Just to say, I don't want a humungous Labour majority at the price of empowering Farage. I'll take the vanilla landslide.
The realignment of British politics will take two stages:
- Stage One: Destroy the Tories and give Labour a big majority with gains for the Lib Dems and Reform - Stage Two: Destroy the Labour Party and re-establish a Liberal vs right-wing two-party system
Now of course the Canadian Conservatives are heading back to power on current polls under Poilievre and Scottish Labour are set to win most seats in Scotland again and take lots of SNP seats. So even a massive landslide defeat does not prevent you winning again once the pendulum turns.
Though under FPTP a split right won't win, hence the Canadian Conservatives had to merge with the Canadian Reform Party to form today's Conservative Party of Canada to have a chance of government again. Under PR centre right and populist right parties can stand separate candidates still and both win seats and come together again to try and form a government after the election, as they now do in Italy, Sweden, Israel, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Spain for example.
I'm hoping though we go crazy and it gets up to 20 or something so the risk of selling it is worth it with [b]my[/b] money.
I think that's a buy, because it's very asymmetrical risk-reward. Yep, the median outcome is probably 1 or 2 seats. But the Conservatives keep tripping over their feet, then it's far from impossible that they and the Conservatives end up in the high teens, in which case 30, 40 or even 60 seats is possible. (See Canada 1993.)
Just to say, I don't want a humungous Labour majority at the price of empowering Farage. I'll take the vanilla landslide.
The realignment of British politics will take two stages:
- Stage One: Destroy the Tories and give Labour a big majority with gains for the Lib Dems and Reform - Stage Two: Destroy the Labour Party and re-establish a Liberal vs right-wing two-party system
Unless Corbynites take over Labour again hard to see the LDs having any chance of being the main party of the centre left again
They can come third, however the way this election has gone so far anything could happen. The king dies and there’s a delay and the time and prominence of Rishi (obvs he will duck out of the wake but do the funeral) helps the Tories. A big row could blow up with Labour discipline between far left candidates getting high on the impending landslide so think they can say whatever they want.
The manifestos could be analysed by political journalists between gossiping and someone might notice a fatal flaw.
Taylor Swift might get jiggy with Ed Dave’s who smashes the youth vote.
But otherwise likelihood is Tories recovering to a poor second and Labour romping home like Seabiscuit.
The Tories certainly won't come third in terms of seats. Vote share is more of a possibility.
You can sell that at 1.4 on Betfair if you're certain.
I am pretty certain of it. Betfair punters proving they don't know what they're doing wrt particular market. They aren't going to go below 75 seats and that'll be enough for second place.
Just to say, I don't want a humungous Labour majority at the price of empowering Farage. I'll take the vanilla landslide.
The realignment of British politics will take two stages:
- Stage One: Destroy the Tories and give Labour a big majority with gains for the Lib Dems and Reform - Stage Two: Destroy the Labour Party and re-establish a Liberal vs right-wing two-party system
Unless Corbynites take over Labour again hard to see the LDs having any chance of being the main party of the centre left again
You're thinking in terms of the previous divide. Perhaps think of it as Anglo-Saxon England (Lib Dems) vs Danelaw England (Reform).
Clearing out an embarrassingly large mound of paper in my office today, around 2/3rds of the way down, I came across an old copy of Computer Weekly, which I must have deliberately saved at the time.
The date, 12-18 May 2009. The front page" "Bankruptcy, prosecution, disrupted livelihoods. Postmasters** tell their story."
CW comment: "The company insists the IT system has been exonerated and fully tested, but we would contend that does not mean local problems are impossible. The Post Office has a responsibility to fully investigate users' concerns, and the postmasters' complaints may have left* a question mark over whether it does this. There is also the question of whether the Post Office has allowed the postmasters to pay for mistakes produced by the technology...."
(*That 'may have" sounds like in-house lawyer speak.)
If a pleb like me twigged to it, it's impossible that directors were not aware of the likelihood of a problem.
(**Lee Castleton Jo Hamilton Noel Thomas Amar Bajaj Alan Bates Alan Brown Julie Ford)
BREAKING: President Biden just released this campaign ad slamming Donald Trump for knowing nothing about patriotism, service or sacrifice. Retweet so all Americans know how un-American Donald Trump really is.
