Corbyn Puts May on the Spot By Agreeing to Attend Debate

[ucrdem]

Source: Bloomberg

May 31, 2017, 5:31 AM PDT

With June 8 elections looming, gap between two has narrowed

U.K. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he will take part in a seven-way general election debate on Wednesday night as Prime Minister Theresa May stuck to her position that she would rather address voters than confront her rival on live television.

The BBC, which is hosting the debate at 7:30 p.m., confirmed that Corbyn had decided to attend, while a Conservative Party spokesman said that May had no plans to join him. The prime minister has seen her once-comfortable poll lead erode a week before the vote.

"It puts her in a bind," said Matt Beech, director of the Center for British Politics at the University of Hull. "It’s difficult but I think the most sensible thing is for May to stick by her guns -- as a PM you lose the gravitas when you’re brought to the level of all these other potentials most of whom don’t have a chance of winning. If she does turn up she looks like she’s not stable and not steady."

May’s mantra has been “strong and stable” but she has appeared increasingly uncomfortable when quizzed about her shrinking poll lead and policy U-turns --resorting to a series of personal attack against Corbyn from the Group of Seven summit in Sicily to back home when she resumed campaigning.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-31/u-k-s-corbyn-puts-may-on-the-spot-by-agreeing-to-attend-debate

---

.............................
Debate is tonight, Corbyn is gaining, election is June 8

[leftynyc]

1. If I lived in Great Britain

I couldn't vote for either "main" party. Corbyn has destroyed Labor and should be relegated to the dustbin of history where he belongs.

[ucrdem]

2. Labour is gaining

General election: Labour close gap on Tories to six points, new poll shows
Labour put on 37 per cent, up three points on a week ago and six points behind the Tories

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-latest-labour-party-conservative-party-poll-survation-good-morning-britain-a7762371.html
.................

Corbyn is still way behind May but he gained 9 points last week. Apparently he did well in an earlier TV face-off. Looks like he's been supporting tax increases and opposed the Falklands war. From the NYT:

"Mr. Corbyn did well, keeping his cool and sense of humor, but had difficulty explaining away his past sympathies for groups like Hamas and Sinn Fein while trying to paint a picture of a better future with more money for nearly every social service coming from higher taxes on corporations and those earning more than 80,000 pounds a year, or about $103,000."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/world/europe/britain-jeremy-corbyn-theresa-may-election.html

[leftynyc]

8. Labor is going to get

their asses kicked and I don't freeking care. Corbyn is repulsive.

[rpannier]

7. Please explain how Corbyn destroyed Labour (with a U)

He got elected as leader fairly (twice) and ever since much of the establishment in Parliament has worked to undercut him and wailed and moaned about how terrible he is
As a friend of mine who lives in the UK has said, there are many out there who won't vote Labour because they spend more time sniping at their leader than they do the Tories
I just refer to them as the 'Sore Loser Society'
But, I do agree with him, "Why vote for a Party that can't accept who won the leadership vote?"

[leftynyc]

9. Corbyn is repulsive

and not worthy to lead a major party in a 1st world state. He likes anti-semites, holocaust deniers, and other assorted dregs of society and is bringing down a formerly respected party. I hope he loses his shirt.

From just yesterday:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3686272/jeremy-corbyn-supporters-hound-bbc-presenter-with-anti-semitic-abuse-after-she-humiliates-labour-leader-on-childcare-costs/

Other gems:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4457354/Jeremy-Corbyn-charity-hosts-anti-Semitic-speaker.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36676018

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/sep/13/the-lefts-jewish-problem-corbyn-israel-and-antisemitism-dave-rich-review

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/20/jeremy-corbyns-10-year-association-group-denies-holocaust/

[ucrdem]

10. Labour launches plan to tackle Islamophobia and anti-Semitism

The UK's opposition Labour Party has laid out a manifesto to combat Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, in the run-up to a general election on 8 June.

In a document called the Race and Faith Manifesto published on Tuesday afternoon, the party sets out a number of proposed measures to combat "a recent rise in hate crimes, including anti-Semitic, Islamophobic attacks and increased attacks against other faith communities."

