I think Theresa May needs to get a grip. Her insistence on not giving Parliament a vote, not spelling out (even in the broadest sense) what Brexit entails and having a tin ear on domestic matters is going to weigh the government down too much. She either needs a fresh mandate from the public or she needs to deliver the 2015 manifesto which made a commitment to staying in the single market.
We all know the UKIP candidate will be pushing for a leave now, hard as possible Brexit. What will the Conservative party's line be? Labour, of course, will be utterly irrelevant. A nice rehearsal for our upcoming general election.
Wouldn't it be better for the type of Brexit he wants if he stayed in Parliament?
Yes seems odd - if he was in a marginal it might make sense, because the government could lose a seat, but here they are going to easily hold it, and all that will change is that the government loses a critic.
Where are those PBers who assured me that Theresa May had a rock solid majority in Parliament because of the DUP, Sinn Fein Abstentions etc
The issue isn't getting Article 50 through the Commons. It's
a) Not being amended to death in the Commons b) The Lords
The Leader of the Labour Peers has said they will not block Brexit.
Still the possibility of forcing May to reveal her full negotiating position or a second referendum clause (both of which would result in a worse deal).
or she needs to deliver the 2015 manifesto which made a commitment to staying in the single market.
The only way she can guarantee that is to announce that she won't be invoking Article 50 at all, but she welcomes any constructive proposals from the EU...
''Theresa May is a pound shop Gordon Brown, when even Brexit supporting MPs are quitting over handling of Brexit you know she's messed up big style ''
Maybe you should have gone for Leadsom, after all?
Nope, Leadsom would have been worse.
Was it you TSE that said the only good thing about the (very glamorous) Theresa- I added a little bit of description- is that she isn't Angela Leadsome?
We all know the UKIP candidate will be pushing for a leave now, hard as possible Brexit. What will the Conservative party's line be? Labour, of course, will be utterly irrelevant. A nice rehearsal for our upcoming general election.
Will UKIP even run? Will they want to possibly dilute the Con majority given Labour and the Lib Dems want to frustrate or reverse th Brexit vote.
For what its worth, May always going to encounter these sort of difficulties. Cameron entirely to blame for calling a referendum he had no intention of losing. We are seeing the consequences of a negligent failure to plan for all eventualities.
Saying that, May needs a mandate of her own. She'll get that if she goes for a GE now.
For what its worth, May always going to encounter these sort of difficulties. Cameron entirely to blame for calling a referendum he had no intention of losing. We are seeing the consequences of a negligent failure to plan for all eventualities.
Saying that, May needs a mandate of her own. She'll get that if she goes for a GE now.
Perhaps they, and May in particular, should have spend less time playing and dressing up at the Spectator awards.
They could have formulated a response to the court case and organised whips to manage their backbenchers.
It's what not having an opposition leads to. It's no good for the country and ultimately it's no good for the Tories.
You can pin much on Corbyn, but this is not his fault. What we are seeing are the fault-lines within the Tory party and some incompetence at the top of party.
or she needs to deliver the 2015 manifesto which made a commitment to staying in the single market.
The only way she can guarantee that is to announce that she won't be invoking Article 50 at all, but she welcomes any constructive proposals from the EU...
Perhaps this will help LD and Labour come to an agreement - Labour could certainly do with no LDs here to fend off the approaching kippers.
Will Farage stand? This is his chance.
Nah - he's got big bucks waiting for him on Trump TV surely. There's no interest for him being in Parliament now - he's won his war, and if there's any backsliding he can just as easily get his voice heard from outside parliament.
''Theresa May is a pound shop Gordon Brown, when even Brexit supporting MPs are quitting over handling of Brexit you know she's messed up big style ''
Maybe you should have gone for Leadsom, after all?
Nope, Leadsom would have been worse.
Was it you TSE that said the only good thing about the (very glamorous) Theresa- I added a little bit of description- is that she isn't Angela Leadsome?
Where are those PBers who assured me that Theresa May had a rock solid majority in Parliament because of the DUP, Sinn Fein Abstentions etc
The issue isn't getting Article 50 through the Commons. It's
a) Not being amended to death in the Commons b) The Lords
The Leader of the Labour Peers has said they will not block Brexit.
Still the possibility of forcing May to reveal her full negotiating position or a second referendum clause (both of which would result in a worse deal).
Exactly how long after the first meeting of the negotiations do you imagine each party's position will remain unclear?
The EU27 haven't said there will be no running commentary.
Perhaps they, and May in particular, should have spend less time playing and dressing up at the Spectator awards.
