Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Bloody hell, did the Tories really come third in the South West constituency despite having held it before? An absolute shocker of a result for them, unless the twitter post I just saw contained a typo.
Yep South West London regional assembly goes to Lib Dems with Labour in second place. Tories a close third but 17,000 votes behind the Lib Dems.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
Why just Coventry? Unless an error has been revealed there by the Bundle Recount , it makes no sense to restrict any Full Recount to one part of the Mayoral constituency.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
They have become a reactionary party, just like they did in 1992-7.
This country will move on and to whoever it was who claimed otherwise, we will also move on from culture wars. There are far more important things to focus on.
Fuck me, TwiX's very own GPT/Claude - Grok - actually has the personality of Elon Musk. Prickly, awkward, arrogant, with the weird jarring humour of Asperger's
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
I would have voted for Khan if it weren't for ULEZ. But as I couldn't bring myself to vote Tory, I backed the Binface instead!
Why just Coventry? Unless an error has been revealed there by the Bundle Recount , it makes no sense to restrict any Full Recount to one part of the Mayoral constituency.
Logically that's correct but doesn't always happen.
If there's a full recount in Coventry, there ought to be a full recount in all the other areas, as you say.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
Why just Coventry? Unless an error has been revealed there by the Bundle Recount , it makes no sense to restrict any Full Recount to one part of the Mayoral constituency.
I think they are counting votes by council area, a bit like the Brexit vote of yore.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
In Outer London, where people drive, Khan's vote didn't increase (except in the wealthy pro green SW), in inner London it did.
His margin in inner London, where you can walk easily or use a bus, taxi or tube and don't need the car, was enough to secure him victory in London overall
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
But they probably don't consider him a Conservative any more.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
There is not the slightest evidence that Heath went cottaging as a young MP. That is scurrilous and pedalled by those who got sucked into the Operation Conifer debacle.
He was a very shy man. That doesn’t mean he went out cottaging.
What really annoys me about this is that Ted Heath is not alive to defend himself.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
In Outer London, where people drive, Khan's vote didn't increase (except in the wealthy pro green SW), in inner London it did.
His margin in inner London, where you can use a bus, taxi or tube and don't need the car, was enough to secure him victory in London overall
Did he receive more votes than last time or not? It's a yes or no question.
No-one cares about Manchester where Andy Burnham has been re-elected. Burnham is 54 years old so there might be time to return to Westminster for a Starmer second term. He could be the Boris Johnson of the Labour Party but in a good way.
Why just Coventry? Unless an error has been revealed there by the Bundle Recount , it makes no sense to restrict any Full Recount to one part of the Mayoral constituency.
Logically that's correct but doesn't always happen.
If there's a full recount in Coventry, there ought to be a full recount in all the other areas, as you say.
Were it to change the overall result Labour would surely demand a Full Recount everywhere.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
But they probably don't consider him a Conservative any more.
Well there's your problem.
Choosing Hall was a sign they had completely lost any sense of London as a city. London doesn't want to vote for a reactionary, slightly odd, quite thick person.
Khan isn't even very good - he's just not hated to the degree the Tories think he is - and certainly not to the degree people would vote for Hall over him. They need to offer something positive to vote for. Johnson to his great credit understood this.
This election was lost the minute she was announced as the candidate. She then doubled down with that ridiculous story about being mugged on the tube but her wallet being returned with all her money in it. Claiming she could have Hammersmith Bridge re-built but didn't know who owned it. That laughable Twitter video.
Everything you would do to lose, she did. It's quite astonishing.
The problem for the Tories in London is that their voters are constantly moving out of the capital to places like Essex and Kent. The process has been going on for decades.
I think it's more young professionals have moved to Labour.
There's a bit more to this here: Labour used to be strongly for WWC voters, and class-focussed, whereas now they are for public sector workers, private renters, identity based views and more "internationalist" vibes.
That's slap-bang where so many of them are. Labour would have to start directly hitting their financial interests for them to move back Tory, I think.
Just to add to this: if the zeitgeist shifts away from identity based views (possible), home ownership goes up and the public sector becomes an unsustainable size, shifting jobs into the private sector, then I'd expect the politics of that group to shift too.
Next few years will be interesting.
As one of the voters to which you refer (having voted Tory in the past, I am sure you won't believe me but I have), the Tories would need to stop with the culture war nonsense and get back to centrist, open-looking politics. And build some houses.
But I fear based on analysis here, they hold me and others in contempt. We're all communists or something. Snowflakes.
Culture wars are the future of politics, whether we like it or not.