"Theresa May and the Conservatives have failed to stand up for race equality," reads the document. "Their policies in government have turned back the clock, with black, Asian and minority ethnic communities being denied opportunities to flourish and succeed."

The manifesto promises to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's “working definition” of anti-Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian people, has regularly faced accusations of tolerating anti-Semitism within the ranks of his party and of providing support for the Gaza-based Hamas organisation.

Last year, the party carried out an internal investigation into the prevalance of anti-Semitism within the party, following controversial comments by former Labour mayor of London Ken Livingstone in which he claimed that Hitler had supported Zionism.
........................
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uks-labour-launches-manifesto-tackle-anti-semitism-and-islamophobia-37442069

[leftynyc]

11. Yes - I heard all about this meaningless

BS attempt to deflect from the anti-semitism that Corbyn seems far too comfortable with. Let's not pretend Labor doesn't have these problems - it's annoying and nothing but deflection BS.

[WoonTars]

14. Then it's a good thing you don't...

Last edited Wed May 31, 2017, 03:37 PM - Edit history (1)

...as you are talking directly out of your backside...

Corbyn has been subject to the same sort of media driven character assassination that Hillary was....

This is going to be a pivotal election for the UK, with Appeaser May's continuation of the horrendous 'austerity' cuts that are, quite literally, killing the less fortunate, ,the wholesale dismantling of the NHS, and the terrible impacts that Brexit is going to have on the UK.

But sure, let's smear the guy that has been elected, TWICE, by his own party as their leader.

[leftynyc]

15. Spare me the Bullshit

I guess ALL these publications are LYING:

From just yesterday:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3686272/jeremy-corbyn-supporters-hound-bbc-presenter-with-anti-semitic-abuse-after-she-humiliates-labour-leader-on-childcare-costs/

Other gems:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4457354/Jeremy-Corbyn-charity-hosts-anti-Semitic-speaker.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36676018

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/sep/13/the-lefts-jewish-problem-corbyn-israel-and-antisemitism-dave-rich-review

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/20/jeremy-corbyns-10-year-association-group-denies-holocaust/


BBC, Guardian - all pathetic liars. Right? Take your head out of the sand and realize Corbyn is destroying the party.

[WoonTars]

16. The Sun, The Daily Heil and the Torygraph?

I suggest you stick to NYC...

[leftynyc]

18. You and your

moronic emoticons seem to have missed the BBC and the Guardian. Maybe if you took this more seriously, you wouldn't look so foolish next time. You can't possibly think that deranged piece of crap corbyn has a shot here.

[WoonTars]

21. The BBC and The Guardian have had their knives out throughout the entire campaign....

...which you'd know if you weren't talking such utter tripe.

'Deranged piece of crap', what a colourful way to describe a true progressive leader...

If he doesn't do well the UK is well and truly fucked. Think Trump on steroids, but with posher accents...

But sure, I'm the one that looks foolish....

[leftynyc]

23. Poor poor corbyn

Everyone against him for no reason whatsoever. It's everyone else that's the problem, not corbyn. LOL - good luck with that. Maybe Labor will be more careful not to elect such a miscreant as leader of their party.

[LiberalLovinLug]

17. No, Blair destroyed the Labour Party.

Corbyn is fighting to get it back on track to its basic core principles.

[leftynyc]

19. If he's representative

of the core principals, I'd have absolutely no trouble at all calling myself an independent with no party. He's slime.

[LiberalLovinLug]

20. These are the values they attain to from their website

• social justice
• strong community and strong values
• reward for hard work
• decency
• rights matched by responsibilities

He also came in with a 10 point platform:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/04/jeremy-corbyn-10-point-vision-britain-labour-split

If you find these core principles off putting, then I don't know what to say. Other than I am curious as to why you chose such a handle as you seem to be quite a bit to the right from most on here based on your posts.

[leftynyc]

25. Really?

Being disgusted by anti-semites and holocaust deniers is right wing? On what fucking planet?

[WoonTars]

28. Except Corbyn isn't either of those is he?

Right?

