John Spellar

Labour Lord.

Promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, 20 Rushworth Street, London, SE1 0SS

[Richard Johnson @richardmarcj]

Reassuring that there are sensible people in the Cabinet who understand that ending majority Labour governments, breaking up the party, reducing or ending the constituency link, relying on cranks, secessionists, and ideologically promiscuous minor parties to be the tail that wags the dog after most elections is not in the interests of the Labour Party, the country, or democratic politics.

[Geri Scott @Geri_E_L_Scott]

Excl: Employers should be barred from sponsoring overseas workers unless they can prove that they have invested in training British workers first, one of Labour’s biggest trade union backers has said.

https://t.co/oGdqAAkNGL

[(((Matt Boxer)))#СлаваУкраїні! 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱🇹🇼 @MattBoxer94]

Yep. Anyone who knows who Die Linke is shouldn’t be shocked

[Fritz Felgentreu @fritzfelgentreu]

@spellar The Communists have identified Social Democracy as their main adversary („Hauptgegner“) from day one. Which makes sense, since they lay claim to being the only ones who represent the interest of the working class.

[Richard Johnson @richardmarcj]

In the 1970s, Tony Crosland worried that the Labour Party was being overtaken by a pro-European 'intellectual elite'.

They sought 'the esteem of the liberal audience of columnists and TV commentators, college graduates also, with essentially middle-class values', who 'seldom ventured out of the introverted world of central London into the rougher provincial world where most Labour voters live'.

Crosland thought middle-class liberals were too 'priggish and paternalistic'. Instead, Crosland argued that Labour needed 'a populist streak in our thinking'.

[John Spellar @spellar]

Alastair you may be in danger of falling for the fallacy of "no enemies on the Left" which has led to catastrophic consequences before , Communists and Fascists alike are enemies of Democracy and especially Social Democracy ,as a German commentator would be especially aware

[ALASTAIR CAMPBELL @campbellclaret]

Just the owner of die Welt (and Telegraph here) making the absurd claim (in the paper he controls) that Die Linke are at least as dangerous to democracy as the AfD … it is a side effect of the horseshoe theory which is doing so much damage to German democracy. Sad to see a media owner playing this game

[Richard Johnson @richardmarcj]

I was quite shocked. Kinnock effectively says he doesn't care about majority Labour governments.

He is under the delusion there is an anti-Tory, 'progressive' majority out there. With whom? The Greens, who have hardly showered themselves in glory this past week? The Lib Dems, whose current leader was a Cabinet minister in a Conservative led-government?? The naivite is staggering. The most successful left-wing coalition out there *is* the Labour Party.

He also propagates the myth that Labour is an unsuccesful political party. It's not. Labour has won 9 majorities since 1945; the Tories have won 10.

[Luke Akehurst @lukeakehurst]

Thanks to @charliemansell for doing the maths every year on strength of different currents within Labour at Annual Conference. @labtowin took 55% of vote in NCC ballot, rising to 72% in NPF Ballot, where we won a thumping 48 of 55 seats. A good week's work, particular thanks to my co-director @CampaignJane and incredible staffers @TedWallMacc of LTW and @issywaite66 of @labour_first

[John Spellar @spellar]

I fought 3 more elections after 65

[Andrew Learmonth @andrewlearmonth]

EXC by @_RebeccaMcCurdy: Ousted Scottish Lib Dem MP was told she was too old to stand for re-election. Christine Jardine is 65. https://t.co/SqHQzUg1Nh

[John Spellar @spellar]

to be clear the Tories aim is beating Labour to win and hold power , and are very focused on that , but Greens, Fib-Dems, SNP , and Plaid want to destroy and replace Labour as the Progressive alternative for Britain

[Darren Johnson @DarrenJohnson66]

@OnLondon @London @CityHallGreens @Sagal_AW @CamdenLabour It's an argument the Green Party have made for decades but it's harder to maintain that line when the current leader talks about "replacing" (ie: destroying) the Labour Party at the same time as being a constructive, critical partner to it.

[John Spellar @spellar]

Just be honest and tell us what your alternative system is so the public can compare and judge , why are you so shy ?

[LCER @Labour4PR]

⌛ Less than a week until Labour Conference #Lab26

📺 In 2022, Conference overwhelmingly backed Proportional Representation

🌹 In 2026, Labour in Government must take the first step towards fair votes: by launching a National Commission on Electoral Reform

[Luke Tryl @LukeTryl]

Two by-elections losses show risk Greens end up in a pincer movement of their own if momentum stalls. As Burnham regains disillusioned progressives who went to the Greens from Labour. But at the same time having less appeal to voters in rural areas, losing to the Tories.

[Emily Thornberry @EmilyThornberry]

I’m not usually one to defend Zack Polanski, but the idea he doesn’t have at least one single connection to Camden is just nonsense.

Look, here he is standing for the council there in 2015… as a Lib Dem… during the austerity coalition…

[John Spellar @spellar]

in your article Neil you imply support for the alternative vote in individual constituencies as in the Australian House of Representative , will that be the proposed alternative system

[The Observer @ObserverUK]

Neil Kinnock: First past the post is no longer fit for purpose. Burnham must lead the way

Westminster’s voting system has led to just one in 10 voters believing politicians put the country first. The call for electoral reform has never been louder, says the former Labour leader
https://t.co/toANG7mAVn

[Richard Johnson @richardmarcj]

I hope the PR advocates in Labour realise that the consequence of electoral reform will be to end future Labour majority governments and to make the Liberal Democrats the kingmakers at most elections.

As David Blunkett said, the Lib Dems behave 'like every harlot in history'.

[John Spellar @spellar]

come on , just tell us what system you're putting up as the alternative

[LCER @Labour4PR]

“More PR would stabilise British democracy. Andy Burnham has made clear that he is a dedicated pragmatic reformer. A National Commission on Electoral Reform now would put that enlightened purpose into practice”

Neil Kinnock in @ObserverUK

🌹 #Labour4PR
https://t.co/Jo05ffVFI8

[John Spellar @spellar]

could you help the rest of us by telling us what system you what alternative voting system you're proposing ?

[LCER @Labour4PR]

“We think it's the right time now for the Government to commit to a National Commission to look at electoral reform... to make sure that people feel like their vote counts and don't feel disenfranchised by the political system”

🎙️ @mike_reader

📺 1 of 2

🌹 #Labour4PR

[John Spellar @spellar]

actual council election results in Bromley and Bexley don't back up this superficial view, Tories held onto control quite easily and Labour were second largest Party

[Nicholas Cecil @nicholascecil]

'Some seats in Hackney, Newham & Lewisham could flip to the Greens while the Conservatives would be hoping for gains in West London,' says Dr @eoghankll Kelly, postdoctoral researcher in British Politics @QMUL
'Reform will be targeting seats in the outer boroughs of the East and Southeast.' https://t.co/Dz43kPzBpg

[Gary Smith @GMBGarySmith]

Building data centres could create huge opportunities for unionised construction jobs.

Scotland has lots of water and wind farms that we have to pay to turn off.

Building new nuclear to help power data centres would be great for jobs and the economy.

https://t.co/rzPJY8RNuj

[lee harpin @lmharpin]

Unite general secretary election - note the turnout.

GRAHAM, Sharon: 68,694 votes
DUBBINS, Simon: 31,130 votes

Number of ballot papers distributed: 970,945

Number of ballot papers returned: 100,089

Turnout: 10.31%