[Politics] Tory meltdown finally arrived [was: incoming]...

[Thunder Bolt]

I understand your frustration with referendums but how else would people be able to show their approval or disapproval of the government imposing a mayor whether we want one or not. At least it would give democracy a chance, unlike what we are being presented with.

The problem in this country is apathy. More people don’t bother to vote, than actually do vote, so therefore decisions are made which people don’t like, but sit back moaning about it.

Women died to give me the vote, so I will always vote.

 

[Pavilionaire]

These Tory loss figures are remarkable. In voter terms we are now down to the bare bones, i.e. those voters who have always voted Tory and don't even think about it, or even consider the issues, plus those who simply can't stand Farage.

I'm mindful many will have been eligible to vote but chosen not to, but how big is that number? Getting smaller year on year.

It is incredible how far and how fast the Tories have fallen, and it is also incredible how that centre-right, one nation voter that dominated the outcome of elections for decades in the UK has now become disenfranchised and unrepresented.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

These Tory loss figures are remarkable. In voter terms we are now down to the bare bones, i.e. those voters who have always voted Tory and don't even think about it, or even consider the issues, plus those who simply can't stand Farage.

I'm mindful many will have been eligible to vote but chosen not to, but how big is that number? Getting smaller year on year.

It is incredible how far and how fast the Tories have fallen, and it is also incredible how that centre-right, one nation voter that dominated the outcome of elections for decades in the UK has now become disenfranchised and unrepresented.

Here is my area. 57 tory seats lost, 57 Reform seats gained.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Here is my area. 57 tory seats lost, 57 Reform seats gained.

View attachment 201063

I see Faversham returned a Lib Dem. I also noted interestingly all 5 Tunbridge Wells wards did also. You'd never be saying that a few years back.

 

[JBizzle]

I see Faversham returned a Lib Dem. I also noted interestingly all 5 Tunbridge Wells wards did also. You'd never be saying that a few years back.

It might end up being Reform Vs Lib Dems at the next GE.

Labour may well be the sacrificial lambs after years of Tory mismanagement, they won't be able to fix everything and are essentially our version of the Biden administration. They need at least two terms but won't get it.

The Tories are dead in the water and have been since before the last GE. Getting in Badenoch as leader is just the final nail in the coffin. She's just a halfwit Reform wannabe with not conviction in her policies either way

 

[Hugo Rune]

It might end up being Reform Vs Lib Dems at the next GE.

Labour may well be the sacrificial lambs after years of Tory mismanagement, they won't be able to fix everything and are essentially our version of the Biden administration. They need at least two terms but won't get it.

The Tories are dead in the water and have been since before the last GE. Getting in Badenoch as leader is just the final nail in the coffin. She's just a halfwit Reform wannabe with no conviction in her policies either way.

What Labour need to do is change over the next 4 years. But it has to be gradual change.

Starmer is a pragmatist. This has meant that rather than ignoring difficult decisions, Labour have straight away got involved with trying to fix some big issues, most of which are linked to the economy.

Those on the progressive side would argue that they are not taking the hardest choices though such as another referendum on rejoining the EU or customs union. However, right wing populism is rife around the globe right now and it may well be that they are waiting for clearer evidence of the catastrophic failures it always produces (see Truss' mini-budget, Johnson's Brexit or everything that Trump has done in his first 100 days).

Hard decisions rather than populist decisions are likely to be much, much better for the country in the short and medium term but it takes a certain sort of leader and party to throw current popularity under the bus in favour of future prosperity for the country and potentially, another win in the next general election. Simply put, Starmer has put country before party but he has gambled the political career of many of his MP's by not following the standard right or left wing media narrative.

We'll see what happens in 2029 but any decisions Labour took after the last 14 years of shitshows were going to be unpopular with many people if they were to properly address the mess they inherited. Meanwhile, the detractors of the Government are perfectly free to claim disaster, cruelty, dishonesty, immorality and incompetence at every step and present the affects of Labour policy and decision making as catastrophic.

On which point, we should be seeing some evidence of the predicted harm that some of Labour's policies are now having. Evidence of the tens of thousands of pensioners who were going to die from the cold over the winter (due to the removal of universal WFP) or the thousands of farmers who'll be selling up due to the changes in inheritance tax leading to a shortage in UK food production. I await these statistics with interest.

 

[TomandJerry]

The conservatives lost majority control of every council they were defending

 

[A1X]

However, right wing populism is rife around the globe right now and it may well be that they are waiting for clearer evidence of the catastrophic failures it always produces (see Truss' mini-budget, Johnson's Brexit or everything that Trump has done in his first 100 days).

It is worth remembering the UK election might not be held until after the end of the Trump administration (assuming things pan out as they should over there). We’ve all seen the chaos of the first 100 days, after 4 years of it being hitched to the Trump train (as Farage clearly is and Badenoch is trying to be) could be electoral poison entirely in it’s own right. Trump derailing the USA and plunging it into chaos could see the global retreat of the populist right in general, given the fact the leadership and direction ultimately comes from there.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Here is my area. 57 tory seats lost, 57 Reform seats gained.

View attachment 201063

Just looking at the latest figures, Conservatives lost 676 while Reform gained 677, Labour lost 186 whilst Libs gained 163, Independents lost 20 whilst Greens gained 45.

So Conservatives lost almost exactly what Reform gained 676/677, and Labour and Independents lost almost exactly what Libs and Greens gained 206/208. Pure coincidence I'm sure

And the Daily Express headline ? 'Starmer in real trouble' and absolutely no mention of Kemi

 

[BLOCK F]

Just looking at the latest figures, Conservatives lost 676 while Reform gained 677, Labour lost 186 whilst Libs gained 163, Independents lost 20 whilst Greens gained 45.

So Conservatives lost almost exactly what Reform gained 676/677, and Labour and Independents lost almost exactly what Libs and Greens gained 206/208. Pure coincidence I'm sure

And the Daily Express headline ? 'Starmer in real trouble' and absolutely no mention of Kemi

Yes, the Tories are an absolute shambles at the moment, but one of the reasons that there may have been no mention of ‘useless Kemi’ in the rag that is the Daily Express, is because she is really an inconsequential sideshow and will probably be gone before long. On the other hand, the uninspiring Starmer is the PM and a bad result for him and his party is of far more concern for the country, with Farage’s crew breathing down their necks, and so the DA being what they are, unsurprisingly concentrated on this.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Yes, the Tories are an absolute shambles at the moment, but one of the reasons that there may have been no mention of ‘useless Kemi’ in the rag that is the Daily Express, is because she is really an inconsequential sideshow and will probably be gone before long. On the other hand, the uninspiring Starmer is the PM and a bad result for him and his party is of far more concern for the country, with Farage’s crew breathing down their necks, and so the DA being what they are, unsurprisingly concentrated on this.

Without doubt.

If that DE journalist had given it any thought, he could have written the article monday, taken the rest of the week off and then pasted the actual numbers in this morning. Or maybe he did

* edit * And after Johnson and Truss, i'll take uninspiring but sensible (and certainly closer to one nation conservatism than anything else on offer)

 

[BLOCK F]

Without doubt

If the DE journalist had given it any thought, he could have written the article monday, pasted the numbers in this morning and had the rest of the week off. Or maybe he did

Meant to say DE not Duck’s Arse!