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Philip_Thompson

Very good Marf

Tissue_Price

Marf doing her bit to encourage Shy Tories to stay shy, I see... ;-)

Barnesian

Excellent

NickPalmer

Great one!

Moses_

The guys and gals in the pin stripes look like the previous Labour front bench.

Is the one in red Owen ?

TGOHF

What's the logo on the red sweatshirt ?

Should have been an "L" for Loser..

Moses_

Yeah but look on the bright side......there is always someone having a worse day than you are I suppose.......

Kim Jong-Un EXECUTES his defence minister with an anti-aircraft gun in front of hundreds of spectators - because he dozed off during a North Korean military ceremony

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3079172/North-Korean-defence-minister-executed-anti-aircraft-fire-disrespecting-leader-Kim-Jong-dozing-military-events-answering-back.html

Plato

Indeed.

I'm eating babies and social workers for lunch.

Tissue_Price said:

Marf doing her bit to encourage Shy Tories to stay shy, I see... ;-)

AndyJS

Hopi Sen is supporting Liz Kendall:

http://hopisen.com/

Tissue_Price

AndyJS said:

Hopi Sen is supporting Liz Kendall:

http://hopisen.com/

Supporting? He's practically wearing a Kendall facemask and a "We Luv Liz" badge.

Early good news for her, though.

TGOHF

AndyJS said:

Hopi Sen is supporting Liz Kendall:

http://hopisen.com/

Labour need Felicity Kendall.

Ishmael_X

Errm, Marf, if the tory vote consisted solely of people in pinstripe who want to get rich, do you think ed would be in the Balearics just now, or in W1?

felix

I have no idea what on earth Marf is meant to be saying. In that sense a bit like the Labour party perhaps? I guess the losers need an in-crowd to keep them going.

Morris_Dancer

It does sound like Kim Jong-Un is hastening his own demise, not unlike Antoninus Caracalla, who had the not terribly clever habit of threatening to kill his own bodyguards.

He was assassinated. By his bodyguard. After killing the bodyguard's brother.

Richard_Nabavi

Tissue_Price said:

Supporting? He's practically wearing a Kendall facemask and a "We Luv Liz" badge.

Early good news for her, though.

It's interesting to look at Hopi's blog, or rather the lack of Hopi's blog, over the past few months. He must have been cringing with embarrassment at Ed's leadership.

Philip_Thompson

FPT

isam said:

Plato said:

Maybe it's because we recognise he's a winner for us. I don't like his greenies stuff and moaned to him on email back in 2010.

But he's gained my team over 130 seats and changed the perception of the Tories for the first time in decades into a Maj Party.

Why would most of us complain as centre-right voters? There were lots of PBTories who moaned about the campaign and Crosby and and and - then they shut up or accepted they were wrong.

Richard_Tyndall said:

Not meaning to be funny Phil, particularly as you are not one of those who comes over as a party fanatic, but the Tories who criticise Cameron do seem to be pretty few and far between.

Exactly what I have been saying for years. Tories like Cameron because he gets the party called the conservatives in No10... Having v few Conservative policies is neither here nor there

Pretending that there's no difference between Balls, Miliband, Brown, Burnham ... Or Cameron, Osborne, Gove, May, Hunt etc may make you feel smug but it's untrue. We've significantly changed direction in last few years. I can see Conservative policies getting enacted in the economy, in education, in health ... That we're winning the elections too is a necessary but not sufficient reason for being happy.

Luckyguy1983

Interesting how his bag says 'Tate' on it - I see he's been enjoying one of the free London museums at the expense of the taxpayer. Money isn't everything if it's someone elses - pretty standard Labour supporter.

TheScreamingEagles

Moses_ said:

Yeah but look on the bright side......there is always someone having a worse day than you are I suppose.......

Kim Jong-Un EXECUTES his defence minister with an anti-aircraft gun in front of hundreds of spectators - because he dozed off during a North Korean military ceremony

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3079172/North-Korean-defence-minister-executed-anti-aircraft-fire-disrespecting-leader-Kim-Jong-dozing-military-events-answering-back.html

That's a calm measured response when you compare it a woman's response when you fall asleep whilst she is performing [redacted] on you.

So I am told.

Cyclefree

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

Luckyguy1983

Philip_Thompson said:

FPT

isam said:

Plato said:

Maybe it's because we recognise he's a winner for us. I don't like his greenies stuff and moaned to him on email back in 2010.

But he's gained my team over 130 seats and changed the perception of the Tories for the first time in decades into a Maj Party.

Why would most of us complain as centre-right voters? There were lots of PBTories who moaned about the campaign and Crosby and and and - then they shut up or accepted they were wrong.

Richard_Tyndall said:

Not meaning to be funny Phil, particularly as you are not one of those who comes over as a party fanatic, but the Tories who criticise Cameron do seem to be pretty few and far between.

Exactly what I have been saying for years. Tories like Cameron because he gets the party called the conservatives in No10... Having v few Conservative policies is neither here nor there

Pretending that there's no difference between Balls, Miliband, Brown, Burnham ... Or Cameron, Osborne, Gove, May, Hunt etc may make you feel smug but it's untrue. We've significantly changed direction in last few years. I can see Conservative policies getting enacted in the economy, in education, in health ... That we're winning the elections too is a necessary but not sufficient reason for being happy.

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

Plato

London Mayor without Boris for the Tories will be fascinating. I can't think of a candidate bar Mr Goldsmith off the top of my head.

It's a totally different demographic.

Cyclefree said:

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

Ishmael_X

Luckyguy1983 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

FPT

isam said:

Plato said:

Maybe it's because we recognise he's a winner for us. I don't like his greenies stuff and moaned to him on email back in 2010.