Does anyone really care about this except the shrill know nothings at the Daily Heil and other discount media outlets? They stir it up, but their influence diminishes more each year, and one of the reasons is that we are learning more each day about their rather twisted agenda. People increasingly notice the tangible problems and want solutions, not some drivel that has been dreamed up by a coked up media bitch. Reform is entirely a media distraction and turn out to be a meaningless irrelevance as soon as the votes go into the boxes. Likewise the "Workers" Party.
There is an unmet demand for serious politics and its time the unserious media learned enough to be able to report serious issues in an informed way, rather the rumour driven garbage we just saw in the last 24 hours.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
Hmmm, my bro’ has met him a few times and thinks he’s a weasel. Also has a less-than-helpful partner (Michael Fabricant).
Andy Street made some poor decisions for JLP, including his vanity project store in Birmingham.
And now he’s (probably) a loser.
Sure you want him as leader?
I don't share the personal criticism, but think it's wholly unrealistic that he'd be leader.
Street is a seasoned Chief Executive, and he's brought that experience to do a solid job as West Midlands Mayor. He can afford to be somewhat independent in style, and work with a limited number of Council leaders etc. The qualities required to lead, manage and inspire a fractious party and difficult MPs in Westminster after a heavy election defeat are wholly different. He's also 60 which is not the first flush of youth (I know Starmer is older, but it's a two election job to get back).
I think he could do a job as a credible frontbench spokesman, but that's it.
The problem for the Tories in London is that their voters are constantly moving out of the capital to places like Essex and Kent. The process has been going on for decades.
I think it's more young professionals have moved to Labour.
There's a bit more to this here: Labour used to be strongly for WWC voters, and class-focussed, whereas now they are for public sector workers, private renters, identity based views and more "internationalist" vibes.
That's slap-bang where so many of them are. Labour would have to start directly hitting their financial interests for them to move back Tory, I think.
Just to add to this: if the zeitgeist shifts away from identity based views (possible), home ownership goes up and the public sector becomes an unsustainable size, shifting jobs into the private sector, then I'd expect the politics of that group to shift too.
Next few years will be interesting.
As one of the voters to which you refer (having voted Tory in the past, I am sure you won't believe me but I have), the Tories would need to stop with the culture war nonsense and get back to centrist, open-looking politics. And build some houses.
But I fear based on analysis here, they hold me and others in contempt. We're all communists or something. Snowflakes.
Indeed. I voted for Cameron's Tory once (more as two fingers up to the SNP tbf). It's become pretty clear that the Tories are just the party of rentiers and the old at this point. Planning restrictions, workers rights erosion, cuts to local government, removal of childcare services, ditching plans to reform renters rights. It's basically a litany of "we don't care about the concerns of anyone under 70 so get stuffed".
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
In Outer London, where people drive, Khan's vote didn't increase (except in the wealthy pro green SW), in inner London it did.
His margin in inner London, where you can use a bus, taxi or tube and don't need the car, was enough to secure him victory in London overall
Did he receive more votes than last time or not? It's a yes or no question.
In inner London yes his margin was up, in Outer London there was no change and indeed in some areas like Bexley and Bromley Hall won comfortably
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
Agree with all that bar the last bit. But he would have done better and just possibly sneaked it.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
In Outer London, where people drive, Khan's vote didn't increase (except in the wealthy pro green SW), in inner London it did.
His margin in inner London, where you can use a bus, taxi or tube and don't need the car, was enough to secure him victory in London overall
Did he receive more votes than last time or not? It's a yes or no question.
In inner London yes his margin was up, in Outer London there was no change and indeed in some areas like Bexley and Bromley Hall won comfortably
Sadiq Khan won more votes overall in 2024 than 2021. So how anyone can conclude that's not an endorsement of him/his policies is beyond me.
And if we want to talk about Outer London, Khan beat Hall where Bailey won last time in one place. So how do you explain that?
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
There is not the slightest evidence that Heath went cottaging as a young MP. That is scurrilous and pedalled by those who got sucked into the Operation Conifer debacle.
He was a very shy man. That doesn’t mean he went out cottaging.
What really annoys me about this is that Ted Heath is not alive to defend himself.
There is evidence, it certainly is much less of a problem for his reputation than the allegations Savile procured boys for him on his yacht which was proved to be false
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
No, if Andy Street isn't walking even the West Midlands, Stewart certainly would't have won London either in the current climate
Here's something to cheer you up. I'm currently in the San Francisco Bay area and it's raining and colder than London. You're welcome.
San Francisco often has pretty awful weather.
You need to be in LA, where the sun is always shining.
