[Politics] Tories lose overall control of Worthing Council for the first time in 2 decades...

[Gwylan]

I stand (or kneel) corrected. (2019 was a Labour shocker generally.)

The national swing from Labour to Conservative in 2019 was about 9% so a 2% swing was nothing to write home about

 

[Bozza]

Interestingly the Conservatives gained 13 Councils in May this year with +235 councillors while Labour lost 8 councils - 327 Councillors. Anyway, time to focus on more important matters.

Wondered if you had an update from the council elections in May this year. Asking for a friend.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Wondered if you had an update from the council elections in May this year. Asking for a friend.

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

 

[lawros left foot]

I think that the present Government are the most corrupt, self serving, and cynical ever, certainly during living memory.
People are now beginning to realise that they aren’t in power to do the best for the country, they’re in it for their own enrichment. As Lincoln said” You can fool some of the people some of the time, but, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”

 

[Lenny Rider]

I think that the present Government are the most corrupt, self serving, and cynical ever, certainly during living memory.
People are now beginning to realise that they aren’t in power to do the best for the country, they’re in it for their own enrichment. As Lincoln said” You can fool some of the people some of the time, but, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”

I always thought that was PT Barnum.

Lawro I don’t know how old you are old boy (although your NSC moniker might be a clue) but my generation were spoilt with their politicians and statesmen even though we didn’t realise it at the time.

Regardless of the colour of the rosette growing up in the 60’s and 70’s and entering adulthood in the early 80’s all of our politicians had either fought in or lived through WW2 and experienced the difficult and challenging years immediately post war. ( Jack Jones the TGWU leader fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil War)

They had a gravitas about them and real genuine life experiences, they clearly weren’t perfect but none of them were the self serving career politicians we seem to have en masse now.

 

[Triggaaar]

....

 

[Weststander]

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

The next GE result was sealed the moment the Pandemic arrived. I put money on it!

Governments across the world were hated for the financial cost and the enduring knock on effects of that. One by one they’ve lost GE’s. Macron the exception because he was up against a genuine fascist. But his party lost control of their parliament.

Starmer’s been our PM-elect since March 2020, he only needs to stand still.

The SNP semi-imploding is the icing on the cake. Labour will pick up extra seats there.

 

[SK1NT]

The bottom line is that most decent tories know that their party is a shower of shit. I am glad Labour have got in. It would have really depressed me had the tories won again.

The lib dems and labour winning so many seats are centre/left... and yet the tories are now getting break off groups that are further right than they already are... madness.

 

[Questions]

Back in the day, before people took more care of such things, the streets of the UK were awash with dog shit. People accepted it, and you could indeed try to ignore it, but it is now so much better without it

Some people day ‘blame the owners’ but I’ve seen it for myself…….. It’s definitely the dogs that are doing it.

 

[Questions]

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

It’s all down to the hard work by a band of dedicated people.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

The next GE result was sealed the moment the Pandemic arrived. I put money on it!

Governments across the world were hated for the financial cost and the enduring knock on effects of that. One by one they’ve lost GE’s. Macron the exception because he was up against a genuine fascist. But his party lost control of their parliament.

Starmer’s been our PM-elect since March 2020, he only needs to stand still.

The SNP semi-imploding is the icing on the cake. Labour will pick up extra seats there.

Good post and how I see it.

Despite furlough and the cost, people continually want more and (sadly) it seems to be the society we now live in. The debt and impact will be here for ages, and there wasn’t a lot left when labour last left office….. (it’s worse now).

As for Starmer, agree entirely, should have enough credit for two terms at least….
Will be really interesting to see what he does, as when he’s elected standing still won’t be an option.

 

[sydney]

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

steady on old man .....tsk , tomorrows another day what...!!??

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

It’s all down to the hard work by a band of dedicated people.

Well they can’t do any worse…..
Worthing is an awful place these days, and despite living on the outskirts rarely go in.

