Continuity Corbyn - 'I Love Him So'
The Politics Homes web site reports that Rebecca Long-Bailey, the 'Continuity Corbyn' candidate in the Labour leadership race, would offer Jezza a role in her new shadow cabinet.
Apparently, RLB says she would do this for Jeremy because "I love him so" which is touching on a personal level, but completely bonkers politically speaking given that in 2019 Mr Corbyn led Labour to its biggest electoral defeat since 1935.
Meanwhile in the race to become deputy Labour leader Richard Burgon, the 'Continuity Corbyn' candidate, has called for all of Labour's 2019 election manifesto pledges to remain in place which sounds equally barking mad.
God above, Labour - get a grip!
Rebecca Long-Bailey would offer Jeremy Corbyn a place in her shadow Cabinet
By Alain Tolhurst - Politics Homes
Rebecca Long-Bailey said she would offer Jeremy Corbyn a place in her shadow Cabinet if she takes over from him as leader.
Rebecca Long-Bailey said she would offer Jeremy Corbyn a place in her shadow Cabinet if she takes over from him as leader.
Rebecca Long-Bailey said she would offer Jeremy Corbyn a place in her shadow Cabinet if she took over as leader
Credit: PA Images
Credit: PA Images
Richard Burgon warns Labour leader not to drop any manifesto pledges
Sir Keir Starmer says Labour had the 'right policy' on Brexit despite heavy general election defeat
Emily Thornberry eliminated from Labour leadership race as contest enters final stage
The shadow business secretary, who has been labelled the “continuity” candidate in the race, said she would do it because “I love him so”.
It comes after Richard Burgon, who is standing to be Labour’s deputy, said Mr Corbyn still had a “valuable role” to play despite leading the party to to its worst election result for 80 years.
He even suggested the outgoing leader could stay on the frontbencher as shadow foreign secretary.
Ms Long-Bailey is said to have told supporters in London earlier this month she would hand Mr Corbyn a high-level brief if she can defeat Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy to the top job.
She said: “I’d like to but I don’t know whether he wants to do it because he said not.”
The Salford and Eccles MP added: “It’s up to him. I love him so.”
Mr Burgon also said over the weekend Mr Corbyn could continue to play a “valuable role” on Labour’s front bench, saying: “If he was Shadow Foreign Secretary, that would be ideal.”
He called the Labour leader a “friend and a comrade”, adding: "I’ve never met a more principled, less egotistical person than Jeremy Corbyn.
"Plenty of his critics are not fit to lace his boots."
But Miss Long-Bailey, who has been publicly backed by John McDonnell and Jon Lansman, the founder of the pro-Corbyn Momentum group, said she found it insulting being called the “continuity Corbyn” candidate.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show she said: "Jeremy and I are friends but it’s quite disrespectful when I’m termed the continuity candidate.
"I’ve always been strong in my principles, people know what I believe in.
"To suggest I’m a continuation of any individual is disrespectful, not least because I am a woman."
Sir Keir Starmer says Labour had the 'right policy' on Brexit despite heavy general election defeat
Emily Thornberry eliminated from Labour leadership race as contest enters final stage
The shadow business secretary, who has been labelled the “continuity” candidate in the race, said she would do it because “I love him so”.
It comes after Richard Burgon, who is standing to be Labour’s deputy, said Mr Corbyn still had a “valuable role” to play despite leading the party to to its worst election result for 80 years.
He even suggested the outgoing leader could stay on the frontbencher as shadow foreign secretary.
Ms Long-Bailey is said to have told supporters in London earlier this month she would hand Mr Corbyn a high-level brief if she can defeat Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy to the top job.
She said: “I’d like to but I don’t know whether he wants to do it because he said not.”
The Salford and Eccles MP added: “It’s up to him. I love him so.”
Mr Burgon also said over the weekend Mr Corbyn could continue to play a “valuable role” on Labour’s front bench, saying: “If he was Shadow Foreign Secretary, that would be ideal.”