You don't even need to go to LA. The Bay Area has massively different weather depending on where you are and the climate in San Jose is nothing like San Francisco.
Recount won't 'materially change' Andy Street's numbers in West Midlands, Labour sources say Labour sources have suggested a recount in Coventry isn't going to "change materially" Tory incumbent Andy Street's numbers in the West Midlands mayoral race, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby says. A full recount has been ordered in the Coventry borough, with the race currently "too close to call". Beth, who is in Birmingham, says that while the result is on a "knife edge," there is hope in the Labour camp that Richard Parker could have edged the race. She says there will be a "massive upset" if Mr Street loses the mayoralty, with one former cabinet minister telling her it would be "devastating". Beth adds that there is chatter within the Conservative Party that if Mr Street does lose, he may be offered a parliamentary constituency, however, that remains "speculative". A short time ago, Labour sources told Sky News a recount was requested by Mr Street's team.
3000 votes isn’t close in terms of errors, unless there’s been some sort of massive mistake like a missing pile. So I don’t think reflects very well on the Street team.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
But for his sexuality, Street would have been castigated as a closet Tory.
At least Houchen's election leaflets were in blue. I have a four page newspaper from Street printed in green throughout which I searched in vain for any mention of the word "Conservative".
Recount won't 'materially change' Andy Street's numbers in West Midlands, Labour sources say Labour sources have suggested a recount in Coventry isn't going to "change materially" Tory incumbent Andy Street's numbers in the West Midlands mayoral race, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby says. A full recount has been ordered in the Coventry borough, with the race currently "too close to call". Beth, who is in Birmingham, says that while the result is on a "knife edge," there is hope in the Labour camp that Richard Parker could have edged the race. She says there will be a "massive upset" if Mr Street loses the mayoralty, with one former cabinet minister telling her it would be "devastating". Beth adds that there is chatter within the Conservative Party that if Mr Street does lose, he may be offered a parliamentary constituency, however, that remains "speculative". A short time ago, Labour sources told Sky News a recount was requested by Mr Street's team.
3000 votes isn’t close in terms of errors, unless there’s been some sort of massive mistake like a missing pile. So I don’t think reflects very well on the Street team.
How can they know what the result of the recount will be in advance of it?
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
If they don't understand Londoners why did the Tory share go up slightly form 32.0% at the 2019 general election to 32.7% at this mayoral election?
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
But for his sexuality, Street would have been castigated as a closet Tory.
At least Houchen's election leaflets were in blue. I have a four page newspaper from Street printed in green throughout which I searched in vain for any mention of the word "Conservative".
The Wandsworth Tories did that here. Green all the way over. Tory written in such tiny font on the back you couldn't read it. Frankly I think it's on the verge of being fraudulent.
Of course, it doesn't matter as they were always going to get drubbed.
I remember their propaganda in 2021, when they said the Communists were going to take over if Labour won. Yawn.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
If they don't understand Londoners why did the Tory share go up slightly form 32.0% at the 2019 general election to 32.7% at this mayoral election?
Fine. They understand Londonders 0.7% better than in 2021. Just another 400 years and they might win.
Man, that Soros is a busy guy, is there anything he doesn't fund?
Wait.
So the scheming Jewish financier is funding Palestinian groups?
That doesn't even begin to make sense.
I think it would be fairly easy to check whether they are funded by George Soros - it would be a matter of public record, so speculating whether it's likely or unlikely seems unnecessary. The refutation in the interview doesn't seem terribly unequivocal either.
A person making a claim has the burden of proving their claim I would say. Are others supposed to be able to instantly definitively refute every claim made by a guest? If I go on somewhere and claim Boris or Keir are funding a organisation which goes around stealing toys from orphans, is it on the interviewer to prove me wrong?
The interviewee knew enough to know that the assertion was not supported by irrefutable evidence - that suggests that they had researched it. But they didn't know enough to offer a firm rebuttal.
What it REALLY suggests, is that the interviewee, US Rep Nancy Mace (R-FlipFlop) is quoting MAGA-maniac talking points, trying to burnish her somewhat tarnished wack-job credentials ahead of the June 2024 regular South Carolina Republican primary.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
Hmmm, my bro’ has met him a few times and thinks he’s a weasel. Also has a less-than-helpful partner (Michael Fabricant).
Andy Street made some poor decisions for JLP, including his vanity project store in Birmingham.
And now he’s (probably) a loser.
Sure you want him as leader?
I don't share the personal criticism, but think it's wholly unrealistic that he'd be leader.
