Author: threecommasclubmp

*This is an exclusive interview by ThreeCommas at the Telegraph. Any comments, leaks or other news can be sent to ThreeCommasClub on Discord.*

In an exclusive interview with the Telegraph, former senior Labour member and party Chairman ThePootisPower has dived into the issues that have seen the Labour Party fall behind to the 3rd largest party and the internal workings of the Labour leadership under Akko that oversaw such a monumental loss. They minced no words calling out the Party on what they saw as poor leadership. Revealing the lack of coordination and planning in Labour ranks brings serious questions about how much trust the backbenchers can have in their leadership and what ordinary members knew even as the party limped into an election they knew they were ill-prepared for. This interview also casts doubt into how much faith members can have on the current candidates for leadership who were in leadership as this breakdown was happening. 

As Labour gears up for another election perhaps this interview will serve as a testament to what went wrong in the previous leadership from someone who was in the thick of it. A measure by which to judge the truths which perhaps even Labour leadership doesn’t want to reveal to its backbenchers and also as a measure to help judge future candidates for leadership. That’s why I joined ThePootisPower in a sit down interview.

To start off, we began asking the former Chairman about the elephant in the room. Why he choose to defect from Labour and what he saw in wrong inside Millbank Tower. He held nothing back. He highlighted the main reasons for his departure like this “The failure of leadership (including myself as chairman) to create a coherent policy agenda and plan ahead for the election, plus a total failure to engage the backbench in debates, the party as a whole in policy discussion and generally mobilizing the party has trapped the Labour Party in a downwards spiral.” Asked to comment on why so many other members from Labour were defecting he pointed on how many Labour members were getting burned out and how backbenchers were not properly consulted or involved in the discussion over crafting policy. He contrasted this with his new home at the Liberal Democrats where he was easily able to “ access press and policy labs” and “engage with the party in all aspects.” Such concern also brings up the question of how current candidates for Labour’s top job will seek to address this issue and give backbenchers more of a voice in the party going forward.

“The failure of leadership (including myself as chairman) to create a coherent policy agenda and plan ahead for the election, plus a total failure to engage the backbench in debates, the party as a whole in policy discussion and generally mobilizing the party has trapped the Labour Party in a downwards spiral.”

ThePootisPower

ThePootisPower then said they believed that instead of centralizing power and jobs the Party needed to “make [sure] everyone either have something to do or give them a break.” Asked to comment on the failure of top Labour Leadership regarding election prep, he again held nothing back. He openly criticized now ex-leader Akko who has resigned after the dismal results for Labour on election night, saying “The direction Akko took Labour was disorder, the next leader has to retool the party drastically and re-engage the rank and file in the organisation.” When questioned on Akko’s involvement in the election prep he honestly answered “Akko hasn’t got the leadership to do much of anything. They didn’t give us a “here’s what we’re doing today” agenda. They didn’t ask us.” It seems obvious to any observer that Labour’s leadership completely failed at any type of proper election prep. Even as the election loomed, Labour HQ was disorganized and fumbling around with no solid plan in mind. 

“The direction Akko took Labour was disorder, the next leader has to retool the party drastically and re-engage the rank and file in the organisation. Akko hasn’t got the leadership to do much of anything. They didn’t give us a “here’s what we’re doing today” agenda. They didn’t ask us.”

ThePootisPower

Commenting on the type of leadership he saw by Akko and others he described it as such: “Labour leadership was reactive and panicky rather than contemplative and meticulous.” On the matter of Labour’s manifesto for this election was panned by their opponents and political pundits alike for its many typos, illogical policies and more he had this to say “But I have it in good authority that Frosty had to write two whole sections himself and without oversight, and he was one of the only people who actually had it in on time.” With such poor oversight and lack of planning on their manifesto, it will come as no surprise their manifesto turned out the way they did. Why he recalled that when he defected which was a few weeks before the election, work on the manifesto had barely begin and it not begun even being written. 

We also asked Poot on how he thought the utter lack of leadership and should reflect on other members of leadership some of who are now vying to be Labour leader. He said on “Lily and Captain only just got into the roles in the last few weeks.” He expanded saying “Captainographer is partially responsible for not engaging deputy press officers and press contributors, holding a very very defeatist “why bother pinging them, I’ve tried it before and can’t get them to be active” attitude.” However, he said that he still trusted Captain as Chairman and that they deserved credit for the Weekly- “the only good thing about Akko’s reign.”

To summarize for the readers: Akko and leadership did nothing. A complete failure on all fronts to prepare for the election and what can be called to put it lightly a rushed and fumbled manifesto.

Next on the agenda were questions regarding Labour’s ongoing feud with the press which has received coverage across the UK and caused the Westminster Correspondents Association to publish an open letter decrying Labour’s actions as anti-press. Poot was sympathetic to Press Officer’s Geordie’s blight but said “But to be brutally honest, the press office hasn’t done fuck all since Geordie was brought in He seems to think he’s a dead man walking, that his career is over before it began. He needs to get a rocket up his rectal cavity and start cranking out content. ” He blasted the Press Office for their treatment of reporters and said that as a whole that Labour’s press office needs to be revamped. “at the end of the day the press officer needs to step up and lead from the front, stop treating journalists like they’re idiots and actually put forward a positive vision for the Labour Party, rather than ignoring very valid press criticisms.”

