With green jobs, UK's Labour pursues "radical" plan for power

By Elizabeth Piper

 

Delegates vote on the Labour Party's Brexit policy as party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Shadow Foreign Secretarty Emily Thornberry and Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary sit on the podium at the party's conference in Liverpool, Britain, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - British opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will promise on Wednesday to "kickstart a green jobs revolution" by fostering investment in housing, wind and solar energy to bring jobs "to communities held back for too long".

 

On the final day of his party's annual conference, Corbyn will make a direct bid for the support of those Britons outside the capital who voted to exit the European Union, often in frustration at feeling left behind by a London-based elite.

 

As part of what he called his "radical plan to rebuild and transform Britain", Corbyn will say a Labour government will create more than 400,000 skilled jobs nationwide by investing in technologies to cut net carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2030, and zero by 2050.

 

Britain is not due another election until 2022, but Labour is already preparing for a snap vote.

 

Despite her denials, few are ruling out an early election after Prime Minister Theresa May's already precarious position was further weakened last week when her Brexit proposal, already unpopular in her Conservative Party, was rebuffed by the EU.

 

Corbyn will take aim at the "greed-is-good, deregulated financial capitalism" that led to the 2008 financial crisis, saying politicians, including in his own party, had failed to make "essential changes to a broken economic system" and instead propped up a system that "led to the crash in the first place".

 

"That's why Labour is offering a radical plan to rebuild and transform Britain," he will say, according to excerpts of his speech. "Labour will kickstart a green jobs revolution."

 

Corbyn and his team of so-called shadow ministers have peppered the conference with policy announcements, trying to show that they are ready for the long term. The green jobs plan would cover two terms in government.

 

With announcements ranging from handing workers shares in companies to expanding free universal childcare, Labour wanted to showcase their planning for an election many feel could come sooner rather than later.

 

BREXIT DISPUTES

But the conference was also overshadowed by disputes over Brexit, Britain's biggest trade and foreign policy shift in more than 40 years, after party members pushed for a second referendum on EU membership to remain on the table.

 

Corbyn, a veteran eurosceptic, accepted the motion, but on Tuesday sidestepped questions over which way he would vote in a second referendum and seemed to cast doubt over whether it would happen.

 

"We will challenge this government. If they don't meet our six tests (for any Brexit deal), we will vote against it, and then we will take it from there," he said in a television interview.

 

But, some Labour members say, Brexit is a sideshow for Corbyn, and he would much prefer to concentrate on Labour's manifesto, detailing how, if in government, the party would spend its 250 billion pound National Transformation Fund to reboot the economy.

 

"There is no bigger threat facing humanity than climate change. We must lead by example," Corbyn will say. "It needs a government committed to investing in renewables, in jobs and in training."

 

The Conservatives and Labour are running virtually neck and neck in opinion polls.

 

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-26

Corbyn will be PM some day. Sooner the better. May-ham doesn't seem to know which way to go on Brexit.

40 minutes ago, pegman said:

Corbyn will be PM some day. Sooner the better. May-ham doesn't seem to know which way to go on Brexit.

Yes and i will be a multi millionaire with a harem of women at my disposal. ????

I take it Corbyn is after the green vote ,by building so many windmills , well at least they will keep turning with all the hot air coming out of his mouth and the laughter from the people who listen to Abbott spouting off so much rubbish

42 minutes ago, pegman said:

Corbyn will be PM some day. Sooner the better. May-ham doesn't seem to know which way to go on Brexit.

If the Conservatives are doing so bad at Brexit (which they are), well why are aren't the Labour party doing better in the opinion polls?

8 hours ago, pegman said:

Corbyn will be PM some day. Sooner the better. May-ham doesn't seem to know which way to go on Brexit.

For Labour to win an election they first need to dump Corbyn.  After that then I think, due to the mess the Tories are in, they could be a contender.  Although Corbyn has a good following of Labour supporters, the majority of voters out there don't think he would make an effective PM.  Just my opinion.

 

In the meantime a Labour MP (Laura Smith) has today stood up at conference and called for a general strike to bring the government down if no general election is called.  That shows just how clueless some of the Labour MPs really are.

Edited September 26, 20187 yr by dunroaming

53 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

For Labour to win an election they first need to dump Corbyn.  After that then I think, due to the mess the Tories are in, they could be a contender.  Although Corbyn has a good following of Labour supporters, the majority of voters out there don't think he would make an effective PM.  Just my opinion.

Well looking back Corbyn is the present day equivalent of Michel Foot who was also an unelectable leader of the Labour party

12 hours ago, pegman said:

Corbyn will be PM some day. Sooner the better. May-ham doesn't seem to know which way to go on Brexit.

Whereas Corbyn and all his "experts" do?  They are keen to continue to criticise May over her Brexit negotiations, but the truth is that Corbyn and his cronies would not know where to start. 

 

Labour still believe that Nationalisation of major industries is the answer to some problems, presumably basing their views on their fantastic success in the past.

12 hours ago, pegman said:

Corbyn will be PM some day. Sooner the better. May-ham doesn't seem to know which way to go on Brexit.