They could have formulated a response to the court case and organised whips to manage their backbenchers.
It's what not having an opposition leads to. It's no good for the country and ultimately it's no good for the Tories.
You can pin much on Corbyn, but this is not his fault. What we are seeing are the fault-lines within the Tory party and some incompetence at the top of party.
Yes, but it's all consequence free politically. That's the point.
We all know the UKIP candidate will be pushing for a leave now, hard as possible Brexit. What will the Conservative party's line be? Labour, of course, will be utterly irrelevant. A nice rehearsal for our upcoming general election.
Will UKIP even run? Will they want to possibly dilute the Con majority given Labour and the Lib Dems want to frustrate or reverse th Brexit vote.
I'd be shocked if they didn't. It's a huge opportunity for them.
Anyone know what Stephen Phillips ‘significant policy differences’ are. – Isn't he a Leaver?
Toys out of the pram. He rejects the way the government has gone about this. Not unreasonable, but my guess is that he isn't a leaver and just said that to get the seat in the first place.
To lose one MP may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.
It's quite bizarre that the Tories, who have found themselves in such a strong position, are in such a state of disarray. Perhaps it's symptomatic of being too powerful, perhaps it's symptomatic of the general malaise in UK politics, perhaps it's symptomatic of TM not really being a very good leader.
Because of the depression in politics no-one is probably very keen to do so, but perhaps this would be the ideal time for someone to start a new political party.
Zac won't vote against the Conservatives on anything other than Heathow and Phillips is either staying on or will be replaced by another Conservative (would be interesting to see if a europhile or brexiter was selected).
To lose one MP may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.
It's quite bizarre that the Tories, who have found themselves in such a strong position, are in such a state of disarray. Perhaps it's symptomatic of being too powerful, perhaps it's symptomatic of the general malaise in UK politics, perhaps it's symptomatic of TM not really being a very good leader.
Because of the depression in politics no-one is probably very keen to do so, but perhaps this would be the ideal time for someone to start a new political party.
No doubt it's random chance but it's curious that there have been so many by-elections recently in greater Manchester and now this one is adjacent to Newark.
We all know the UKIP candidate will be pushing for a leave now, hard as possible Brexit. What will the Conservative party's line be? Labour, of course, will be utterly irrelevant. A nice rehearsal for our upcoming general election.
Will UKIP even run? Will they want to possibly dilute the Con majority given Labour and the Lib Dems want to frustrate or reverse th Brexit vote.
I'd be shocked if they didn't. It's a huge opportunity for them.
I wouldn't. UKIP are in turmoil, if they fail to come second it might hasten their decline. Tactically not standing and supporting the Tories makes sense here, possibly splitting the Brexit vote and letting another remain MP into the house is reason enough to stand down.
Doesn't two vacancies reduce the Tory majority to 10? The majority only drops by two if a seat is lost to another party.
On topic, it is helpful for the Conservatives that the only MPs resigning are ones with 20k+ majorities.
Assuming that Phillips is not standing again - it doesn't sound as if he is - I should have thought that this will be a routine hold with a Leave candidate selected quickly.
Anyone know what Stephen Phillips ‘significant policy differences’ are. – Isn't he a Leaver?
Toys out of the pram. He rejects the way the government has gone about this. Not unreasonable, but my guess is that he isn't a leaver and just said that to get the seat in the first place.
Think this is spot on, there are quite a few Tory 'Leavers' in strong leave areas who lied to get the nomination. Likewise quite a few nominal 'Remainers' who thought they were picking the winning side over personal views.
Doesn't two vacancies reduce the Tory majority to 10? The majority only drops by two if a seat is lost to another party.
On topic, it is helpful for the Conservatives that the only MPs resigning are ones with 20k+ majorities.
Assuming that Phillips is not standing again - it doesn't sound as if he is - I should have thought that this will be a routine hold with a Leave candidate selected quickly.
Well, Zac's seat is lost since we're not defending it, but his "replacement" isn't in the Commons yet. So 10 is right for now, down to 9 after Richmond, probably back up to 10 after Sleaford, probably up to 110 by May.
To lose one MP may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.
It's quite bizarre that the Tories, who have found themselves in such a strong position, are in such a state of disarray. Perhaps it's symptomatic of being too powerful, perhaps it's symptomatic of the general malaise in UK politics, perhaps it's symptomatic of TM not really being a very good leader.
Because of the depression in politics no-one is probably very keen to do so, but perhaps this would be the ideal time for someone to start a new political party.
She's lost three MPs in less than 2 months.
How many of them were "losses" is debatable.....what is it with millionaire public school boys?