“But to be brutally honest, the press office hasn’t done fuck all since Geordie was brought in. He seems to think he’s a dead man walking, that his career is over before it began.”

ThePootisPower

On the question of leaks, he quoted the show “In the Thick of It” – “There’s literally nothing you can do to stop leaks

“To quote The Thick of It, labour operates under Tucker’s Law: “If some cunt can fuck something up, that cunt will pick the worst possible time to fucking fuck up because that cunt’s a cunt.”

ThePootisPower

This seems to be another question for Labour’s next leader to consider: a total reshuffle of their press office. 

Finally, we asked his opinion on the current leadership race. He said that he believed “Lily is the best short term option but I believe they need to also pick out their successor and train them in preparation.” An opinion voiced by other political commentators as well. He also suggested that labor needed internal reforms calling for more members to be involved and advisory councils. “They should also look into finding popular notable members who are not grandees and giving them an advisory board access role. And perhaps also seeking to add a quasi-leadership body or role whereby new blood can be injected into leadership for 1-month terms to continually reengage and revitalize the Labour Party leadership.” Asked to comment on if the Party should move left or back to the center he dismissed that notion saying “It’s not a matter of “how far left should we be”, it’s “how effective and logical we can get.” There’s no point in picking a specific ideology. Labour is a broad tent, and the new leader must work towards this.”

“It’s not a matter of “how far left should we be”, it’s “how effective and logical we can get.” There’s no point in picking a specific ideology. Labour is a broad tent, and the new leader must work towards this.”

ThePootisPower

All these revelations shine a new light on the inner-working of Labour. An incomepent leadership that led the party to what was assured to be a defeat in the election. A lack of of drive and motivation by senior party members, a lack of involvement, or representation of backbenchers. A Press Office that is bent on avoiding questions and dismissing reporters. With all these factors one cannot be surprised that the Labour party has seen such bad results and a breakdown in function with many members choosing to defect. The only question now left is who members will choose to lead the party and next and what that person will do to bring the party back on track.

To leave Poot had this message for his former party: “This election result is an absolute catastrophe, a result of lackadaisical leadership and a disengaged membership. Right now, the only way to save Labour is for every single member of Labour to wake the fuck up and decide whether they are willing to work or need to rest. The Labour Party must fundamentally rebuild itself as a united fighting force that will not “react”, but proactively work to design a true alternative to the Right-Wing Duopoly.”

*ThreeCommas is a senior writer at the Telegraph.*

*See the full unedited interview transcript here:* https://pastebin.com/hNL6sFTY

After the disappointing results for Labour on the election and the resignation of their leader /u/ARichTeaBiscuit it seemed that things could not get any direr for the party not that has been proven false. The last few days have seen a demoralized Labour limp into a leadership race they wished to keep locked down and secretive. But that seemed fruitless with numerous leaks and the list of candidates with endorsements leaking as they happen to a number of news orgs. This all comes amidst a Labour Press Office that is seeking to fight the press and clamp down on the flow of information . The Press Office has refused to comment on questions asked by the press, replied with increasing hostility , and sought to silence members of the Party. This led the Westminster Correspondents Association to publish an open letter to the Labour Party criticizing their press office’s actions on the campaign trail, comments by their press officer labeling news orgs “propaganda” and accusing from the press office of a “conspiring” news media. They went on to criticize the Labour as “are still anti-free press, anti journalist and fundamentally paranoid of any scrutiny.”

Now the Telegraph reports on the internal turmoil inside Labour as they head into a leadership election that will chart their fall or comeback this term. Internal sources speaking anonymously have spoken to the Telegraph despite attempts by the Labour Press Office to stop such comment. A senior Labour member and frontbencher had this to say “Labour HQ is in shambles right now when it’s not silent they’re lamenting the losses.” It seems a disheartened Labour HQ is having to face their voters and the press. On the other hand, however, it seems that certain members believe that leadership has the potential to revitalize the party. One member told the Telegraph of the race gaining traction and what seems to unofficial debates behind the scenes inside Labour HQ. These debates happening before an official debate is hosted by the party show what is set to be an interesting race. Especially in light of a Daily Mirror article which was criticized by Labour and other leadership candidates for excluding them and using their previous remarks ina what appeared to a Q&A.

When asked about this article Daily Mirror writer behind the piece apologized for what they deemed as their mistakes. He said that there was a misunderstanding between Captain_Plat and themselves and would be doing an exclusive with the candidate to make up for this oversight and said that “Nobody else had any complaints, really.”As for the general state of the relations between Labour and the press, a source inside Labour expressed that their Press Officer was doing the best they could in the difficult position and expressed support for VerkhovnaGeordie.

However, it seems not all Labour members see eye to eye on the party’s direction as Frosty seen before as a potential leadership candidate and a rising star in the party. Their defection came on the heels of a previous wave of Labour defections to the Liberal Democrats in the weeks leading up to the election which saw senior members leave the party. Will more defections follow? It waits to be seen.

