"Look, the question of whether Jim Murphy should be Scottish Labour leader was last week's disagreement. The people of Scotland decided that he shouldn't be leader, and that's settled now. It's time to move on. The choice that lies ahead next year is clear : it's whether Nicola Sturgeon or Kezia Dugdale should be First Minister."
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It's just as well Murphy didn't "do a Farage" as the election results came in - ie. saying that he would resign as leader but would probably stand in the subsequent leadership election. The problem is that Murphy, as a non-MP and non-MSP, is no longer eligible to be a candidate in a leadership election.
That's how absurd this situation has become. Surely the bare minimum requirement for any Labour leader is that he or she is the sort of person that the rules say is suitable to stand for election as Labour leader?
We really should just let them get on with it. If Jim stays it will be a huge boost to Sturgeon's re-election campaign, but I would tend to suggest that we are better leaving them to grieve and to repair themselves without being further hounded by us. I could expand on why that is best for all parties concerned ( the SNP, the SLP and the Scottish electorate), but don't have time for long essays this morning.
ReplyDeleteMy main concern right now is that our 56 MPs do a bloody outstanding, professional job, and it is the duty of every single SNP member to support them to the hilt in that objective.
What,not hound them? Where's the fun in that. No, hound them, hound them. In fact cry havoc and loose the hounds of war on them. They've earned nothing less.
DeleteAye, Jim Murphy; ordinary mum and Labour party member.
ReplyDeleteI hear Hollande is now holding Jim responsible for the French socialist losses in March. If the ruling Danish social democratic alliance takes a hit in September, that really will be the final straw; Jim will have to go.
I remember Rev Stu saying that when Murphy became leader he was heading for a "pratfall of Laurel and Hardyesque proportions" should he lose his seat. And lo and behold it has indeed come to pass!
ReplyDeleteKezia Dugdale as First Minister? (screams and faints)
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief Murphy didn't just stay on as East Renfrewshire's MP and refuse to let Kirsten Oswald take his place!
ReplyDeleteI am ambivalent about whether Murphy stays or goes up to the point where if he did get in on the list next year, he'd be cringeworthy in the ScotParl. everyone I know finds him so and the wonder is how he managed to last as long in Politics as he has.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, its because he was never, like many of his former colleagues never under quite the same scrutiny as he has been since the referendum. Witness the vile comments by Donohoe the other day. Scotland and its awareness of politicians has changed. Labour still don't get this.
Who would replace him? I am conflicted about Kezia Dugdale.
She is clearly not unintelligent but it's as if she's been brainwashed. Continually blurts the same old mantras at a delivery speed that suggests to me she's not actually thinking about what she's saying just choosing from a menu of pre-programmed scripts. Under the right tutelage she could have been a reasonable mid level politician but she had Foulkes, Lamont, then Murphy.
The First Minister occasionally shows exasparation at the quality of her opposition and who can blame her. Labour would to well to take note of the olive branches she has been proferring recently as I suspect her parience with them won't last.
O/T slightly but what of the conservatives? I dont think Ruthie might be quite as secure as she thinks. Didn't Murdo Fraser run against her for leadership in 2011 on a platform of creating a separate Scottish Conservative Party whilst not pro- indy, in favour of full home rule. Cometh the hour, cometh the man here perhaps?
Sooner or later the "other" parties are all going to have to take some kind of leap towards more pro something. Murphy, for Labour is definitely not the man to lead them that way, certainly not going to happen when they are the laughing stock of Scotland for allowing him to hang on like this.
Whatever happens with Jim Murphy, the fun wont really start 'till he raises his head above the parapet again.
ReplyDeleteHe has been in hiding since the election even arriving leaving the Labour MSP meeting last Friday by side doors!
The man is damaged good, but his hanging on might just prove useful for Labour at the next Holyrood election.
Most pundits are expecting Labour to be hit hard in the 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections no matter who the leader is, so perhaps some in the Labour Party feel Murphy will be useful as the fall guy for the defeat.
Labour can then get rid of him and tell Scots that they have 'listened to the voters' and will start again as another New Labour, perhaps calling themselves 'the Even Newer than the last time Labour' lol.
Labour are badly divided and left wing/right wing factions are emerging within the party.
Brian Donahue has also given those Scots who were silly enough to campaign or vote for him, a nice insight into how he thinks about them and their efforts.
I'd imagine a lot of these people will be fuming and will be prepared to listen more carefully to SNP activists and friends who tell them that the Labour Party are now Red Tories.
I'm beginning to feel that the Labour Party are on the road to being irrelevant in Scotland and I never thought I'd see the day when that happened.
Surely time for Gordon Brown to make a significant intervention?
ReplyDeleteHe has been remarkably quiet and must therefore be saving up for a really weighty intervention! Maybe a profound intervention?
I can only think his intervention will be jaw-wobbling.
DeleteLook, it’s really simple. Jim will refer to his Scottish Labour Party Constitution (that’s the document that the Electoral Commission has never heard of) and simply adjust the relevant paragraph as, don’t you forget it, he doesn’t need to refer to London for anything. Simples...
ReplyDeleteI'm just waiting for a certain ex Labour MP to be arrested for Murphys attempted bayonetting.
ReplyDeletedoubtless what we need is one of douglas alexander's 'major' speeches!
ReplyDeleteMurphy is one of the many Scots Labour politicians with a USA connection. His links to the Henry Jackson mob, and the Friends of Israel, are shared by other Scots that are now ex politicians.
ReplyDeleteThe CIA infiltrated the British Labour Party back in the late '70's, when they were getting a bit too left for Americas liking.
Can Murphy be under pressure from his US 'sponsors' to try and keep his role?
I don't think Murphy's sponsors micromanage to that extent. I think it's more a sort of "cast your bread upon the waters" thing, where they get the right people in the right places to suit their interests and then more or less let them get on with it.
DeleteIf Murphy has irretrievably fallen, I'm sure they have plenty others to step up and take his place.
I'm sure you're correct about others being ready to take his place, Morag.
DeleteI'm just glad that his constituents managed to see him for the fake person he was.
Commiserations on just falling short on unseating Fluffy. I know you made a huge effort.
Next time.
I'm not absolutely certain there will be a next time, the way this is going.
DeleteSmiley face thingy.
DeleteJim is not suitable to stand for the job he already has?
ReplyDeleteHe no longer fulfills the requirements to be eligible for the job, if he was applying for it now.
Delete