the ‘stability’ scale, and the current Labour platform offers insufficient differentiation to ‘brand National’ in the perception of the centrist voter. All of which gives National a clear looking run to victory next time around.

            If I’m correct on that, (and honestly, to say I’m wrong you’d have to be going on faith, because where is the evidence that points to a Left wing gain?), then wasting any of the short time frame available to change the electoral dynamic becomes akin to fiddling while Rome burns.

            Think of the risks associated with continuing the current strategy, and losing a fourth consecutive election with it? What would the implications of that be for the Left in NZ?
            On the other hand, consider the consequences of making strong change and losing the next election anyway. Would it be worse than losing through stagnation and inertia, or would The Left actually be in a healthier state because at least you had things positively on the move?

            Some part of the Left in the UK seem to have hit a brick wall with the current plan, and seized the moment for change. I’m not at all convinced Corbyn is ‘The Man’, but I say more power to them, because anything is possible once you have a state of flux.
            If the status quo prevails on the NZ Left, then I reckon it had better produce a win at the next election. Because if it doesn’t, the Left will be descending into a chaos and darkness from which there may be no return.

            • lprent 43.1.4.1.1.1
              15 September 2015 at 5:44 pm

              In my view, the parties of the left and smaller parties win more through getting their supporter base working for their party than they do through trying to convince our media to disseminate their ideas. The crucial factor in that is convincing most of their supporters that it is worth giving up time and energy to do so.

              Having imposed changes of leadership from the parliamentary wing doesn’t do that. Nor does visible factional fighting. Think of Mike Moore in 1993, the Alliance in 2002, Act in 2005-8, where David Shearer was heading the NZLP in 2013, or where the Conservative party is now.

              Change for changes sake isn’t a argument that usually wins much support from supporters. That in turn usually doesn’t win much when it comes to an election. The more time that there is to settle the party down into campaigning together without the kind of irritating backbiting, the better the eventual election results usually are.

              Without the seriously muffed selection of a political neophyte by the Labour caucus after 2011, ignoring the party members, there would have been much less of a political issue in the 2014 election. As it was, the choice for members came down to two bad choices. Going to an election with a leader and shadow cabinet who didn’t understand their party, or changing a leader and makeup of the shadow cabinet far too close to the election. But for members it was an “if not now then when” decision. So they pushed a leadership in the most stressful and short period.

              Unlike you, most members of the NZLP were quite aware of the risks of change. But crucially with Andrew Little the veteran members do not see a reason to change because they are looking at what happens inside the party rather from the rather excitable media externally craving diverting excitement. They are quite aware of how Labour wins elections and the need for the time to prepare for those victories.

              Basically your analysis sucks politically. But what else would I expect from you.

              • The lost sheep …
                15 September 2015 at 7:17 pm

                “Basically your analysis sucks politically. But what else would I expect from you.”

                I guess we’ll know whose analysis sucks in a couple of years, and if it’s mine, I give a solemn promise on my battered version of Orwell’s Collected Essays that I’ll be the first to stick my hand up and say I was horribly wrong.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  15 September 2015 at 7:28 pm

                  Keep telling yourself that; the next election will not be a measure of your faith-based assertions analysis.

                  • The lost sheep …
                    16 September 2015 at 8:37 am

                    If the Left loses the next election, EVERYBODY’s analysis will be up for scrutiny OAB.

                    Well revolution more likely than scrutiny. 4 elections lost in a row ? Think about it.
                    You and the rest of the reactionary old school Leftist status quo will be frantically piling furniture against the door trying to keep that pissed off mob of frustrated Lefties from overrunning you .
                    Corbyn is the sign.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      16 September 2015 at 8:45 am

                      The outcome of the next election will be decided by multiple factors.

                      So far as your reckons vs. Lprent’s experience goes, whatever the outcome, Lprent shared some valuable insight and you…reckon.

                • lprent …
                  16 September 2015 at 3:11 pm

                  As you say, we’ll see. However the best measure will probably be if the NZLP starts doing its horrible habit of having a internal disintegration (most likely scenarios would be a clash between members and caucus or a faction fight inside caucus) that consigns them to being unelectable. Again. If that happens it’d be most likely over or just after the end of this year. I think that after last term, they’d realise

                  Really the best time for having those kinds of arguments is just after an election. However it tends to also be time that you find one group or another being needlessly intransigent and starts trying to bulldoze rather than convince. That is a pain as the issue doesn’t go away, it festers.

                  As I said, the UK Labour did the correct thing. They had the leadership change and a shift in direction after the election. This time it was a bit of a revolution and will have downstream repercussions for some time. Fortunately for them they also have a lot longer election cycle to work it out.

  44. Henry Filth 44
    13 September 2015 at 5:14 pm

    When I look at the UK media environment, I feel I have to ask the question: “Has the next British Labour PM been born yet?”

  45. Mike the Savage One 45
    13 September 2015 at 6:53 pm

    I wish Jeremy Corbyn well, but he will have a great challenge to keep the UK Labour Party united. As for his popularity, there may be hope at last, as he seems to be reaching many that had already given up on politics.

    Yet I am not sure whether this will result in a Labour government in the UK in 2020, as the neoliberal forces have influenced people’s thinking so much, that many voters and also non voters suffer from the Stockholm Syndrome. They may after years of brainwashing and conditioning choose to rather live and sleep with their pimp, than dare choosing a different partner (in politics and government) for the future.

    Let us wait and see.

  46. Gabby 46
    13 September 2015 at 7:31 pm

    It’s certainly interesting that there is a rash of new memberships AFTER his election. Though I guess they could be Tory saboteurs too?

  47. Clemgeopin 47
    13 September 2015 at 8:43 pm

    Did you see this? VERY funny! Donald Trump-Jeremy Corbyn!

    Less than an hour after Jeremy Corbyn won a landslide victory in the Labour leadership contest today, Donald Trump retweeted this image of Corbyn to his 4.12 million followers, mistaking the left-winger for an inspired Trump supporter:

    http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2015-09/12/11/enhanced/webdr14/enhanced-24241-1442071335-5.png

    A classic!

  48. Facetious 48
    13 September 2015 at 10:13 pm

    Labour will be looking for a new leader before 2016 is over, and bookies are already taking bets on it. That is the low level of confidence Mr Corbyn inspires.

  49. gnomic 49
    14 September 2015 at 2:16 am

    Good on you Jeremy.

    Abolishing nuclear weapons gets my vote just for a start. I really struggle to think of a reason why the inhabitants of the British Isles need this alleged deterrent. A waste of money which they say is in short supply.

    Anyone else agree that the other candidates all looked slightly odd and even robotic while Jezza looked like a human being? And not one all fluffed up by some semi-divine claim to leadership.

    Hey, he isn’t even a war criminal as far as I can tell. Quite likely hasn’t ordered the death or torture of another human being. Or endorsed the pointless invasion and wrecking of other nations already struggling for survival.

    Probably needs to get someone to taste his food I’m afraid. The dark forces will be on overtime. Socialism is impermissible.

  50. RedBaronCV 50
    14 September 2015 at 8:44 pm

    And good old Andrea Vance calls him scruffy in about sentence 3 in the DP. Well he doesn’t wear a tie but he looks clean and pressed to me so what’s the issue. Interesting how there is so much negative comment on his dress before they even start on the ideas. Sorta getting the treatment often doled out to women, appearance judging. Shallow lot some of these commentators are.

  51. RedBaronCV 51
    14 September 2015 at 8:45 pm

    As for nationalising stuff – it would be hard for anything to be run in a worse manner than some of the privatised contracts