Off Topic Politics Thread

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I don’t want Brexit but will continue to support Labour because of their manifesto, even though this is a local election and not a general election. We won’t get better from any other party.
I would prefer that they go full out for a new vote, but I can understand the reticence to do so, when they could lose Brexit supporting seats at the next election, with no guarantee that Tory/Lib Dem remainers would switch support.
Maybe their hand will be forced, when the cross party talks inevitably collapse.
I hope the talks do collapse, but I have lost faith that Corbyn won’t shaft the 65% of Labour voters who are remainers. Lib Dem’s round here are fine on planning issues, which is about all the District Council do anyway.
 
Which then turned into this. Momentum and Robinson's lot:

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I didnt have a green candidate. Just the usual 3 plus somebody from the alternative socialist party who i wasn't going to vote for so went for Lib Dems though i probably would have voted for him anyway. very little from any of them as to their local policies so was more of an EU vote for a lack of much else to vote for. I will give credit to the conservative for having a survey on their website for me to point out how little i care about their priorities. nice to be able to say how i would much rather my council tax be spent on homelessness and care for vulnerable adults (neither of which were mentioned) than their 2 main issue of street cleaning and potholes...

While i think Conservative policies are **** they have been noticeably better at public engagement than Labour here.
 
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I didnt have a green candidate. Just the usual 3 plus somebody from the alternative socialist party who i wasn't going to vote for so went for Lib Dems though i probably would have voted for him anyway. very little from any of them as to their local policies so was more of an EU vote for a lack of much else to vote for. I will give credit to the conservative for having a survey on their website for me to point out how little i care about their priorities. nice to be able to say how i would much rather my council tax be spent on homelessness and care for vulnerable adults (neither of which were mentioned) than their 2 main issue of street cleaning and potholes...

While i think Conservative policies are **** they have been noticeably better at public engagement than Labour here.


The BBC +/- count on the bottom is very misleading. It makes it look like Greens and Lib Dems are seeing all the increases at the expense of Tory, Labour and UKIP which isn't really true. Independents (actual independents, not CUK-TIG) are seeing the largest increases and that isn't on the graphic.

UKIP are on minus despite gaining seats. Partly because they have fielded less candidates and that is partly because a chunk of their councillors have gone independent.

Independents are of course made up of both remain and leave candidates.

The overall story of this election will be that both Labour and Tory get a big smack in the face. Labour's narrative of playing down the leave aspect of their voterbase is not being shown. They are seeing "unexpected*" losses in leave areas and heartlands. *unexpected by those in the party trying to promote the 2nd referendum will cost us votes message.

Sunderland is a good example. The BBC graphic on the TV (not this tweet) implies that Lib Dems and Greens have seen the benefit of Tory/Labour losses. The comments on twitter are contradicting the Sunderland leader's statement of Brexit/2nd referendum being the cause of the losses because they are stating "the how come all the votes went to remain parties" The answer? Because they didn't go to remain parties (Lib Dem/Green, they spread out across the board with UKIP gaining 3 seats, Tory gaining 4 seats. A constituency that was a sea of red with only 1 non Labour (Tory) is now a multi colour patchwork of remain/leave areas.

I think tomorrow we will see both the main parties being hit substantially.
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The BBC +/- count on the bottom is very misleading. It makes it look like Greens and Lib Dems are seeing all the increases at the expense of Tory, Labour and UKIP which isn't really true. Independents (actual independents, not CUK-TIG) are seeing the largest increases and that isn't on the graphic.

UKIP are on minus despite gaining seats. Partly because they have fielded less candidates and that is partly because a chunk of their councillors have gone independent.

Independents are of course made up of both remain and leave candidates.

The overall story of this election will be that both Labour and Tory get a big smack in the face. Labour's narrative of playing down the leave aspect of their voterbase is not being shown. They are seeing "unexpected*" losses in leave areas and heartlands. *unexpected by those in the party trying to promote the 2nd referendum will cost us votes message.

Sunderland is a good example. The BBC graphic on the TV (not this tweet) implies that Lib Dems and Greens have seen the benefit of Tory/Labour losses. The comments on twitter are contradicting the Sunderland leader's statement of Brexit/2nd referendum being the cause of the losses because they are stating <em>"the how come all the votes went to remain parties"</em> The answer? Because they didn't go to remain parties (Lib Dem/Green, they spread out across the board with UKIP gaining 3 seats, Tory gaining 4 seats. A constituency that was a sea of red with only 1 non Labour (Tory) is now a multi colour patchwork of remain/leave areas.

I think tomorrow we will see both the main parties being hit substantially.
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You missed your calling as a spin doctor. Pick one constituency and weave a tale about what happened as though it's some kind of national point.

National results so far. Biggest gain by party most recognised as being pro Remain, the Lib Dems.

By the way, CUK/TIG isn't standing anywhere.

