# Who will be the next Labour Party leader in the UK? Who should be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 13, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824 "2019-12-13T20:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/41 "2019-12-15T20:41:17Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Good luck with that pal, he’s there to represent his constituents despite his personal position. The fact he has said on record he is a remainer but respected the vote pretty much ensured his survival in his constituency. If what you’re advocating is him to retain his position and vote against the wishes of his constituents, well I know a whole host of MP’s who lost their jobs arrogantly posturing themselves in that fashion and will now be in no position to do anything to mitigate the worst effects of it. His job is to represent _everyone_ in his constituency, not just those who voted for him. FPTP means that the pro-Remain majority, split across multiple parties, loses to the united minority. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/42 "2019-12-15T20:44:21Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > It is very sad to see this, instead of Labour looking forward and accepting that their campaign and tactics failed, their supporters are still insisting that its the fault of everyone else. I’m not Labour. I voted tactically. And it’s not rightness, it’s _fact_ that there is no good side to Brexit. You might as well suggest we craven towards climate change deniers if they won a referendum. There’s plenty of valid criticism to be made of Labour and Corbyn, but this country even now is still Remainer. FPTP did us in. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/43 "2019-12-15T22:43:08Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > And it’s not rightness, it’s _fact_ that there is no good side to Brexit. And there is your problem in a nutshell, such an absolutist position means that you are starting from a mental position that anyone taking the opposite view must be an idiot or actively malign. That just isn’t the case. There are plenty of intelligent and thoughtful people on all sides who believe, for perfectly valid reasons, that the UK is better off leaving the EU. You aren’t wrong to feel so dissappointed but you are horrendously shortsighted to imagine yours is the only possible valid view. Your position is not a “fact” in any manner of meaning that I’m familiar with. It is far too complex an issue to boil down to a certainty one way or another. It is impossible to know, beyond the immediate horizon, whether the UK will ultimately end up being better or worse off after leaving the E.U. Not least because “better off” and “worse off” are not universally defined or agreed. I once turned down a promotion that meant I was far worse off financially and in terms of career advancement. I don’t regret it for a second because I ended up with greater freedom in terms of family time and job satisfaction. Democracy means having the abilty to choose incorrectly. I wanted us to remain and strongly act to change the direction of travel. I suspect in the future that may still happen, heck, by us leaving we may even bring about the change that leaves the EU as an organisation we may want to be a part of. I don’t know, nor do you, nor does Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/44 "2019-12-15T22:44:11Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > this country even now is still Remainer. FPTP did us in. on what do you base this assertion? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/45 "2019-12-16T02:53:30Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > His job is to represent _everyone_ in his constituency, not just those who voted for him. FPTP means that the pro-Remain majority, split across multiple parties, loses to the united minority. Except that the popular vote didn’t show a pro-Remain majority, did it? The Tories were clear Leavers: leave based on the withdrawal agreement: 43.6%. Labor was sorta-kinda-wishy-washy Leavers: re-negotiate the Withdrawal Agreement, then hold a second referendum, _with the Labour Party leader not taking a position on the most important issue in a generation_. Wishy-washy-sorta-kinda nonetheless got 32.1%. The SNP and Lib-Dems campaigned for Remain and got just over 15% combined. That’s not a problem with FPTP. If anything, it’s a problem with a gutless Labour leader who refused to take a position on the most important issue in a generation, but even so got a third of the vote, tending to Leave. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/46 "2019-12-16T06:58:57Z")
I don’t know much about the various contenders but I have been reading their bios and watching some videos. Overall Keir Starmer seems like a solid choice and the rest seem pretty unimpressive. For example Rebecca Long Bailey seems to be a leading contender but I honestly can’t figure out why. She is young and inexperienced and also comes off as thoroughly mediocre, more middle management than a potential prime minister, e.g. check out this [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_7bXihMoo). ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/47 "2019-12-16T07:32:44Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > I don’t know much about the various contenders but I have been reading their bios and watching some videos. Overall Keir Starmer seems like a solid choice and the rest seem pretty unimpressive. > > For example Rebecca Long Bailey seems to be a leading contender but I honestly can’t figure out why. She is young and inexperienced and also comes off as thoroughly mediocre, more middle management than a potential prime minister, e.g. check out this [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_7bXihMoo). She’s the favourite of the current leadership. She would be a straight continuation of the Corbyn project. They will try to ensure she gets elected as leader because that somehow will prove that they were right after all. If labour has any sense they’ll avoid her like the plague. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/48 "2019-12-16T10:49:15Z")
For those not already familiar with the details, here are some thumbnail sketches of the possible contenders: [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/labour-leadership-contest-who-are-the-runners-and-riders](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/labour-leadership-contest-who-are-the-runners-and-riders) ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/49 "2019-12-16T12:45:05Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > For example Rebecca Long Bailey seems to be a leading contender but I honestly can’t figure out why. She is young and inexperienced and also comes off as thoroughly mediocre, more middle management than a potential prime minister, Every time I have seen her in an interview, I am reminded of a hair-dryer turned to full blast. If Labour choose a Corbynite like Long-Bailey or Rainer they are destined to be in the wilderness for another 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/50 "2019-12-16T12:52:46Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > It’s going to be a recriminatory war in the short term so really we’re looking at a Kinnock or Smith figure to start the long march back to electability. > > I understand the shouts for people like Keir Starmer just because it would be nice to see a grownup in charge. But look past that and it’s a total non-starter for what the party needs right now - a London-based male technocrat is not going to unite a core vote that’s been smashed to bits. Labour have such a long, hard climb back to power that a transitional figure like Starmer, in the Kinnock role, clearing out the extremists, might be just what they need. Lisa Nandy was very impressive on Andrew Marr yesterday. I could see her becoming leader of the Labour Party. Jess Phillips is appealing too. They are both near the middle of their party and could unify the two wings. I hate the idea of yielding any power to the right-wing press but choosing someone less obviously mockable in The Sun and the Daily Mail than Corbyn would be a plus. Both Nandy and and Phillips pass that test. Not sure if Starmer does. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/51 "2019-12-16T13:30:57Z")