But he's gained my team over 130 seats and changed the perception of the Tories for the first time in decades into a Maj Party.

Why would most of us complain as centre-right voters? There were lots of PBTories who moaned about the campaign and Crosby and and and - then they shut up or accepted they were wrong.

Richard_Tyndall said:

Not meaning to be funny Phil, particularly as you are not one of those who comes over as a party fanatic, but the Tories who criticise Cameron do seem to be pretty few and far between.

Exactly what I have been saying for years. Tories like Cameron because he gets the party called the conservatives in No10... Having v few Conservative policies is neither here nor there

Pretending that there's no difference between Balls, Miliband, Brown, Burnham ... Or Cameron, Osborne, Gove, May, Hunt etc may make you feel smug but it's untrue. We've significantly changed direction in last few years. I can see Conservative policies getting enacted in the economy, in education, in health ... That we're winning the elections too is a necessary but not sufficient reason for being happy.

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

It's an ugly contest, and i think we have to settle for a government which is less fiscally irresponsible, and less unconservative, than the other lot.

felix

Cyclefree said:

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

They were very mixed - indeed in many sw London seats as well as some in N.London there was a swing to the Conservatives. I suspect Labour did best in their heartlands in East London as did the Tories in their own. Khan recorded a swing in his Tooting seat of +0.15 - hardly a springboard for winning in the outer London boroughs or the inner London Tory areas. I suspect much will depend on the Tory choice but the idea of any Labour shoe-in seems a bit unlikely.

Plato

I know you are cleverer than this. The National Debt is increasing BECAUSE we haven't yet balanced monies in = monies out.

If you'd like an HMG that did that 5 yrs ago, you'd have shocked the whole UK economy into heart failure.

Luckyguy1983 said:

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

Scott_P

So, England then...

@ARobertsonSNP: Delighted to confirm that @theSNP Foreign Affairs spokesperson at Westminster will be @AlexSalmond #SNP

Plato

OT Does Whittaker's Almanac still exist? I loved those decades ago and was reminded after reading a Sherlock story.

DavidL

AndyJS said:

Hopi Sen is supporting Liz Kendall:

http://hopisen.com/

As a writer and thinker Hopi Sen is in such a different class to anybody else writing from a left perspective in the UK as to be embarrassing.

That article certainly makes me regret I don't know more about Liz Kendall and makes me keen to find out.

Pulpstar

Cyclefree said:

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

Conservatives 11-4 with Coral.

Zac Goldsmith 12-1 Paddy Power. Might be a touch short tbh that.

If Coe gets beaten by Bubka for IAAF he may be a runner.

AndyJS

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

Luckyguy1983

Plato said:

I know you are cleverer than this. The National Debt is increasing BECAUSE we haven't yet balanced monies in = monies out.

If you'd like an HMG that did that 5 yrs ago, you'd have shocked the whole UK economy into heart failure.

Luckyguy1983 said:

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

I would have liked radical action at the very least to ensure that the direction of travel was right. I'm talking ditching quangos, ditching whole Government departments, radically simplifying tax administration, ditching the tokenistic aid pledge, ditching HS2 and Trident, not accepting any increase in moneys to the EU etc. etc.

I can't see how such actions could possibly have harmed the economy.

SouthamObserver

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

richardDodd

Just watched the rescue of boat people by the Bulwark..very professional..very British..very Navy...Well done..Those poor sods looked like they had just won the lottery .

Tissue_Price

Pulpstar said:

Cyclefree said:

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

Conservatives 11-4 with Coral.

Zac Goldsmith 12-1 Paddy Power. Might be a touch short tbh that.

If Coe gets beaten by Bubka for IAAF he may be a runner.

Yes I think Zac is short enough now after the gamble the other day. Though his probable endorsement by the Greens is a massive reason for the Tories to choose him - London has an inbuilt left-wing lean of maybe 45-55 or even as much as 43-57 that the Tories need to overcome.

Edit: just noticed your "Coe ... may be a runner" ;-)

Morris_Dancer

Miss Plato, I've got a couple of Schott's Almanacs. Not sure if that's the same sort of thing.

kle4

SouthamObserver said:

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

At least he won't stand As an independent again though, right?

Though worth noting - if I recall correctly- ken's vote did go up in 2012.

Tissue_Price

SouthamObserver said:

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

I hear the former Mayor of Tower Hamlets is unexpectedly free.

watford30

Luckyguy1983 said:

Plato said:

I know you are cleverer than this. The National Debt is increasing BECAUSE we haven't yet balanced monies in = monies out.

If you'd like an HMG that did that 5 yrs ago, you'd have shocked the whole UK economy into heart failure.

Luckyguy1983 said:

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

I would have liked radical action at the very least to ensure that the direction of travel was right. I'm talking ditching quangos, ditching whole Government departments, radically simplifying tax administration, ditching the tokenistic aid pledge, ditching HS2 and Trident, not accepting any increase in moneys to the EU etc. etc.

I can't see how such actions could possibly have harmed the economy.

Where do you think the money for Trident ends up. Bar the missile leasing costs, the majority is spent in the UK economy. How would you replace the jobs lost?

simmonite

Pulpstar said:

Cyclefree said:

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

Conservatives 11-4 with Coral.

Zac Goldsmith 12-1 Paddy Power. Might be a touch short tbh that.

If Coe gets beaten by Bubka for IAAF he may be a runner.

Always thought Coe was a runner...

AndyJS

"Never underestimate the consequences of dumb luck. The SNP have exploited opportunities they did not create themselves. The margin between success and failure is precious thin. If the SNP had not won Cunninghame North by 48 votes in 2007, Alex Salmond would probably have been unable to form a minority administration in Edinburgh. Upon such trifles does the fate of a nation turn.