He called the Labour leader a “friend and a comrade”, adding: "I’ve never met a more principled, less egotistical person than Jeremy Corbyn.
"Plenty of his critics are not fit to lace his boots."
But Miss Long-Bailey, who has been publicly backed by John McDonnell and Jon Lansman, the founder of the pro-Corbyn Momentum group, said she found it insulting being called the “continuity Corbyn” candidate.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show she said: "Jeremy and I are friends but it’s quite disrespectful when I’m termed the continuity candidate.
"I’ve always been strong in my principles, people know what I believe in.
"To suggest I’m a continuation of any individual is disrespectful, not least because I am a woman."
Continuity Corbyn, Brains and Brilliance (28/01/20)
Rebecca Long-Bailey gave Jeremy Corbyn '10 out of 10' for leadership despite the fact that in December 2019 he presided over the Labour Party's worst general election defeat since 1935.
Yet the leadership of Unite which is completely out of touch with the views of most union members, as far party politics is concerned, has endorsed Long-Bailey to take over as the next Labour leader - with Richard Burgon as her deputy.
What more can you say about such stupidity and such a poor use of union members' money.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51235025
Labour leadership: Unite endorses Rebecca Long-Bailey
Image copyright - PA MEDIA
Rebecca Long-Bailey has won the backing of the Unite trade union in her bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
The shadow business secretary now needs just one more union or affiliate group to endorse her to confirm her place on the members' ballot.
Unite's general secretary, Len McCluskey, said Mrs Long-Bailey had the "brains and the brilliance" to take on PM Boris Johnson.
The union will also back Richard Burgon for the vacant deputy leader post.
Speaking after a meeting in London, Mr McCluskey said his union would make a "substantial" donation towards Mrs Long-Bailey's campaign.
The union, which was Labour's biggest financial backer during last month's election, had been widely expected to back her pitch for the top job.
Rebecca Long-Bailey has won the backing of the Unite trade union in her bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
The shadow business secretary now needs just one more union or affiliate group to endorse her to confirm her place on the members' ballot.
Unite's general secretary, Len McCluskey, said Mrs Long-Bailey had the "brains and the brilliance" to take on PM Boris Johnson.
The union will also back Richard Burgon for the vacant deputy leader post.
Speaking after a meeting in London, Mr McCluskey said his union would make a "substantial" donation towards Mrs Long-Bailey's campaign.
The union, which was Labour's biggest financial backer during last month's election, had been widely expected to back her pitch for the top job.
Who will be Labour's next leader?
WATCH: What matters to Labour members
Which Labour contender is the most working-class?
After receiving the nomination, Mrs Long-Bailey said she was "honoured" to receive the union's backing.
"I didn't see myself as the kind of person who could ever become an MP. It was Unite, my trade union, that supported me to realise my potential," she added.
Mr McCluskey said Unite's executive committee had concluded Mrs Long-Bailey was "best placed to take the fight to the Tory party" on behalf of its members.
Media caption - Who decides on the next Labour leader?
"She is standing for unity, socialism and the determination to make Johnson's term in office short-lived," he added.
He added that the union was confident that Mr Burgon would make a "superb deputy" for the party.
In an apparent swipe at former deputy leader Tom Watson, he said Mr Burgon would display "the qualities that have long been absent from that post," including "pride in our values" and "loyalty to their leader".
Mr Watson was often at odds with the leadership during his time in the role, and faced an attempt to oust him at Labour's conference last year.
WATCH: What matters to Labour members
Which Labour contender is the most working-class?
After receiving the nomination, Mrs Long-Bailey said she was "honoured" to receive the union's backing.
"I didn't see myself as the kind of person who could ever become an MP. It was Unite, my trade union, that supported me to realise my potential," she added.
Mr McCluskey said Unite's executive committee had concluded Mrs Long-Bailey was "best placed to take the fight to the Tory party" on behalf of its members.
