There is a third option, one that often pops up in Ireland.
How about if Labour knew they would be divided if they won? Add that to likely not having the money to deliver electoral promises, perhaps also uncertainty caused by Brexit? Then Labour people such as Starmer - perhaps even Corbyn himself - decided this term of government was a poison chalice that would make Labour even weaker than they already were: possibly even destroy Labour and turn them into the new Liberals?
Many Labour delegates may also have considered it likely that Boris would drop some kind of clanger (hardly the biggest stretch of the imagination) and they could look all responsible and alluring in opposition. They might have figured next election could see them make major gains - even win.
Or perhaps they haven't read 'The Prince' or 'The Art of War'? Or maybe I'm crediting politicians with brains they are unlikely to possess?

Red and Blue Army!

Labour Party settles anti-Semitism row by apologising in court.

[Link]

It seems Starmer is continuing his clear out of the "nasty party members". By all accounts the Corbyn club are furious that he has settled.

One more point

Why do you think they would win? This court case is more about them scapegoating whistle blowers and various senior Labour leaders trying to assassinate their characters and motives.

It's make sense to me that Starmer wants to put this to bed the Human rights commission will find Labour guilty I am fairly sure of that so he is just putting this to bed.

Edited by Badger11 (22 Jul 2020 1.42pm)

One more point

Okay but that is just your opinion based on what? Corbyn supporters will say that so maybe that is where the noise is coming from.

I think the answer is more like I said. Starmer wants to put this whole thing to bed there are various strands and when Labour are find guilty of Anti-Semitism (an assumption I know) all hell will break loose. So rather than drag it on he wants it over asap.

One more point

I think you have a point about Starmer wanting Corbyn to fail he wasn't the only one. But with regards to the court case some pretty nasty things were said about the whistleblowers which was completely unprofessional. Labour may have won it's case but it would have been a
Pyrrhic victory.

Anyway we shall see no doubt more stuff will leak out.

One more point

Hopefully this will not be the end of matters with labour MPs without an anti-semitic bone in their bodies careers and reputations damaged.

Starmer is a nasty piece of work.

Perhaps the most sinister politician in British politics since Mandleson. And a much better actor. That is what makes him so dangerous. It is how he can present himself as this rather nice middle class chap. Even a 'Sir'. On the side of all reasonable people. But the stunts he has pulled, against his own party, are eye watering in terms of their treachery.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

We live in quite incredible times really. But we all have to accept our share of responsibility. We all play the game, we all take our own side and ignore the downsides of the rest.

And whilst I don't mean this as a personal slur, how many of the Left cheered Starmer on when he pushed for this second referendum? It was utter insanity on any kind of reasoned or rational understanding of British electoral politics. A complete no-go given how England and Wales were staunchly behind voting Leave. An absolute guaranteed way of ensuring that Labour lost and lost badly.

Yet many of you cheered it on. Wanted nothing more than the biggest electoral exercise in British history cast aside and were willing to blindly follow behind despite the glaring evidence of just how stupid the position was.

Now I can accept that I voted for that utter moron Johnson solely on the Brexit issue but for the life of me, I cannot truly fathom why so many people fell for Starmers second referendum BS, especially when the evidence of it being utterly without hope of ever coming to fruition was in plain sight.

Leaving us with this. They say we get the politicians we deserve and never has that been so true.

Edited by Matov (22 Jul 2020 10.36pm)

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

The BBC is in play now. Defunding it could well be a major manfiesto pledge in 2024 from the Tory side. Starmer is its only real hope of maintaining the status quo.

Hence why it will now go to bat fully on Starmers side. Labour could have won that case. That is the point. It utterly capitulated because it wanted to lose. It wants the guilt by way of tainting the left.

I am no Corbyn supporter. His brand, and support, from the left are the very anthisis of what I believe and stand for but Starmer represents a much wider and deeper threat. Corbyn, for all his many faults, is a man I believe genuinely values democracy. Believes in the notion of one man, one vote.

Where as Starmer patently does not. Only in power. And was willing to sacrfice is own party to achieve that. A man who cannot be trusted, who has not principles and no wider loyaltys other than to himself. A

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

It is s*** or bust time for it. Its funding model is simply no longer justifiable and as for the salaries it pays people, then beyond belief really.

There is probably a role for it still at the upper end of the market but that could be funded by subscriptions, adverts and some limited Government funding for some of its news and current affairs output.

But in terms of competing with the major commerical channels for mass audiences, then its time has come and gone. When people had limited options in terms of what they could watch it could be justified and even when it at least adhered to the basic principles of fairness, then fine but now? After Brexit and its disgraceful coverage of it all?

No. Dead in the water. And a manifesto goal for the Tories. Has to be. Will force Labour into a kind of Brexit quandry again. Membership will be vehmently in support of keeping the licence fee, the votes it needs to challenge the Tories amongst people who would happily see the back of the liceence fee for ever.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.