 

The mayhem will come the day that Corbyn becomes Prime Minister.

 
The mayhem will come the day that Corbyn becomes Prime Minister.

Thank god that will never happen

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

23 hours ago, vogie said:

If the Conservatives are doing so bad at Brexit (which they are), well why are aren't the Labour party doing better in the opinion polls?

The UK newspapers with the widest readership are all doing their best to poison public opinion on Corbyn.

15 hours ago, dunroaming said:

For Labour to win an election they first need to dump Corbyn.  After that then I think, due to the mess the Tories are in, they could be a contender.  Although Corbyn has a good following of Labour supporters, the majority of voters out there don't think he would make an effective PM.  Just my opinion.

 

In the meantime a Labour MP (Laura Smith) has today stood up at conference and called for a general strike to bring the government down if no general election is called.  That shows just how clueless some of the Labour MPs really are.

“AlthoughCorbyn has a good following of Labour supporters, the majority of voters out there don't think he would make an effective PM.  Just my opinion.“

 

Your opinion seems to have an unusually wide authority to speak for others.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The UK newspapers with the widest readership are all doing their best to poison public opinion on Corbyn.

Corbyn doesn't need the papers to poison him, he's quite good at doing that himself, his past life is catching up with him.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The UK newspapers with the widest readership are all doing their best to poison public opinion on Corbyn.

 

No he is managing to do that all by himself . aided by the likes of that bufoon Abbott

Last time I checked Labour are marginal favourites to win the next election. The Tories have won the last few and have clearly run out of juice.  Incompetence over Brexit will continue to dog the Government.

 

Whilst circumstances are propititious for a Labour win I doubt the UK is ready for the far left socialism offered. On the other hand, the Conservatives seem just as unelectable.

 

If it were just about a charismatic leader and policies, then undoubtedly Labour would walk it.  At heart though England is Conservative.  The only way Labour get in to power is through mimicking conservatism.

 

Corbyn is not to be underestimated- clearly a fine speaker.

He's surrounded himself by Corbyn loving idiots ! Would I ever vote for him surrounded by professionals - doubtful, would i vote for him surrounded by his current load of buffons ? Never.

2 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

He's surrounded himself by Corbyn loving idiots ! Would I ever vote for him surrounded by professionals - doubtful, would i vote for him surrounded by his current load of buffons ? Never.

 

The fact is he dragged Labour back fron the oblivion.  Corbyn comes in to his own at election time when the media can't characterise him as a leftie nut.

 

Labour has a brave vision imo.  

 

 

 

 

On 9/26/2018 at 9:39 AM, bert bloggs said:

Yes and i will be a multi millionaire with a harem of women at my disposal. ????

 

I'd say your wish is highly improbable, whereas it's 40/60 on a Labour Government.

On 9/26/2018 at 9:48 AM, vogie said:

If the Conservatives are doing so bad at Brexit (which they are), well why are aren't the Labour party doing better in the opinion polls?

 

It's a very good point.  last time out Corbyn gained in the run up to the election; he's in his element on the cobbled streets and free of a biased media.  

 

But I just don't think England will ever go for a socialist government, even an incompetent Tory administration appeals more to them.

1 minute ago, mommysboy said:

 

It's a very good point.  last time out Corbyn gained in the run up to the election; he's in his element on the cobbled streets and free of a biased media.  

 

But I just don't think England will ever go for a socialist government, even an incompetent Tory administration appeals more to them.

I think the problem you have is that most people think that Corbyns regime will be even more incompetent than the Tories. 

And in your response to the biased media, I honestly think that Corbyn feeds them with his actions, Corbyns history is not good and also the 'team' he as surrounded himself with, is very dubious to say the least.

The problem now is that we don't have a middle of the road party, the country is crying out for one.

I am sure that many Labour supporters would not vote for Corbyn.

2 hours ago, vogie said:

I think the problem you have is that most people think that Corbyns regime will be even more incompetent than the Tories. 

And in your response to the biased media, I honestly think that Corbyn feeds them with his actions, Corbyns history is not good and also the 'team' he as surrounded himself with, is very dubious to say the least.

The problem now is that we don't have a middle of the road party, the country is crying out for one.

I am sure that many Labour supporters would not vote for Corbyn.

I wonder how many of Corbyn’s policy proposals you are aware of?

 

You’ve plenty of generalized negative comments and references to ‘past history’ but slim on addressing his actual policy proposals.

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I wonder how many of Corbyn’s policy proposals you are aware of?

 

You’ve plenty of generalized negative comments and references to ‘past history’ but slim on addressing his actual policy proposals.

Student loans. ????????????????

 

Being aware of his "policy proposals" and agreeing with them are two different things, I don't trust the dynamic three as far as I can throw them. Only somebody extremely left wing would agree with them. Most people don't want a Marxist goverment, I know by reading your posts that you think he is the new Messiah, but  those of us with a more moderate dispossition think otherwise.

