politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » We mustn’t let the focus on Scotland and London over-shadow the poor CON performance in the English locals
The narrative on election night tends to be set by what happens overnight Thurs/Fri and little attention has been paid to the outcomes in the English local council elections where the Tories, as can be seen, came well below expectations.
Additionally, the Tories' voteshare of 32% (as per Rallings & Thrasher) is one of the WORST performances for a newly-(re-)elected government in the past 30 years.
The only governments that have done worse in the first local elections of a cycle were the Tories in 1993 (31%) and Labour in 2006 (26%) - both of whom, of course, went onto lose the nest general election. It is also WELL down on the 38% that the Tories got in 2011.
I would expect better from PB than to fall into the fallacy of quoting absolute seat numbers as if they prove something.
Indeed (I have a similar problem with just reporting percentages, but that's a different conversation).
I also have a philosophical problem with this thread. Comparing a real event with a prediction is not "underperforming" nor "overperforming". Reality did not agree with Prof Rallings's prediction. That's not reality's fault...
Hugely disappointing for the Tories, but hardly surprising following the internal strife over the EU, not to mention Osborne's inept performance as regards the budget. The blue team's worst performance over the past 6 years by far. Although Zac was a poor choice as theTories' nominee for London Mayor, I doubt whether anyone else could have won against this backdrop.
LOL After the pollsters got the 2015 GE so wrong, why is Mike now saying that, instead of the pollsters getting the 2016 Locals wrong, CON and UKIP underperformed? Is it not just possible that the pollsters are still getting it wrong but in a different direction now?
As soon as libdems distance themselves from tories they start making progress, same for UUP. Lesson: Never get into bed with the tories. Not forgetting SLab ofcourse although since they supported the Union how could they not be associated with them?
Tories may have won a majority and will win in 2020 but they have to do more to get rid of the rich party status if they want to win in the very long term.
Long ago the Lib Dems learned that with a FPTP system you need to concentrate your votes in certain areas to win seats.
Having 15% everywhere and winning no seats doesn't help have influence getting your policies implemented - as UKIP have found..
Indeed, though if we do get a slew of byelections following the investigations into Con spending in 2015 we will get some tasty Con LD battles in the main. That would be a real sign of revival if the LDs took them back.
Extremely target progress but progress nonetheless for the LDs, but they look pretty dead in most places alas. We need stronger parties in third and fourth to nip at the heels of the big two, and I still cannot see UKIP managing it outside a few places.
LOL After the pollsters got the 2015 GE so wrong, why is Mike now saying that, instead of the pollsters getting the 2016 Locals wrong, CON and UKIP underperformed? Is it not just possible that the pollsters are still getting it wrong but in a different direction now?
Either way, not good news for Cameron.
Tbf, the pollsters were pretty good this time on London and Wales, although they were a bit out on Scotland. YouGov also came close to the local elections voteshares, with their recent Labour leads of 1-3%.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Hugely disappointing for the Tories, but hardly surprising following the internal strife over the EU, not to mention Osborne's inept performance as regards the budget. The blue team's worst performance over the past 6 years by far. Although Zac was a poor choice as theTories' nominee for London Mayor, I doubt whether anyone else could have won against this backdrop.
Agreed. There are several hundred conservative council candidates who lost out at this election purely because of Cameron and Osborne's decisions this year. Why did they call the referendum so early and not delay to Sept? It could have made these elections have better results for the Conservatives.
Additionally, the Tories' voteshare of 32% (as per Rallings & Thrasher) is one of the WORST performances for a newly-(re-)elected government in the past 30 years.
The only governments that have done worse in the first local elections of a cycle were the Tories in 1993 (31%) and Labour in 2006 (26%) - both of whom, of course, went onto lose the nest general election. It is also WELL down on the 38% that the Tories got in 2011.
Indeed. It is also worth noting that the NEV given to the Tories at the 2011 elections - 38% - pretty well matched their General Election share in 2015 - ie no recovery from 2011 at all. On that basis, perhaps we are looking at a 32% Con share in 2020!
If the Conservatives have underperformed, surely the question is why? Europe; retoxification; the budget? None of the above; all of the above?
There is also the related question about why the Conservatives didn't overperform against expectations in England, given the unremitting media focus on Corbyn's troubles in the week leading up to the polls, all of which could have been expected to damage Labour and to have distracted from the Conservatives' own troubles.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Er no... Johnson and Gove are representing the majority view of their Party.... It's Cameron and Osborne that are at odds with their Party (after spending a decade pretending to be eurosceptics)
And lets not get started on Camerons "renegotiation" fiasco...