And if Gordon Brown had backed Wendy Alexander’s challenge to ‘bring it on’ and held a referendum on independence in 2008, it’s likely that the question really could have been put to bed for a generation. The SNP were not prepared for such a contest then and would in all likelihood have been heavily defeated. Six years later they were ready — and although they lost the battle the war goes on."

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9521672/this-election-has-been-all-about-scotland/

Tissue_Price

This data on LGBT MPs is great: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/uk-broke-its-own-record-lgbt-representation-last-week

It seems we as a country really don't give a sh*t about our MPs' sexual orientation, which is fantastic.

Sunil_Prasannan

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

50.6% of UK voters voted for Right-wing parties
40.5% for Left-wing parties
8.9% for Centrists and others

The English are easily the most right-wing of the Home Nations:

Right-wing 55.1%
Left-wing 35.9%
Centrists/others 9.0%

The Scots are far and away the most left-wing of the Home Nations:

Left-wing 75.7%
Right-wing 16.5%
Centrists/others 7.8%

The Welsh are much less left-wing than the Scots, with a substantial right-wing minority:

Left-wing 51.9%
Right-wing 40.8%
Centrists/others 7.3%

While in NI, there is a more even split, with right-wing parties winning a plurality.

Right-wing 47.9%
Left-wing 39.8% (or 42.3 inc. Lady Hermon if you consider her pro-Labour)
Centrists/others 12.3% (9.8 exc Hermon)

AndyJS

SouthamObserver said:

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

The final London opinion poll had Labour winning by 46% to 33%, a 13 point gap compared to the actual 9 points.

http://ukgeneralelection2015.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/yougov-london-evening-standard-polling.html

MarqueeMark

Moses_ said:

Yeah but look on the bright side......there is always someone having a worse day than you are I suppose.......

Kim Jong-Un EXECUTES his defence minister with an anti-aircraft gun in front of hundreds of spectators - because he dozed off during a North Korean military ceremony

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3079172/North-Korean-defence-minister-executed-anti-aircraft-fire-disrespecting-leader-Kim-Jong-dozing-military-events-answering-back.html

Do you get the feeling Kim Jong-Un is trying really, really hard to get the part of the James Bond baddy?

Sunil_Prasannan

BTW nice cartoon, Marf!

Love Ratty's dog costume

Bob__Sykes

Pulpstar said:

Cyclefree said:

I see Sadiq Khan is bidding to become London Mayor. Is this the Sadiq Khan who wants ethnic quotas?

Great, that's just what we need - the racialisation of politics.

More interestingly, given that Labour did not do as well as it expected in London, is it a dead cert that Labour would even get in next year? It would be interesting to see an analysis of the London results.

Conservatives 11-4 with Coral.

Zac Goldsmith 12-1 Paddy Power. Might be a touch short tbh that.

If Coe gets beaten by Bubka for IAAF he may be a runner.

I'd have said Coe was the obvious Tory candidate, after the success of London 2012 too, if he could be persuaded to run the world's greatest city rather than run world athletics.

That said, is London 2012 already a bit "distant" come next year? And a peer of the realm seeking the popular vote - would he need to renounce and become plain Seb again?

MarqueeMark

Barnesian said:

Excellent

How goes the inquest on your general election model?

Plato

Many on the Left should absorb this.

Tissue_Price said:

This data on LGBT MPs is great: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/uk-broke-its-own-record-lgbt-representation-last-week

It seems we as a country really don't give a sh*t about our MPs' sexual orientation, which is fantastic.

The Conservatives put up more openly gay candidates than any other party: 39 men and three women. Of their 13 out MPs at dissolution, 12 stood for re-election and only one lost (Eric Ollerenshaw in Lancaster and Fleetwood) but his loss was made up for by the election of Ben Howlett in Bath. Howlett overcame a huge Liberal Democrat majority and was one of the sparkling Tory victories of the evening. A quick analysis of the 50 races where there were competitive LGBT candidates shows that Tory LGBT candidates performed considerably better than their straight colleagues. 72 per cent of them had larger vote share increases than the national trend, and on average their gains were three times the Tory average.

peter_from_putney

Sunil_Prasannan said:

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

50.6% of UK voters voted for Right-wing parties
40.5% for Left-wing parties
8.9% for Centrists and others

The English are easily the most right-wing of the Home Nations:

Right-wing 55.1%
Left-wing 35.9%
Centrists/others 9.0%

The Scots are far and away the most left-wing of the Home Nations:

Left-wing 75.7%
Right-wing 16.5%
Centrists/others 7.8%

The Welsh are much less left-wing than the Scots, with a substantial right-wing minority:

Left-wing 51.9%
Right-wing 40.8%
Centrists/others 7.3%

While in NI, there is a more even split, with right-wing parties winning a plurality.

Right-wing 47.9%
Left-wing 39.8% (or 42.3 inc. Lady Hermon if you consider her pro-Labour)
Centrists/others 12.3% (9.8 exc Hermon)

Who exactly are you referring to as "Centrists"? Not the LibDems surely?

Sunil_Prasannan

peter_from_putney said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

50.6% of UK voters voted for Right-wing parties
40.5% for Left-wing parties
8.9% for Centrists and others

The English are easily the most right-wing of the Home Nations:

Right-wing 55.1%
Left-wing 35.9%
Centrists/others 9.0%

The Scots are far and away the most left-wing of the Home Nations:

Left-wing 75.7%
Right-wing 16.5%
Centrists/others 7.8%

The Welsh are much less left-wing than the Scots, with a substantial right-wing minority:

Left-wing 51.9%
Right-wing 40.8%
Centrists/others 7.3%

While in NI, there is a more even split, with right-wing parties winning a plurality.