Just to say, I don't want a humungous Labour majority at the price of empowering Farage. I'll take the vanilla landslide.
The realignment of British politics will take two stages:
- Stage One: Destroy the Tories and give Labour a big majority with gains for the Lib Dems and Reform - Stage Two: Destroy the Labour Party and re-establish a Liberal vs right-wing two-party system
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
their vote is much more efficient though than REFUK
Sure it is.
But I think in the event of Con-Reform crossover, then it is far from impossible that Reform gets 50 seats, while the Conservatives get a dozen or less.
I have been betting and tipping on this market all week and emphatically agree. I was heavy on it (and the Lib Dems in the same market) initially as a trading bet but I’m contemplating holding them till the end more and more.
On seat total, the Lib Dems (4.1) are better placed but REFUK (14.0) might still be better value.
However I am less keen on the vote share bet just because REFUK ended up with about 100 fewer candidates in the end I think, which might hurt their chances a good chunk. Odds don’t look as appealing.
I wonder what level the Reform / Farage ceiling of vote share is at?
(BTW just to make sure you are aware: I sent you a possible header for the weekend earlier via PM. Up to you whether to us it, but it is at least as brilliant as any by @TSE , without the puns.)
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
their vote is much more efficient though than REFUK
Sure it is.
But I think in the event of Con-Reform crossover, then it is far from impossible that Reform gets 50 seats, while the Conservatives get a dozen or less.
That’s a good point. Crossover could catapult them ahead of the Lib Dem’s under the right circumstances.
I’m heavily in on both and unsure whether to pivot to backing one horse or the other, or just to stay relatively evenly split.
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
their vote is much more efficient though than REFUK
Sure it is.
But I think in the event of Con-Reform crossover, then it is far from impossible that Reform gets 50 seats, while the Conservatives get a dozen or less.
Yes, vote efficiency isn't a linear function. Their vote might be incredibly inefficient up to around 15% but then suddenly you'll find that seats fall to them all over the place.
I wonder what level the Reform / Farage ceiling of vote share is at?
(BTW just to make sure you are aware: I sent you a possible header for the weekend earlier via PM. Up to you whether to us it, but it is at least as brilliant as any by @TSE , without the puns.)
Ah, could you email it to me. It's my username at gmail.
Afternoon all, back from an afternoon with the other Woolies. Safe to say he's arsed this up royally. A very angry Pa Woolie and big Sis woolie just utterly gobsmacked at what he'd done, cannot understand how, why or what on earth he thought he'd gain from it. She's not particularly news savvy but had heard this this morning (in contrast when I mentioned milkshake girl later on she said 'huh? Who? What?) What an utter prick of a man
Candidates in Starmer's seat, Holborn & St Pancras.
"Brick, Nick the Incredible Flying - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party Clinton, Charlie - Liberal Democrats Feinstein, Andrew Josef - no description Islam, Wais - Independent Kumar, Senthil - Independent Malik, Mehreen - The Conservative Party Candidate Poynton, John Edmund - UK Independence Party Roberts, David - Reform UK Scripps, Tom - Socialist Equality Party Smith, Bobby Elmo - no description Stansell, David Robert - Green Party Starmer, Keir - Labour Party"
It's not impossible that the seven dwarfs debate might decide the outcome of this. But Farage seems less likely to rhetorically destroy his opponents than vice versa.
I wonder what level the Reform / Farage ceiling of vote share is at?
(BTW just to make sure you are aware: I sent you a possible header for the weekend earlier via PM. Up to you whether to us it, but it is at least as brilliant as any by @TSE , without the puns.)
As far as ceiling goes: well I think the answer is that if the Conservative Party didn't exist, then half its voters would go to Reform, a quarter wouldn't vote, and most of the remaining quarter would go LibDem (with a few Labour thrown in there for good measure). Of course, the Conservative Party does exist, and some voters will never switch, so the current ceiling is probably about 25%.
It's not impossible that the seven dwarfs debate might decide the outcome of this. But Farage seems less likely to rhetorically destroy his opponents than vice versa.
I think a lot depends on if he has a couple of pints to calm his nerves before the debate...
It's not impossible that the seven dwarfs debate might decide the outcome of this. But Farage seems less likely to rhetorically destroy his opponents than vice versa.
