Westminster Politics

Probably the one with the least self awareness and least shame. What’s the line they are talking? My guess is attacking Labour for a poor result in T&H…
I haven't heard him yet, but my tory excuse guess is all post war governments suffer defeats in by elections, carry on dealing with the issues that matter and listen to the people but carry on anyway!
From what I heard on 5live it was what Boy said here plus Lab and Libs won through tactical voting, with parties telling their voters to vote for the other, and if they're teaming up like that they need to be honest about it.

Not sure who it was, I'm not great with voices so could have been Raab, but they sounded more bored than anything. Not bullish, not in shock.
 
From what I heard on 5live it was what Boy said here plus Lab and Libs won through tactical voting, with parties telling their voters to vote for the other, and if they're teaming up like that they need to be honest about it.

Not sure who it was, I'm not great with voices so could have been Raab, but they sounded more bored than anything. Not bullish, not in shock.
Be honest about it? Is it a secret tens of thousands of people are keeping?
 
Tactical voting is the best chance we have of getting rid of the Tories.

I really hope this shows the rest of the country that's the plan we have to use.

I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a hung parliament in the next election. Longer Boris stays in the seat then the better for all the other parties.

Some great results last night though, hopefully this begins some momentum.
 
Be honest about it? Is it a secret tens of thousands of people are keeping?
Yeah, I get that the idea is to suggest to people in places like Tiverton that electing Lib Dems in a general election could result in Lib Dem MP's that go in to coalition with Labour but I think everyone is aware of that. I think Tiverton's almost certain to go Tory again.
 
You'd think they'll be one more push to get rid of him but I hope not. Labours best chance is a vote against Boris.

I'd say it'll be close based off those results as they are in itself meaningless so people are more free to vote as a message. The turnout tends to favour Tories at a GE compared to by-election as well.

Indeed.
As I have mentioned before, it had become fashionable to vote for Boris.
He was seen as different to the usual politician.
And some people saw him as someone who can get things done, despite all of the issues.

But as we know, fashions change; quickly. And now, he is just seen as a toxic liar who over promises and consistently fails to deliver.

You simply cannot lead a country if you cannot be trusted.
And at the end of the day, it will be the lack of trust that will finishes him.
 
I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a hung parliament in the next election. Longer Boris stays in the seat then the better for all the other parties.

Some great results last night though, hopefully this begins some momentum.

Yes.
People are realising that a government with a huge majority is a really bad idea. They get far too complacent and think they are above everything and no longer accountable.

Boris is now very much a vote looser. Long may he cling onto so called power.
 
From what I heard on 5live it was what Boy said here plus Lab and Libs won through tactical voting, with parties telling their voters to vote for the other, and if they're teaming up like that they need to be honest about it.

Not sure who it was, I'm not great with voices so could have been Raab, but they sounded more bored than anything. Not bullish, not in shock.

Raab is a nothing politician.
Never listens.
Talks down and says nothing of any importance.
Thinks he is much better than he actually is.
But worse still, has a monotonous voice and shows zero emotions and zero empathy.
A complete waste of time. Exactly why Boris has him as his deputy.
 
Yeah, I get that the idea is to suggest to people in places like Tiverton that electing Lib Dems in a general election could result in Lib Dem MP's that go in to coalition with Labour but I think everyone is aware of that. I think Tiverton's almost certain to go Tory again.

Why would Tiverton vote in a Tory again??
That makes no sense.
 
Yeah, I get that the idea is to suggest to people in places like Tiverton that electing Lib Dems in a general election could result in Lib Dem MP's that go in to coalition with Labour but I think everyone is aware of that. I think Tiverton's almost certain to go Tory again.

Thats the line the tories are using, im not as convinced though. Normally in by elections the voters just don't turnout but in this case they did and they voted in large numbers for the lib dems. The lib dems have traditionally been the second largest party in Tiverton (pre 2010 coalition) aswell. This is also the third by election in this term in traditional safe tory seats where there has been a sizeable swing from Tory to lib dem. Its becoming a bit of a trend.

It may not reflect compleatly in a GE but its certainly evidence that the lib dems could give the tories a few bloody noses and take a few of those 'middle England' seats where Labour generally struggle, off the tories. If the lib dems target there campaign right and get the message right they could play a huge part in the result of the next GE.

Labour desperately need them too aswell, To have any hope of victory.
 
Because it's an extremely Tory constituency?

Was, not is.
That massive swing is not a fluke.
He may not get quite as big a majority at the next GE. But this was far from a standard mid term protest vote.
 