Right-wing 47.9%
Left-wing 39.8% (or 42.3 inc. Lady Hermon if you consider her pro-Labour)
Centrists/others 12.3% (9.8 exc Hermon)

Who exactly are you referring to as "Centrists"? Not the LibDems surely?

Oh, dear! Naught but Lefty straw-clutching from Peter_from_Putney!

SimonStClare

Afternoon all.

"The man who voted Labour" – appears to be aged 14 and smiling – shouldn't he be spitting tacks and desecrating a memorial somewhere..?

Alistair

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

So inspired by the "901 votes to prevent a majority" I'm interested in looking to workout the absolute minimum number of votes that would need to be flipped to give Labour a plurality of seats and the minimum to given them a majority.

fitalass

What a surprise....not.

Scott_P said:

So, England then...

@ARobertsonSNP: Delighted to confirm that @theSNP Foreign Affairs spokesperson at Westminster will be @AlexSalmond #SNP

Bob__Sykes

Plato said:

Many on the Left should absorb this.

Tissue_Price said:

This data on LGBT MPs is great: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/uk-broke-its-own-record-lgbt-representation-last-week

It seems we as a country really don't give a sh*t about our MPs' sexual orientation, which is fantastic.

The Conservatives put up more openly gay candidates than any other party: 39 men and three women. Of their 13 out MPs at dissolution, 12 stood for re-election and only one lost (Eric Ollerenshaw in Lancaster and Fleetwood) but his loss was made up for by the election of Ben Howlett in Bath. Howlett overcame a huge Liberal Democrat majority and was one of the sparkling Tory victories of the evening. A quick analysis of the 50 races where there were competitive LGBT candidates shows that Tory LGBT candidates performed considerably better than their straight colleagues. 72 per cent of them had larger vote share increases than the national trend, and on average their gains were three times the Tory average.

Shame that Eric lost his seat, not least as it leaves an ugly red splodge across a big swathe of rural Lancashire, as indeed it was sad to lose the small band of other Tory MPs who were unfortunate enough not to hold on and share in the stunning victory last week.

I can't say I ever saw or hear much of him in the House, local news or otherwise, or even knew what he looked like until I googled him just now, but it's a great loss to lose an old Lancastrian working-class background Tory with such a great name as Eric Ollerenshaw.

With a name like that, he sounds like he should be in Coronation St!

MarqueeMark

Bob__Sykes said:

Plato said:

Many on the Left should absorb this.

Tissue_Price said:

This data on LGBT MPs is great: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/uk-broke-its-own-record-lgbt-representation-last-week

It seems we as a country really don't give a sh*t about our MPs' sexual orientation, which is fantastic.

The Conservatives put up more openly gay candidates than any other party: 39 men and three women. Of their 13 out MPs at dissolution, 12 stood for re-election and only one lost (Eric Ollerenshaw in Lancaster and Fleetwood) but his loss was made up for by the election of Ben Howlett in Bath. Howlett overcame a huge Liberal Democrat majority and was one of the sparkling Tory victories of the evening. A quick analysis of the 50 races where there were competitive LGBT candidates shows that Tory LGBT candidates performed considerably better than their straight colleagues. 72 per cent of them had larger vote share increases than the national trend, and on average their gains were three times the Tory average.

Shame that Eric lost his seat, not least as it leaves an ugly red splodge across a beautiful part of rural Lancashire, as indeed it was sad to lose the small band of other Tory MPs who were unfortunate enough not to hold on and share in the stunning victory last week.

I can't say I ever saw or hear much of him in the House, local news or otherwise, or even knew what he looked like until I googled him just now, but it's a great loss to lose an old Lancastrian working-class background Tory with such a great name as Eric Ollerenshaw.

With a name like that, he sounds like he should be in Coronation St!

Wasn't he the star of a Ripping Yarns - the one that had a black pudding so black, even the white bits were black?

Flightpathl

Luckyguy1983 said:

Plato said:

I know you are cleverer than this. The National Debt is increasing BECAUSE we haven't yet balanced monies in = monies out.

If you'd like an HMG that did that 5 yrs ago, you'd have shocked the whole UK economy into heart failure.

Luckyguy1983 said:

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

I would have liked radical action at the very least to ensure that the direction of travel was right. I'm talking ditching quangos, ditching whole Government departments, radically simplifying tax administration, ditching the tokenistic aid pledge, ditching HS2 and Trident, not accepting any increase in moneys to the EU etc. etc.

I can't see how such actions could possibly have harmed the economy.

There has been a cull of quangos if you care to look. The purpose of govt is to invest on our behalf - like in transport. The govt are well on the way to cutting the deficit - its gone down by more than half as %of GDP and its going to continue to go down. At the same time as this we have seem a massive increase in employment. So the govt have cut the deficit and at the same time preserved the economy - unlike Greece and say Spain. What is their unemployment rate?

Sunil_Prasannan

Plato said:

Many on the Left should absorb this.

Tissue_Price said:

This data on LGBT MPs is great: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/uk-broke-its-own-record-lgbt-representation-last-week

It seems we as a country really don't give a sh*t about our MPs' sexual orientation, which is fantastic.

The Conservatives put up more openly gay candidates than any other party: 39 men and three women. Of their 13 out MPs at dissolution, 12 stood for re-election and only one lost (Eric Ollerenshaw in Lancaster and Fleetwood) but his loss was made up for by the election of Ben Howlett in Bath. Howlett overcame a huge Liberal Democrat majority and was one of the sparkling Tory victories of the evening. A quick analysis of the 50 races where there were competitive LGBT candidates shows that Tory LGBT candidates performed considerably better than their straight colleagues. 72 per cent of them had larger vote share increases than the national trend, and on average their gains were three times the Tory average.