I think a lot depends on if he has a couple of pints to calm his nerves before the debate...
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
their vote is much more efficient though than REFUK
Sure it is.
But I think in the event of Con-Reform crossover, then it is far from impossible that Reform gets 50 seats, while the Conservatives get a dozen or less.
Yes, vote efficiency isn't a linear function. Their vote might be incredibly inefficient up to around 15% but then suddenly you'll find that seats fall to them all over the place.
Playing around on some of the seat projection calculators, consolidating the entire Tory/Reform vote either way and Reform got slightly more seats overall - clearly predictive power of those models will be awful at such extremes but confirms the point - their vote is only inefficient until it hits a tipping point.
Afternoon all, back from an afternoon with the other Woolies. Safe to say he's arsed this up royally. A very angry Pa Woolie and big Sis woolie just utterly gobsmacked at what he'd done, cannot understand how, why or what on earth he thought he'd gain from it. She's not particularly news savvy but had heard this this morning (in contrast when I mentioned milkshake girl later on she said 'huh? Who? What?) What an utter prick of a man
Sunak did apologize, like you said he should. Does that cut any ice with you & yours?
Well thanks for the heads-up on the Reform Candidate in Tewkesbury. I've been watching out for that on two Sites but neither showed it. This is of some significance for me and other punters.
A few days ago I put the LDs up as a bet at 7/1 but stressed this should be a lot shorter if Ref stood. It's now 5/1 with a couple of firms and 9/2 with Lads and if you are right (I'm sure you are) that is stonking value. As you shrewdly observed, the nice Labour lady is from Kent and looks no more than a token candidate who will one day be offered a more promising opportunity. The LD candidate assures me that 'Labour is nowhere' and the Yellow team is running them perilously close. This is all before Mr Sunak's half day out at the seaside.
Whistle blowers at his Medical Centre by the looks of it, Darren Henry being the husband of the defenestrated-by-voters Police and Crime Commissioner. All sorts of possibilities and reasons for him standing, in addition to the normal ones.
Inexcusable for a major party not to be able to find someone. It's not like you need to find someone who lives in the area to stand, and even at short notice getting 10 people to propose any old duffer you name should not be impossible.
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
their vote is much more efficient though than REFUK
Sure it is.
But I think in the event of Con-Reform crossover, then it is far from impossible that Reform gets 50 seats, while the Conservatives get a dozen or less.
Yes, vote efficiency isn't a linear function. Their vote might be incredibly inefficient up to around 15% but then suddenly you'll find that seats fall to them all over the place.
Playing around on some of the seat projection calculators, consolidating the entire Tory/Reform vote either way and Reform got slightly more seats overall - clearly predictive power of those models will be awful at such extremes but confirms the point - their vote is only inefficient until it hits a tipping point.
UKIP always seemed to have the strategy of getting enough votes total even with little ground game that they reached the tipping point where they would suddenly get a whole bunch of seats, as contrasted with the Green strategy of hyper targeting certain areas to get a few MPs despite a low overall percentage.
UKIP didn't quite make it, but Reform have a shot at breaking through in several places, even if dreams of replacing the Tories may not come to fruition.
Well thanks for the heads-up on the Reform Candidate in Tewkesbury. I've been watching out for that on two Sites but neither showed it. This is of some significance for me and other punters.
A few days ago I put the LDs up as a bet at 7/1 but stressed this should be a lot shorter if Ref stood. It's now 5/1 with a couple of firms and 9/2 with Lads and if you are right (I'm sure you are) that is stonking value. As you shrewdly observed, the nice Labour lady is from Kent and looks no more than a token candidate who will one day be offered a more promising opportunity. The LD candidate assures me that 'Labour is nowhere' and the Yellow team is running them perilously close. This is all before Mr Sunak's half day out at the seaside.
As always, DYOR, but this looks a good one to me.
I grabbed it at 5-1 because by the time I saw your post the 7/1 had gone to 9/2.
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
You thought they were a sell on the spreads when they were on 36, Robert. I agreed with you, so I've got nothing to shout about, but I can't see this Tory collapse as anything but good news for the Yellow Peril.
