Readers below the line have been discussing the resignation of Tristram Hunt, sharing their views on his political career, and weighing up the implications of this latest departure for Corbyn’s leadership.
‘Labour needs a broad church to win popular support’
‘I wish him all the best’
Personally, I wish Tristram all the best. In his heart, he's on the right side. I think he'll do well wherever he goes. However, this is a lesson in how one shouldn't choose candidates for elections. Parachuting people into constituencies where the individual has no connections, whether by never having lived there or not being able to share the perspective of those who live there, is wholly wrong unless of course this person has a record of advocacy for the interests ordinary people from elsewhere. I think MPs have to connect on the level of their constituents and not just be an advocate for the latest wonkish fad to be benevolently imposed on people.
To be fair, his record was reasonable but I have a sneaky feeling the people of Stoke may have been disappointed with him. I hope Labour smashes whoever stands against them and that they choose a superb candidate as his replacement in the upcoming by-election.
We have also seen early predictions for the Stoke byelection, which follows Hunt’s decision to take up the job of director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
‘I fancy a flutter on the Lib Dems’
The two man parties will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at it to stop Ukip winning though and gaining another MP in Westminster but I agree IF Ukip can't win in Stoke which voted predominantly for Brexit they can't win anywhere but then again they said that about South Thanet.
I fancy a flutter on LibDem though who may well hoover up all the remain votes and thus let through the Tory. We live in amusing times to be sure. It's only January and two by elections for Labour caused by their MP "jumping ship". WE haven't even triggered Art 50 yet
‘I’m more worried about the Tories than Ukip’
Stoke is a massive test for UKIP and there's no excuse for Nuttall not to stand. Personally I think Labour will hold this seat comfortably and I'm more worried about the Tories than UKIP. May and her party are delivering Brexit so there's very little reason for UKIP to exist.
‘I can’t see this ending well’
I can't see this ending well - the Westminster elections will gain more coverage than conucil ones, coverage which UKIP relies on, and there's every chance we'll see at least one UKIP MP. Even if they fail in both seats, a decent showing will only spur on Tories to hold to a hard Brexit policy lest they lose votes.
I hope I am wrong, but Labour resignees could be opening the door for the right/centre right to strengthen their grip on the policies of the UK. No matter how much you think Corbyn is unelectable (and I agree he is) chucking the country to the wolves isn't much of a response.
Updated
I’m not writing my usual blog today but here, as an alternative, is the Politics Live readers’ edition. It is a place for you to discuss today’s politics, and to share links to breaking news and to the most interesting stories and blogs on the web.
Feel free to express your views robustly, but please treat others with respect and don’t resort to abuse. Guardian comment pages are supposed to be a haven from the Twitter/social media rant-orama, not an extension of it.
You can read all today’s Guardian politics stories here.
And here are some of the main ones on our site this morning.
- Theresa May will lay out her plans for Britain’s exit from the European Union on Tuesday, in a major speech that will be closely scrutinised in financial markets, and by other European leaders.
- Men on low pay are four times more likely to be working part-time than in the 1990s, according to a survey that illustrates the trend for low hours and wages to go together.
- Cumbria’s woman of the year, a local NHS campaigner and Labour’s former candidate in Penrith have made the all-female shortlist for the marginal Copeland byelection.
- Parliament’s intelligence and security watchdog is expected to carry out “inquiries and discussions” relating to the Trump dossier prepared by a former MI6 agent as part of its work in scrutinising the British intelligence agencies.
- Tech companies and the media must do more to combat the spread of fake news stories to avoid British politics being “infected by this contagion”, the Labour MP leading an investigation into the phenomenon has warned.
On Thursday nights local council byelections take place. There were two last night. Britain Elects has the results.
Liberal Democrat GAIN Sandhill (Sunderland) from Labour.
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) January 12, 2017
Sandhill (Sunderland) result:
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) January 12, 2017
LDEM: 45.0% (+41.5)
LAB: 25.0% (-29.9)
UKIP: 18.7% (-7.2)
CON: 10.0% (-5.7)
GRN: 1.3% (+1.3)
Liberal Democrat GAIN Gade Valley (Three Rivers) from Conservative.
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) January 12, 2017
Liberal Democrats now have overall control of Three Rivers District Council.
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) January 12, 2017
Gade Valley (Three Rivers) result:
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) January 12, 2017
LDEM: 60.9% (+24.0)
CON: 19.1% (-22.9)
LAB: 11.6% (-9.6)
UKIP: 6.7% (+6.7)
GRN: 1.8% (+1.8)
Sad to see Tristram Hunt leave Parliament. Can't blame him. Corbyn is unable to marshall the talents at his disposal and stumbles from error to error. I wonder who will go next? My money is on Frank Field, who apparently is not in great health. Yet the trend would hint to Labour becoming a narrow cult, not the broad church it needs to be to win popular support.