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Vin
 
The BBC +/- count on the bottom is very misleading. It makes it look like Greens and Lib Dems are seeing all the increases at the expense of Tory, Labour and UKIP which isn't really true. Independents (actual independents, not CUK-TIG) are seeing the largest increases and that isn't on the graphic.

UKIP are on minus despite gaining seats. Partly because they have fielded less candidates and that is partly because a chunk of their councillors have gone independent.

Independents are of course made up of both remain and leave candidates.

The overall story of this election will be that both Labour and Tory get a big smack in the face. Labour's narrative of playing down the leave aspect of their voterbase is not being shown. They are seeing "unexpected*" losses in leave areas and heartlands. *unexpected by those in the party trying to promote the 2nd referendum will cost us votes message.

Sunderland is a good example. The BBC graphic on the TV (not this tweet) implies that Lib Dems and Greens have seen the benefit of Tory/Labour losses. The comments on twitter are contradicting the Sunderland leader's statement of Brexit/2nd referendum being the cause of the losses because they are stating <em>"the how come all the votes went to remain parties"</em> The answer? Because they didn't go to remain parties (Lib Dem/Green, they spread out across the board with UKIP gaining 3 seats, Tory gaining 4 seats. A constituency that was a sea of red with only 1 non Labour (Tory) is now a multi colour patchwork of remain/leave areas.

I think tomorrow we will see both the main parties being hit substantially.
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Absolutely agree with Vin. Pick a council, pick a poll, pick a stat. The overwhelming vote +>300 for stayers. How many "others" are goers? Not all I'm sure.
Jab
 
Absolutely agree with Vin. Pick a council, pick a poll, pick a stat. The overwhelming vote +>300 for stayers. How many "others" are goers? Not all I'm sure.
Jab
Absolutely. Labour are being punished for being equivocal over Brexit, but nowhere near as much as the Tories are for being pro-Brexit. Across the board, it’s the Lib Dem’s and Greens who are making the big gains.
 
Labour have lost control of Bolsover Council for the first time ever, which is of course the Westminster seat of arch-leaver Dennis Skinner.

These elections are not just an opinion poll on Brexit of course, but the overall picture is very significant.
 
But will Labour ever get the point?

From the BBC:

'Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery says that anger over austerity was "trumped" in these local elections by anger over Brexit.

"We’ve got a clear message from those communities that the two parties need to get on and get Brexit sorted," he tells BBC News.

"There’s been huge anger about Tory austerity, but there’s more anger that this government hasn’t been able to deliver the Brexit that they promised."'

Vin
 
Labour have lost control of Bolsover Council for the first time ever, which is of course the Westminster seat of arch-leaver Dennis Skinner.

These elections are not just an opinion poll on Brexit of course, but the overall picture is very significant.
Being a registered overseas voter I'm not eligible for local elections. Going to be busy galvanising the expat, emigrant, immigrant (whatever label) vote for the MEP elections which had a low turnout in 2016.
 
But will Labour ever get the point?

From the BBC:

'Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery says that anger over austerity was "trumped" in these local elections by anger over Brexit.

"We’ve got a clear message from those communities that the two parties need to get on and get Brexit sorted," he tells BBC News.

"There’s been huge anger about Tory austerity, but there’s more anger that this government hasn’t been able to deliver the Brexit that they promised."'

Vin
Corbyn has just summed it up: “We are the only party that seeks to appeal to people whichever way they voted in 2016.”

Sorry Jezza, that just doesn’t cut the mustard. You are missing an open goal electorally speaking.
 
Corbyn has just summed it up: “We are the only party that seeks to appeal to people whichever way they voted in 2016.”

Sorry Jezza, that just doesn’t cut the mustard. You are missing an open goal electorally speaking.

And other senior members of his party spin this as a vote for Brexit. Odd.

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A vote for Labour is a vote for Brexit.

Vin
 
And other senior members of his party spin this as a vote for Brexit. Odd.

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A vote for Labour is a vote for Brexit.

Vin
Exactly, and the BBC are spinning it completely as a protest vote against the deadlock, not against Brexit itself, totally ignoring the fact that the two main Remain parties have both made huge gains.
 
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Here's a simple website that speeds up registering.

https://simple.getvoting.org/#/

Vin
Thanks Vin, I'm long time registered, it's easy, needed nat. ins. number, passport info, date left UK and postcode where last registered. In my case Stoke Row a village in the Chilterns near Henley on Thames. More dogs and horses than people. Got to get the message out to those that didn't bother before. Lot of dismayed folk who thought remain would win. I find it hard to believe but there are overseas pensioners relying on state provision who voted leave, that's a pay cut and loss of health cover, bloody bonkers!
https://twitter.com/BestForBritain
Jab
 
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Mendip has gone from a Tory majority to No Overall Control
LD 22
Con 10
Green 10
Ind 5

Massive props to the Lib Dem’s and Greens!
The big issue in Mendip has always been planning, with a huge need for social and affordable housing for local people, and fewer estates of huge mansions for commuters. I can only assume the Lib Dem’s and Greens will work together to achieve this.
 
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