Media caption - Who decides on the next Labour leader?
"She is standing for unity, socialism and the determination to make Johnson's term in office short-lived," he added.
He added that the union was confident that Mr Burgon would make a "superb deputy" for the party.
In an apparent swipe at former deputy leader Tom Watson, he said Mr Burgon would display "the qualities that have long been absent from that post," including "pride in our values" and "loyalty to their leader".
Mr Watson was often at odds with the leadership during his time in the role, and faced an attempt to oust him at Labour's conference last year.
To make the ballot, hopefuls need the support of three unions and affiliate groups representing 5% of the membership, or 33 local branches.
Shadow brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy have already secured this level of support ahead of the 14 February deadline.
Having already been nominated by bakers' union BFAWU, Unite's support for Ms Long-Bailey means she needs just one more union or affiliate to join them.
However the fourth leadership contender, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, is yet to receive any union or affiliate backing and has only secured endorsements from three local branches so far.
Leader hustings cancelled
Sir Keir has cancelled all campaign events this weekend after his mother-in-law was involved in a serious accident. She remains critically ill in hospital.
He sent Labour's Chris Matheson to the Unite meeting in his place.
Labour's general secretary, Jennie Formby, also confirmed the hustings due to take place in Leeds between the leadership candidates on Saturday would be cancelled, although the deputy leadership event would go ahead.
She added: "We have sent our very best wishes and solidarity to Keir and his family, and our hope that his mother-in-law recovers very soon."
Media caption- Four candidates remain in the race for the Labour leadership
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner is the only candidate for the deputy leadership to have made it onto the ballot, with the support of Unison, the GMB, Usdaw and the NUM.
As well as Mr Burgon, the others in the running are Scotland's only remaining Labour MP, Ian Murray, shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler, and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan.
The new leader and deputy will then be announced on 4 April
Sir Keir has cancelled all campaign events this weekend after his mother-in-law was involved in a serious accident. She remains critically ill in hospital.
He sent Labour's Chris Matheson to the Unite meeting in his place.
Labour's general secretary, Jennie Formby, also confirmed the hustings due to take place in Leeds between the leadership candidates on Saturday would be cancelled, although the deputy leadership event would go ahead.
She added: "We have sent our very best wishes and solidarity to Keir and his family, and our hope that his mother-in-law recovers very soon."
Media caption- Four candidates remain in the race for the Labour leadership
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner is the only candidate for the deputy leadership to have made it onto the ballot, with the support of Unison, the GMB, Usdaw and the NUM.
As well as Mr Burgon, the others in the running are Scotland's only remaining Labour MP, Ian Murray, shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler, and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan.
The new leader and deputy will then be announced on 4 April
. 
10 out of 10! (16/01/20)
Brian Wilson doesn't pull any punches in this hard hitting column for The Times in which he ponders Labour's future if 'Continuity Corbyn' candidates are elected to lead the party in 2020.
Head to tell which way things will go at the stage, but a few quid on the 'cat and dog home' looks like a good bet.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/labour-is-finished-if-the-nightmare-ticket-prevails-3tjv5mgkh
Labour is finished if the nightmare ticket prevails
By Brian Wilson - The Times
‘Ten out of ten!” With that tribute to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, Rebecca Long Bailey’s campaign should be doomed at birth but won’t be so long as the forces who gave us Corbyn and Ed Miliband stand behind her.
This is make or break time. If another leadership from the Ten-out-of-ten Tendency emerges then Labour is finished as a prospective party of government. One early manifestation would be slaughter in the 2021 Holyrood elections. With a different outcome, there could be a fighting chance of recovery.
Ms Long Bailey’s first cliché-ridden pitch to the selectorate neglected to mention Scotland in spite of the fact it was the first “red wall” to crumble under the weight of the unelectable. Down from 40 MPs in 2010 to one and Ms Long Bailey’s comrades-in-arms tried to deselect even him.
