Official Labour leadership thread

[darmstadt]

Komrade Korbyn as President of the Republic of Britain.

We become the new Cuba, Russian nuclear missile bases, donated and maintained by our main ally, President Putin, for our protection against Kapitalist aggressors.

The interesting thing about Trident is that it is not really independent but is pretty much 'rented' from the USA. China, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and the US – and perhaps North Korea but Britain hasn’t.Unlike other states that have nuclear weapons systems, Britain is dependent on another state to manufacture an essential element of its only nuclear weapons system – the Trident missiles that are supposed to carry Britain’s weapons to target. These are manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the US. And Britain’s dependence on the US doesn’t end with the purchase of the missiles – Britain depends on the US Navy to service the missiles as well. A common pool of missiles is maintained at the US Strategic Weapons facility at King’s Bay, Georgia, USA, from which the US itself and Britain draw serviced missiles as required.

The plain truth is that, if Britain doesn’t maintain friendly relations with the US, then it won’t have a functional nuclear weapons system, despite having spent billions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money on it – because the US would simply cease providing Britain with serviceable Trident missiles.So, there is a strong incentive for Britain to follow the US in foreign policy, since independence from the US in foreign policy could lead to its nuclear weapons system becoming non-functional. Sustained opposition to the US in foreign policy certainly would. As long as Britain is tied to the US by a requirement for US-supplied and maintained missiles for its nuclear weapons system, it cannot have a wholly independent foreign policy.


Somewhere out there is a good infographic that explains how much control and how much the UK pay the US for Trident.

[tomtomagain]

Labour closes gap with Tories by three points, new poll finds



Get sneering! It's happening!! Panic!!!

Don't be daft.

Mr Corbyn has only just taken up his position. He's said nothing, committed to nothing and done nothing. New leaders always get a short honeymoon period.

Let's see how he's doing in 6 months. We have nearly 5 years to go to the next GE. There is plenty of time for the Tories to bring to everyone's attention all the stances, positions and utterances that Mr Corbyn has made over the last 30 odd years.

I've never heard of his Shadow Chancellor until yesterday and the only thing I can remember about him from the news yesterday is that he wants to overthrow capitalism, supports a 60% tax rate and wants to renationalise industry. Oh and even the Unions asked Corbyn not to appoint the guy.

The other story that attracted my attention was: "Will Mr Corbyn wear a poppy at the Cenotaph?" Why was that even on the news? Surely everyone wears a poppy to show their respects to the brave hero's who gave their lives so that we may live in a liberal democracy? Does Mr Corbyn not like poppies? Does he not respect the British and Commonwealth soldiers who have made the Ultimate Sacrifice?

The assault on him will be relentless. And unlike the Millibots who where "Career Politicians" and therefore were very careful about any position they took ( not that someone who has been an MP for 32 years can claim to be anything other than a career politician ) Jeremy has taken an awful lot of controversial stances and whilst the hard-left might agree with them I would doubt the bulk of the population will.

Apparently he's a bit of a republican. Doesn't like the Queen. Supports the IRA. Doesn't like Jews. Supports Hamas. Won't wear a poppy. Wants to disarm the country. Wants to raise taxes. Of course these statements are probably not true. But when has the truth been relevant?

PS Funnily enough old David Miliband popped up on the news yesterday. Great photo-op, doing good deeds with International Rescue. Strange timing eh? The man-who-would-be-king has returned from exile.

[AtW]

The interesting thing about Trident is that it is not really independent but is pretty much 'rented' from the USA.

Yes, it won't work against USA. And even if it did then it would not be of great use.

[Jog On]

The interesting thing about Trident is that it is not really independent but is pretty much 'rented' from the USA. China, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and the US – and perhaps North Korea but Britain hasn’t.Unlike other states that have nuclear weapons systems, Britain is dependent on another state to manufacture an essential element of its only nuclear weapons system – the Trident missiles that are supposed to carry Britain’s weapons to target. These are manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the US. And Britain’s dependence on the US doesn’t end with the purchase of the missiles – Britain depends on the US Navy to service the missiles as well. A common pool of missiles is maintained at the US Strategic Weapons facility at King’s Bay, Georgia, USA, from which the US itself and Britain draw serviced missiles as required.

The plain truth is that, if Britain doesn’t maintain friendly relations with the US, then it won’t have a functional nuclear weapons system, despite having spent billions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money on it – because the US would simply cease providing Britain with serviceable Trident missiles.So, there is a strong incentive for Britain to follow the US in foreign policy, since independence from the US in foreign policy could lead to its nuclear weapons system becoming non-functional. Sustained opposition to the US in foreign policy certainly would. As long as Britain is tied to the US by a requirement for US-supplied and maintained missiles for its nuclear weapons system, it cannot have a wholly independent foreign policy.


Somewhere out there is a good infographic that explains how much control and how much the UK pay the US for Trident.

So we (the British tax payer) are expected to pay £100BN to Lockheed Martin soon to renew trident...

What a racket...

Pay your taxes you morally indefensible contractors - you can't possibly expect big business and super rich individuals to foot this bill can you?!

[darmstadt]

If he can survive the first few months without making a complete arse of it he might actually do quite well.

Fantasy economics and promises of enfranchisement can work quite well at the ballot box, if he can make his pitch believable to the bulk of the electorate then I think he has a chance.

Let us not forget how easy populations walk sheep like into governments that play out their own prejudices. All the things that Corbyn and his ilk are against hit the right chords worth a lot of people. Despite history and a total failure of any type of far left government being associated with anything other than disaster people will follow according to their emotions. Yes, Jeremy Corbyn

Tories managed it at the last election

[DaveB]

Of course it isn't. Most of them never tried it when they were not "developed" either and really it's only ever been tried in societies that were ALREADY broken.

So a)you can't make generalisations about "total failure of any type of far left government" and b)Corbyn isn't far left. He's Centre-Left rather than Centre (left).

And if you want to see how Centre-Left Social Democratic governments can work take a look at the Nordic countries. Large public sectors, extensive welfare systems, high rates of public spending and all doing rather nicely thank you. Evan Iceland has recovered from their banking crises, and they didnt bail anyone out to do it.

[BrilloPad]

Even Iceland has recovered from their banking crises, and they didnt bail anyone out to do it.

And can even borrow in the markets!

[DodgyAgent]

Tories managed it at the last election

The Tories are the only government to have competently managed the economy for 60 years.

[Ticktock]

And if you want to see how Centre-Left Social Democratic governments can work take a look at the Nordic countries. Large public sectors, extensive welfare systems, high rates of public spending and all doing rather nicely thank you. Evan Iceland has recovered from their banking crises, and they didnt bail anyone out to do it.

Not to forget that all of these Centre-Left Social Democrats managed to magically create great natural resources, whether geo-thermal energy, oil deposits, lumber, etc. That's what happens - you don't vote left, you don't get to have the planet change and gift you these things.

[MicrosoftBob]

It is very telling that the SNP decided to make a statement on a second referendum the day after he got elected, the political equivalent of the wife putting on makeup again after she meets her husband's younger, more pretty secretary.

The SNP are masters of turning a back of the fag packet economic plan and grievance politics into a majority. They can see the threat the chap brings, he could easily half their quota of MPs.

That's because they're like the BNP with a friendly face, Blair lite with added racism

Proving you can be a racist nasty party and still get elected