Who should be the next leader?

vivatifosi

Of Labour, the Lib Dems and UKIP?

I wanted to ask this question, but didn't want to threadjack Gen's thread about why the Tories won.

I agree with chewy re Chuka Umunna, I don't think he's the right person for the job. Andy Burnham is better, but he hasn't had a career outside of politics. I'd personally prefer Alan Johnson, but he's ruled himself out. I do feel that a return to the Blairite wing is the way forward. He was terribly wrong taking us into Iraq, but completely right in positioning Labour in the centre ground.

The Lib Dems have lost so many big guns that I don't know who is best placed to take over.

In the case of UKIP presumably it has to be Carswell.

Generali

Who should be the next leader? Me. The rest are just noise.

In the spirit of the question, Carswell for UKIP until autumn and then Farage again (he said he'd step down and may stand again).

Ummuna? Too brown for Scotland and too left for England.

Harperson has no chance: Labour don't put women into senior posts. (Shadow Deputy PM? Gimme a break).

Burnham? Maybe. He has Treasury experience which is a good start. He's just another career politico though and I think the country is sick of them.

Chances are they'll be up against BoJo or Ms May so Labour wil need someone charismatic. That realistically means Unamma. Anyone bland will be eaten for lunch.

missbiggles1

I'm another one who's disappointed that Alan Johnson won't be standing. Personally, I'd like to have Harriet Harman as leader but I know that's neither a popular viewpoint nor a vote winner.

Generali

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I'm another one who's disappointed that Alan Johnson won't be standing. Personally, I'd like to have Harriet Harman as leader but I know that's neither a popular viewpoint nor a vote winner.

I think Harperson has already said that she won't stand.

Labour generally don't promote women to positions of power. Ms Harman was Shadow of a position that doesn't really exist. I don't think Labour have ever had a female leader and I can only think of Ms Beckett who has held one of the four senior state roles on the Labour benches in 100++ years.

missbiggles1

Generali wrote: »

I think Harperson has already said that she won't stand.

Labour generally don't promote women to positions of power. Ms Harman was Shadow of a position that doesn't really exist. I don't think Labour have ever had a female leader and I can only think of Ms Beckett who has held one of the four senior state roles on the Labour benches in 100++ years.

Potential or actual?

Generali

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Potential or actual?

Probably neither but I can't think of a woman who has led the Labour Party for any period of time.

Ms Harman is current leader and will be for a few months like last time. Ms Beckett held the same temporary position back when Mr Smith died. They've all been put in place temporarily for technical reasons.

Labour has never voted in a woman as leader and, given their rhetoric that's disgraceful.

I reckon Ms May is a very close second favourite behind Mr BoJo as next Tory leader as things stand.

wellused

Labour need to elect a leader who first and foremost suits the unions, someone who can pull all the different factions together, someone who appeals to the Scots while still appealing to the English middle class, someone who can debate in the house and appear coherent on television, someone who can gather a good team around them. This list of essentials won't be easy to achieve as there may not be a man and woman alive who could do all of this. Personally I wouldn't want anyone who is now on the front benches as they are all tainted with failure so unless there is someone on the second line who is an exceptional best kept secret then I don't hold out much hope for them.
The Liberals don't have a great amount to chose from and apart from the last leadership being too wishy washy trying to keep both Labour and the Conservatives on side while at the same time stabbing them both in the back I can't see anyone better than Nick Clegg for the roll.
UKIP need Farage they are nothing without him if he doesn't stand and get the job in the Autumn they will be half the threat that they are now, I would suspect that between now and then he will be looking for a lucrative job in the media or on the lecture circuit probably in America and will only stand for election if he doesn't get a better job offer.

chucknorris

I hope Labour select someone that is equally as good as Ed Miliband was (for the Tories), it is a shame that he has gone.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Labour:
If they want to win it has to be someone that can break the union grip and drag them back to the New-Labour centre ground that won Blair three elections.

Britain has changed, we're now far more aspiration oriented, and the millions of middle-ground swing voters who work hard, pay taxes and vote for whoever will make them better off currently don't trust Labour to look after them.

I don't know who that is... No obvious contenders really. Suspect it'll have to be someone who gets the leadership by stealth and then changes things from within.

Lib-Dems:
Clegg is the best they have... Tim Farron is probably a contender, or maybe Alistair Carmichael.

UKIP:
If Farage stands again it'll probably be him, otherwise Carswell, but I think the prospect of playing front and centre in the campaign for the referendum will be too appealing to Farage and he will be back in charge of UKIP by then.

missbiggles1

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Labour:
If they want to win it has to be someone that can break the union grip and drag them back to the New-Labour centre ground that won Blair three elections.

I think exactly the opposite.

Generali

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I think exactly the opposite.

To confirm you think that Labour require a hard left, union supported leader. Is that right?