Best Of

Devon completes their count.

East Devon (11/11)
Axminister: Ind gain from Con
Broadcylst (2): 1 Grn hold, 1 Ref gain from Con
Exmouth (2): 1 Con hold, 1 Ref gain from Con
Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal: LD gain from Con
Feniton & Honiton: LD gain from Con
Otter Valley: Ind hold
Seaton & Colyton: LD gain from Con
Sidmouth: LD gain from Con
Whimple and Blackdown: LD gain from Con

Exeter (9/9)
Alphington & Cowick: Ref gain from Lab
Duryard & Pennsylvania: LD gain from Con
Exwick & St Thomas: Ref gain from Lab
Heavitree & Whipton Barton: Grn gain from Lab
Pinhoe & Mincinglake: Ref gain from Lab
St Sidwells & St James: Grn gain from Lab
St Davids & Haven Banks: Grn gain from Lab
Wearside & Topsham: Con hold
Wonford & St Loyes: Ref gain from Lab

Mid Devon (6/6)
Crediton: LD hold
Creedy Taw & Mid Exe: LD gain from Con
Cullompton & Bradninch: LD gain from Con
Willand & Uffculme: LD gain from Con
Tiverton East: Ref gain from Con
Tiverton West: LD gain from Con

North Devon (8/8)
Barnstaple North: LD hold
Barnstaple South: LD hold
Braunton Rural: LD gain from Con
Chulmleigh & Landkey: LD gain from Con
Combe Martin Rural: Con hold
Fremington Rural: LD gain from Ind
Ilfracombe: Grn gain from Con
South Molton: Ref gain from Con

South Hams (7/7)
Bickley & Wembury: Con hold
Dartmouth & Marldon: LD gain from Con
Ivybridge: LD gain from Con
Kingsbridge: LD hold
Salcombe: LD gain from Con
South Brent & Yealmpton: LD hold
Totnes & Dartington: Grn hold

Teignbridge (10/10)
Ashburton & Buckfastleigh: Con hold
Bovey Rural: LD gain from Con
Chudleigh & Teign Valley: LD gain from Con
Dawlish: LD hold
Exminster & Haldon: LD hold
Ipplepen & The Kerswells: Ref gain from LD
Kingsteignton & Teign Estuary: Ref gain from Con
Newton Abbot North: Ref gain from Con
Newton Abbot South: Ref gain from Ind
Teignmouth: LD hold

Torridge (5/5)
Bideford East: Ref gain from Con
Bideford West & Hartland: Ref gain from Con
Holsworthy Rural: Ref gain from Con
Northam: Con hold
Torrington Rural: LD gain from Con

West Devon (4/4)
Hatherleigh & Chagford: Ref gain from Con
Okehampton Rural: Ref gain from Con
Tavistock: Con hold
Yelverton Rural: Ref gain from Con

After 60/60 seats declared
Reform: 18 (+18) (12 gains from Con, 4 from Lab, 1 from LD, 1 from Ind)
Liberal Democrats: 27 (+18) (18 gains from Con, 1 from Ind, 1 loss to Ref)
Conservatives: 7 (-32) (18 losses to LD, 12 to Ref, 1 to Grn, 1 to Ind)
Green: 6 (+4) (3 gains from Lab, 1 from Con)
Labour: 0 (-7) (4 losses to Ref, 3 to Grn)
Independent: 2 (-1) (1 gain from Con, 1 loss to LD, 1 loss to Ref)

LibDem/Green administration?

Labour: ZERO

I know this is provincial England, but Labour are being wiped out entirely. Shows they are doing easily as bad as the Tories

Starmer has to act. He needs to sack Reeves and Miliband, for a start. Because as things stand he is hurtling to oblivion with no plan to change course

He can't because he has to offer his base something and maintain the left part of his coalition too.

And, they love Miliband - even though he's a prat.

I don't think the affection for Milliband is a left/right issue. He has a couple of more simply emotional things going for him.

Firstly he's a link to the before times. He was leader of Labour in what now can feel like a more innocent time - before Brexit, before Boris, before Corbyn, before Trump - when Farage could still be safely laughed at as splitting the Tory party asunder.

Secondly, he stuck around. He didn't sod off too make millions elsewhere, he stayed in politics and he went through the difficult years of opposition with the rest of the party members. He was loyal to them and they will be loyal to him.

I really don't think it has anything to do with his political positioning in the slightest.

Then move him from Ministry of Net Zero Madness. Indeed, promote him

Lammy is bloody useless as ForSec, put Miliband there where he can't do much damage, but he will have fun flying around the world, lording it over his brother

Devon completes their count.