Well not by the result this morning it isn't....
And I don't think this result is remotely similar to what would happen in a general election.... Not sure what more I can say here. I can't imagine you're unaware that byelections often produce results like this that are impossible to replicate.
 
Was, not is.
That massive swing is not a fluke.
He may not get quite as big a majority at the next GE. But this was far from a standard mid term protest vote.

I can't see how anyone can suggest that Tiverton will vote Tory again, there is no basis to suggest such a thing, it is laughable really.
 
I can't see how anyone can suggest that Tiverton will vote Tory again, there is no basis to suggest such a thing, it is laughable really.
What do you think has happened? That Tiverton voters have stopped believing in conservatism?
 
And I don't think this result is remotely similar to what would happen in a general election.... Not sure what more I can say here. I can't imagine you're unaware that byelections often produce results like this that are impossible to replicate.

All a general election is really is a lot of by elections all at once, so not sure what you are saying here, as a Byelection results in an area getting an MP, just as a General Election results in lots of areas getting their own MP's, so not sure why you are trying to down play this or other results....
 
What do you think has happened? That Tiverton voters have stopped believing in conservatism?

Yes, the result proved that, unless you are now saying something completely different to what that result showed, which would be bizarre and well wrong.
 
Yes, the result proved that, unless you are now saying something completely different to what that result showed, which would be bizarre and well wrong.
I think that is very silly.

We're not getting anywhere here, so I'll move along.
 
I think that is very silly.

We're not getting anywhere here, so I'll move along.

Why is it silly to look at the results and come to the conclusion that Tiverton is not a Conservative area??

There is nothing to suggest or support the notion that it is a Conservative area.

It is what is called a Safe Seat for the Lib Dems, they are the most popular party in that particular area.
 
Why is it silly to look at the results and come to the conclusion that Tiverton is not a Conservative area??

There is nothing to suggest or support the notion that it is a Conservative area.

It is what is called a Safe Seat for the Lib Dems, they are the most popular party in that particular area.
I think @DOTA ‘s point is that it’s easy to make a protest vote when the party will remain in power with their majority reduced to something like 77.

They’re a conservative area traditionally and with a full GE cycle, they would reluctantly vote blue again because that’s better than a Labour/Coalition government.
 
From what I heard on 5live it was what Boy said here plus Lab and Libs won through tactical voting, with parties telling their voters to vote for the other, and if they're teaming up like that they need to be honest about it.

Not sure who it was, I'm not great with voices so could have been Raab, but they sounded more bored than anything. Not bullish, not in shock.
Thats the line the tories are using, im not as convinced though. Normally in by elections the voters just don't turnout but in this case they did and they voted in large numbers for the lib dems. The lib dems have traditionally been the second largest party in Tiverton (pre 2010 coalition) aswell. This is also the third by election in this term in traditional safe tory seats where there has been a sizeable swing from Tory to lib dem. Its becoming a bit of a trend.

It may not reflect compleatly in a GE but its certainly evidence that the lib dems could give the tories a few bloody noses and take a few of those 'middle England' seats where Labour generally struggle, off the tories. If the lib dems target there campaign right and get the message right they could play a huge part in the result of the next GE.

Labour desperately need them too aswell, To have any hope of victory.
If we seriously want to get rid of this Tory government, the left wing parties cannot continue to operate in isolation from each other. There is one realistic and mainstream right wing party but a bunch of center-left/left that steal votes from each other. In the last election UKIP stood down all over the country to give the Conservatives free runs, but that is never on the cards on the left.

In my constituency the vote was basically split 50/50 between Conservative and Labour/Lib Dem. Now, I don't want to say that all parties that aren't the Conservative are the same, they're not and they stand for different things and asking Lib Dem voters in the last election to vote for Corbyn would have been a stretch. But what is the point in standing for something that no zero chance of ever happening. Surely to god its better in some places the left plays it smart and stops splitting their votes. Its not reasonable to expect voters to en-mass organize themselves and figure out where to tactically vote, this has to come from the parties.
 
I think @DOTA ‘s point is that it’s easy to make a protest vote when the party will remain in power with their majority reduced to something like 77.

They’re a conservative area traditionally and with a full GE cycle, they would reluctantly vote blue again because that’s better than a Labour/Coalition government.

What an area was in the past is completely irrelevant, it is what they are now that matters, and they are most definitely not anything remotely close to a Conservative area, that simply can't be argued against, the results prove that conclusively.