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Gove is Scottish. Try another boiler plate jingle.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
I'd be really concerned if someone like Keir Starmer were leading Labour. He's not amiing for much attention yet as a very new MP, but one to watch - and he loved the limelight as CPS bod.
Hugely disappointing for the Tories, but hardly surprising following the internal strife over the EU, not to mention Osborne's inept performance as regards the budget. The blue team's worst performance over the past 6 years by far. Although Zac was a poor choice as theTories' nominee for London Mayor, I doubt whether anyone else could have won against this backdrop.
Agreed. There are several hundred conservative council candidates who lost out at this election purely because of Cameron and Osborne's decisions this year. Why did they call the referendum so early and not delay to Sept? It could have made these elections have better results for the Conservatives.
Additionally, the Tories' voteshare of 32% (as per Rallings & Thrasher) is one of the WORST performances for a newly-(re-)elected government in the past 30 years.
The only governments that have done worse in the first local elections of a cycle were the Tories in 1993 (31%) and Labour in 2006 (26%) - both of whom, of course, went onto lose the nest general election. It is also WELL down on the 38% that the Tories got in 2011.
Indeed. It is also worth noting that the NEV given to the Tories at the 2011 elections - 38% - pretty well matched their General Election share in 2015 - ie no recovery from 2011 at all. On that basis, perhaps we are looking at a 32% Con share in 2020!
Points that I do not recall that the conservatives "cchq expert rob hayward" did not mention in the interview on the podcast. He seemed to have few numbers and a lot to say on personalities and generalties.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Gove is Scottish. Try another boiler plate jingle.
Then he should try his luck as an MP in an independent Scotland if we vote leave.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
But the Scottish Tories also had a leader who was much more likeable than anyone on the Tory Westminster bench, bar Cameron and Boris.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
I'd be really concerned if someone like Keir Starmer were leading Labour. He's not amiing for much attention yet as a very new MP, but one to watch - and he loved the limelight as CPS bod.
It's only a matter of time before Labour get back up off the floor and fight back... Those people thinking Con will go on and on and on (a lot of them despondent lefties it has be said ) would be shocked at how quickly things would turn around if someone sensible took over Labour.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Gove is Scottish. Try another boiler plate jingle.
Then he should try his luck as an MP in an independent Scotland if we vote leave.
Being in the EU has done so much to stop the rise of the SNP, you bet.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Er no... Johnson and Gove are representing the majority view of their Party.... It's Cameron and Osborne that are at odds with their Party (after spending a decade pretending to be eurosceptics)
And lets not get started on Camerons "renegotiation" fiasco...
Lol - The 'Angry' party closely followed by the 'nasty' party. Same result either way.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade... Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Not their undying love for the EU. Just their desire to win at all costs. An exercise in macho pride.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Er no... Johnson and Gove are representing the majority view of their Party.... It's Cameron and Osborne that are at odds with their Party (after spending a decade pretending to be eurosceptics)
It remains to be which side the party's voters are on.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
But the Scottish Tories also had a leader who was much more likeable than anyone on the Tory Westminster bench, bar Cameron and Boris.
Easier to blame everything on the Eurosceptics. Anyone would think the Eurofanatics make up the majority of the party the way they are going on...
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
I'd be really concerned if someone like Keir Starmer were leading Labour. He's not amiing for much attention yet as a very new MP, but one to watch - and he loved the limelight as CPS bod.
It's only a matter of time before Labour get back up off the floor and fight back... Those people thinking Con will go on and on and on (a lot of them despondent lefties it has be said ) would be shocked at how quickly things would turn around if someone sensible took over Labour.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
They came a distant second!
The performance was a massive boost from where they've been and they put Labour into 3rd. Their first serious move forward in decades.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
Look at how well the Tories did in Scotland with a leader who favours Remain ;-)
But I agree Super Thursday was a score draw. A score draw is progress for the LDs.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Er no... Johnson and Gove are representing the majority view of their Party.... It's Cameron and Osborne that are at odds with their Party (after spending a decade pretending to be eurosceptics)
It remains to be which side the party's voters are on.
Con voters will lean heavily to OUT, that's why we have the irony of Cameron needing Labour voters to save his job... Though judging by the number of working class Lab to UKIP switchers that could be unlikely in the northern heartlands?
Hugely disappointing for the Tories, but hardly surprising following the internal strife over the EU, not to mention Osborne's inept performance as regards the budget. The blue team's worst performance over the past 6 years by far. Although Zac was a poor choice as theTories' nominee for London Mayor, I doubt whether anyone else could have won against this backdrop.
