I wouldn’t be so sure. This could be a realignment of British politics. We’ve had decades of first past the post, which has mostly benefitted a Conservative Party with limited mainstream competition on the centre-right/rightwing. Throw in a resurgent Reform party - if they’re here to stay - and we’ll see at least another election where Labour edges above a split Tory/Reform vote.
I notice Reform voters are bemoaning the first past the post system. But just like Brexit, we had a referendum on a proportional representation type election model ten odd years ago and it got categorically rejected. Will of the people, eh?
On a side note, amazing to see several East Anglian constituencies reject a Conservative MP. My seat - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket - voted in a Labour MP. This is the first time since 1880 that a Conservative has failed to get elected here!
It was certainly the strangest election that I remember for some time. Starmer getting in with a lesser percentage of the share than Jeremy did. Reform more popular than Lib Dem’s yet LDs have by far the most seats. This was the country rebelling, it looks on paper that the country loves Labour, they don’t, they dislike them but hate Conservative.
Farage will realise he helped this huge seat margin and he’ll attack Starmer from the benches at every opportunity's. Where I live, it swung to Labour by 110 votes, Reform taking 5,800. On a local Facebook group, tons of people had thanked the local MP as he’d been good for the area and got things done but they were saying they can’t vote for Rishi so they’re going Reform.
They just didn’t get it, that we needed to vote for the local guy who’d been good as Rishi wasn’t getting in no matter what. I’ve never met so many unhappy voters as reform right now, realising that the country has swung left because of them.
I hope Lib Dem’s gather more momentum now, I’m not a fan but this country needs more choice. As for our new government, two years ago the country wanted to save the environment and planet, we need to be greener and think of our kids and grandkids. Russia invaded Ukraine, energy bills soared, they soared again and again, suddenly the country didn’t give a toss about being green, just get the bills down.
The same will happen with Labour. “We don’t mind tax going up if it improves things”. Tax going up is measurable, we’ll feel it, improving things is subjective and none of us will notice that improvement. Hospital waiting lists might go down from 6 months to 5 months (it’s still a wait) Potholes will be fixed but another will appear. Council tax will increase and we know how they love to waste money.
I just feel the economy was getting back on track, I don’t like Rishi but he had warned Truss, he’s good when it comes to money matters.
I hope Labour proves the doubters wrong, they’re going to fix the country, what’s everyone’s thoughts on what wants fixing, the bottom line will be more money in the pocket and that won’t happen for anyone not on benefits