Afternoon all, back from an afternoon with the other Woolies. Safe to say he's arsed this up royally. A very angry Pa Woolie and big Sis woolie just utterly gobsmacked at what he'd done, cannot understand how, why or what on earth he thought he'd gain from it. She's not particularly news savvy but had heard this this morning (in contrast when I mentioned milkshake girl later on she said 'huh? Who? What?) What an utter prick of a man
Sunak did apologize, like you said he should. Does that cut any ice with you & yours?
I did not say he should apologise as far as I can recall? Not really though is the answer, it's no different to Brown rocking up at Mrs Duffy's door, damage done. I mean it's better than him saying 'yeah? And?' But its done now, and the more I think on it the more he clearly cannot be arsed. He needs to make way for someone who cares.
Afternoon all, back from an afternoon with the other Woolies. Safe to say he's arsed this up royally. A very angry Pa Woolie and big Sis woolie just utterly gobsmacked at what he'd done, cannot understand how, why or what on earth he thought he'd gain from it. She's not particularly news savvy but had heard this this morning (in contrast when I mentioned milkshake girl later on she said 'huh? Who? What?) What an utter prick of a man
Sunak did apologize, like you said he should. Does that cut any ice with you & yours?
I did not say he should apologise as far as I can recall? Not really though is the answer, it's no different to Brown rocking up at Mrs Duffy's door, damage done. I mean it's better than him saying 'yeah? And?' But its done now, and the more I think on it the more he clearly cannot be arsed. He needs to make way for someone who cares.
Yep far too late now. He's supposed to be the leader of the party of the 'Somewheres' and he's outted himself as an extreme 'Anywhere'.
So is there confirmation yet re: the full list of UK GE 2024 candidates?
And if so, is it posted on web somewhere?
There's no official list, it relies on amateurs and news organisations to compile a spreadsheet with all the candidates. At the last 4 or 5 elections I did it myself and it was quite popular, even with journalists. The Press Association is probably the closest to an official list.
We probably won't get a full slate for a 48 hours because usually there are a few councils who can't be bothered to publish it as soon as they could do.
The man is quite clearly as corrupt as they come. And for reasons of politics and preserving the power of the Supreme Court from other branches of government, the rest of them will never do anything about it - holding people accountable is a very foreign concept now.
If this is even half correct it would be ludicrous how forgiving of receiving 'gifts' they are - the problem of the appearance of impropriety being a problem only applies to lesser judges apparently.
Having thought all week about how pivotal today would be, I’m now a little worried that Mordaunt will do very decently, and hurt my trading bets in the process. I really wish it was Sunak up there instead.
Well thanks for the heads-up on the Reform Candidate in Tewkesbury. I've been watching out for that on two Sites but neither showed it. This is of some significance for me and other punters.
A few days ago I put the LDs up as a bet at 7/1 but stressed this should be a lot shorter if Ref stood. It's now 5/1 with a couple of firms and 9/2 with Lads and if you are right (I'm sure you are) that is stonking value. As you shrewdly observed, the nice Labour lady is from Kent and looks no more than a token candidate who will one day be offered a more promising opportunity. The LD candidate assures me that 'Labour is nowhere' and the Yellow team is running them perilously close. This is all before Mr Sunak's half day out at the seaside.
As always, DYOR, but this looks a good one to me.
I grabbed it at 5-1 because by the time I saw your post the 7/1 had gone to 9/2.
If the Lib Dems are winning Tewkesbury, they are clearly going to win Cheltenham and must be looking pretty good for South Cotswolds too. Labour will get Stroud and Forest of Dean. Gloucester is open (the Lib Dems won the locals, but it has been Labour in the past). Could the Tories really be reduced to only one seat in Gloucestershire? If so, then Surrey and several other Wessex counties are also in play.
The man is quite clearly as corrupt as they come. And for reasons of politics and preserving the power of the Supreme Court from other branches of government, the rest of them will never do anything about it - holding people accountable is a very foreign concept now.
If this is even half correct it would be ludicrous how forgiving of receiving 'gifts' they are - the problem of the appearance of impropriety being a problem only applies to lesser judges apparently.
What is so sad is that American politics has become so polarized that half the country is willing to ignore this, because he's "their guy".
the Conservative party has shelved efforts to pull together a letter from major big business chiefs backing the party in the run-up to the election, in the latest sign the campaign is struggling
Why does Rishi put himself through this. I would just resign. It is tortuous to watch.....the conservatives stand humiliation and defeat must be soul crushing.