As the Labour Party heads into their internal election they will have a choice. A party that veers more to the left or one that tries to appeal to voters that fled from Labour to the Liberal Democrats and the LPUK. A choice between a continuing nosedive or a recovery to put them in striking distance of their LPUK and the Tories next election. What the party will choose remains to be seen but one thing is clear they need change.

Lily-irl is seen by many as the clear favorite to replace Akko.

The Telegraph can confirm tonight that Labour Leader Akko has resigned from the party.

As tonight’s election results came in it was meet with cheers at Conservative Party HQ and victorious roars inside the LPUK in Milton Keynes and a smaller but still happy gain for the Liberal Democrats. A resurgent Tory Party saw their position as the largest party hold with 31 seats despite falling polls during their term in minority goverment while a powerful LPUK surged into second place with 23 seats beating Labour on the back of a powerful national campaign. The major failure of the night was the collapse of the Labour Party left with only 21 seats as they saw their potential gains crumple. Meanwhile, the Lid Dems picked a few seats from Labour to land them 16 seats. This term saw Labour overtake the Tories two times in the polls only to be beaten back. In the lead up to the election rising defections, bad press and a heavily criticized manifesto saw them always on the backfoot in this election.

The question being asked inside Labour HQ and by pundits across the country is it time for Akko to go? The Telegraph has obtained comments on the condition of anonymity from several Labour members. One Labour member had this to “I expected that the results tonight will be bad but I didn’t think it will be this bad.” They confirmed that they expect a leadership election to be called shortly with the party losing confidence in Akko. That seems to agree with the general sentiments of the pundits who expect Akko to resign or either be forced out internally. When asked how they see as a potential replacement they nominated  Former Labour Leader and current DL Lily-irl as good choice for the party. Winds seem to be shifting across the country and internally as voters abandoned Labour in droves. 

Now a second, a statement came mere minutes ago with the a bombshell that Labour Akko and officially resigned thus leaving the top post open. Lilley candidates appear to Labour DLs and the front-runner at this time seems to Lily-Irl who seems to favored inside the party. Another senior Labour inside told us that Akko’s resignation was “not unexpected”, but remained tight-lipped on the future leadership race. 

When asked to comment on the party’s results the Labour Press Office has little to say but did comment they were proud of their efforts and motivation. They, however, gave no comment on the leadership fate, saying they would wait for an official statement from the leadership saying “And it’s up to Akko what happens next.” The future of the Labour Party hangs in the balance as they stand battered and look to a new face for hope.

This is a Telegraph editorial written by ThreeCommas, Telegraph Political Correspondent.

As Britain gears up for what might be the most decisive election in a generation the future of the Labour Party is looking more shaky than ever. Sunday’s polls put the long standing status of the party as the 2nd largest force in Britain in jeopardy as polls showed Labour polling dropping to 3rd while the LPUK held strong making them the 2nd strongest party. It seems that if this election doesn’t go the way they want to, Labour might just be pushed out of what they always took for granted: their position in Millbank Tower. Then came their election manifesto which has been lambasted by critics as poorly designed and ill conceived. Today the Telegraph examines the Labour Manifesto in detail. 

First the economy under a Labour government would be put into chaos as their conflicted policies put into question the basic understanding of economics. Labour promised to seek an end and abolish almost all tariffs. This move would come as a broadside to British industry which relies on such protections to sustain their business. One poignant example is the British steel sector which Labour has been vocal on the need of saving. But our industry relies on tariffs to protect their business from being undercut by Chinese state subsidized cheap steel. By removing those tariffs Labour would bankrupt the entire sector and push them into collapse. 

The next major section in the economy advocates for major spending increases and remains unsure how these will be funded. Projections from other press outlets such as the Sun have costed roughly half of the promises at over 700 billion pounds. How all this spending will be accounted for remains to be seen but no doubt at least in part funded by the likes of the new tax on small businesses. In the very same manifesto they promise to support and promulgate small business they introduce a new tax designed to break the back of small businesses. The irony is only impounded when the very same section promises tax deductions for large corporations that decide to pay dividends. Thus giving a tax-cut to companies paying out dividends to their millionaire and billionaire shareholders. 

Then comes Labour’s prized policy for nationalizing rail. But there seems to be a conflicted message here. Labour claims to be the biggest backer of unions but in this case after buying out rail they want to replace conductors with driverless machines which would displace thousands out of their jobs and a move to be looked down by labor unions which they supposedly support. 

When it comes to the defense of the realm Labour have long been dogged by allegations of weakness by the Tories and the LPUK. Their latest manifesto only serves to further that narrative as out front and center on Page 4 is their promise to disarm the UK’s nuclear arsenal. As we face threats from a nuclear hungry Iran and rising nuclear powered China this move will be perceived as a weakness. Then on cyber security Labour makes bold promises but they hold little substance. Labour will establish the Cyber Defense Command and Strategic Information Service but provide zero detail on what exactly the two new agencies will even do or even why the country needs these two new agencies when we have cyber security defense divisions in GCHQ, MI5 and MI6. All that seems to be promised is more spending for the sake of it.