East Devon (11/11)
Axminister: Ind gain from Con
Broadcylst (2): 1 Grn hold, 1 Ref gain from Con
Exmouth (2): 1 Con hold, 1 Ref gain from Con
Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal: LD gain from Con
Feniton & Honiton: LD gain from Con
Otter Valley: Ind hold
Seaton & Colyton: LD gain from Con
Sidmouth: LD gain from Con
Whimple and Blackdown: LD gain from Con

Exeter (9/9)
Alphington & Cowick: Ref gain from Lab
Duryard & Pennsylvania: LD gain from Con
Exwick & St Thomas: Ref gain from Lab
Heavitree & Whipton Barton: Grn gain from Lab
Pinhoe & Mincinglake: Ref gain from Lab
St Sidwells & St James: Grn gain from Lab
St Davids & Haven Banks: Grn gain from Lab
Wearside & Topsham: Con hold
Wonford & St Loyes: Ref gain from Lab

Mid Devon (6/6)
Crediton: LD hold
Creedy Taw & Mid Exe: LD gain from Con
Cullompton & Bradninch: LD gain from Con
Willand & Uffculme: LD gain from Con
Tiverton East: Ref gain from Con
Tiverton West: LD gain from Con

North Devon (8/8)
Barnstaple North: LD hold
Barnstaple South: LD hold
Braunton Rural: LD gain from Con
Chulmleigh & Landkey: LD gain from Con
Combe Martin Rural: Con hold
Fremington Rural: LD gain from Ind
Ilfracombe: Grn gain from Con
South Molton: Ref gain from Con

South Hams (7/7)
Bickley & Wembury: Con hold
Dartmouth & Marldon: LD gain from Con
Ivybridge: LD gain from Con
Kingsbridge: LD hold
Salcombe: LD gain from Con
South Brent & Yealmpton: LD hold
Totnes & Dartington: Grn hold

Teignbridge (10/10)
Ashburton & Buckfastleigh: Con hold
Bovey Rural: LD gain from Con
Chudleigh & Teign Valley: LD gain from Con
Dawlish: LD hold
Exminster & Haldon: LD hold
Ipplepen & The Kerswells: Ref gain from LD
Kingsteignton & Teign Estuary: Ref gain from Con
Newton Abbot North: Ref gain from Con
Newton Abbot South: Ref gain from Ind
Teignmouth: LD hold

Torridge (5/5)
Bideford East: Ref gain from Con
Bideford West & Hartland: Ref gain from Con
Holsworthy Rural: Ref gain from Con
Northam: Con hold
Torrington Rural: LD gain from Con

West Devon (4/4)
Hatherleigh & Chagford: Ref gain from Con
Okehampton Rural: Ref gain from Con
Tavistock: Con hold
Yelverton Rural: Ref gain from Con

After 60/60 seats declared
Reform: 18 (+18) (12 gains from Con, 4 from Lab, 1 from LD, 1 from Ind)
Liberal Democrats: 27 (+18) (18 gains from Con, 1 from Ind, 1 loss to Ref)
Conservatives: 7 (-32) (18 losses to LD, 12 to Ref, 1 to Grn, 1 to Ind)
Green: 6 (+4) (3 gains from Lab, 1 from Con)
Labour: 0 (-7) (4 losses to Ref, 3 to Grn)
Independent: 2 (-1) (1 gain from Con, 1 loss to LD, 1 loss to Ref)

LibDem/Green administration?

Labour: ZERO

I know this is provincial England, but Labour are being wiped out entirely. Shows they are doing easily as bad as the Tories

Starmer has to act. He needs to sack Reeves and Miliband, for a start. Because as things stand he is hurtling to oblivion with no plan to change course

He can't because he has to offer his base something and maintain the left part of his coalition too.

And, they love Miliband - even though he's a prat.

Devon completes their count.

East Devon (11/11)
Axminister: Ind gain from Con
Broadcylst (2): 1 Grn hold, 1 Ref gain from Con
Exmouth (2): 1 Con hold, 1 Ref gain from Con
Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal: LD gain from Con
Feniton & Honiton: LD gain from Con
Otter Valley: Ind hold
Seaton & Colyton: LD gain from Con
Sidmouth: LD gain from Con
Whimple and Blackdown: LD gain from Con

Exeter (9/9)
Alphington & Cowick: Ref gain from Lab
Duryard & Pennsylvania: LD gain from Con
Exwick & St Thomas: Ref gain from Lab
Heavitree & Whipton Barton: Grn gain from Lab
Pinhoe & Mincinglake: Ref gain from Lab
St Sidwells & St James: Grn gain from Lab
St Davids & Haven Banks: Grn gain from Lab
Wearside & Topsham: Con hold
Wonford & St Loyes: Ref gain from Lab

Mid Devon (6/6)
Crediton: LD hold
Creedy Taw & Mid Exe: LD gain from Con
Cullompton & Bradninch: LD gain from Con
Willand & Uffculme: LD gain from Con
Tiverton East: Ref gain from Con
Tiverton West: LD gain from Con

North Devon (8/8)
Barnstaple North: LD hold
Barnstaple South: LD hold
Braunton Rural: LD gain from Con
Chulmleigh & Landkey: LD gain from Con
Combe Martin Rural: Con hold
Fremington Rural: LD gain from Ind
Ilfracombe: Grn gain from Con
South Molton: Ref gain from Con