 

[Questions]

Well they can’t do any worse…..
Worthing is an awful place these days, and despite living on the outskirts rarely go in.

I don’t think it is at all. Or at least I don’t always think it’s the councils fault. There are shitheads everywhere…. But as a matter of interest and I am honestly interested….. how would you improve things ?

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

Not forgetting that a Green candidate won in Goring - not sure anyone other than a conservative has been elected in Goring for a long time, even when the Lib Dem’s had their time in power.

 

[A1X]

The bottom line is that most decent tories know that their party is a shower of shit. I am glad Labour have got in. It would have really depressed me had the tories won again.

The lib dems and labour winning so many seats are centre/left... and yet the tories are now getting break off groups that are further right than they already are... madness.

It’s the way of extremist parties (and the Tory party, at least since the Truss debacle, can definitely be described as such), the reason they’re doing badly is never “because our ideas don’t work”, it’s because the good ideas aren’t being properly implemented by the true believers, and “true” *insert belief system here* has never been tried.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

I live in the Lewes constituency where the tories were totally wiped out on Thursday. I'm not sure there are direct demographic parallels with Worthing but one factor i seem to be noticing among neighbours is the Tory lurch to the right post brexit has left many moderate conservatives adrift and they seem to have migrated to the libdems. In Lewes labour hasn't historically been that strong and the voters they may have attracted if they were an established force have gone directly to the greens, labour not being radical enough for them.

 

[durrington gull]

From what I understand Labour increased their majority in Worthing.

I really can’t put my finger on how a Town like Worthing can completely ‘turn’ politically in the space of 5 years.

Prior to the first Labour by election win in Marine ward, we hadn’t had a single Labour councillor for over 50 years, and Marine Ward was down on the coast, a blue rinse/old colonial stronghold where back in the day a Chimpanzee in a blue rosette would have probably won.

So…..

Has the influx of people moving into the town, predominantly from Brighton and Hove been underestimated?

Has the local Labour Party machine galvanised people who don’t normally vote (local turnouts are usually below 50%) into getting to the polling stations?

And of that demographic are a lot of them young people who couldn’t normally be bothered to vote or had never even voted before?

Whatever they’ve done it’s certainly worked, Broadwater Ward where my office is, has been a Tory stronghold for over 20 years, yesterday the Labour candidate kept her seat with an increased majority and polled well over 4 figures, whilst the Tories came second with under 700.

If nationally Labour do what their party has done in Worthing, and possibly what Trump did in 2016 and get the previous non voters out, there will only be one winner at the next GE.


PS Timmy lost Bozza

Having lived in Worthing all my life I certainly think changing demographics is the main factor - more younger people moving in and Tories seen by many younger generations as toxic

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I don’t think it is at all. Or at least I don’t always think it’s the councils fault. There are shitheads everywhere…. But as a matter of interest and I am honestly interested….. how would you improve things ?

There are, and I have absolutely no idea, but off the top of my head…..

Give it a good clean for starters, it always feels dirty these days.
Try to encourage bigger shops to the town.
Reduce parking charges significantly.

At night, there is an uneasy air about the place. I think all of the building infilling, cheaper housing and people moving in from elsewhere has lowered the age demographic which has eased middle aged to older people out. That may be considered good or bad, but having lived in the area all my life the standards are significantly lower than previous…

Not a great answer, but how I feel

 

[Questions]

There are, and I have absolutely no idea, but off the top of my head…..

Give it a good clean for starters, it always feels dirty these days.
Try to encourage bigger shops to the town.
Reduce parking charges significantly.

At night, there is an uneasy air about the place. I think all of the building infilling, cheaper housing and people moving in from elsewhere has lowered the age demographic which has eased middle aged to older people out. That may be considered good or bad, but having lived in the area all my life the standards are significantly lower than previous…

Not a great answer, but how I feel

I think that those points you raise could be applied to a lot of towns, The elderly dying off is great news….. Questions aged 62 and a half.