On the topic of Brexit it would appear Labour has forgotten why we even left the EU. Every page of their manifesto promises to play catch up with EU regulators and follow in tandem with EU laws. No doubt under a Labour premiership the UK would play by EU rules and be a follower to the tune of their beat. The UK should be focusing on creating our new path forward, not playing follow the leader with Brussels. Years after the decision to exit the EU Labour still seems to be stuck in the last instead of focusing on Britain’s future. 

Then there are their miscellaneous errors which all add up to an embarrassing lack of oversight. Typos and mistakes regarding the F4 talks with the Westminster govt a freeze on tuition fees which don’t exist all point to an ill prepared Labour. The future of the party had already been shaky with a wave of defection, dropping membership and now it seems all those fears were warranted. When asked to comment the Labour Press Office responded that these were inaccuracies and general typos in their document. Such mistakes cast doubt on how a dysfunctional Labour that can’t even prepare a proper manifesto can run this country. 

Where next for Ukraine & NATO Relations? As President Trump’s state visit and a NATO summit looms, 3CommasClub the MP for Manchester North pushes for action.

In 1994 the UK, US, and Russia joined several Eastern European nations to sign the Budapest Memorandum. Specifically Ukraine pledged to give up their nuclear stockpile which at the time was the world’s third-largest arsenal of nuclear arms in exchange for a promise of respecting their sovereignty. In 2014, Russia openly violated the Memorandum by seizing Crimea from Ukraine and throwing their material support and manpower behind separatists in Eastern Ukraine. At the time the UK alongside our allies implemented sanctions on Russia to punish their actions and hopefully see a reversal in their policy. However, six years later Russia has not backed off. We have seen continued support for anti-Ukrainian forces with Russian arms and support flowing into the region. They have broken repeated attempts to broker a ceasefire through the Minsk agreements and have only increased the boldness of their actions. It’s time for the UK and NATO to act.

Since the invasion of Crimea in 2014, NATO and the UK have been supporting Ukraine with assistance both militarily and financially but we are not doing enough. We must send a strong message to Putin and the Kremlin and they cannot get away with violating a nation’s sovereignty and open invasion. Our response so far as been feeble and insignificant to truly make Putin ever reconsider his actions. Now with President Trump’s visit to the UK and the looming NATO summit, it is the perfect time for the UK to push the US and NATO to take further action to support Ukraine and defend European sovereignty. 

In the Donbas, the six-year-long war has turned into a standstill. Both sides deadlocked into a slog which neither can break. This suits Russia keeping a buffer they can control between Ukraine and their border. At any time they can ramp up their support and equipment flows into the region to inflict heavy casualties on the Ukrainian Army to put pressure on internal politics and punish them for seeking a foreign policy that Putin considers out of line. This situation is unacceptable and one of the reasons Ukraine cannot push back is the lack of proper aid. Russian backed separatists receive top of the line combat equipment from Russia. At times they received tanks and armored vehicles which outmatched anything Ukraine could field and they had little means to take out armored targets. The problem arises from the fact that most of the aid Ukraine gets from NATO and the US are non-lethal: equipment like radars or goggles not real combat equipment. Russia has no such restraints which have made the war an unfair affair. The UK through NATO must increase our supply of lethal aid through NATO. I am not advocating for arms that would seriously escalate the conflict but equipment that would allow Ukraine to match the firepower capability of what the separatists have received from Russia. 

Secondly, Ukraine is at the mercy of Russia for its economy. Ukraine is dependent upon Russian gas and oil to meet its domestic needs and depends on Russian oil transports to Europe for a major part of its revenues. This dependence means Ukraine falls victim to Russia who can threaten to cut the supply of oil and gas at any time. Previously, European nations have helped support Ukraine through trade and loans but more must be done. With a US-UK partnership we can help diversify their economy, open trade and support loans to fund Ukraine’s economy. This will be a mutually beneficial relationship that will increase the strength of Ukraine’s economy and bring trade to both the UK and the US.

Finally, there is the matter of Ukraine’s accession to NATO itself. In 1997 Ukraine signed a partnership agreement with NATO but since 2014 Ukraine’s need for NATO has been greater than ever. NATO maintains different support programs for Ukraine, but the UK must increase our funding and expand these programs. Also urgent is the need for further NATO-Ukraine training exercises for practical military readiness and to send a message to ward off future Russian aggression. Previously, American officials have expressed their willingness and openness to allowing Ukraine into NATO with the American ambassador stating her position on granting entry to both Ukraine and Georgia into NATO if the correct conditions were met. The UK should take a similar stance and welcome Ukraine into NATO with the full cooperation of the US. As President Trump crosses the Atlantic, now is the time to freely consider the entry of Ukraine into NATO.