All I can say is: brexit destroyed the right. I see reform as a defensive move for the populists after the ukippification of the conservatives failed. This is a retreat. And the current right will never come back after this. They just don't have the numbers. Being mainly Boomer OAPs the right is numerically in permanent decline. In 2029 and 2034 the situation will be much much worse for the right, and you can forget about brexiteers being able to stop anything.
The future of the right looks like this. Term 1: ideological purists tear into each other in all out civil war. Term 2: some kind of stability appears and a new generation of centre right, progressive, pro eu millenials come in as juniors. Most of the current party will be gone. Term three: the millial generation take up leadership and begin to forge a new electoral basis. Term four: they win and get to lead the newly eu enrolled uk.
FWIW, the 3-1 on the LibDems to come second doesn't appeal to me. That seems generous for a party which is hovering around the 10% mark.
You thought they were a sell on the spreads when they were on 36, Robert. I agreed with you, so I've got nothing to shout about, but I can't see this Tory collapse as anything but good news for the Yellow Peril.
I'm on.
Oh yes: there's no doubt that the rise of Reform is manna from heaven for the LibDems. Ed Davey is a lucky general.
The man is quite clearly as corrupt as they come. And for reasons of politics and preserving the power of the Supreme Court from other branches of government, the rest of them will never do anything about it - holding people accountable is a very foreign concept now.
If this is even half correct it would be ludicrous how forgiving of receiving 'gifts' they are - the problem of the appearance of impropriety being a problem only applies to lesser judges apparently.
What is so sad is that American politics has become so polarized that half the country is willing to ignore this, because he's "their guy".
And Supreme Court justice is such a powerful position, it's worth nearly any price to keep your guys and do anything it takes to keep any appointment of a new one under your own President. Decades of mostly reliable political backing on the court (yes, many cases will not split on party lines, but the big controversial ones often will).
the Conservative party has shelved efforts to pull together a letter from major big business chiefs backing the party in the run-up to the election, in the latest sign the campaign is struggling
On the plus side it avoids the standard situation of the letter unravelling after it is published when it is revealed some of the signatories are wrong 'uns, others did not agree to sign it, and its contents are picked apart.
The man is quite clearly as corrupt as they come. And for reasons of politics and preserving the power of the Supreme Court from other branches of government, the rest of them will never do anything about it - holding people accountable is a very foreign concept now.
If this is even half correct it would be ludicrous how forgiving of receiving 'gifts' they are - the problem of the appearance of impropriety being a problem only applies to lesser judges apparently.
Yes, I posted that yesterday. I don't see how anyone can even begin to justify it.
Why does Rishi put himself through this. I would just resign. It is tortuous to watch.....the conservatives stand humiliation and defeat must be soul crushing.
All I can say is: brexit destroyed the right. I see reform as a defensive move for the populists after the ukippification of the conservatives failed. This is a retreat. And the current right will never come back after this. They just don't have the numbers. Being mainly Boomer OAPs the right is numerically in permanent decline. In 2029 and 2034 the situation will be much much worse for the right, and you can forget about brexiteers being able to stop anything.
The future of the right looks like this. Term 1: ideological purists tear into each other in all out civil war. Term 2: some kind of stability appears and a new generation of centre right, progressive, pro eu millenials come in as juniors. Most of the current party will be gone. Term three: the millial generation take up leadership and begin to forge a new electoral basis. Term four: they win and get to lead the newly eu enrolled uk.
Hari Seldon has spoken
Equating the EU with liberal progressivism is a very post-Brexit British way of thinking. There's nothing inherently progressive about the integration of European countries.
Just to say, I don't want a humungous Labour majority at the price of empowering Farage. I'll take the vanilla landslide.
The realignment of British politics will take two stages:
- Stage One: Destroy the Tories and give Labour a big majority with gains for the Lib Dems and Reform - Stage Two: Destroy the Labour Party and re-establish a Liberal vs right-wing two-party system
So Rishi is right with his warning then. Back to square one
ADAM, Mona - Green Party BUCHAN, Felicity - The Conservative Party Candidate BURCA, Marc Francis - Reform UK DENT COAD, Emma - Independent HOUNGBO, William - Liberal Democrat O`MAHONY, Una Marie - Party of Women PHILLIPS, Roger David - Christian People's Alliance POWELL, Joe - Labour Party PRINCE ANKIT LOVE, Emperor of India - no description STEVENS, John Christopher Courtenay - Rejoin EU"
Clearing out an embarrassingly large mound of paper in my office today, around 2/3rds of the way down, I came across an old copy of Computer Weekly, which I must have deliberately saved at the time.