South Hams (7/7)
Bickley & Wembury: Con hold
Dartmouth & Marldon: LD gain from Con
Ivybridge: LD gain from Con
Kingsbridge: LD hold
Salcombe: LD gain from Con
South Brent & Yealmpton: LD hold
Totnes & Dartington: Grn hold

Teignbridge (10/10)
Ashburton & Buckfastleigh: Con hold
Bovey Rural: LD gain from Con
Chudleigh & Teign Valley: LD gain from Con
Dawlish: LD hold
Exminster & Haldon: LD hold
Ipplepen & The Kerswells: Ref gain from LD
Kingsteignton & Teign Estuary: Ref gain from Con
Newton Abbot North: Ref gain from Con
Newton Abbot South: Ref gain from Ind
Teignmouth: LD hold

Torridge (5/5)
Bideford East: Ref gain from Con
Bideford West & Hartland: Ref gain from Con
Holsworthy Rural: Ref gain from Con
Northam: Con hold
Torrington Rural: LD gain from Con

West Devon (4/4)
Hatherleigh & Chagford: Ref gain from Con
Okehampton Rural: Ref gain from Con
Tavistock: Con hold
Yelverton Rural: Ref gain from Con

After 60/60 seats declared
Reform: 18 (+18) (12 gains from Con, 4 from Lab, 1 from LD, 1 from Ind)
Liberal Democrats: 27 (+18) (18 gains from Con, 1 from Ind, 1 loss to Ref)
Conservatives: 7 (-32) (18 losses to LD, 12 to Ref, 1 to Grn, 1 to Ind)
Green: 6 (+4) (3 gains from Lab, 1 from Con)
Labour: 0 (-7) (4 losses to Ref, 3 to Grn)
Independent: 2 (-1) (1 gain from Con, 1 loss to LD, 1 loss to Ref)

LibDem/Green administration?

Labour: ZERO

I know this is provincial England, but Labour are being wiped out entirely. Shows they are doing easily as bad as the Tories

Starmer has to act. He needs to sack Reeves and Miliband, for a start. Because as things stand he is hurtling to oblivion with no plan to change course

Most Ref voters want left-wing economic policies, of the sort Callaghan was in favour of in the late 70s.

That's probably the dictionary definition of 'far right' these days...

In the USA, that's some way beyond far left !

Okay then, proper serious question. All the other G7 countries can supply us with this oh so important ”virgin steel” we can only supply ourselves by Nationalising. How do the other G7 countries manage it without nationalisation?

UK producers face energy costs approximately 80-90% higher than Germany, the highest of these examples

Germany* has the advantage of massive of being able to strip mine coal for power generation and steel. We don't have those resources.

* And the US

This candidate won, with Reform second.

https://x.com/_tomscotson/status/1916087003495485802

Labour figures fear more Gaza independent gains at the locals on Thursday

My dispatch from Burnley, where one candidate challenging Labour wants to end “free mixing” between men and women

I sincerely hope this is a joke/racist lie/otherwise not true.

Because if this is true, it is deeply, deeply disturbing.

It's true, and that won't be the first rude awakening you'll have about the direction of politics in multicultural Britain:

Maheen Kamran, 18, an aspiring medical student, is standing as an independent for Burnley Central East. She was motivated to enter politics by the war in Gaza, where she believes a “genocide” is taking place.

Kamran told PoliticsHome she wanted to improve school standards, public cleanliness and encourage public spaces to end “free mixing” between men and women.

“There’s a big aspect of free mixing,” she said. “Muslim women aren’t really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health.”

Didn't we have long arguments on here about women's need for single sex facilities?

Temu gives up:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy79j2n7d4o

"Temu to stop selling goods from China directly to US customers"

Will import in bulk instead, the de minimus route being closed.

That's more Trump chaos for US consumers, and a loss of flexibility.

No, this is actually the one good thing Trump has done (albeit in usual chaotic Trump fashion). I know a number of US based e-commerce business people and they are sick of how this rule is exploited by the likes of Temu. They can sell all sorts of shit without having to stick to any rules and if the product turns out to be dodgy the sellers on there just disappear and come back again as a different company. If the US company did it they would be liable for all sorts of fines. It is not a level playing field for companies based outside of China.

Yes, they can.

However it will reduce availability of goods, and convenience in obtaining them.

The de minimus rules are exploited across Amazon, Ebay, Temu. Its totally unfair competition based upon the de minimus and also the discounted postage scheme. In terms of convenience I don't think it is more convenient, you have to wait weeks to get your product. And of course one reason a lot of the tat is dirt cheap is they use slave labour.

Trump and his tariffs are bonkers. This is actually a sensible move, its a huge loop hole that was never designed to be exploited for this use. In most cases the shit on Temu is available from legit companies on Amazon and it isn't massively more expensive (its still made in China). We aren't talking the crazy Trump Tariffs difference.