Street is a seasoned Chief Executive, and he's brought that experience to do a solid job as West Midlands Mayor. He can afford to be somewhat independent in style, and work with a limited number of Council leaders etc. The qualities required to lead, manage and inspire a fractious party and difficult MPs in Westminster after a heavy election defeat are wholly different. He's also 60 which is not the first flush of youth (I know Starmer is older, but it's a two election job to get back).
I think he could do a job as a credible frontbench spokesman, but that's it.
The personal bit came from my bro’ who knows him a little (slightly more than just meeting him).
Some of JLP’s problems actually stem from mistakes made by Andy Street e.g. over expanding number of stores at a time of economic retraction. The Birmingham store was a particular folly and bad mistake.
Quite an error of judgement really for someone people are now lauding as their next tory saviour?
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
Edward Heath was appointed a whip himself just a few months after being elected to parliament which is two reasons to doubt that rumour.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
There is not the slightest evidence that Heath went cottaging as a young MP. That is scurrilous and pedalled by those who got sucked into the Operation Conifer debacle.
He was a very shy man. That doesn’t mean he went out cottaging.
What really annoys me about this is that Ted Heath is not alive to defend himself.
There is evidence, it certainly is much less of a problem for his reputation than the allegations Savile procured boys for him on his yacht which was proved to be false
You should desist this. That isn’t evidence at all. It’s rumour mongering without any basis in evidence.
Rather like the latest Susan Hall fiasco, just because someone whispers something, doesn’t make it true.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
Hmmm, my bro’ has met him a few times and thinks he’s a weasel. Also has a less-than-helpful partner (Michael Fabricant).
Andy Street made some poor decisions for JLP, including his vanity project store in Birmingham.
And now he’s (probably) a loser.
Sure you want him as leader?
I don't share the personal criticism, but think it's wholly unrealistic that he'd be leader.
Street is a seasoned Chief Executive, and he's brought that experience to do a solid job as West Midlands Mayor. He can afford to be somewhat independent in style, and work with a limited number of Council leaders etc. The qualities required to lead, manage and inspire a fractious party and difficult MPs in Westminster after a heavy election defeat are wholly different. He's also 60 which is not the first flush of youth (I know Starmer is older, but it's a two election job to get back).
I think he could do a job as a credible frontbench spokesman, but that's it.
The personal bit came from my bro’ who knows him a little (slightly more than just meeting him).
Some of JLP’s problems actually stem from mistakes made by Andy Street e.g. over expanding number of stores at a time of economic retraction. The Birmingham store was a particular folly and bad mistake.
Quite an error of judgement really for someone people are now lauding as their next tory saviour?
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
Doesn't it depend on if the full recount is a result of huge bundling error from the bundle check? And we dont know for sure how close it is. One assumes very for the RO to permit a full recount
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
If they don't understand Londoners why did the Tory share go up slightly form 32.0% at the 2019 general election to 32.7% at this mayoral election?
Fine. They understand Londonders 0.7% better than in 2021. Just another 400 years and they might win.
The Tories in national elections don't need to win London anymore than Labour needs to win rural villages, the swing areas are the outer suburbs and market and commuter towns.
Occasionally they can win the capital at Mayoral elections with a charismatic candidate like Boris who has cross party appeal as he did in 2008 and 2012 but that is it
Recount won't 'materially change' Andy Street's numbers in West Midlands, Labour sources say Labour sources have suggested a recount in Coventry isn't going to "change materially" Tory incumbent Andy Street's numbers in the West Midlands mayoral race, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby says. A full recount has been ordered in the Coventry borough, with the race currently "too close to call". Beth, who is in Birmingham, says that while the result is on a "knife edge," there is hope in the Labour camp that Richard Parker could have edged the race. She says there will be a "massive upset" if Mr Street loses the mayoralty, with one former cabinet minister telling her it would be "devastating". Beth adds that there is chatter within the Conservative Party that if Mr Street does lose, he may be offered a parliamentary constituency, however, that remains "speculative". A short time ago, Labour sources told Sky News a recount was requested by Mr Street's team.
3000 votes isn’t close in terms of errors, unless there’s been some sort of massive mistake like a missing pile. So I don’t think reflects very well on the Street team.
How can they know what the result of the recount will be in advance of it?
Well surely you normally only recount if it’s a few dozen out, on the grounds that there may be some mistakes?
If it’s 3000 votes that’s not likely to alter the result by more than a hundred or so either way.
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
I can't think of one case. Maybe Hyufd would know more?
If Gore had asked for a recount of all votes in Florida it might have been different.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
If they don't understand Londoners why did the Tory share go up slightly form 32.0% at the 2019 general election to 32.7% at this mayoral election?