The date, 12-18 May 2009. The front page" "Bankruptcy, prosecution, disrupted livelihoods. Postmasters** tell their story."
CW comment: "The company insists the IT system has been exonerated and fully tested, but we would contend that does not mean local problems are impossible. The Post Office has a responsibility to fully investigate users' concerns, and the postmasters' complaints may have left* a question mark over whether it does this. There is also the question of whether the Post Office has allowed the postmasters to pay for mistakes produced by the technology...."
(*That 'may have" sounds like in-house lawyer speak.)
If a pleb like me twigged to it, it's impossible that directors were not aware of the likelihood of a problem.
(**Lee Castleton Jo Hamilton Noel Thomas Amar Bajaj Alan Bates Alan Brown Julie Ford)
The testimony of Alice Perkins removed any doubt I previously had about this, Nigel.
FPT: Ex Tory Georgina Hill standing against Anne Marie Trevelyan as an Ind in North Northumberland, should hive off a few unhappy Con voters. If Reform stand a candidate, it could be Goodnight Berwick.
The man is quite clearly as corrupt as they come. And for reasons of politics and preserving the power of the Supreme Court from other branches of government, the rest of them will never do anything about it - holding people accountable is a very foreign concept now.
If this is even half correct it would be ludicrous how forgiving of receiving 'gifts' they are - the problem of the appearance of impropriety being a problem only applies to lesser judges apparently.
Yes, I posted that yesterday. I don't see how anyone can even begin to justify it.
Watch Chief Justice Roberts manage it.
I think when the first set of allegations came out it forced the Court to belatedly adopt some guidance, but the response dripped of institutional entitlement that no one has the right to criticise the Court or seek to do anything to it no matter how egregious the conduct might become.
From the outside it feels like a very unequal branch of government.
People have been struggling to understand several things about the D-Day affair - how Sunak could have been mad enough to leave early, why that time and date for recording the interview were suggested by the Tories, and why it was so far in advance of transmission.
It is conceivable that there was going to be an attempt by senior party figures to take control of the direction of the campaign, and that Sunak was desperate to pre-empt that by recording the interview before it could happen? Perhaps in the same way as in 1990 Thatcher rushed out and told the press she was fighting on, before her colleagues could stop her?
Consider Moonrabbit's point about the awkward position the party finds itself in after Sunak told so many lies in the debate. The D-Day interview won't be broadcast for a week, and seems to have been centred on the tax lie - which means that every senior Tory must now continue repeating it at least until the air date.
So it seems likely that the decision to do the interview was an attempt to strong-arm the party into backing his strategy. And if that's the case, it'll mean that he binned the D-Day commemoration to shore up his own position within the party.
As you say, it's his version of Thatcher's "we fight on; we fight to win!". Is there a Ken Clarke waiting in the wings to make him back down?
ADAM, Mona - Green Party BUCHAN, Felicity - The Conservative Party Candidate BURCA, Marc Francis - Reform UK DENT COAD, Emma - Independent HOUNGBO, William - Liberal Democrat O`MAHONY, Una Marie - Party of Women PHILLIPS, Roger David - Christian People's Alliance POWELL, Joe - Labour Party PRINCE ANKIT LOVE, Emperor of India - no description STEVENS, John Christopher Courtenay - Rejoin EU"
I find the D-day stuff a bit overblown to be honest.
Well me too in some ways, but we are not the demographic that cares intensely about such matters... the demographic that does is (was) largely the one the Tories had not lost. So I see why it is such a big deal.
Comments
I assume you mean most seats without Labour...
I still think Reform 0 seats is a better bet (9/2)
That's a great sell with someone else's money.
I'm hoping though we go crazy and it gets up to 20 or something so the risk of selling it is worth it with [b]my[/b] money.