In her second foray Ms Long Bailey remembered Scotland only to denounce Better Together as being “too close to the establishment”. The fact it was the only poll in which Labour has been on the winning side for a decade was irrelevant; indeed proof of perfidy. Far better to fight on a “true socialist platform” and lose. Ten out ten for that.
I always tried to give Corbyn the benefit of the doubt because he never expected nor, I suspect, wanted to be leader. He was an accident of history, washed up from the Miliband debacle. Satire is not dead when Ed is leading an inquiry into what went wrong, unless he is prepared to start in 2010.
This time is different. Ms Long Bailey is an anointed successor, personally blessed by John McDonnell. Instead of departing in shame, the architects of the December 12 massacre are organising a succession in their own image. Ten out of ten for brass neck.
Mr McDonnell also backs Richard Burgon as deputy leader. Here is a man who should never be let in the same room as a microphone. He is, however, a sworn upholder of the ten-out-of-ten faith so sectarian politics demand his elevation.
It remains to be seen whether mainstream Labour members will count for much. But a last stand should be attempted. If the nightmare ticket prevails, it would be more socially useful to give our 52 quid a year to a cat and dog home than to a party which will have been the author of its own destruction.
The King Is Dead - Long Live The Queen!(08/01/20)
Rebecca Long-Bailey has joined the race to become the new Labour leader and is apparently part of a continuity Corbyn 'dream ticket' along with Richard Burgon who is standing for election as deputy leader.
In setting out her election stall Rebecca gave Jeremy Corbyn '10 out of 10' for his leadership despite the fact that Jeremy generated the worst performance ratings of any leader in Labour's history.
Doubling down on her theme that the voters, rather than the party leadership were wrong, Rebecca added:
“I don’t just agree with the policies, I’ve spent the last four years writing them."
Now I don't know what's happened to Denis Healey's famous old maxim 'When you're in a hole, stop digging!', but Boris Johnson and the Conservatives must be rubbing their hands with glee.
Meanwhile Sadiq Khan the Labour Mayor of London says that voters 'got it right' in deciding to give Corbyn the thumbs down.
Good for him - well said!
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sadiq-khan-voters-right-to-shun-jeremy-corbyn-3fmm5lsqd
Sadiq Khan interview: voters right to shun Jeremy Corbyn
By Rosamund Urwin - The Sunday Times
Khan with Luna on Tooting CommonRAY WELLSSadiq Khan admits that he believes voters “got it right” on December 12. “Hand on heart, did we deserve to win the general election?” the Labour mayor of London asks. “Probably not, so the British public got it right.”
Khan, who is standing for re-election on May 7, calls the result “catastrophic”. He is at pains to reject Jeremy Corbyn’s claim Labour “won” the argument, stating baldly: “We lost the argument.”
I meet Khan and his labrador Luna on Tooting Common, south London. As Labour’s most popular serving politician, according to YouGov, his life is a stream of selfie requests: “Only twice have I said no. Once when I was rushing to catch a plane, the other when I was at A&E with a family member.”
In the 2016 mayoral election, Khan won the largest personal mandate of any politician in UK history, and will be courted by all the leadership candidates. He will not reveal who he backs until later in the campaign, but friends expect him to support Sir Keir Starmer.
Khan, 49, does not want a “coronation”, but says there is one attribute the new leader must have: “I want a winner. The candidates need to persuade us members that they have the best analysis of why we lost, and to set out the path to victory.”
He rejects the idea that the next leader must be female. “It should be the best person for the job,” he says. “You shouldn’t be excluded because you’re a man, but I do find it disappointing that the Labour Party hasn’t had a woman leader.”
Starmer’s other problem is that his seat, Holborn and St Pancras, is in London. The capital has become a byword for privilege in Labour.
“The prime minister is a Londoner who went to Eton,” Khan bats back. “The idea you can’t win an election because you’re a London MP is nonsense. And London is a tale of two cities: you’ve got areas with Michelin-starred restaurants and a proliferation of food banks.”