Agreed. There are several hundred conservative council candidates who lost out at this election purely because of Cameron and Osborne's decisions this year. Why did they call the referendum so early and not delay to Sept? It could have made these elections have better results for the Conservatives.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
But the Scottish Tories also had a leader who was much more likeable than anyone on the Tory Westminster bench, bar Cameron and Boris.
As soon as libdems distance themselves from tories they start making progress...
That's not strictly true. I assume the uptick in LD performance in Scotland was due to a residual affinity to the Libs since the Clearances plus the post-Sindyref aestivation of SLab: there is a gap for a pro-Unionist anti-SNP vote and the LDs may be well placed to so expand in Scotland.
But these factors are not necessarily true in, say, South Wales or the South-West of England.
The antiLabour vote in South Wales is being filled by UKIP (OK, Plaid as well - Leanne taking Rhondda is like Corbyn taking Horsham), not LD. Similarly in the South-West of England, the antiCon vote is being filled by UKIP, not LD.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
They came a distant second!
The performance was a massive boost from where they've been and they put Labour into 3rd. Their first serious move forward in decades.
I'm looking to threads on the LDs near extinction level performance in these Assemblies. A brace Scottish pandas between them.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Er no... Johnson and Gove are representing the majority view of their Party.... It's Cameron and Osborne that are at odds with their Party
Party voters or party members? The former is pretty evenly split, IIRC.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Johnson and Gove have split the Tories with their little England isolationism........
Gove is Scottish. Try another boiler plate jingle.
Then he should try his luck as an MP in an independent Scotland if we vote leave.
Being in the EU has done so much to stop the rise of the SNP, you bet.
If you think a leave vote will help to bind the Scots to the union you are seriously mistaken.
Cameron and Osborne have split the Tories with their undying love for the EU. Given the circumstances I think Con did remarkably well in the English locals but if Labour get their act togther Con are finished for a decade...
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Yes and the split goes quite deep and getting deeper by the day.
Therein there are 3 possibilies:
1. Remain wins by more than 10% and most, (not all) of the Tories creep back into the main body.
2. Remain wins by less than 4% and the the main body loses members and and some MP's to form New Tories.
3. Leave wins by any margin. Civil War breaks outwith even members coming to blows. Half the Tory party membership leave to form NEW TORIES. Cameron and Osborne resign after many top Tories refuse to serve under them.
Hugely disappointing for the Tories, but hardly surprising following the internal strife over the EU, not to mention Osborne's inept performance as regards the budget. The blue team's worst performance over the past 6 years by far. Although Zac was a poor choice as theTories' nominee for London Mayor, I doubt whether anyone else could have won against this backdrop.
Agreed. There are several hundred conservative council candidates who lost out at this election purely because of Cameron and Osborne's decisions this year. Why did they call the referendum so early and not delay to Sept? It could have made these elections have better results for the Conservatives.
Rather sunny, without being horrendously humid, for once.
Did the blues do all that badly?
I think 'inconclusive' is the best summary of the results this time around - there honestly seems to have been bad signs for all parties, but also some genuinely good signs too, even Corbyn and the LDs.
LOL After the pollsters got the 2015 GE so wrong, why is Mike now saying that, instead of the pollsters getting the 2016 Locals wrong, CON and UKIP underperformed? Is it not just possible that the pollsters are still getting it wrong but in a different direction now?
Either way, not good news for Cameron.
I think UKIP getting fewer view votes than the libdems is underperforming.
We mustn't forget the Lib Dems' fantastic performances in Wales and London either.
The libdems did shockingly in both. But add up all their votes, and compare them to 2012 (which was their highpoint last parliament), and they have improved markedly, and comfortably beaten ukip in terms of total votes.
I think if you'd offered them this result six months ago, they'd have taken it.
The performance overall was inconclusive for everyone - we need Europe out of the way. If wevote to stay, the economic blip of the moment could easily and rapidly reverse. If not, the country faces chaos with regard to Scotland, the economy and so much more. The Conservatives will not win if they stay divided and/or move to the right. Look at how well they did in Scotland with a strong, modern centre right slant. It's really not rocket science.
Look at how well the Tories did in Scotland with a leader who favours Remain ;-)
But I agree Super Thursday was a score draw. A score draw is progress for the LDs.
The Scottish Tory performance is this time the one that needs to be heard by the party in the rest of the UK. The obsession over Europe is the comfort zone for the Tory right and it's a killer for the future electoral prospects. Very sad - it maybe they need to learn the lessons of the 90s all over again.