As President Trump arrives in the UK and a NATO summit approaches, it is a once in a generation opportunity. Beyond the petty politics of who will attend the banquet is a greater forum with the opportune time for bold action. I urge the Foreign Secretary /u/InfernoPlato to think of the greater implications of security for Europe and move the UK and discuss these matters with the US. Push for greater aid and support to Ukraine, assist them financially, and even consider allowing Ukraine into NATO. These are not easy topics but chances like this for progress are rare. This summit could be a breakthrough that finally sends a message to Putin he cannot ignore. The fate of Ukraine and continued European peace hangs in the balance. 

/u/ThreeCommasClub is the LPUK MP for Manchester North.

Following the previous government’s failure with its foreign policy with Iran which lead to a successful VONC it seemed like Tories had learned from their mistakes. However, while progress has been made in negotiating with Iran, now the new Foreign Secretary /u/InfernoPlato is under fire for his opposition to a motion calling to condemn and take action against the extrajudicial killing carried out in the Philippines with President Rodrigo Duterte has been culpable in.

The motion in question was introduced by /u/ThreeCommasClub the MP for Manchester North on behalf of the LPUK. It calls for the UK to condemn the Duterte Administration for their role in the extrajudicial killings and breakdown in rule of law in the country. Since 2016 Duterte has been President of the Philippines and under his watch police and masked gunman have killed a reported 20,000 people who have been suspected of playing any role in the drug trade. Addicts, drug deals, relatives of suspects and innocent bystanders have been killed in the violence. President Duterte has encouraged these killing and even openly admitted that he has played a role in ordering such actions. Various NGO’s such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented these killings and the breakdown in rule of law in the country. The President has also purged police officers and officials not loyal to him or those who may criticize his action including the press.

Now it is widely accepted that Duterte and his administration are complicit in these extrajudicial killings. The motion called for the UK to take actions by issuing targeted sanctions on officials including economic freezes on their assets and travel bans. However, /u/InfernoPlato argued against the motion, insisting the UK had to wait for a UN report to take multilateral action. When met with opposition from LPUK members he said that countries could not take action based on the basis of NGO findings and the UK had to consider greater geopolitics and long term benefits. He pointed to the fact that for example Japan a country in the region was hesitant to issue sanctions on the Philippines.

This was met with fierce opposition from LPUK member /u/LeChevalierMal-Fait who quoted the President own words which admitted to the killings. Furthermore he pointed to that the UK had taken action on Russia without a UN report and that Japan had been slow in sanctioning Russia as well. He pointed to the fact that the UK was not alone since the US had also taken steps to issue sanctions due to the killings. The author of the motion, ThreeCommas also attacked the Foreign Secretary stating that he was placing geopolitics over human life, asking “Should we sit and wait as more innocent people lose their lives to violence because it doesn’t benefit our geopolitics? It is sad day when we don’t value human life to take action.”

When reaching out to the LPUK for comment on the debate, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seimer had this to say, “The foreign secretaries refusal to use British unilateral action is disappointing, however what is more interesting is the baseless nature of his arguments for no unilateral action.” He refuted the Foreign Secretary’s arguments explaining that Japan has not been on board with sanctioning Russia and their motives for not supporting sanction are questionable. He also dismissed waiting for a UN report, “Duterte is a strongman, who will not co-operate with the UN. The UN report will only confirm what we already know, and it is time the UK [steps] up to the plate.” Duterte has already said he does not intend to cooperate with the UN and he does not consider himself accountable to the organization. In fact, he has already called a halt to all loans and grants from all countries who backed the UN investigation. Going on to refer to the ICC as “white idiots” and calling for the UN human rights team to be “fed to crocodiles.”

“Hitler massacred 3 million Jews … there’s 3 million drug addicts. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

President Duterte on the killings.

Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary /u/Youmaton responded that it was “disappointing to see the Foreign Secretary fail at his duty to stand up against human rights abuses.” They told the Telegraph that the facts were clear cut and idly waiting for UN report was not a option when human rights were being devastated. He called for the Foreign Secretary to do this job and stand up for human rights and call out those accountable for violating them. They left off with this final remark on the Conservatives: “If it holds true that the Tories reject this motion, it will only be yet another demonstration of a party unfit to determine our foreign policy.”

LPUK member and former Tory /u/LeChevalierMal-Fait and who was in a heated debate over the motion had this to say. “The Foreign Secretary professes to support a rules based international order but this is little more than a smoke screen to cover a unwillingness to act. It is a false dichotomy to claim that we must choose to act internationally or unilaterally.” He called for action o be taken under the ‘Magnitsky Sanctions Act’, which gives the government the power to sanction those accountable in violating human rights. He also called for a embargo of British exports like cameras and military equipment which could used in the process of killings. Finishing off he ended with an appeal to the Tory backbench: “I know there are Tory backbenchers of conscience who can use their vote on this motion to signal to the government to respectfully reconsider their misguided position.”

Indeed bold unilateral action now could itself send a strong signal to both human rights abusers in the Philippines that the world is watch hing and will act and be a rallying crying which can galvanize an international response.

I am calling on the government and the Foreign Secretary to use powers that they have under the “Magnitsky Sanctions Against Persons Act” to place targeted travel and assets sanctions on individuals where there is already a wealth of evidence of complicity in extrajudicial killings.