- Stage One: Destroy the Tories and give Labour a big majority with gains for the Lib Dems and Reform
- Stage Two: Destroy the Labour Party and re-establish a Liberal vs right-wing two-party system
3rd or indeed 4th in terms of seats a real possibility
Possibly. Its going to be fun trying to make it happen...
Though under FPTP a split right won't win, hence the Canadian Conservatives had to merge with the Canadian Reform Party to form today's Conservative Party of Canada to have a chance of government again. Under PR centre right and populist right parties can stand separate candidates still and both win seats and come together again to try and form a government after the election, as they now do in Italy, Sweden, Israel, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Spain for example.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/ed-davey-the-night-i-pulled-a-woman-from-the-tracks-as-a-train-hurtled-towards-us-7534767.html
Ed Davey: 'The night I pulled a woman from the tracks as a train hurtled towards us'
Mordaunt might do well and help her own chances .
The manifestos could be analysed by political journalists between gossiping and someone might notice a fatal flaw.
Taylor Swift might get jiggy with Ed Dave’s who smashes the youth vote.
But otherwise likelihood is Tories recovering to a poor second and Labour romping home like Seabiscuit.
The date, 12-18 May 2009.
The front page" "Bankruptcy, prosecution, disrupted livelihoods.
Postmasters** tell their story."
CW comment:
"The company insists the IT system has been exonerated and fully tested, but we would contend that does not mean local problems are impossible.
The Post Office has a responsibility to fully investigate users' concerns, and the postmasters' complaints may have left* a question mark over whether it does this. There is also the question of whether the Post Office has allowed the postmasters to pay for mistakes produced by the technology...."
(*That 'may have" sounds like in-house lawyer speak.)
If a pleb like me twigged to it, it's impossible that directors were not aware of the likelihood of a problem.
(**Lee Castleton
Jo Hamilton
Noel Thomas
Amar Bajaj
Alan Bates
Alan Brown
Julie Ford)
"The 30th night I pulled a woman from ... something something something."
It's not impossible they scrape second, I suppose.
@BidensWins
BREAKING: President Biden just released this campaign ad slamming Donald Trump for knowing nothing about patriotism, service or sacrifice. Retweet so all Americans know how un-American Donald Trump really is.
https://x.com/BidensWins/status/1799113515648897096
But I think in the event of Con-Reform crossover, then it is far from impossible that Reform gets 50 seats, while the Conservatives get a dozen or less.
On seat total, the Lib Dems (4.1) are better placed but REFUK (14.0) might still be better value.
However I am less keen on the vote share bet just because REFUK ended up with about 100 fewer candidates in the end I think, which might hurt their chances a good chunk. Odds don’t look as appealing.
https://x.com/bengolik/status/1799051343027728469
I wonder what level the Reform / Farage ceiling of vote share is at?
(BTW just to make sure you are aware: I sent you a possible header for the weekend earlier via PM. Up to you whether to us it, but it is at least as brilliant as any by @TSE , without the puns.)
I’m heavily in on both and unsure whether to pivot to backing one horse or the other, or just to stay relatively evenly split.
75% of over 65s thought it was somewhat or completely unacceptable that Sunak left early .
Overall 65% polled said the same . Only 8% thought it acceptable .
What an utter prick of a man
"Brick, Nick the Incredible Flying - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Clinton, Charlie - Liberal Democrats
Feinstein, Andrew Josef - no description
Islam, Wais - Independent
Kumar, Senthil - Independent
Malik, Mehreen - The Conservative Party Candidate
Poynton, John Edmund - UK Independence Party
Roberts, David - Reform UK
Scripps, Tom - Socialist Equality Party
Smith, Bobby Elmo - no description
Stansell, David Robert - Green Party
Starmer, Keir - Labour Party"
https://www.camden.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/notice-of-poll-and-sits-of-ps-holborn-and-st-pancras-1
But Farage seems less likely to rhetorically destroy his opponents than vice versa.
It was going to be Laila Cunningham (of Kensington and Bayswater) but she withdrew her nomination for some reason.
https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads/file/3885/statement-of-person-nominated-and-notice-of-poll-for-rotherham&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
And if so, is it posted on web somewhere?
No fringe parties unfortunately (unless one counts Green or Reform).
See https://x.com/tomorrowsmps/status/1799084840295489729
In theory a safe Tory seat, in reality I suspect the Lib Dems could grab it..