There is no reason to suggest that they would vote for a Conservative candidate at the next available opportunity, I honestly don't see where that notion is coming from.
 
People are realising that a government with a huge majority is a really bad idea. They get far too complacent and think they are above everything and no longer accountable.
Spot on ...a lesson still to be learned, maybe this is the begining of the great British 'Cultural Revolution' ?
 
From what I heard on 5live it was what Boy said here plus Lab and Libs won through tactical voting, with parties telling their voters to vote for the other, and if they're teaming up like that they need to be honest about it.

Not sure who it was, I'm not great with voices so could have been Raab, but they sounded more bored than anything. Not bullish, not in shock.
Be honest about it? Is it a secret tens of thousands of people are keeping?

Just as baffled as you by this comment. What does “be honest about it” mean as if it’s some great conspiracy?

As far as I’m aware there’s been no alliance between the Lib Dems and Labour at party level to vote tactically.

Pretty sure there was some tactical voting between Brexit/UKIP/Conservative at the last election mind.
 
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Why is it silly to look at the results and come to the conclusion that Tiverton is not a Conservative area??

There is nothing to suggest or support the notion that it is a Conservative area.

It is what is called a Safe Seat for the Lib Dems, they are the most popular party in that particular area.

I think you’re wrong here and I utterly despise the Tory party too, so no bias at all here.

By your same theory it would be like suggesting that Wakefield is now a Tory area and would never vote Labour again after 2019. Yet here we are 3 years later and it’s a labour seat again.

So how can you be so confident that the same won’t happen in this constituency? I hope they continue to vote Lib Dem btw. I’m just not confident about it in the same manner you are.

I do imagine it will be much closer though than what Dora suggests and could swing either way. Especially with this bafoon in charge.
 
What an area was in the past is completely irrelevant, it is what they are now that matters, and they are most definitely not anything remotely close to a Conservative area, that simply can't be argued against, the results prove that conclusively.

There is no reason to suggest that they would vote for a Conservative candidate at the next available opportunity, I honestly don't see where that notion is coming from.

How do you explain Wakefield then?
 
What an area was in the past is completely irrelevant, it is what they are now that matters, and they are most definitely not anything remotely close to a Conservative area, that simply can't be argued against, the results prove that conclusively.

There is no reason to suggest that they would vote for a Conservative candidate at the next available opportunity, I honestly don't see where that notion is coming from.

It's not though, it's always something that is taken into account, we look at voting trends for a reason.
 
What an area was in the past is completely irrelevant, it is what they are now that matters, and they are most definitely not anything remotely close to a Conservative area, that simply can't be argued against, the results prove that conclusively.

There is no reason to suggest that they would vote for a Conservative candidate at the next available opportunity, I honestly don't see where that notion is coming from.
I'll just quickly point out that you keep using a capital letter in 'Conservative' and I very deliberately did not.
 
100%. Boris Johnson is the most valuable asset to the other parties in the UK right now. The fact he survived the no confidence vote and another can’t be raised for a year is even better.

As much as I’d love to see this Tory government out of power. I feel that keeping them there with Boris in charge is causing more self inflicting long term damage to the Tory’s than any other party could ever inflict on them.

Keep Boris in, keep the status quo and then that’s have a big bang at the next GE.

I get this point and have felt this way before but it also allows for a complete lack of accountability going forward. You can't just go by this for every bad leader. It's the equivalent of Utd imploding their season so the next one gets a fresh start. There's no consideration for the now.

It shows future leaders that they can be as shit as they want and still survive until the next election cycle at the very least.
 
I get this point and have felt this way before but it also allows for a complete lack of accountability going forward. You can't just go by this for every bad leader. It's the equivalent of Utd imploding their season so the next one gets a fresh start. There's no consideration for the now.

It shows future leaders that they can be as shit as they want and still survive until the next election cycle at the very least.

I think this is more of a reflection on the electorate and the uk population, especially the English, more than anything.

Unfortunately a lot of the electorate have short memories and are too easily influenced by propoganda from Tory backing tabloids.

In an ideal world he is held accountable and changes are made. But if he goes before a GE then I have absolutely no confidence in the English electorate in getting rid of the Tory party, because a lot of them are just a very fickle bunch.

So in the interim keeping Boris in place is obviously not ideal for anyone. But if he was to be replaced now then it would just be very much more of the same austerity and then the same eejits voting to keep them in at the next GE because the sun told them it’s the right thing to do.
 