Ilford North voted for a LGBT Labour man, Wes Streeting

Cyclefree

SouthamObserver said:

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

I have to say that Khan - while not necessarily as poisonous as Ken - does not strike me as a good choice for Labour. Racial quotas are pretty poisonous to my mind. He also has had some interesting friends who may come under scrutiny.

For Labour, I'd prefer someone like Tessa Jowell, who has a track record of cross-party working on the Olympics.

Galloway has threatened to stand...............

Tissue_Price

For those who didn't see it last night, this characterisation of Chuka Umunna remains devastatingly accurate:

Chuka Umunna reminds me of the type of person who says, "thank you for the opportunity, Lord Sugar."

(via @JohnBrewinESPN)

Plato

OT Astonishing video shows Chinese police removing FIFTY-ONE passengers from a six-seat van after pulling over vehicle when it was spotted swaying in traffic http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3079633/51-passengers-6-seater-minibus-China.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

taffys

So many things to look forward to in the next five years. FFi for the scots being just the start. Hilarious.

Bob__Sykes

MarqueeMark said:

Bob__Sykes said:

Plato said:

Many on the Left should absorb this.

Tissue_Price said:

This data on LGBT MPs is great: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/uk-broke-its-own-record-lgbt-representation-last-week

It seems we as a country really don't give a sh*t about our MPs' sexual orientation, which is fantastic.

The Conservatives put up more openly gay candidates than any other party: 39 men and three women. Of their 13 out MPs at dissolution, 12 stood for re-election and only one lost (Eric Ollerenshaw in Lancaster and Fleetwood) but his loss was made up for by the election of Ben Howlett in Bath. Howlett overcame a huge Liberal Democrat majority and was one of the sparkling Tory victories of the evening. A quick analysis of the 50 races where there were competitive LGBT candidates shows that Tory LGBT candidates performed considerably better than their straight colleagues. 72 per cent of them had larger vote share increases than the national trend, and on average their gains were three times the Tory average.

Shame that Eric lost his seat, not least as it leaves an ugly red splodge across a beautiful part of rural Lancashire, as indeed it was sad to lose the small band of other Tory MPs who were unfortunate enough not to hold on and share in the stunning victory last week.

I can't say I ever saw or hear much of him in the House, local news or otherwise, or even knew what he looked like until I googled him just now, but it's a great loss to lose an old Lancastrian working-class background Tory with such a great name as Eric Ollerenshaw.

With a name like that, he sounds like he should be in Coronation St!

Wasn't he the star of a Ripping Yarns - the one that had a black pudding so black, even the white bits were black?

Eric Olthwaite I recall.

Palin missed a trick there!

EDIT: actually, the classic football fan episode ("8-1, 8 bloody 1....") featured a Gordon Ottershaw, if that's what you were thinking of.

Financier

@Plato

Whittakers Almanac 2015 is £40 from Amazon.
My father had a few editions, and from those I learned about the structure of HMG, the Law, the Armed Forces, details of nations and sport history.

Trust you enjoyed your lunch of babies and social workers, did you wash it down with a crisp Chardonnay, a cheeky Pinot Noir or a full-bodied Chateauneuf du Pape - or are you still quaffing Jeroboams of champers?

MarqueeMark

Cyclefree said:

SouthamObserver said:

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

I have to say that Khan - while not necessarily as poisonous as Ken - does not strike me as a good choice for Labour. Racial quotas are pretty poisonous to my mind. He also has had some interesting friends who may come under scrutiny.

For Labour, I'd prefer someone like Tessa Jowell, who has a track record of cross-party working on the Olympics.

Galloway has threatened to stand...............

This will be the same Tessa Jowell that "forgot" £250m of VAT when preparing the Olympic bid?

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/07/uk.london

DecrepitJohnL

Luckyguy1983 said:

Plato said:

I know you are cleverer than this. The National Debt is increasing BECAUSE we haven't yet balanced monies in = monies out.

If you'd like an HMG that did that 5 yrs ago, you'd have shocked the whole UK economy into heart failure.

Luckyguy1983 said:

We've doubled the national debt. What is the point of the Tories if it isn't fiscal responsibility?

I would have liked radical action at the very least to ensure that the direction of travel was right. I'm talking ditching quangos, ditching whole Government departments, radically simplifying tax administration, ditching the tokenistic aid pledge, ditching HS2 and Trident, not accepting any increase in moneys to the EU etc. etc.

I can't see how such actions could possibly have harmed the economy.

Ditching (which in the real world will inevitably become switching) government departments costs money, at least in the short term. Most quangos are cheap -- a handful of academics pondering the preservation of Hadrian's Wall in exchange for free tea and biscuits. Radically simplifying tax administration means spending £2 billion on yet another sure-to-fail IT project. HS2 means jobs, so you'd lose income tax and pay out more on benefits, especially if they bought British trains rather than German-built ones. Trident's been addressed. EU payments are presumably legal or treaty obligations.

logical_song

SimonStClare said:

Afternoon all.

"The man who voted Labour" – appears to be aged 14 and smiling – shouldn't he be spitting tacks and desecrating a memorial somewhere..?

What sort of 14 year olds do you know?

williamglenn

Plato said:

OT Astonishing video shows Chinese police removing FIFTY-ONE passengers from a six-seat van after pulling over vehicle when it was spotted swaying in traffic http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3079633/51-passengers-6-seater-minibus-China.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

So the Lib Dems could have squeezed into a taxi even before last Thursday?

Cyclefree

MarqueeMark said:

Cyclefree said:

SouthamObserver said:

Labour's vote went up to 44% in London - the bottom end of opinion poll forecasts. The Tories stayed on 35% - the top end. Labour gamed seven seats overall; the Tories lost one.

