I actually think Tom Watson would have been less electable than Jeremy Corbyn.

We want politicians who actually believe in things. In the UK almost all our options are image conscious, identikit politicians, who don't actually come out and say what they mean. Or if they do it's too bland to actually care about.

But there is plenty of evidence that this is unelectable. Labour lost the election because it wasn't left wing enough in Scotland. But also because it wasn't seen as credible and right-wing enough to win back floating Tory-Labour voters in England. And given even if Labour had won every Scottish seat they'd still have lost the election, it's easy to see which would seem to be the priority.

The question I suppose is whether there are genuinely enough disillusioned natural Labour voters who didn't vote, or who voted for UKIP. Because if so then Jeremy Corbyn could - in theory - be able to win an election. If that's not the case, then he would look like a disaster waiting to happen for the party.

And actually for the country - because the country needs credible and competent opposition partis to try and curtail the government of the day.

"It's almost like a moral decision. Except not really cos noone is going to find out," Jez, Peep Show

Those who think Corbyn is a losing cause need to step back and think. Some Labour MPs wanted him on ballot paper to demonstrate how luttle support his ideas have. Can you say that now ( who would people trust on Iraq -Corbyn or Blair).
The candidate who is most Blairite, supposedly most in touch with 'ordinary people ' is Liz Kendall who is predicted to come last. One bookie has her at 100-1 to be next Tory leader.
It's a nonsense that you can't win from the left - you can't win by advocating a socialist paradise, true. But to offer an end to austerity, housing for all, good schools for all and investment in a strong economy to benefit all, not just a small minority is a winnable formula

I have to admit, that's what I prefer in an MP personal conviction and a capacity to present a reasoned argument. Conviction, pragmatism and a willingness to be persuaded by the argument, not just the issue, even if its unpopular.

I quite like Tom Watson. He was instrumental in protecting the UK Video Games industry, involved in the expenses issue and one of the few MP's pushing on the 'pedophile protection' issue.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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Yep, I agree with all that.

While I've had some issues with the resource focus of operation Yewtree I think Watson's pursuit of the child protection issue to one of admirable ethics and also one of the better things to have come out of the modern Labour party....As was his battle with Murdoch, his position on expenses and so on.

He stands up for what he believes in whether its popular or good for his career. I believe good people note that.

Edited by Stirlingsays (22 Jul 2015 12.32pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Blimey Nick, you've written something I agree with!

The smug Cameroonyblairite media make out that electing Corbyn would be like digging up Lenin and having a May Day parade past his corpse.

From what I've heard, he's just a common or garden socialist, of the type that do actually still exist in the British Isles in reasonable numbers.

...we must expand...get more pupils...so that the knowledge will spread...

Go on. Was he not part of a group that helped broker initial talks that lead to the peace agreement?

Class warrior- does that mean he stands up for the masses?