LOL After the pollsters got the 2015 GE so wrong, why is Mike now saying that, instead of the pollsters getting the 2016 Locals wrong, CON and UKIP underperformed? Is it not just possible that the pollsters are still getting it wrong but in a different direction now?
Either way, not good news for Cameron.
I think UKIP getting fewer view votes than the libdems is underperforming.
Mr. Tyson, well, not everywhere has the temperate climate of sunny Yorkshire
Mr. Urquhart, Chairman Corbyn cannot be expected to ignore the International People's Manhole Cover Annual General Meeting just because of a trifling continental vote.
I don't think it the right time of year to head to Venezuela....
Well there is little doubt that Corbyn doesn't really believe much in the EU.
Bizarrely the MoS says he's going to do a TV debate with Boris where he'll be representing REMAIN!
Makes sense, I'm not entirely convinced either of them are true believers in their stated position, it having more to do with party management, so they should be evenly balanced.
Mr. Gin, worth recalling Boris has, historically, been atrocious at debates, and they didn't harm Corbyn during the Labour leadership election [admittedly, the general UK electorate and the Labour three pounders are not one and the same].
As soon as libdems distance themselves from tories they start making progress...
That's not strictly true. I assume the uptick in LD performance in Scotland was due to a residual affinity to the Libs since the Clearances plus the post-Sindyref aestivation of SLab: there is a gap for a pro-Unionist anti-SNP vote and the LDs may be well placed to so expand in Scotland.
But these factors are not necessarily true in, say, South Wales or the South-West of England.
The antiLabour vote in South Wales is being filled by UKIP (OK, Plaid as well - Leanne taking Rhondda is like Corbyn taking Horsham), not LD. Similarly in the South-West of England, the antiCon vote is being filled by UKIP, not LD.
Is it true that UKIP are the opposition to the Tories in the West Country?
If we look at the PCC election in Devon and Cornwall, UKIP came fourth with 16.9% of the vote with Corbyns Labour in a strong second and gaining an increased majority in Exeter.
Mr. Gin, worth recalling Boris has, historically, been atrocious at debates, and they didn't harm Corbyn during the Labour leadership election [admittedly, the general UK electorate and the Labour three pounders are not one and the same].
Mr. Gin, worth recalling Boris has, historically, been atrocious at debates, and they didn't harm Corbyn during the Labour leadership election [admittedly, the general UK electorate and the Labour three pounders are not one and the same].
Corbyn comes over very well at debates, and sticks to a consistent line. I would back him against Boris.
3. Leave wins by any margin. Civil War breaks outwith even members coming to blows. Half the Tory party membership leave to form NEW TORIES. Cameron and Osborne resign after many top Tories refuse to serve under them.
That sounds the most fun out of the three options!
'The Lib Dems are delighted with the progress. Their 370 seats is six times that achieved by UKIP and not far from half the Tory total.'
The Lib Dems gained 44 seats out of the 280 they lost in 2012.Down to one assembly member in London & overtaken by UKIP,almost wiped out in Wales with 0ne assembly member and again overtaken by UKIP and stood still in Scotland.
I am aware of what the Labour Party..or some of it ..stands for..similarly with the Cons..the UKIP are easy to read, so are the Greens ..but WTF do the LDs stand for..they are so woolly and vague,always clinging on to some policy the others have produced..and incessantly claiming the victim role...pathetic..
I would expect better from PB than to fall into the fallacy of quoting absolute seat numbers as if they prove something.
Well they show how much influence the party will have in local government. That is at the very least something. I'd have said it was quite important personally.
Excellent- I've just checked the election results and Cambridge becomes another viable place for me to come and return to live in- a NTT, a No Tory Town....a pleasant place where I know my neighbours are decent people.
Alongside, Oxford and Norwich I can spend the days wandering the streets, smiling serenely, knowing there isn't a Tory in sight, and if there are, they are such shameful, wretched creatures that they keep their miserable views to themselves. Places where the Newsagents stock only Guardians. Bliss.
We mustn't forget the Lib Dems' fantastic performances in Wales and London either.
The libdems did shockingly in both. But add up all their votes, and compare them to 2012 (which was their highpoint last parliament), and they have improved markedly, and comfortably beaten ukip in terms of total votes. I think if you'd offered them this result six months ago, they'd have taken it.