[leftynyc]

30. You're wrong

And I posted numerous links, including the BBC and The Guardian, that already show he's alarmingly comfortable with anti semites and holocaust deniers. What's in his heart? I have no clue, but I judge people by those around them and what's around him is trash. Absolute no doubt about it trash. He would never get my vote.

[WoonTars]

31. I try not to judge people that way, i seem to recall a certain recent President...

...who was close to an alarmingly hateful preacher in his church, as well as someone labelled a terrorist, but you seem fine with him???

And no, you are wrong, you said Corbyn himself was an anti-semite. You have offered no proof of that.

It is abundantly clear what your one-issue mind is focused on here, so I'm gong to move on, but your blind hatred of a man you clearly know very little about is unfortunate, because if you get your wish the UK will be severely damaged, possibly irreparably...and a textbook case of cutting off your nose to spite your face...

[leftynyc]

32. Pres Obama tossed

Rev Wright overboard - let me know when corbyn does the same to ANY of the anti semitic scum he hangs with. I have never met someone comfortable hanging with anti semites who weren't Jew haters themselves. Never. He's scum and I'm glad he's going to get trounced.

[ucrdem]

33. "Labour has had to suspend 18 members,

including one MP and a former mayor of London, because of their allegedly racist displays" -- that's the first sentence of the Guardian article you linked to above. So Corbyn is taking action against anti-Semitic remarks by party members and aides. From an April 2016 BBC article:

'Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says: "Anybody that thinks this party is not cracking down on anti-Semitism is simply wrong. We have suspended where appropriate, we've investigated all cases. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form in our party."'

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36169654

[leftynyc]

34. Yawwwnnnnn

If he were serious about it, he would have thrown Livingstone overboard long ago.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/30/ken-livingstone-labour-party-disrepute-hitler-zionism-former-london-mayor

They could have expelled this swine but just let him hide under the covers for another year until things calm down.

[WoonTars]

22. Slime? So you're admitting that you'd vote 3rd party then?

Interesting...

[leftynyc]

24. I'm an American

and a Democrat. I voted for Hillary. But if the Democrats nominated an anti-semite and someone who hangs with holocaust deniers I would NEVER vote for that person. Thankfully our left party isn't that stupid.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. She needs to find her covfefe and fast

[ucrdem]

4. LOL

Mind the covfefe

[hrmjustin]

5. Corbyn has been better on the trail for the past two weeks.

The increase in Labour support depends on whether younger voters will actually show up. May seems to be doing everything she can to make herself hated.

I still think the Tories win a majority government and that Corbyn should resign if that happens. This race is winnable for Labour and if that doesn't happen the leader should go.

[Txbluedog]

6. If Home Sec Rudd performs well at the debate tonight

and gets the Tories some traction, May could very well be leaving Number 10 soon even if the tories win the election

[DK504]

12. & way debate, we've seen how well those work out.

[SunSeeker]

13. May holding hands with Trump certainly didn't help her numbers. nt

[ucrdem]

26. The verdict, per Guardian:

" There weren’t any stand-out winners, but most attention was focused on Jeremy Corbyn and he did well. His attack on Paul Nuttall over food banks was one of the highlights of the debate – he was authentic and passionate – and increasingly the CCHQ charge that he is an implausible PM seems to look less convincing."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/may/31/general-election-2017-may-corbyn-bbc-debate-campaign-personal-politics-live

[ucrdem]

27. BBC debate: Rivals attack Theresa May over absence

Surrogate Rudd also takes a beating:

Theresa May's political rivals lined up to criticise her for not taking part in a seven-way general election debate.
She was accused of lacking "guts" and of "running away from the debate" during the 90 minute BBC TV event.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who was representing the Conservatives, said "part of being a good leader is having a good, strong team".

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did not directly attack Mrs May's absence as he clashed with Ms Rudd over cuts.

(snip)

But he engaged in a series of clashes with Ms Rudd over the squeeze on living standards and cuts to welfare as the debate heated up.

Mr Corbyn told her: "Have you been to a food bank? Have you seen people sleeping around our stations? Have you seen the levels of poverty that exist because of your government's conscious decisions on benefits?"

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-2017-40105324
................

p.s. looks like Trumpolini took all the fun out of Brexiting

[killbotfactory]

29. Good luck, Labour!