Well thanks for the heads-up on the Reform Candidate in Tewkesbury. I've been watching out for that on two Sites but neither showed it. This is of some significance for me and other punters.
A few days ago I put the LDs up as a bet at 7/1 but stressed this should be a lot shorter if Ref stood. It's now 5/1 with a couple of firms and 9/2 with Lads and if you are right (I'm sure you are) that is stonking value. As you shrewdly observed, the nice Labour lady is from Kent and looks no more than a token candidate who will one day be offered a more promising opportunity. The LD candidate assures me that 'Labour is nowhere' and the Yellow team is running them perilously close. This is all before Mr Sunak's half day out at the seaside.
As always, DYOR, but this looks a good one to me.
Whistle blowers at his Medical Centre by the looks of it, Darren Henry being the husband of the defenestrated-by-voters Police and Crime Commissioner. All sorts of possibilities and reasons for him standing, in addition to the normal ones.
https://hickinglanemedicalcentre.co.uk/
Clarence Thomas has YET AGAIN amended his financial disclosure form ONLY AFTER getting caught by ProPublica. Thomas must RESIGN.
https://x.com/MuellerSheWrote/status/1799124842115113338
https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/uxintccw/east-grinstead-and-uckfield-sopn-nop.pdf
https://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/info/17/elections_and_voting/1834/statement_of_persons_nominated_and_notice_of_poll_for_the_uk_parliamentary_election_july_2024
UKIP didn't quite make it, but Reform have a shot at breaking through in several places, even if dreams of replacing the Tories may not come to fruition.
I'm on.
We probably won't get a full slate for a 48 hours because usually there are a few councils who can't be bothered to publish it as soon as they could do.
If this is even half correct it would be ludicrous how forgiving of receiving 'gifts' they are - the problem of the appearance of impropriety being a problem only applies to lesser judges apparently.
https://x.com/pickardje/status/1799125179307794593?s=46
Heart of stone etc
All I can say is: brexit destroyed the right. I see reform as a defensive move for the populists after the ukippification of the conservatives failed. This is a retreat. And the current right will never come back after this. They just don't have the numbers. Being mainly Boomer OAPs the right is numerically in permanent decline. In 2029 and 2034 the situation will be much much worse for the right, and you can forget about brexiteers being able to stop anything.
The future of the right looks like this. Term 1: ideological purists tear into each other in all out civil war. Term 2: some kind of stability appears and a new generation of centre right, progressive, pro eu millenials come in as juniors. Most of the current party will be gone. Term three: the millial generation take up leadership and begin to forge a new electoral basis. Term four: they win and get to lead the newly eu enrolled uk.
Hari Seldon has spoken
https://www.westminsterconservatives.com/people/laila-cunningham
https://x.com/policylaila
https://www.electionpolling.co.uk/battleground/targets/conservative
But of course hundreds of seats are unwinnable but get candidates from the top parties anyway.
I don't see how anyone can even begin to justify it.
https://x.com/countbinface/status/1799119807486316592?s=46
https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/SoPN Kensington and Bayswater Constituency.pdf
"Kensington & Bayswater - 10 candidates
ADAM, Mona - Green Party
BUCHAN, Felicity - The Conservative Party Candidate
BURCA, Marc Francis - Reform UK
DENT COAD, Emma - Independent
HOUNGBO, William - Liberal Democrat
O`MAHONY, Una Marie - Party of Women
PHILLIPS, Roger David - Christian People's Alliance
POWELL, Joe - Labour Party
PRINCE ANKIT LOVE, Emperor of India - no description
STEVENS, John Christopher Courtenay - Rejoin EU"
They knew alright.
I think when the first set of allegations came out it forced the Court to belatedly adopt some guidance, but the response dripped of institutional entitlement that no one has the right to criticise the Court or seek to do anything to it no matter how egregious the conduct might become.
From the outside it feels like a very unequal branch of government.
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1799129716743630892
So it seems likely that the decision to do the interview was an attempt to strong-arm the party into backing his strategy. And if that's the case, it'll mean that he binned the D-Day commemoration to shore up his own position within the party.
As you say, it's his version of Thatcher's "we fight on; we fight to win!". Is there a Ken Clarke waiting in the wings to make him back down?