The Labour Party. All discussion here please

[Mecky 10]

The increasing unpopularity of Labour with supporters switching to UKIP is alarming, judging by the success UKIP have gained in this area.

 

Even though I remain a Labour supporter, I blame the Labour party and many of their so-called most devoted supporters for allowing that to happen, they've been asleep and out of touch with public concerns for far too long.

 

UKIP has the advantage with the leader they have, he makes sure he is seen in the media as often as possible and has improved his image over time with all the publicity, but without him the party would be dead.

 

But they're still up around 118 seats or so

[rickiethecat 10]

UKIP has the advantage with the leader they have, he makes sure he is seen in the media as often as possible and has improved his image over time with all the publicity, but without him the party would be dead.

 

Labour's problem is the opposite. Maybe Labour should do a deal with UKIP and replace Red Ed with Nigel Farage!

[tonkatoy 10]

But they're still up around 118 seats or so

 

But you can't get away from the fact that Labour polled 10% less than they did in the council elections a year ago. The Tories polled exactly the same as they did last time. It is pretty clear which way things are moving now the economy is on the move.

[janie48 95]

But they're still up around 118 seats or so

Thank goodness! for that, but they need to up their performance in preparation for next year.

If Ed Miliband sounded inspiring enough to motivate more interest that would help.

 

Although he doesn't get a lot of opportunity to do that, at least not by media coverage, which seems to mainly focus on Nigel Farage talking about his immigration policies, and apart from the EU, Farage never seems to be questioned about anything else.

 

---------- Post added 23-05-2014 at 15:13 ----------

 

Labour's problem is the opposite. Maybe Labour should do a deal with UKIP and replace Red Ed with Nigel Farage!

I acknowledge Nigel Farage is a charismatic leader, and actually I don't entirely dislike him, but as leader of the party I support with right wing views like his, no thanks.

 

And I wouldn't wish for a leader on the far left either, which Ed miliband isn't.

[dosxuk 10]

Although he doesn't get a lot of opportunity to do that, at least not by media coverage, which seems to mainly focus on Nigel Farage talking about his immigration policies, and apart from the EU, Farage never seems to be questioned about anything else.

 

That's because Farage is a very good public speaker, who can seemingly effortlessly direct conversations where he wants. He also knows that UKIP's other "policies" are far more controversial with it's supporters, so he stays away from those subjects as much as possible.

 

Sadly many of his other representatives are utter failures at the same tactic, resulting in the numerous calamitous statements the party has become famous for.

[janie48 95]

That's because Farage is a very good public speaker, who can seemingly effortlessly direct conversations where he wants. He also knows that UKIP's other "policies" are far more controversial with it's supporters, so he stays away from those subjects as much as possible.

 

Sadly many of his other representatives are utter failures at the same tactic, resulting in the numerous calamitous statements the party has become famous for.

Oh yes, Neil Hamilton comes to mind as one of those among the bunch.

[tonkatoy 10]

That's because Farage is a very good public speaker, who can seemingly effortlessly direct conversations where he wants. He also knows that UKIP's other "policies" are far more controversial with it's supporters, so he stays away from those subjects as much as possible.

 

Sadly many of his other representatives are utter failures at the same tactic, resulting in the numerous calamitous statements the party has become famous for.

 

But didn't the Labour Party end up with half a dozen of it's MPs banged up in jail for fraud. I would find that rather more calamitous than a few illadvised words particularly as many of those illadvised words are what the electorate want to hear rather than what the PC brigade want to hear.

[dosxuk 10]

But didn't the Labour Party end up with half a dozen of it's MPs banged up in jail for fraud. I would find that rather more calamitous than a few illadvised words particularly as many of those illadvised words are what the electorate want to hear rather than what the PC brigade want to hear.

 

But would you find that more calamitous than having a convicted kidnapper amongst your party, or your small business representative getting caught employing illegal immigrants?

 

It's easy to get elected by telling the electorate what they want to hear, the problem the traditional parties face is that they can't do that, otherwise they get pulled up on it, like Clegg & his tuition fees debacle. Farage has done very well to get UKIP elected to the two groups they can't have their headline policy judged on.

[Xt500 10]

That's because Farage is a very good public speaker, who can seemingly effortlessly direct conversations where he wants. He also knows that UKIP's other "policies" are far more controversial with it's supporters, so he stays away from those subjects as much as possible.

 

Sadly many of his other representatives are utter failures at the same tactic, resulting in the numerous calamitous statements the party has become famous for.

 

What ever they are famous for,its working

[whiteowl 54]

Interestingly, Labour took Penistone West from the Conservaties after UKIP managed to split the Tory vote. Bet those Tories are chuffed now lol.

[altus 537]

Interestingly, Labour took Penistone West from the Conservaties after UKIP managed to split the Tory vote. Bet those Tories are chuffed now lol.

 

The Tory party will be quite pleased. A few seats in a local elections don't matter too much but come the general election next year look out for the adverts saying "Vote UKIP get Labour" to frighten defecting Tories back into the fold. (Just like Labour will have "Vote LibDem get Conservative" ones.)

[LeMaquis 10]

What ever they are famous for,its working

 

Before you get carried away it should be noted that Labour got 11 times more councillors elected than UKIP managed. The Tories got 8 times more and even the Lib-Dems got more than twice as many. In percentage terms of the vote they're down on last year.

 

UKIP are still a protest vote. They need to start to win control of councils and run them efficiently for years to be thought of as anything other than Farage's fox in a henhouse. They have to run a few farms first, and not the funny farm either.