Fine. They understand Londonders 0.7% better than in 2021. Just another 400 years and they might win.
The Tories in national elections don't need to win London anymore than Labour needs to win rural villages, the swing areas are the outer suburbs and market and commuter towns.
Occasionally they can win the capital at Mayoral elections with a charismatic candidate like Boris who has cross party appeal as he did in 2008 and 2012 but that is it
Thanks for admitting that you don't care about the UK's best and brightest city and you hold your own voters with contempt. I knew it was the case but you've confirmed it. I shall not be voting Tory again until this kind of nonsense attitude is gone.
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
Doesn't it depend on if the full recount is a result of huge bundling error from the bundle check? And we dont know for sure how close it is. One assumes very for the RO to permit a full recount
The same recount conditions should be applied to all the areas in this election, not just one. The fact that Coventry might be the one where the votes are closest between the parties is irrelevant to that.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
There is not the slightest evidence that Heath went cottaging as a young MP. That is scurrilous and pedalled by those who got sucked into the Operation Conifer debacle.
He was a very shy man. That doesn’t mean he went out cottaging.
What really annoys me about this is that Ted Heath is not alive to defend himself.
There is evidence, it certainly is much less of a problem for his reputation than the allegations Savile procured boys for him on his yacht which was proved to be false
You should desist this. That isn’t evidence at all. It’s rumour mongering without any basis in evidence.
Rather like the latest Susan Hall fiasco, just because someone whispers something, doesn’t make it true.
Evidence.
'But Brian Coleman, a senior Tory member of the London Assembly, has claimed the ex-Prime Minister had actively sought gay sex in public places.
He said it was 'common knowledge' among Conservatives that Sir Edward had been given a stern warning by police when he underwent background checks for the post of Privy Councillor.'
That is evidence and from a former London Assembly member, not just anybody, you may disagree with it, it may be wrong but you cannot say there is no evidence it may be true
And if he did at a time homosexuality was still illegal and there few ways to meet a male partner otherwise, so what? Most couldn't care less about his sexuality now
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
I can't think of one case. Maybe Hyufd would know more?
If Gore had asked for a recount of all votes in Florida it might have been different.
I don’t think we have hanging chads this time around
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
I don't think there's been any evidence found that suggests that Heath had a physical relationship with anyone. If he did, he certainly wasn't (semi-)open about it in the way that Eden was!
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
In Outer London, where people drive, Khan's vote didn't increase (except in the wealthy pro green SW), in inner London it did.
His margin in inner London, where you can use a bus, taxi or tube and don't need the car, was enough to secure him victory in London overall
Did he receive more votes than last time or not? It's a yes or no question.
In inner London yes his margin was up, in Outer London there was no change and indeed in some areas like Bexley and Bromley Hall won comfortably
Recount won't 'materially change' Andy Street's numbers in West Midlands, Labour sources say Labour sources have suggested a recount in Coventry isn't going to "change materially" Tory incumbent Andy Street's numbers in the West Midlands mayoral race, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby says. A full recount has been ordered in the Coventry borough, with the race currently "too close to call". Beth, who is in Birmingham, says that while the result is on a "knife edge," there is hope in the Labour camp that Richard Parker could have edged the race. She says there will be a "massive upset" if Mr Street loses the mayoralty, with one former cabinet minister telling her it would be "devastating". Beth adds that there is chatter within the Conservative Party that if Mr Street does lose, he may be offered a parliamentary constituency, however, that remains "speculative". A short time ago, Labour sources told Sky News a recount was requested by Mr Street's team.
3000 votes isn’t close in terms of errors, unless there’s been some sort of massive mistake like a missing pile. So I don’t think reflects very well on the Street team.
3000 votes is close in terms of such a large area. It is the equivalent of 150 votes in a single parliamentary constituency. Such a margin would be likely to generate a Full Recount. Were this partial recount to change the overall result, I suspect a Full Recount would have to be ordered across all boroughs there.
Am wonder, just who(m) made money by means of ramping the allegedly-close London mayoral vote?
Do NOT mean any PBers!
But surely someone was doing the ramping to make money? And also through a bucket of eggs at faces of journos & pundits who OUGHT to know better than to fall for it?
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
Doesn't it depend on if the full recount is a result of huge bundling error from the bundle check? And we dont know for sure how close it is. One assumes very for the RO to permit a full recount
The same recount conditions should be applied to all the areas in this election, not just one. The fact that Coventry might be the one where the votes are closest between the parties is irrelevant to that.