I’ve seen Lisa Nandy mooted - I’ve never heard of her before but she appears to be working on rolling the pitch for a campaign. Part of me really wants Peter Kyle to run; he’s not been in Parliament long (since 2015) but he managed to piss off Corbyn for daring to suggest that maybe Corbyn wasn’t the best leader for the party. In reaction Corbyn actively called for Kyle to be deselected despite Kyle going from a small majority in 2015 to a huge one in 2017. My kind of guy. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/52 "2019-12-16T13:53:31Z")
To borrow some parlance from the Democratic primary: there are four streams. Whichever stream turns out to be the most important will determine the winner. The streams are not (all) mutually exclusive. The streams: [ol] [li]The leader needs to be a woman.[/li][li]The leader needs to be a northerner.[/li][li]The leader needs to be someone from the left of the party.[/li][li]The leader needs to be someone from the centre of the party.[/li][/ol] Angie Raynor and Rebecca Long-Bailey tick the first three boxes. Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips & Yvette Cooper tick a different three. Ticking less boxes: Emily Thornberry & Keir Starmer. Thornberry is too easy for The Sun to caricature. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/53 "2019-12-16T13:59:24Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > If Labour elects a leader whose only intention is to fire up the Momentum portion of the party and campaign for social liberal issues, then they’re effectively conceding the majority to the Tories. I’m genuinely curious what you mean by “socially liberal” here. Access to health care & education? Social housing? Freedom of movement? Prison reform? God, guns, gays, abortion and religious freedom are not live issues in the UK the way that they are in the USA and I struggle to think of what you might mean by the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/54 "2019-12-16T16:37:40Z")
Stella Creasy would be my pick, but I seriously doubt she’s interested. She’s carved out a useful niche for herself, brand new baby etc. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/55 "2019-12-16T16:48:46Z")
Borrowing heavily from [this blog](https://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_and_mumbling/2016/06/demystifying-leaders.html), there’s a bigger question here than who the next leader will be. It is, “What is the next leader’s job?” OK, yes, sure, to lead the Labour party. But right now, what does this actually mean? It’s clearly a different thing from what it meant in, say, 2007. Different times bring different challenges and whether someone is the right leader depends very much on how their particular skills and experience match up with the challenges the next leader will have to overcome. The next election will not be till 2024. This is just as well for Labour, as they have a lot of work to do to get ready for it. Do Labour need: A back room deal maker? A great policy intellectual? Someone who can appeal to the lost voters? Someone who can re-energise the membership? An cynical electioneering strategist? A great communicator? Someone who can credibly present strong left-wing beliefs? Someone who can compromise with the electorate? Someone who can keep the troops in line with iron discipline? A Commons performer? I mean, yes to all, right? But nobody can do all of those things. So what are the priorities? What will re-establish Labour as a viable government in waiting by early 2024? Is it the job of one leader or should Labour be looking to get someone who can do the internal head-banging and peace-making done now before making way for an election-winning communicator? Labour needs to have a good look at itself and work out what its for and how its going to get there. A good leadership contest is one way to go through that process. But three months might be a little light for that. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/56 "2019-12-16T17:06:32Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > For those not already familiar with the details, here are some thumbnail sketches of the possible contenders: > [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/labour-leadership-contest-who-are-the-runners-and-riders](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/labour-leadership-contest-who-are-the-runners-and-riders) Thanks for this! A good, concise overview, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/57 "2019-12-16T18:10:06Z")
I have to keep reminding myself that it was only a few weeks ago people were talking about the Tory party ripping itself apart, possibly never winning another election, etc. Amazing how that narrative seems to have been completely turned on its head. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/58 "2019-12-16T18:13:55Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Labour needs to have a good look at itself and work out what its for and how its going to get there. A good leadership contest is one way to go through that process. But three months might be a little light for that. The row over their Brexit policy will be as nothing compared to the row over what Labour should do next. The folks on the left will not want to give up any of the “momentum” they have made towards proper socialism. The folks in the centre will point to the disaster of this election and want to move back towards where they were in the Blair years (back when they won elections). Will the party even survive the battle? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/59 "2019-12-16T18:53:55Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Borrowing heavily from [this blog](https://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_and_mumbling/2016/06/demystifying-leaders.html), there’s a bigger question here than who the next leader will be. It is, “What is the next leader’s job?” it is a good question, the other good question is “what have labour from this defeat?” At the moment it looks like the leadership want to annoint a straight replacement for Corbyn. I think that is a mistake. I also think the over-emphasis on it having to be a female leader is pretty stupid and counter-productive. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824/60 "2019-12-17T10:18:59Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > it is a good question, the other good question is “what have labour from this defeat?” At the moment it looks like the leadership want to annoint a straight replacement for Corbyn. I think that is a mistake. > > I also think the over-emphasis on it having to be a female leader is pretty stupid and counter-productive. I agree that an anointed successor would be a horrible idea, given that the outgoing leadership hasn’t exactly demonstrated the ability to judge what appeals to the general public or indeed the party. Having read the Guardian piece I now remember Jess Phillips from her various public statements and media appearances. She’s a tad…unpolished… but is taking a decent line on bringing the party together post-fiasco. I don’t know if she’d be a good leader - or indeed if Labour are interested - but she wouldn’t be the worst choice of the bunch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-the-next-labour-party-leader-in-the-uk-who-should-be/844824.md?page=4)