At this stage, it seems as if the Tories would need to pick a Boris Mark 2 and Labour would need to pick a Ken Mark 2 for Labour not to win the next Mayoral election. But you should never rule out Labour's ability to pick someone as poisonous as Ken was in 2012.

I have to say that Khan - while not necessarily as poisonous as Ken - does not strike me as a good choice for Labour. Racial quotas are pretty poisonous to my mind. He also has had some interesting friends who may come under scrutiny.

For Labour, I'd prefer someone like Tessa Jowell, who has a track record of cross-party working on the Olympics.

Galloway has threatened to stand...............

This will be the same Tessa Jowell that "forgot" £250m of VAT when preparing the Olympic bid?

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/07/uk.london

Ah! I didn't know that. Thank you.

Oh well, onto the next possible candidate then.......

calum

If I were Dave I would be pushing ahead with the EU referendum ASAP, holding it next May on the same day as Holyrood would seem to make sense. Both the IN and OUT campaigns are likely to be Project Fear on steroids, with the right wing MSM being all over the place, tensions will run high perhaps we may even have some fisty cuffs at Daily Telegraph editorial meetings. Here’s a few ideas to get the campaign strategists going:

Project Fear – IN Campaign

- City of London will be damaged as firms move head offices and operations to EU states
- Lack of freedom of movement of labour damage economy
- EU trade agreements to be renegotiated with poor bargaining position
- Many of the 2 million UK expats in EU may be forced to return
- As most expats are retired will cause increased pressure on NHS
- Have to queue in the non-EU line when entering an EU state

Project Fear – OUT Campaign

- The tide of immigration could eventually submerge the UK
- 95% of UK laws decided by the EU parliament
- EU costs UK squillions of £s
- There be monsters in the new EU states
- UK will eventually be made to join the Euro
- If we don’t leave the EU the big bad bankers will stay in London

I think the IN campaign will win but there is a real risk that the negative campaigning will drive a chasm in England as UKIP and the Eurosceptic wing of the Tory party try to come to terms with defeat.

Morris_Dancer

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

williamglenn

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

Tissue_Price

Does anyone understand how Labour are going to ensure gender balance (or, more accurately, at least one woman)?

I assume they are running the contests simultaneously [which is probably a mistake]; do all male candidates for DL become void if a man wins the leadership?

Could be some value on shadsy's market.

Tissue_Price

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

Probably just a tinfoil-hatter complaining, I expect.

DecrepitJohnL

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

Let's hope there is a re-run, if only to boost the betting and popcorn industries.

LucyJones

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I saw rumours on twitter that ballot boxes were missing for 6.5 hours. No idea whether true, of course.

Scott_P

@JamieRoss7: Enjoyed these motivational Mhairi Black posters. Via @RachaelKrishna. http://t.co/Rdh1Jx1Y8J http://t.co/j4din7VKSV

Richard_Tyndall

calum said:

If I were Dave I would be pushing ahead with the EU referendum ASAP, holding it next May on the same day as Holyrood would seem to make sense. Both the IN and OUT campaigns are likely to be Project Fear on steroids, with the right wing MSM being all over the place, tensions will run high perhaps we may even have some fisty cuffs at Daily Telegraph editorial meetings. Here’s a few ideas to get the campaign strategists going:

Project Fear – IN Campaign

- City of London will be damaged as firms move head offices and operations to EU states
- Lack of freedom of movement of labour damage economy
- EU trade agreements to be renegotiated with poor bargaining position
- Many of the 2 million UK expats in EU may be forced to return
- As most expats are retired will cause increased pressure on NHS
- Have to queue in the non-EU line when entering an EU state

Project Fear – OUT Campaign

- The tide of immigration could eventually submerge the UK
- 95% of UK laws decided by the EU parliament
- EU costs UK squillions of £s
- There be monsters in the new EU states
- UK will eventually be made to join the Euro
- If we don’t leave the EU the big bad bankers will stay in London

I think the IN campaign will win but there is a real risk that the negative campaigning will drive a chasm in England as UKIP and the Eurosceptic wing of the Tory party try to come to terms with defeat.

Interesting that the fears you had for the IN campaign are ones they are already trying to use and which are being easily refuted whereas you had to make up fears for the OUT campaign. Perhaps because the OUT campaign doesn't need to rely on fears, just the facts of the EU as it is now?

Richard_Nabavi

MarqueeMark said:

This will be the same Tessa Jowell that "forgot" £250m of VAT when preparing the Olympic bid?

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/07/uk.london

She was also a bit dozy about other financial matters:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessa_Jowell_financial_allegations

PeterC

calum said:

If I were Dave I would be pushing ahead with the EU referendum ASAP, holding it next May on the same day as Holyrood would seem to make sense. Both the IN and OUT campaigns are likely to be Project Fear on steroids, with the right wing MSM being all over the place, tensions will run high perhaps we may even have some fisty cuffs at Daily Telegraph editorial meetings. Here’s a few ideas to get the campaign strategists going:

Project Fear – IN Campaign

- City of London will be damaged as firms move head offices and operations to EU states
- Lack of freedom of movement of labour damage economy
- EU trade agreements to be renegotiated with poor bargaining position
- Many of the 2 million UK expats in EU may be forced to return
- As most expats are retired will cause increased pressure on NHS
- Have to queue in the non-EU line when entering an EU state

Project Fear – OUT Campaign

- The tide of immigration could eventually submerge the UK
- 95% of UK laws decided by the EU parliament
- EU costs UK squillions of £s
- There be monsters in the new EU states
- UK will eventually be made to join the Euro
- If we don’t leave the EU the big bad bankers will stay in London

I think the IN campaign will win but there is a real risk that the negative campaigning will drive a chasm in England as UKIP and the Eurosceptic wing of the Tory party try to come to terms with defeat.

