Abandon Ship
I don't know Danny Blanchlower from Popeye the Sailorman, but I was aware of his appointment as an independent economic adviser in an effort to bring some much needed credibility to Jeremy Corbyn and his 'team'.
So what can you say when this widely respected economist resigns his position having come to the conclusion that the hapless Labour leader has "no chance of winning a general election now, in 2020, or at any other time".
In a blistering piece for The Guardian explains that the advisory team he was invited to join met only twice and had little if any input from the Labour leadership.
A devastating judgement if you ask me, from someone who has no axe to grind, and so there's little wonder the Labour Party's in such a terrible mess
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/02/i-advised-jeremy-corbyn-economics-team-learn-fast--no-credible-plan-labour-leadership
I advised Corbyn’s economics team to learn fast. They didn’t
By David Blanchflower- The Guardian
With Britain apparently in recession, the Labour leadership needs to present a robust plan. But I don’t think it has one
With Britain apparently in recession, the Labour leadership needs to present a robust plan. But I don’t think it has one
Jeremy Corbyn, right, and his challenger for the Labour leadesrship, Owen Smith Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
The UK is in a major economic crisis, caused by the shock Brexit vote, that is being exacerbated by a political crisis. We have a newly appointed chancellor of the exchequer, and an opposition that has nothing to say on economic policy. What exactly would John McDonnell do if he was chancellor? He hasn’t told us. Sad to say, as one of his former economic advisers – I was on Labour’s economic advisory committee – I have no idea either. Labour does not seem to have a credible economic plan.
It pains me to say that a Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn has no chance of winning a general election now, in 2020, or at any other time. Tory voters and independents like the members of my family are not going to suddenly say “Jeremy is our guy”.
Corbyn doesn’t seem to care about being a leader of an opposition party. He seems more interested in addressing crowds of supporters around the country. It doesn’t seem to matter to him – although it should – that three-quarters of his MPs, who doubt his leadership qualities, rightly passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence against him. He should have quit. He doesn’t have enough MPs who support him to be able to form a complete shadow cabinet. Incidentally, if there were even the slightest prospect that he could become prime minister, the bond and equity markets would eat him for lunch.
Economic advisers to Corbyn back rival for Labour leader
The UK is in a major economic crisis, caused by the shock Brexit vote, that is being exacerbated by a political crisis. We have a newly appointed chancellor of the exchequer, and an opposition that has nothing to say on economic policy. What exactly would John McDonnell do if he was chancellor? He hasn’t told us. Sad to say, as one of his former economic advisers – I was on Labour’s economic advisory committee – I have no idea either. Labour does not seem to have a credible economic plan.
It pains me to say that a Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn has no chance of winning a general election now, in 2020, or at any other time. Tory voters and independents like the members of my family are not going to suddenly say “Jeremy is our guy”.
Corbyn doesn’t seem to care about being a leader of an opposition party. He seems more interested in addressing crowds of supporters around the country. It doesn’t seem to matter to him – although it should – that three-quarters of his MPs, who doubt his leadership qualities, rightly passed an overwhelming vote of no confidence against him. He should have quit. He doesn’t have enough MPs who support him to be able to form a complete shadow cabinet. Incidentally, if there were even the slightest prospect that he could become prime minister, the bond and equity markets would eat him for lunch.
Economic advisers to Corbyn back rival for Labour leader