It won't be in all likelihood. There was a bundle check and now a full recount, suggests an error was found to me otherwise there is no reason. You get nothing for 'winning' an area
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
There is not the slightest evidence that Heath went cottaging as a young MP. That is scurrilous and pedalled by those who got sucked into the Operation Conifer debacle.
He was a very shy man. That doesn’t mean he went out cottaging.
What really annoys me about this is that Ted Heath is not alive to defend himself.
There is evidence, it certainly is much less of a problem for his reputation than the allegations Savile procured boys for him on his yacht which was proved to be false
You should desist this. That isn’t evidence at all. It’s rumour mongering without any basis in evidence.
Rather like the latest Susan Hall fiasco, just because someone whispers something, doesn’t make it true.
Evidence.
'But Brian Coleman, a senior Tory member of the London Assembly, has claimed the ex-Prime Minister had actively sought gay sex in public places.
He said it was 'common knowledge' among Conservatives that Sir Edward had been given a stern warning by police when he underwent background checks for the for the post of Privy Councillor.'
That is evidence and from a former London Assembly member, not just anybody, you may disagree with it, it may be wrong but you cannot say there is no evidence it may be true
Thank god you don’t sit on the bench and please warn the world if you get called for jury service.
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
They did in one ward in Oxford yesterday, according to Twitter. But that was by a matter of half a dozen votes, not 3000.
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
They did in one ward in Oxford yesterday, according to Twitter. But that was by a matter of half a dozen votes, not 3000.
My Dad thinks it is within 1000, he is at the Coventry count
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
I don't think there's been any evidence found that suggests that Heath had a physical relationship with anyone. If he did, he certainly wasn't (semi-)open about it in the way that Eden was!
Correct.
But apparently just because someone years later says he thinks it was, that’s evidence. Wtf?
A rare example of recounts changing a result is Sittingbourne and Sheppey in 2005. Before the recount the Tories were 120 votes ahead; afterwards Labour were declared the winners by 79 votes.
So it looks like the Tories can’t even play the expectation management game properly now….
They said losing over 500 council seats would be the worst result for the Tories and avoided that
So avoiding the worse result by a whisker means the expectations were well managed?
Come on, most people will summarise it as losing 500, or about half their seats, it's not really possible to manage for that outcome anyway.
It looks a worse result now than it did 24 hours ago. The later council results were poor for the Tories. Losing 473 seats may be the right side of the catastrophe benchmark of 500, but not by a lot. The LDs and Greens did exceptionally well, which wasn't much commented on yesterday, and the full extent of their success is only now being appreciated. Labour did OK, and for the moment ok is just fine for them.
Now we have the Mayoral results and it turns out that the crumb of comfort they were feeding on is smaller than expected.
It's bad, It's very bad. No spin can be put on it. November looms.
Maybe he really will hang on until 2025. Can it really get any worse?
Yes, because there are 100 000 or so people remortgaging every month.
And decent numbers of Brexit crusties dying off each month, too.
Brexit is becoming normalised, though.
Even on here it's nothing like as heated as it used to be.
That’s because it’s pretty much universally understood as a dismal failure.
In any case, the wider point is that each month the demographics get worse for the Tories.
The essence of democracy is that people change their mind. You come up with a great retail offer, and a plan, you explain it clearly, you get votes.
Khan's support actually increased, so how do we interpret that as anything but an endorsement for ULEZ?
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
Interesting. My bro' was very annoyed about it but has come round. Now thinks it’s necessary and that cleaning up our cities is the right thing to do.
Some people were slightly annoyed for a few days and then the world didn't collapse and life carried on.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
If they don't understand Londoners why did the Tory share go up slightly form 32.0% at the 2019 general election to 32.7% at this mayoral election?
Fine. They understand Londonders 0.7% better than in 2021. Just another 400 years and they might win.
The Tories in national elections don't need to win London anymore than Labour needs to win rural villages, the swing areas are the outer suburbs and market and commuter towns.
Occasionally they can win the capital at Mayoral elections with a charismatic candidate like Boris who has cross party appeal as he did in 2008 and 2012 but that is it
Thanks for admitting that you don't care about the UK's best and brightest city and you hold your own voters with contempt. I knew it was the case but you've confirmed it. I shall not be voting Tory again until this kind of nonsense attitude is gone.
Yes. It's very redolent of the 'we know what's best for the little people' attitude of certain sections of privileged society and the Conservatives need to get rid of them all and find some new leaders with real world experience. I suspect they aren't in Parliament yet.
Awful, awful speech from Hall. Please go away now.
Indeed. It isn't at all difficult to give a short, magnanimous concession speech. It's the right thing to do, and doing otherwise makes you look dreadful.