Next May would be an appalling choice. Holding three separate votes on the same day - Holyrood, London Mayor & Local Govt plus EU-ref would do justice to none of them. EU-ref autumn 2016 at the earliest I would say.

fitalass

Twitter
Herald Scotland ‏@heraldscotland 2m2 minutes ago
Usdaw offers backing to Jim Murphy http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/usdaw-offers-backing-to-jim-murphy.1431522231 …

MTimT

Missed this article when it was published. It might go some way to explaining why the Tories did so well in key Midlands marginals...

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31148570

peter_from_putney

Sunil_Prasannan said:

peter_from_putney said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

50.6% of UK voters voted for Right-wing parties
40.5% for Left-wing parties
8.9% for Centrists and others

The English are easily the most right-wing of the Home Nations:

Right-wing 55.1%
Left-wing 35.9%
Centrists/others 9.0%

The Scots are far and away the most left-wing of the Home Nations:

Left-wing 75.7%
Right-wing 16.5%
Centrists/others 7.8%

The Welsh are much less left-wing than the Scots, with a substantial right-wing minority:

Left-wing 51.9%
Right-wing 40.8%
Centrists/others 7.3%

While in NI, there is a more even split, with right-wing parties winning a plurality.

Right-wing 47.9%
Left-wing 39.8% (or 42.3 inc. Lady Hermon if you consider her pro-Labour)
Centrists/others 12.3% (9.8 exc Hermon)

Who exactly are you referring to as "Centrists"? Not the LibDems surely?

Oh, dear! Naught but Lefty straw-clutching from Peter_from_Putney!

Ah yes, I remember now, you voted Labour, so I suppose the likes of Farron, Cable and Ashdown (and Mike Smithson for that matter|) would appear as "Centrists" from your perspective. Everything is relative I suppose.
But I think the overwhelming majority would reasonably consider the Libdems as being decidedly left of centre.

LucyJones

williamglenn said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

I'm sure we're getting ahead of ourselves but if they had to re-run the election then why wouldn't Farage be expected to win (barring unforeseen future events and on the assumption that the fraud was committed against Farage)?
They returned a Ukip Council in Thanet... and what about the supposed British sense of "fair play"? Speaking personally and, of course, hypothetically, I would be much, much more likely to vote for someone - of any party - if they had lost their seat because they had been fraudulently denied it.

logical_song

williamglenn said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

It wasn't that close.
I wonder what the allegations are and who made the complaint.

Pulpstar

Barry Proffitt

Pulpstar

peter_from_putney said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

peter_from_putney said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

50.6% of UK voters voted for Right-wing parties
40.5% for Left-wing parties
8.9% for Centrists and others

The English are easily the most right-wing of the Home Nations:

Right-wing 55.1%
Left-wing 35.9%
Centrists/others 9.0%

The Scots are far and away the most left-wing of the Home Nations:

Left-wing 75.7%
Right-wing 16.5%
Centrists/others 7.8%

The Welsh are much less left-wing than the Scots, with a substantial right-wing minority:

Left-wing 51.9%
Right-wing 40.8%
Centrists/others 7.3%

While in NI, there is a more even split, with right-wing parties winning a plurality.

Right-wing 47.9%
Left-wing 39.8% (or 42.3 inc. Lady Hermon if you consider her pro-Labour)
Centrists/others 12.3% (9.8 exc Hermon)

Who exactly are you referring to as "Centrists"? Not the LibDems surely?

Oh, dear! Naught but Lefty straw-clutching from Peter_from_Putney!

Ah yes, I remember now, you voted Labour, so I suppose the likes of Farron, Cable and Ashdown (and Mike Smithson for that matter|) would appear as "Centrists" from your perspective. Everything is relative I suppose.
But I think the overwhelming majority would reasonably consider the Libdems as being decidedly left of centre.

I had Nick Clegg down as a bang on centrist.

Richard_Tyndall

DecrepitJohnL said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

Let's hope there is a re-run, if only to boost the betting and popcorn industries.

Its going to turn out to be something incredibly minor that will have had no bearing on the result I reckon. It is just that the Police have to be seen to be scrupulously investigating this or we will have never ending conspiracy theories.

MarkHopkins

Richard_Tyndall said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

Let's hope there is a re-run, if only to boost the betting and popcorn industries.

Its going to turn out to be something incredibly minor that will have had no bearing on the result I reckon. It is just that the Police have to be seen to be scrupulously investigating this or we will have never ending conspiracy theories.

If they did have to re-run the election - do you think Farage would have a better or worse chance than before?

isam

https://twitter.com/sunny_hundal/status/598473209466466306

Chameleon

Pulpstar said:

peter_from_putney said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

peter_from_putney said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

AndyJS said:

The last time the Tories won an overall majority in 1992, 32.6% of the electorate voted for them (41.9% on a 77.7% turnout). This time 24.4% did so (36.9% on a 66.1% turnout).

50.6% of UK voters voted for Right-wing parties
40.5% for Left-wing parties
8.9% for Centrists and others

The English are easily the most right-wing of the Home Nations:

Right-wing 55.1%
Left-wing 35.9%
Centrists/others 9.0%

The Scots are far and away the most left-wing of the Home Nations:

Left-wing 75.7%
Right-wing 16.5%
Centrists/others 7.8%

The Welsh are much less left-wing than the Scots, with a substantial right-wing minority:

Left-wing 51.9%
Right-wing 40.8%
Centrists/others 7.3%

While in NI, there is a more even split, with right-wing parties winning a plurality.

Right-wing 47.9%
Left-wing 39.8% (or 42.3 inc. Lady Hermon if you consider her pro-Labour)
Centrists/others 12.3% (9.8 exc Hermon)

Who exactly are you referring to as "Centrists"? Not the LibDems surely?