/u/LeChevalierMal-Fait

The government when asked to comment called the motion commendable but flawed. The government insisted on the need to wait for the UN report then take action with our allies. “Moving now, without UN support will alienate and frustrate our relationship with, and influence in, the Philippines which will in turn lead them to more unsavory elements within the international community.” When asked about if the Tories would whip in opposition to the motion, they said it was unlikely to see how they could support it at this time. In response members of the LPUK have responded that the motion indeed calls for action through the UN and nothing stops the UK from taking further multilateral action when the report is finished. ThreeCommasClub, the author, responded to the Tory position by saying “The Tories seem only interested in preserving geopolitical influence and appeasing our so called ‘allies’ who do not want to take action on human rights violations. It is shame that the Tories prefer delay and inaction which will put more lives at risk. When other nations refuse to take action against such violations it only emboldens strongmen to continue their reign of terror.”

InfernoPlato has commented in reponse saying, “Broadly however: my statement to the House stands on its own and no criticism directed at the position has actually delivered a coherent way at delivering change in the Philippines. I have also instructed the FCO to draw up an assessment so that I can share it with my counter parts on the opposition benches, in the hope this will add to the evidence the motion is counter productive to U.K. aims.”

Former Tory PM, eels made a comment which he later tried to delete from the record, remarking “can we like stop blanket condemning every foreign country or its leaders.” Youmaton called the comment “disappointing” and reckless stressing the need to call out human rights abuses. LPUK leader Fried, responded that the comment was “immature” and “offensive” to see the member poking fun of the motion which addressed serious human rights issue prevalent within the Philippines.

It’s a shame to see the tories making fun of the motion in the commons. This is a serious matter and I hope the former Prime Minister realises that UK should do more and that we are not condemning the duerte administration for the sake of it. It is right and just that was condemn foreign countries which violate human rights and do not treat their people right. The suggestion we are condemning every country is offensive and immature.

Friedmanite19

It seems despite the current Tory opposition to the motion, with LPUK and Labour supporting the motion it will pass, and then it will be up to the government to actually issue and implemented targeted sanctions. If passed the Foreign Secretary is duty-bound to act. What their stance on this motion means for the overall Conservative foreign policy remains to seen. The UK prides itself on defending human rights across the globe. In fact, /u/InfernoPlato himself voted in favor of a motion on the Rohingya crisis which called for unilateral action by suspending military training and penalizing companies doing business with the Burmese government. But now it seems their stance has changed but has the feelings of the party as whole changed as well? When it comes time for division, all eyes will be on Tory MPs to see if they cross into the Aye lobby and perhaps do as /u/LeChevalierMal-Fait suggests and act with their conscience.

/u/3Commas is a senior writer for the Telegraph who covers Westminster politics.

Update- Comment from InfernoPlato was added

Exclusive polling received by the Telegraph tell a story of a seemingly mixed bag for all parties.

Northumbria

Greens	0.52
Labour	26.70
Liberal Democrats	5.96
Conservatives	29.59
LPUK	24.43
LL	2.45
TPM	5.32
DRF	5.04

Northumbria a seat where the Conservatives held off a combative campaign from Labour and the LPUK but it looks like danger awaits once more. With Labour trailing 3 points and the LPUK 5, the Conservatives might be able to hold off Labour. However, if Labour manage to secure a endorsement from TPM and the Conservatives don’t manage one from the LPUK this seat could be in danger.

Buckinghamshire

Greens	0.39
Labour	11.13
Liberal Democrats	5.60
Conservatives	34.28
LPUK	40.22
LL	1.17
TPM	2.44
DRF	4.77

Buckinghamshire is a constituency where the LPUK deputy leader Seimer beat out the Conservatives and it looks like history might just repeat itself. With a weak Labour and LD, the LPUK hold a commanding 6 point lead over the Tories, victory for the Conservatives seems out of their grasp even with with support from the their Liberal friends. The voters here seem to be supporting the successful VONC brought by LPUK leader Friedmanite19 which has toppled the Conservative-LD government.

Nottinghamshire

Greens	0.68
Labour	37.80
Liberal Democrats	8.10
Conservatives	27.32
LPUK	14.98
LL	2.32
TPM	3.41
DRF	5.36

The Labour stronghold continues to hold firm with an impassible lead the Conservatives have been unable to make inroads to capturing this safe Labour seat. Unless they secure the support of the LPUK and the LD the Conservatives will not be able to overcome Labour and with relations strained no deal can be assured.

West London

Greens	0.64
Labour	27.89
Liberal Democrats	10.31
Conservatives	29.71
LPUK	12.19
LL	1.15
TPM	2.65
DRF	15.46

Last election in the battle between the DRF and the Tories, with endorsements the DRF leader ZanyDraco were able to dominate the race. If such a deal were to hold the DRF could fine for another victory but if one of their endorsements go the way of the the Tories or Labour seeing their polling decide to run all bets would be off and the DRF would be in for a beating.