A rare example of recounts changing a result is Sittingbourne and Sheppey in 2005. Before the recount the Tories were 120 votes ahead; afterwards Labour were declared the winners by 79 votes.
Bob Marshall Andrews and his 'I'm Lazarus' moment wasn't it?
A question for our polling experts. Everyone was rightly saying that if Khan lost it would be the biggest failure of polling practically ever. He won but with an 11% margin rather than the 20% margins that were being predicted.
Is this still a big polling error? 9% out seems big to me but not sure if that is just my perception.
Yes it is. For general elections the maximum mean absolute error acceptable before we declare a polling error is (around) 3%. Now a single error is an absolute error not a mean absolute error, so you'd have to look at the other parties as well. But facially 9% is too big. Which makes me think something is wrong with YouGovs panel, turnout model, or both.
Awful, awful speech from Hall. Please go away now.
Indeed. It isn't at all difficult to give a short, magnanimous concession speech. It's the right thing to do, and doing otherwise makes you look dreadful.
I only caught a bit of the speech and it was her giving a campaign pitch about knife crime. You're at the count Sue, you've already lost. You're not going to win more votes.
If Street loses, he’s free to stand for Westminster and leader after the election.
I'd be in favour, just for the punning opportunities.
The Tories' first openly gay leader (not forgetting Eden was (a) bisexual and (b) it wasn't widely known to the public)?
Just imagining explaining that he's shagging Fabricant would surely be enough to put people off.
Heath was likely gay but closeted (rumour was he went cottaging as a young MP but whips warned him to shut off his sexuality).
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
I don't think there's been any evidence found that suggests that Heath had a physical relationship with anyone. If he did, he certainly wasn't (semi-)open about it in the way that Eden was!
On the other hand, I remember when my ex-father-in-law - quite the nutter - used to rant on and on, saying "there's a secretive private island in the Caribbean, and famous actors and US presidents and even British royals are flown there to have sex with underage girls who've been trafficked by billionaires just for that"
I used to laugh inwardly, sometimes even outwardly. Now I know it was all TRUE
The full recount in Coventry (and perhaps others will follow?) makes the WM a bit less of a sure thing than the Betfair odds of 1.05 for Labour suggest. Probably worth laying a few quid.
Really?
How often do recounts change results?
I can't think of one case. Maybe Hyufd would know more?
If Gore had asked for a recount of all votes in Florida it might have been different.
Al Gore was advised to do just that. My source for this, is national recount consultant who gave this sound advice.
Instead, AG and his no-brains trust decided to request a cherry-picking partial hand recount . . . putting the final nail into his political coffin . . . which SCOTUS hammered in for him, as was totally predictable.
Comments
I've been saying this for months, the people opposed to ULEZ don't live in London. Londoners either don't care (as they don't drive) or they are supportive.
The Tories were entirely wrong to oppose it (of course they forced Khan to bring it in but that's a different story). They have got completely the wrong end of the stick and done the opposite of what they should have done.
“If he does fulfil that role…it could fatally undermine the Tories in a lot of the seats they’re defending.”
If Nigel Farage returns to Reform, it would lead to a wider Labour majority, says Peter Kellner, former president of YouGov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azyNdZpWNrc
Street is probably too moderate to be Tory leader for a term or 2. He is competent and would make a good PM but if Sunak and Hunt lose the next general election the Conservative membership will blame them for defeat and want a more red meat rightwinger as Leader of the Opposition
This country will move on and to whoever it was who claimed otherwise, we will also move on from culture wars. There are far more important things to focus on.
Is that deliberate??
If there's a full recount in Coventry, there ought to be a full recount in all the other areas, as you say.
It has been massively overstated as a problem. Just as "London hates Khan" has been.
The Tories no longer understand London, or Londoners. They don't understand what they vote for, or why they vote. They tried to fix the electoral system and failed rather than choosing a decent candidate.
If they'd have chosen Rory Stewart they'd have walked it.
His margin in inner London, where you can walk easily or use a bus, taxi or tube and don't need the car, was enough to secure him victory in London overall
He was a very shy man. That doesn’t mean he went out cottaging.
What really annoys me about this is that Ted Heath is not alive to defend himself.
Choosing Hall was a sign they had completely lost any sense of London as a city. London doesn't want to vote for a reactionary, slightly odd, quite thick person.
Khan isn't even very good - he's just not hated to the degree the Tories think he is - and certainly not to the degree people would vote for Hall over him. They need to offer something positive to vote for. Johnson to his great credit understood this.