Khan was not consulted on holding a general election by the Labour leadership.
“Many of us thought it was a foolish thing to do, [as] it was an election chosen by Johnson to suit himself,” he says. “If your opponent thinks it is a good idea, why would you want to agree to it?”
He believes those advising Corbyn were “hoist with their own petard”: “They thought that the 2017 result was an aberration, that we should have won, and with one final heave, we would win in 2019,” he says. “Now we have at least five years of a Boris Johnson, hard-Brexit government. Those who were responsible for that decision need to put their hands up.”
Should Corbyn have accepted more of the blame? “What Jeremy and those around him should have the humility to recognise is [they] let Corbyn be Corbyn, and we got pasted,” he says.
Khan believes Labour needs deeper change than at the top. “It’s not just about changing the lead singer, it’s the whole band,” he says. “The music was wrong.”
He reels off reasons Labour lost. “I probably knocked on more doors than any candidate, and people didn’t have confidence in the party and our values,” he says. “They thought we were making promises just to win votes. And they thought we were a racist party because of our failure to tackle anti-semitism.”
It is the last part that pains Khan most. A Muslim, his first act as mayor was to attend a Holocaust memorial.
“We’re Labour, a party that’s about anti-racism,” he says. “For the leadership not to understand the impact of us being seen to condone anti-semitism is heartbreaking. We’ve demonstrated a breathtaking lack of emotional intelligence — or humanity.”
He has Jewish friends who did not vote for Labour because they felt it was racist. “And you know what? If a dog barks, and a duck quacks . . .” He tails off and does not finish the analogy, but adds: “It’s a disqualification to be Labour leader if you don’t understand it and don’t have a clear plan to address it.”
Does that mean throwing people out? “You’ve got to. If someone takes us to court, so be it. The ease with which Alastair Campbell was chucked out for talking about voting for another party, and yet you have anti-semites still in, beggars belief.”
He is tired of the “what-aboutery” deployed to defend Labour. “Sure, the Tories may be Islamophobic,” he says. “That doesn’t concern me. The standards I expect from Labour are higher than other parties.”
He points to the case of the former Labour mayor, Ken Livingstone. “He said things that were clearly anti-semitic,” Khan says. “He remained a Labour member for two years until he quit. He wasn’t kicked out.”
Unless anti-semitism and racism are dealt with at their roots, they become “normalised”, he adds. “It is toxic. I met decent people who said, ‘It’s a bit smelly, this anti-semitism stuff,’ and they didn’t vote for us.”
The other problem on the doorstep was Labour’s muddled position on Brexit. “People who voted remain didn’t think we were authentically remain, and people who voted leave didn’t think we were credibly leave. It was the worst of both worlds.”
He believes Johnson has misled voters. “People think it will all be signed, sealed and delivered on January 31,” he says. “But then we have 11 months to sort out a deal with the EU, or else we fall off a cliff edge. All those problems in Operation Yellowhammer could still happen at the end of the year. That’s not gone away, it’s been put on pause.”
Khan opposed Brexit but sees it as an opportunity for greater devolution to the regions, including London. He would like more powers over education, business rates and house-building.
“There’s no point in taking back control if it means Brussels will go to Whitehall — Brussels should go to City Hall and town halls around the country,” he says. “I don’t argue for London to get more resources, what I argue is for us to be in charge of the resources we have.”
Khan took over from Johnson at City Hall in 2016. “Boris had checked out two years before,” he claims. “He got to cut the ribbons to the projects begun by Ken Livingstone, but there were no ribbons for me to cut. There were messes to clear up, and projects to begin.”
Victory in May is expected to come easily for Khan. YouGov has him 27 points ahead of the Tory candidate, Shaun Bailey. His worry is voter complacency.
Khan frets that Labour is on a losing streak. “Elections can be habit-forming: you can be habitual winners or habitual losers,” he says. “And I want us to win.”
