Thread by @swardley

X : View on LibDem letter?
Me : Seriously? It smacks of politicking dressed up as compromise. Swinson wants to decide who will be the next PM? Gosh, it's worse than Boris at least he had 92k votes ... just decide if you're going to support a no confidence vote ->

https://twitter.com/LizJarvisUK/status/1162241195063406592

In an environment where one of the major concerns and reasons for voting leave has been around the idea of democracy, then the LibDem concept of a Gov through appointed PM by a small cabal to replace another appointed PM chosen by their party members ... well, it's very EC.

The only reasonable approach is no confidence followed by moves towards a general election which is what Labour has been calling for.

X : It can't be Corbyn.
Me : Ah, the old 'I'm not working with him because I don't like him" approach to politics. Labour has been clear, it'll campaign for a referendum with the option to remain. They need to decide what's more important to them ... brexit or keeping Corbyn out.

i.e. Grieve, Spelman, Letwin etc - theguardian.com/politics/2019/… ... well, at least we know there's something more important to them than brexit.

X : What about Labour?
Me : In my experience, the important things to Labour members generally tend to be stopping austerity, reducing inequality, investment in public sector and education. Those things are more important than brexit. That's what Corbyn represents for the many.

X : So, you'd support Labour having another referendum?
Me : Stopping austerity, reducing inequality, investment in public sector and education are more important to me than Brexit. I only get that with Labour (oh, and Greens ... I like the Greens).

... there you go, there's a sensible "compromise" candidate. A joint temporary government with Caroline Lucas (Greens) and Jeremy Corbyn (Labour). It would have to be proposed by Corbyn. Both are leaders of their respective parties who have stood at a general election.

... so no leaders who don't have any mandate from the public (i.e. Boris, Swinson or appointing Clarke or Harman) but two leaders who do have some form of mandate (Corbyn and Lucas) until a new election is called. I could live with that, I'm sure many would.

X : What about Swinson?
Me : Oh, you're having a laugh ... you mean the "I don't want to be leader ... pick me, pick me" subtext? No more leaders untested by general election i.e. without any form of public mandate please. Cameron promised to sort that out ... didn't though.

X : So, you'd vote to remain in a referendum?
Me : No, I'd vote to leave. But more important to me than brexit is stopping austerity, reducing inequality, investment in public sector and education. Labour first, leave second.

X : Are there alternative leaders for Labour?
Me : Why? We're happy with Corbyn.
X : What about after?
Me : We're focused on Labour under Corbyn.
X : But at some future point?
Me : There are other good candidates i.e. John Mcdonnell, Angela Rayner.

X : You're not going to have the money to stop austerity if brexit happens!
Me : I hate to point out but austerity, rising inequality, lack of investment in public services and education was happening whilst we were members of the EU under a Conservative / LibDem coalition.

Where we wish to focus is a function of Government and the rules in which we operate. There was no EU riding in to stop austerity, inequality etc. If you want to know the nature of EU ... ask Greece. If you want to know nature of Con / LibDem ... look at the voting record.

X : Don't you find this style of tweeting unbearable?
Me : Stop following then. I'm going to have to cut down the number of followers anyway ... can't allow it to grow over 30k. Apparently that's when you become an "influencer" which sounds as naff as being a "thought leader".