This word has lost all meaning in the age of the internet/social media.....but i'm sorry, what a ****. He shit himself something fierce when he realised people only liked him because he dished out COVID bucks. The second he tried to show himself as "leadership material" he folded quicker than a camper chair. So now he's resorted to holding Bojo's hand whilst Bojo kamikaze's the country into the ground. fecking gormless twat.
 
I think this is more of a reflection on the electorate and the uk population, especially the English, more than anything.

Unfortunately a lot of the electorate have short memories and are too easily influenced by propoganda from Tory backing tabloids.

In an ideal world he is held accountable and changes are made. But if he goes before a GE then I have absolutely no confidence in the English electorate in getting rid of the Tory party, because a lot of them are just a very fickle bunch.

So in the interim keeping Boris in place is obviously not ideal for anyone. But if he was to be replaced now then it would just be very much more of the same austerity and then the same eejits voting to keep them in at the next GE because the sun told them it’s the right thing to do.

I think even if he stays until the GE and the Tories lose, we'd have 4 years of Labour and in that time the newspapers would predictably assault those in charge until we vote Tory again at the end next one and we're back to where we started.

I dunno, just feel very pessimistic about the state of politics these days. I find it very hard to see this country not voting the Tories in for the majority of the next few GEs.
 
If we seriously want to get rid of this Tory government, the left wing parties cannot continue to operate in isolation from each other. There is one realistic and mainstream right wing party but a bunch of center-left/left that steal votes from each other. In the last election UKIP stood down all over the country to give the Conservatives free runs, but that is never on the cards on the left.

In my constituency the vote was basically split 50/50 between Conservative and Labour/Lib Dem. Now, I don't want to say that all parties that aren't the Conservative are the same, they're not and they stand for different things and asking Lib Dem voters in the last election to vote for Corbyn would have been a stretch. But what is the point in standing for something that no zero chance of ever happening. Surely to god its better in some places the left plays it smart and stops splitting their votes. Its not reasonable to expect voters to en-mass organize themselves and figure out where to tactically vote, this has to come from the parties.

The ultimate scenario is exactly that and then Labour and the lib dems promise a referendum of voting reform based on PR and based on, In the future making every vote actually count given every member of the electorate In this country a genuine voice in elections. There are far too many seats that have never and will never change hands In a FPTP system and an absolute shed load of votes that essentially pointless in those seats that have never and will never have a bearing on a GE result.

Unfortunately I don't see it manifesting itself, but you.never know.
 
People say the longer Boris stays on the better, but the longer this government stays in power the longer it takes to undo the damage they keep inflicting. Think of all the laws that will have to be debated and repealed. The laws on protesting, the bill of rights, the deportation scheme, the NI protocol etc. etc.

The first years will be full on damage limitation. And then there’s also trying to tackle the inflation and cost of living crisis.
 
This word has lost all meaning in the age of the internet/social media.....but i'm sorry, what a ****. He shit himself something fierce when he realised people only liked him because he dished out COVID bucks. The second he tried to show himself as "leadership material" he folded quicker than a camper chair. So now he's resorted to holding Bojo's hand whilst Bojo kamikaze's the country into the ground. fecking gormless twat.

He knows his political career depends on BJ being in charge. Same goes for all of the front benchers. They’ve backed themselves into the corner and it’s too late now to change their stance and save face.
 
People say the longer Boris stays on the better, but the longer this government stays in power the longer it takes to undo the damage they keep inflicting. Think of all the laws that will have to be debated and repealed. The laws on protesting, the bill of rights, the deportation scheme, the NI protocol etc. etc.

The first years will be full on damage limitation. And then there’s also trying to tackle the inflation and cost of living crisis.

not only this, but also people's lives that he will intentionally seek to ruin for more "culture wars/remoaner/lefty PC wars" bait
 
This word has lost all meaning in the age of the internet/social media.....but i'm sorry, what a ****. He shit himself something fierce when he realised people only liked him because he dished out COVID bucks. The second he tried to show himself as "leadership material" he folded quicker than a camper chair. So now he's resorted to holding Bojo's hand whilst Bojo kamikaze's the country into the ground. fecking gormless twat.

Very much so.
I was frankly amazed that so many people thought he was a future leader because of the furlough scheme. Anyone can look good spraying the public finance around during a health emergency. Nothing clever in that.

But as you rightly say, he has been found out. Especially when he claimed that the Labour call for an energy windfall tax was such an awful idea. Then had to climb down.