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

Greens	0.41
Labour	15.41
Liberal Democrats	14.97
Conservatives	33.36
LPUK	25.43
LL	1.35
TPM	3.29
DRF	6.05

The Liberal Democrats won this seat with a Labour endorsement in the face of a divided Conservative and LPUK. This time even if both the Tories and the LPUK run it will be close race for the Democrats and if the LPUK and Conservatives manage to reach then their doom seems to be spelled. It seems from this poll that the biggest loser of the VONC might be the Liberal Democrats and not the Tories.

Glamorgan and Gwent

Greens	0.54
Labour	43.37
Liberal Democrats	13.23
Conservatives	14.62
LPUK	15.99
LL	5.42
TPM	2.14
DRF	4.69

Once again Labour polling looks strong in their safe seats. In Labour country and home of heavy weight secretary-salami, the collapse of the government seems to have embolden Labour while cutting into Conservative support. A divided and poor polling will mean that Glamorgan and Gweent will be a lock-in for the party. Polling reveals a divided front for the parties with strong showing by both parties suggesting that for a future election it might be endorsements that play a end up playing the deciding factor in tipping key races.

What do a former school teacher, Rand Paul, and mediocre fish and chips chef have in common? They are just a few of the many faces running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. The Conservative and Unionist Party has always been a monolith of British politics, holding sway at nearly every point in our nation’s history. However, in the coming days, the party will be tested like never before. The Tory-led government is facing a vote of no confidence with the entire opposition bench accusing the government of misleading Parliament and gross incompetence. Inside the party itself, things are not looking much better with PM Milli resigning and leaving the party without a central figure to lead. Whoever is elected will have big shoes to fill and the tremendous job of restoring the Conservatives back to their former glory. Today I sit down with some of the candidates in the race to see who just might be crowned leader of the Party and potentially win the keys to Number 10.

First, we have what many would call the front runner, the current Foreign Secretary and Deputy Leader, model-willem. When I sat down with Willem in his office in Westminster, he spoke with a determined tone despite being clearly exhausted with the business of Parliament. With an established position of leadership and a wide breadth of experience, it’s not hard to see why he’s currently polling ahead of the pack. However, Willem was recently at the heart of the Iran controversy that directly sparked the VONC. When questioned on his actions hit to his reputation he fired back responding “[I] and my party doesn’t agree with the concerns laid out specifically against me and we know that we acted in the best way possible.” An iron-willed stance that echoed the party line and the reasoning supported by most Consertative MPs.

Questioned about what ailed the party, Willem told me that the shift from a right-wing Tory-led government to the more centrist government was a cause for confusion as it left voters confused about what the party stood for and what the public was voting for. An interesting idea and perhaps a sign of even a bit of nostalgia in the party itself and Willem also expressed the need to reach out to other parties like the LPUK while maintaining their already good relations with Liberal Democrats. It seemed like under a Willem premiership more change would follow as she also hinted as the creating of internal party committees to give more voice to backbenchers.

When questioned about his temper and distractions, an criticism lobbied by his opponent Yukub. Willem has responded that his so temper to him was more of a passion and his mistakes were a learning opportunity. . When asked about the government failure in Wales, Willem blamed on his tendency to maybe trust people too much and try to see in the good in them. Finally when I pressed him on members picking between him and Yukub should pick him because of his greater experience in higher positions and ability work with other parties. Though certainly a formidable candidate, worries over his recent performance as Foreign Secretary and the collapse of his government in Wales could have some Tory insider taking a second at Willem.

The situation in Wales showed me that I can trust people a lot, maybe a bit too much and I always see the good in people. Those are important qualities for a leader in my opinion. Without those a leader gets locked up in his own bubble without letting people in and play their parts.

Model-Willem

Our second candidate is a rising star within the Party, none other than BrexitGlory. The political machine was full of energy and passion as we sat down in a local pub for the interview. Despite him being relativity young, his head was already a jungle of grey hair, a sign of stress to come if elected leader no doubt. BrexitGlory emphasized his activity in the commons and new approach as the solution to the party’s current dilemmas. His experience or lack thereof was not a concern in these trying times. He focused instead on his policy of opening up political connections across the spectrum, plans for reform, and increased technology. However when questioned about his statement expressing admiring Enoch Powell which has attracted criticism from those both in and outside of the Party-he dismissed the claims exclaiming: “What a boring question.”

What a boring question. People are free to select quotes out of context, that is their freedom, I can’t stop that!

BrexitGlory

His message to the Party was one of bringing new blood to the halls of CCHQ, highlighting his experience in getting backbenchers active and involved during his tenure as Secretary of Transport. I then asked him about his background which revealed that he worked in IT working his way up and the fact he could rip an apple in two with his bare hands.  As for his personal life, he was quick to tell me it was pretty boring. No worries, I reassured him not all of us can be Casanovas. 

The third candidate I had the pleasure of interviewing is an even newer face to the political arena /u/MerriluPutrid. I flew to her home in Birmingham where I had the pleasure of enjoying some freshly brewed tea and homemade biscuits. She told me that she previously ran a fish and chips shop but the food was just okay. Briefly serving as an MP the last term, her real start came when she elected MP for West Midlands the last election. A bit of curiosity she might be a bit of unknown to members of her own party and certainly to the wider political world. When asked what prompted her to run, she conveyed the need for a fresh perspective against what she saw as an increasingly radical Labour. 