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
The irony is that many of the first SNP seats to fall will actually be their pre-surge seats, like Banff & Buchan, from back when they were Tartan Tories.
This just seems a bit weird. More to this than meets the eye?
I think he's probably a secret remainer and isn't pleased with the way Brexit is proceeding. He also has a pretty decent second job so walking away isn't a big deal. It's an easy Con hold.
The Conservative surge from Scotland spells awful news for Ayrshire turnip futures .....
But great news for John McCain ....
I note in the middle class England battle there was very little change in Eastleigh or Reigate (although Lab/UKIP doing badly in seats they were third/fourth).
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
Twitter Philip Sim @BBCPhilipSim 9m9 minutes ago One Tory gain from the SNP, one technical gain from Lib Dems (although former co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was sitting as an independent)
We all know the UKIP candidate will be pushing for a leave now, hard as possible Brexit. What will the Conservative party's line be? Labour, of course, will be utterly irrelevant. A nice rehearsal for our upcoming general election.
Will UKIP even run? Will they want to possibly dilute the Con majority given Labour and the Lib Dems want to frustrate or reverse th Brexit vote.
Given Ukip's response yesterday it's not clear they have much time for the law! I see them standing. Fascinating stuff though.
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
Twitter Philip Sim @BBCPhilipSim 9m9 minutes ago One Tory gain from the SNP, one technical gain from Lib Dems (although former co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was sitting as an independent)
Ruth is bringing the Scottish Tories off life support.
Anyone know what Stephen Phillips ‘significant policy differences’ are. – Isn't he a Leaver?
Toys out of the pram. He rejects the way the government has gone about this. Not unreasonable, but my guess is that he isn't a leaver and just said that to get the seat in the first place.
Hmm you may be right. Born in Chiswick and lives in Hampstead, which is not exactly a leaver hotbed.
''Yes UKIP were 6% to 8% down yet again in all the by-elections, except those where they hadn't stood before. ''
Point conceded. But you don;t vote UKIP for local matters. You vote UKIP to put the sh8ts up the government on a 'look what we could do, if we wanted' basis.
As I said yesterday, we need a General Election, especially after the Court ruling and it's heavy emphasis on Parliamentary Sovereignty. A majority of 12 is not going to be enough for Brexit.
"Soft" Brexit is a con, if we stay in the Single market, keep FoM, stay in the jurisdiction of the ECJ and carrying on paying into the EU budget. That's not soft Brexit, it's not any kind of Brexit at all.
Anyone know what Stephen Phillips ‘significant policy differences’ are. – Isn't he a Leaver?
Toys out of the pram. He rejects the way the government has gone about this. Not unreasonable, but my guess is that he isn't a leaver and just said that to get the seat in the first place.
You may have a point, his article for the Guardian last month certainly gives the impression of a reluctant Leave supporter, shocked by the Brexit result.
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
Twitter Philip Sim @BBCPhilipSim 9m9 minutes ago One Tory gain from the SNP, one technical gain from Lib Dems (although former co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was sitting as an independent)
Ruth is bringing the Scottish Tories off life support.
She'd be wasted at Westminster.
I don't know, put her in Number 10. Definitely not wasted then!
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
Twitter Philip Sim @BBCPhilipSim 9m9 minutes ago One Tory gain from the SNP, one technical gain from Lib Dems (although former co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was sitting as an independent)
Ruth is bringing the Scottish Tories off life support.
She'd be wasted at Westminster.
The SNP and their ongoing quest for independence are bringing the Scottish Tories off life support, via Newton's Third Law of Motion. But Ruth is absolutely accelerating the process.
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
Imagine the scene in 2026: Labour could be complaining that they'll never win a UK-wide general election again because of the Tories' block of Scottish seats.
"Soft" Brexit is a con, if we stay in the Single market, keep FoM, stay in the jurisdiction of the ECJ and carrying on paying into the EU budget. That's not soft Brexit, it's not any kind of Brexit at all.
UKIP should stand in areas where the Lab, Con or Lib Dem MP is Remain and in the constituencies where the candidate (likely winner) is Leave they should not field a candidate, simple as that.
The Conservative surge from Scotland spells awful news for Ayrshire turnip futures .....
But great news for John McCain ....
I note in the middle class England battle there was very little change in Eastleigh or Reigate (although Lab/UKIP doing badly in seats they were third/fourth).
The Conservative surge from Scotland spells awful news for Ayrshire turnip futures .....
But great news for John McCain ....
I note in the middle class England battle there was very little change in Eastleigh or Reigate (although Lab/UKIP doing badly in seats they were third/fourth).