I accept that most LD activists think these elections were good for them. But to now be 5th in Wales, 5th in Scotland and 5th in London is not a good place to be in the 3 most important mainland poltical establishments outside the HoC. 44 more english councillors is a drop in the ocean, being circa 5% of the non-LD seats up for election. "Oh look we won 5% of what was on offer".... Gaining 5% of the available seats will take them decades to get back to the 5,000 they once had. At a time when the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives are in a parlous state, the LDs should have done better.
Comments
Rats! Sniped again.
Third like SLAB.
The only governments that have done worse in the first local elections of a cycle were the Tories in 1993 (31%) and Labour in 2006 (26%) - both of whom, of course, went onto lose the nest general election. It is also WELL down on the 38% that the Tories got in 2011.
I also have a philosophical problem with this thread. Comparing a real event with a prediction is not "underperforming" nor "overperforming". Reality did not agree with Prof Rallings's prediction. That's not reality's fault...
Having 15% everywhere and winning no seats doesn't help have influence getting your policies implemented - as UKIP have found..
The blue team's worst performance over the past 6 years by far.
Although Zac was a poor choice as theTories' nominee for London Mayor, I doubt whether anyone else could have won against this backdrop.
Either way, not good news for Cameron.
Tories may have won a majority and will win in 2020 but they have to do more to get rid of the rich party status if they want to win in the very long term.
Tbf, the pollsters were pretty good this time on London and Wales, although they were a bit out on Scotland. YouGov also came close to the local elections voteshares, with their recent Labour leads of 1-3%.
Thanks to Cameron and Osborne the Conservatives are one decent Labour leader away from oblivion...
Thogh I hear that the minarets at St Pauls will take a little longer.
And lets not get started on Camerons "renegotiation" fiasco...
But I agree Super Thursday was a score draw. A score draw is progress for the LDs.
But these factors are not necessarily true in, say, South Wales or the South-West of England.
The antiLabour vote in South Wales is being filled by UKIP (OK, Plaid as well - Leanne taking Rhondda is like Corbyn taking Horsham), not LD. Similarly in the South-West of England, the antiCon vote is being filled by UKIP, not LD.
Therein there are 3 possibilies:
1. Remain wins by more than 10% and most, (not all) of the Tories creep back into the main body.
2. Remain wins by less than 4% and the the main body loses members and and some MP's to form New Tories.
3. Leave wins by any margin. Civil War breaks outwith even members coming to blows. Half the Tory party membership leave to form NEW TORIES. Cameron and Osborne resign after many top Tories refuse to serve under them.
It's fascinating to watch.
Rather sunny, without being horrendously humid, for once.
Did the blues do all that badly?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3579595/Jeremy-Corbyn-infuriates-Shadow-Cabinet-planning-HOLIDAY-just-days-June-s-EU-referendum.html
I don't think it the right time of year to head to Venezuela....
Re the conservatives, that's a harder call.
I think if you'd offered them this result six months ago, they'd have taken it.
UK. The obsession over Europe is the comfort zone for the Tory right and it's a killer for the future electoral prospects. Very sad - it maybe they need to learn the lessons of the 90s all over again.
Mr. Urquhart, Chairman Corbyn cannot be expected to ignore the International People's Manhole Cover Annual General Meeting just because of a trifling continental vote.
If we look at the PCC election in Devon and Cornwall, UKIP came fourth with 16.9% of the vote with Corbyns Labour in a strong second and gaining an increased majority in Exeter.
http://m.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/PCC-Elections-2016-Alison-Hernandez-wins-Devon/story-29240218-detail/story.html
UKIP were a distant third (near equal with 4th place Labour) in Dorset.
http://m.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14476265.UPDATE__Martyn_Underhill_re_elected_as_Dorset_s_PCC/
And a distant fourth in Avon and Somerset, behind an independent and both Labour and Tory.
http://www.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/count-results
The Lib Dems gained 44 seats out of the 280 they lost in 2012.Down to one assembly member in London & overtaken by UKIP,almost wiped out in Wales with 0ne assembly member and again overtaken by UKIP and stood still in Scotland.
How low do you want to set the bar ?
If Corbyn beats Boris, the latter's leadership hopes would effectively end. Leading the way to victory is great. Leading the way over a cliff is not.
If Vardy can get two goals against Chelsea then he can pass Kane too. That is worth a very tidy sum (though the ew should pay off nicely too)
Alongside, Oxford and Norwich I can spend the days wandering the streets, smiling serenely, knowing there isn't a Tory in sight, and if there are, they are such shameful, wretched creatures that they keep their miserable views to themselves. Places where the Newsagents stock only Guardians. Bliss.