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“AlthoughCorbyn has a good following of Labour supporters, the majority of voters out there don't think he would make an effective PM.  Just my opinion.“

 

Your opinion seems to have an unusually wide authority to speak for others.

 

That's why I made sure I added "Just my opinion".  I also should have said that  when I said the majority of voters I meant cross party voters and not Labour voters.

On 9/26/2018 at 6:02 AM, webfact said:

"We will challenge this government. If they don't meet our six tests (for any Brexit deal), we will vote against it, and then we will take it from there," he said in a television interview.

The six tests being:

1 Does it ensure a strong and collaborative future relationship with the EU? 

2 Does it deliver the “exact same benefits” as we currently have as members of the single market and customs union? 

3 Does it ensure the fair management of migration in the interests of the economy and communities? 

4 Does it defend rights and protections and prevent a race to the bottom? 

5 Does it protect national security and our capacity to tackle cross-border crime? 

6 Does it deliver for all regions and nations of the UK? 

 

1,3,4,5,6,7 are too vague to be applied.

And 2 is so bizarre it's hard to believe any serious politician could include it.

6 minutes ago, vogie said:

Student loans. ????????????????

 

Being aware of his "policy proposals" and agreeing with them are two different things, I don't trust the dynamic three as far as I can throw them. Only somebody extremely left wing would agree with them. Most people don't want a Marxist goverment, I know by reading your posts that you think he is the new Messiah, but  those of us with a more moderate dispossition think otherwise.

 

As a lifelong labour supporter and follower of Corbyn, I can tell you that you are right not to trust his policy proposals. He has made big claims for green energy and the jobs that it will create, but has failed to point out that it will lose even more jobs. He's also kept very quiet about nuclear energy, which he has always campaigned against, even though it doesn't produce carbon or any other kinetic pollutants. The destruction of the nuclear industry would cost upwards of 30,000 jobs directly and at least another 30,000 jobs indirectly.

 

Also why does he tolerate Dianne Abbot sat by his side? A buffoon and hugely unpopular with the majority of Labour supporters. One can only assume that it's because she's his ex and she has some dirt on him..a la Trump's mushroom.

5 minutes ago, My Thai Life said:

The six tests being:

1 Does it ensure a strong and collaborative future relationship with the EU? 

2 Does it deliver the “exact same benefits” as we currently have as members of the single market and customs union? 

3 Does it ensure the fair management of migration in the interests of the economy and communities? 

4 Does it defend rights and protections and prevent a race to the bottom? 

5 Does it protect national security and our capacity to tackle cross-border crime? 

6 Does it deliver for all regions and nations of the UK? 

 

1,3,4,5,6,7 are too vague to be applied.

And 2 is so bizarre it's hard to believe any serious politician could include it.

 

Sounds like a back door way of saying remain is the only option.

3 hours ago, vogie said:

I think the problem you have is that most people think that Corbyns regime will be even more incompetent than the Tories. 

And in your response to the biased media, I honestly think that Corbyn feeds them with his actions, Corbyns history is not good and also the 'team' he as surrounded himself with, is very dubious to say the least.

The problem now is that we don't have a middle of the road party, the country is crying out for one.

I am sure that many Labour supporters would not vote for Corbyn.

 

The sad fact is both parties are possibly not electable.

 

Also, centrist parties just end up doing not much of anything it seems to me.  That was ok in good times, but not now.

39 minutes ago, My Thai Life said:

The six tests being:

1 Does it ensure a strong and collaborative future relationship with the EU? 

2 Does it deliver the “exact same benefits” as we currently have as members of the single market and customs union? 

3 Does it ensure the fair management of migration in the interests of the economy and communities? 

4 Does it defend rights and protections and prevent a race to the bottom? 

5 Does it protect national security and our capacity to tackle cross-border crime? 

6 Does it deliver for all regions and nations of the UK? 

 

1,3,4,5,6,7 are too vague to be applied.

And 2 is so bizarre it's hard to believe any serious politician could include it.

 

The problem is rather a lot was promised during the referendum campaign.  So there it is- deliver or rightfully face opprobrium.

 

In reality, it translates to a free trade deal or soft Brexit.

 

I believe Leave won the right to take UK out of the EU, but it was not a mandate at any cost. It's the oppositions duty to hold a government to account.  

 

 

Edited September 27, 20187 yr by mommysboy

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I wonder how many of Corbyn’s policy proposals you are aware of?

 

You’ve plenty of generalized negative comments and references to ‘past history’ but slim on addressing his actual policy proposals.

 

Quite so, I don't think Labour should be confused with the loony left of old. Comparing Foot with Corbyn is chalk and cheese.  After all, nobody would compare May with Thatcher.

 

Labour set out some exciting policies.  Some say they are visionary, but actually they are the minimum needed to meet the demands of this century.

 

Yesterday, May announced a tax break for multi-nationals!????

8 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

I believe Leave won the right to take UK out of the EU, but it was not a mandate at any cost. It's the oppositions duty to hold a government to account.  

 

True but the result was never mandatory on the government. The referendum was advisory.

 

There are times when the government must go against public opinion and do what's best for the country. It's what we pay them for.