Oh, dear! Naught but Lefty straw-clutching from Peter_from_Putney!

Ah yes, I remember now, you voted Labour, so I suppose the likes of Farron, Cable and Ashdown (and Mike Smithson for that matter|) would appear as "Centrists" from your perspective. Everything is relative I suppose.
But I think the overwhelming majority would reasonably consider the Libdems as being decidedly left of centre.

I had Nick Clegg down as a bang on centrist.

Clegg was centre-centre-right but there are/were an awful lot of left wingers high up in the LDs.

Pulpstar

LucyJones said:

williamglenn said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

I'm sure we're getting ahead of ourselves but if they had to re-run the election then why wouldn't Farage be expected to win (barring unforeseen future events and on the assumption that the fraud was committed against Farage)?
They returned a Ukip Council in Thanet... and what about the supposed British sense of "fair play"? Speaking personally and, of course, hypothetically, I would be much, much more likely to vote for someone - of any party - if they had lost their seat because they had been fraudulently denied it.

There is no "fear of the SNP" situation now either. But he did lose by a way.

Lennon

MarkHopkins said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

DecrepitJohnL said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

Let's hope there is a re-run, if only to boost the betting and popcorn industries.

Its going to turn out to be something incredibly minor that will have had no bearing on the result I reckon. It is just that the Police have to be seen to be scrupulously investigating this or we will have never ending conspiracy theories.

If they did have to re-run the election - do you think Farage would have a better or worse chance than before?

Massively better - all those that voted Tory 'to stop the SNP' (however irrational that may be) could revert to UKIP in what is effectively a by-election knowing that Cameron would keep his majority so it would be a 'safe' UKIP vote.

isam

LucyJones said:

williamglenn said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

I'm sure we're getting ahead of ourselves but if they had to re-run the election then why wouldn't Farage be expected to win (barring unforeseen future events and on the assumption that the fraud was committed against Farage)?
They returned a Ukip Council in Thanet... and what about the supposed British sense of "fair play"? Speaking personally and, of course, hypothetically, I would be much, much more likely to vote for someone - of any party - if they had lost their seat because they had been fraudulently denied it.

Doubt it will be rerun but if it were, with the threat of Miliband and Sturgeon no longer an issue id have thought Farage would win

OldKingCole

williamglenn said:

Plato said:

OT Astonishing video shows Chinese police removing FIFTY-ONE passengers from a six-seat van after pulling over vehicle when it was spotted swaying in traffic http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3079633/51-passengers-6-seater-minibus-China.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

So the Lib Dems could have squeezed into a taxi even before last Thursday?

You've never seen a tuk-tuk in India, I take it! We once counted at least 16 in on, admittedly including a babe-in-arms.

Morris_Dancer

Mr. Hopkins, swings and roundabouts, I think. Farage resigned using an unorthodox and little known meaning of the word, but there's also no risk of UKIP having a serious say in how the country's governed (either in itself or by depriving either major party of a desperately needed seat).

So, it's safer, but he does look a bit besmirched by his leadership shenanigans.

AndyJS

Parliament doesn't meet until 18th May despite all the MPs already being there because the powers that be were so confident it would be another hung parliament.

AlastairMeeks

The url says it all:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/labours-path-back-power-tougher-you-think

"To win a majority of ten, Labour would have to win Harlow, Shipley, Chingford & Woodford Green, Filton & Bradley Stoke, Basingstoke, Bexleyheath & Crayford, Kensington, Rugby, Leicestershire North West, Forest of Dean and Gillingham & Rainham. Of those ten, four – Chingford, Kensington, Filton & Bradley Stoke and Basingstoke – have never been won by Labour at any point in its history. All are Conservative-held."

Scott_P

@rowenamason: Ukip after Farage-Carswell summit: There's ongoing discussion about how best to represent 4m UKIP voters in a way that is sensible + correct

Translation; Carswell said no

Brom

LucyJones said:

williamglenn said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

I'm sure we're getting ahead of ourselves but if they had to re-run the election then why wouldn't Farage be expected to win (barring unforeseen future events and on the assumption that the fraud was committed against Farage)?
They returned a Ukip Council in Thanet... and what about the supposed British sense of "fair play"? Speaking personally and, of course, hypothetically, I would be much, much more likely to vote for someone - of any party - if they had lost their seat because they had been fraudulently denied it.

Some people have been saying that Thanet Council has different boundaries to the North & South Thanet seats. Even allowing for this Tories scored 42k in both seats and UKIP 26k in both seats. For UKIP to get 54k and Tories 46k in the council elections is most unusual surely for a vote that took place on the same day.

Of course it could be The Council election was the one that was rigged! or more likely the local Lab/Tory rotating council was hated in a similar way to the Green Council in Brighton.

I'm not holding up much hope for a re-run but hopefully UKIP are not the ones involved in the ill deeds.

Flightpathl

PeterC said:

calum said:

If I were Dave I would be pushing ahead with the EU referendum ASAP, holding it next May on the same day as Holyrood would seem to make sense. Both the IN and OUT campaigns are likely to be Project Fear on steroids, with the right wing MSM being all over the place, tensions will run high perhaps we may even have some fisty cuffs at Daily Telegraph editorial meetings.
...

...

Next May would be an appalling choice. Holding three separate votes on the same day - Holyrood, London Mayor & Local Govt plus EU-ref would do justice to none of them. EU-ref autumn 2016 at the earliest I would say.

Yes.
PS
Still hating the new layout. Surely it cannot be permanent?

peterbuss

logical_song said:

williamglenn said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Fraud probe in Thanet South:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32725167

I wouldn't fancy Farage's chances if they rerun the election.

It wasn't that close.
I wonder what the allegations are and who made the complaint.

Ukip say it wasn't them who made the complaint!!!???