My message to my party is that the way things are going at the moment, we may be sitting on the opposition benches soon. We need a fresh face who will help rally the British people towards the Conservative cause and work to mend our relations with smaller parties, while still not surrendering our core values.

MerrilyPutrid

Putrid sang a song of broad unity even as Westminster increasingly becomes more partisan. When asked why someone so new should be trusted with what may the keys to Number 10, she replied a fresh slate is what the party and the country united. The rest of the party and opposition had no reason to hate her, something that cannot be said about every candidate in the race. Though scant on implementable policy, she was in a position to be an alternative pick for those fed with the old guard. As I left Birmingham, I left with a portrait of a fresh-faced and strongly centrist candidate, perhaps the first of the Tory new guard stepping into greater power.

The next candidate I met was paul_rand, the Secretary of State for education. I interviewed on the eve of his manifesto release which was the longest of any candidates. What stood out to me the most was the personal promise of activity and plan for strengthening the Tory hold over devolved assembles a unique aspect of his manifesto.  When asked about his stance on the devolution debate he signaled that he felt that the current arrangement was fine but would like to formalize the transfers of power.

As for his detractors, especially in the LPUK he pointed to his manifesto of his broad-church ideals and willingness to across the aisle. Spoken like a man who had spent much time as a civil servant as Rand serviced in the civil service for HMRC in northern England. As for his final message to his party and the backbenchers he issued a call to arms.

As for my message for my own party and backbenchers, I am issuing a call to arms, I want everyone in this party to know that they have a place under my leadership, they serve a vital role and they will be needed in the fight we must wage to put our vision to the people.

Rand

The final candidate I interviewed was Yukub a old time member of the party and highly regarded in his right. For an seasoned politician, I dove straight into questioning. When asked why newer members should trust him, he responded saying that as a old face he was similar, trusted and with a long and proven track record. I then pivoted to what work he could point recently, given that opponent BrexitGlory had made his tremendous activity in the Commons a tenet of his campaign. Yukub discussed that his work was behind the scenes in writing legislation and in the press .

Yukub was quick to have me turn to his colleagues in the party who he assured would support his record and work. To be fair, many senior members of the party including several former Prime Ministers was endorsed Yukub. His message to the party was about concern about a dangerous Labour Party knocking at the door and not just him but the entire party needed to have a joint effort to maintain power and the trust of the people. In the days since he announced his candidacy, support has been building with Yukub securing many big name endorsements and the press shifting to call him the front-runner. It just might that his old dog can learn some new tricks.

For long, we have dominated the political scene. But we cannot afford to become complacent Labour are banging on the gates; they have their eyes on the prize — Number 10, Downing Street. . For those of us who where here, only some years ago, to experience the then left-wing hegemony, it is an particularly real and unpalatable thought. The country, more than ever, depends on us securing our position and holding Labour at bay. We must stand strong, stand together. I hope to have your confidence, and I can assure you it will be repaid, a thousandfold.

Yukub

To summarize, despite meeting many different candidates I picked up on a lot more in common than one would expect. Nearly all of the candidates spoke of unity that it might as well be a Tory bumper sticker. More interestingly all candidates seem interested in restoring relations with their old friends in the LPUK. Of course, only time will tell how much of this is campaign blusters versus actually policy. Similarly, it seems “One Nation Conservative” has become a buzzword in this election with nearly every candidate empathizing core conservative values. However, even though all candidates want unity inside the party maybe members tell me this election is about the soul of the party.

Tory backbenchers and senior officials I talked to spoke of this election and the future party leader charting the course for the party. Will the party move to the right, stay in the center or move on the left. Many spoke the move to move from working with the LPUK to pass more right-wing budget than working withe Liberal Democrats left the voters and party members puzzled on the goals and what course the party was charting for the country. Former Party leader PM, DrCaeserMD echoed this sentiment. Now more than ever the party needed a clear message and direction. In the days since he has endorsed Yukub in the election.

What’s clear is that the party has a very important choice ahead of it. We may not only be electing our next leader, but also our next prime minister. We can’t take this for granted.

DrCaeserMD

The main difference in this election boils down to the race between the old and new guard. Veteran politicians like Willem and Yukub are facing against new faces like BrexitGlory and Putrid. While they all want to bring their party forward they disagree on the methods to do see and how fast they need want to move. Unfortunately for the new guard while they have an abundance of energy, most members I talked depicted the race being between the front-runner Willem and decorated Yukub with rising star BrexitGlory finishing in third. The battle to watch this election will be between two experienced politicians while the BrexitGlory campaign hopes to turn heads in the party by gathering a significant base of support and hoping to pull off an upset by maybe upstaging one of the front runners.

Whoever wins this election, it is clear that a new group of Tories are making their way up and they want their wishes to be heeded. This leadership election is not so much about policy but more about who is the better person to achieve very similar goals all round. Only time will tell if the Conservatives will survive the VONC and who will be next to the Party.