Wow, Tories finally developing a real base in rural north east and south Scotland now, as Labour lose one. Go Ruth!
Twitter Philip Sim @BBCPhilipSim 9m9 minutes ago One Tory gain from the SNP, one technical gain from Lib Dems (although former co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was sitting as an independent)
Ruth is bringing the Scottish Tories off life support.
She'd be wasted at Westminster.
She's also a soft Leaver, so would have no chance of being anything other than a very backbench MP.
Comments
Maybe you should have gone for Leadsom, after all?
Perhaps they, and May in particular, should have spend less time playing and dressing up at the Spectator awards.
They could have formulated a response to the court case and organised whips to manage their backbenchers.
We all know the UKIP candidate will be pushing for a leave now, hard as possible Brexit. What will the Conservative party's line be? Labour, of course, will be utterly irrelevant. A nice rehearsal for our upcoming general election.
General Election. TMay can get clear mandate for A50. Labour can get rid of Corbyn.
David Cameron went for 2016 referendum in part because he didn't want the rest of the Parliament to be dominated by the referendum.
If it wasn't you it is still a very good quote...
Saying that, May needs a mandate of her own. She'll get that if she goes for a GE now.
Saying that, May needs a mandate of her own. She'll get that if she goes for a GE now.
The EU27 haven't said there will be no running commentary.
Hehe, marvellous!
BTW....can someone please tell me if Lincolnshire has produced anyone of any note in the whole history of our great nation?
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/new-year-honour-for-councillor-marianne-overton/118970.article
She seems to be quite highly regarded at the LGA
It's quite bizarre that the Tories, who have found themselves in such a strong position, are in such a state of disarray. Perhaps it's symptomatic of being too powerful, perhaps it's symptomatic of the general malaise in UK politics, perhaps it's symptomatic of TM not really being a very good leader.
Because of the depression in politics no-one is probably very keen to do so, but perhaps this would be the ideal time for someone to start a new political party.
https://twitter.com/bbcphilipsim/status/794503277262110720
https://twitter.com/britainelects/status/794503162069680128
So Idon't think much will change.
http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2016/11/03/tonights-local-by-election-previewed-by-harry-hayfield/
On topic, it is helpful for the Conservatives that the only MPs resigning are ones with 20k+ majorities.
Assuming that Phillips is not standing again - it doesn't sound as if he is - I should have thought that this will be a routine hold with a Leave candidate selected quickly.
Stephen Phillips's "irreconcilable differences" with Govt included Brexit court case and child refugees
Isaac Newton. Arguably the greatest scientist who ever lived (and as mad as a hatter).
Tennyson.
But great news for John McCain ....
Tennyson
John Wesley
Isaac Newton
William Cecil.
Alfred Lord Tennyson.
John Whitgift
Guy Gibson
William Marwood (invented the Long Drop)
Sybil Thorndike
Also, some "Borises" who go by their Christian names.
Hugh of Lincoln.
Aaron of Lincoln.
etc
and recently
Nicholas Parsons
Colin Dexter
Patricia Hodge
Sam Cam (!)
A well-wikipedia'd county.
Philip Sim @BBCPhilipSim 9m9 minutes ago
One Tory gain from the SNP, one technical gain from Lib Dems (although former co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes was sitting as an independent)
She'd be wasted at Westminster.
Normal human beings can recognise a non sequitur when they see one.
Point conceded. But you don;t vote UKIP for local matters. You vote UKIP to put the sh8ts up the government on a 'look what we could do, if we wanted' basis.
"Soft" Brexit is a con, if we stay in the Single market, keep FoM, stay in the jurisdiction of the ECJ and carrying on paying into the EU budget. That's not soft Brexit, it's not any kind of Brexit at all.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/11/we-voted-brexit-keep-parliament-sovereign-wont-be-gagged
Absolutely, and that is what the remainers want.
The Tory Party and Parliament is losing a pro Single market not obsessed by immigration Leaver.
Britain Elects @britainelects 12h12 hours ago
Longlevens (Gloucester) result:
CON: 46.2% (+3.7)
LDEM: 36.9% (+23.7)
LAB: 9.7% (-8.2)
UKIP: 7.2% (-6.6)
I'm not sure how that adds up, where did the LibDems +23.7% come from? A bit from Lab and UKIP but mostly from somewhere else (Green or Independent?)
Remember they had a pro-Brexit Tory, who just resigned...
Labour being hollowed out further, something positive for the Lib Dems but no gain. Lab should have taken a chunk of the Green vote.