This election was lost the minute she was announced as the candidate. She then doubled down with that ridiculous story about being mugged on the tube but her wallet being returned with all her money in it. Claiming she could have Hammersmith Bridge re-built but didn't know who owned it. That laughable Twitter video.
Everything you would do to lose, she did. It's quite astonishing.
There is an unmet demand for serious politics and its time the unserious media learned enough to be able to report serious issues in an informed way, rather the rumour driven garbage we just saw in the last 24 hours.
Street is a seasoned Chief Executive, and he's brought that experience to do a solid job as West Midlands Mayor. He can afford to be somewhat independent in style, and work with a limited number of Council leaders etc. The qualities required to lead, manage and inspire a fractious party and difficult MPs in Westminster after a heavy election defeat are wholly different. He's also 60 which is not the first flush of youth (I know Starmer is older, but it's a two election job to get back).
I think he could do a job as a credible frontbench spokesman, but that's it.
And if we want to talk about Outer London, Khan beat Hall where Bailey won last time in one place. So how do you explain that?
There is evidence, it certainly is much less of a problem for his reputation than the allegations Savile procured boys for him on his yacht which was proved to be false
Whether Farage wishes to appear at the funeral ready to kill an already dead body is no longer of any great consequence.
Recount won't 'materially change' Andy Street's numbers in West Midlands, Labour sources say
Labour sources have suggested a recount in Coventry isn't going to "change materially" Tory incumbent Andy Street's numbers in the West Midlands mayoral race, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby says.
A full recount has been ordered in the Coventry borough, with the race currently "too close to call".
Beth, who is in Birmingham, says that while the result is on a "knife edge," there is hope in the Labour camp that Richard Parker could have edged the race.
She says there will be a "massive upset" if Mr Street loses the mayoralty, with one former cabinet minister telling her it would be "devastating".
Beth adds that there is chatter within the Conservative Party that if Mr Street does lose, he may be offered a parliamentary constituency, however, that remains "speculative".
A short time ago, Labour sources told Sky News a recount was requested by Mr Street's team.
3000 votes isn’t close in terms of errors, unless there’s been some sort of massive mistake like a missing pile. So I don’t think reflects very well on the Street team.
At least Houchen's election leaflets were in blue. I have a four page newspaper from Street printed in green throughout which I searched in vain for any mention of the word "Conservative".
Of course, it doesn't matter as they were always going to get drubbed.
I remember their propaganda in 2021, when they said the Communists were going to take over if Labour won. Yawn.
Some of JLP’s problems actually stem from mistakes made by Andy Street e.g. over expanding number of stores at a time of economic retraction. The Birmingham store was a particular folly and bad mistake.
Quite an error of judgement really for someone people are now lauding as their next tory saviour?
https://www.itv.com/news/central/2020-07-09/john-lewis-in-birmingham-to-close-permanently
How often do recounts change results?
Rather like the latest Susan Hall fiasco, just because someone whispers something, doesn’t make it true.
Evidence.
And we dont know for sure how close it is. One assumes very for the RO to permit a full recount
Occasionally they can win the capital at Mayoral elections with a charismatic candidate like Boris who has cross party appeal as he did in 2008 and 2012 but that is it
If it’s 3000 votes that’s not likely to alter the result by more than a hundred or so either way.
If Gore had asked for a recount of all votes in Florida it might have been different.
https://x.com/EvaVlaar/status/1784264775574188371
This stuff is happening on the continent, and the ripples - waves - will hit the UK in time
He said it was 'common knowledge' among Conservatives that Sir Edward had been given a stern warning by police when he underwent background checks for the post of Privy Councillor.'
That is evidence and from a former London Assembly member, not just anybody, you may disagree with it, it may be wrong but you cannot say there is no evidence it may be true
And if he did at a time homosexuality was still illegal and there few ways to meet a male partner otherwise, so what? Most couldn't care less about his sexuality now
Do NOT mean any PBers!
But surely someone was doing the ramping to make money? And also through a bucket of eggs at faces of journos & pundits who OUGHT to know better than to fall for it?
Still too much to change though tbh
But apparently just because someone years later says he thinks it was, that’s evidence. Wtf?
I suspect he was probably a-sexual, very shy.
Whilst his and my politics might diverge I hate the way someone can be so casually traduced like this by people who never met him or knew him.
Edit - oops no, he was Medway
I used to laugh inwardly, sometimes even outwardly. Now I know it was all TRUE
Instead, AG and his no-brains trust decided to request a cherry-picking partial hand recount . . . putting the final nail into his political coffin . . . which SCOTUS hammered in for him, as was totally predictable.