Visiting his local polling station in Derby, a friend of mine had to brake hard - Margaret Beckett walked out in front of his car without looking! No harm caused, fortunately.
*Interesting*
Sounds as though she is flustered. Like other PB'ers to see Labour down at the 150-160 level you wince at some of the seats that would potentially go - Bolsover, Durhan NW, Hemsworth?, Blyth Valley?
And to think that Margaret Beckett was instrumental in getting Jezza on the leadership ballot a couple of years ago.............
More than anybody else, Ma Beckett will own those Labour loses tonight. I mean, she was briefly Labour leader after John Smith died. What was she thinking, going all "aw, bless..." on the Hard Left?
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Given the whole Corbyn campaign has been he is for the many and the Tories are for the few.
What is the defence if we assume the Tories get a total vote which is perhaps 1 to 2 million more than his party?
just think... Tm will need to get 2.8million more votes than DC did in 2015 just to get the same number of votes that John Major did in 1992. If she does it'll be a MUCH bigger majority though
My other hot prediction is that Labour will end up with fewer seats than the Exit Poll initially predicts.
That I agree with for the reasons I have said but I think 180 is excessively pessimistic, let alone 160. I expect Labour to be around 200. Above or below will be quite important psychologically.
I would have thought the 209 seats they won in the 1983 election might hold more psychological resonance.
I look at the list of seats that need to fall for Labour even to be down at 180 and I just shake my head. I just can't see any of them with a Tory MP.
If they do fall, it is a political earthquake that Corbyn will have unleashed (for it will be his doing, and not that of Theresa May).
One of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will be safe in place for the next two years after this evening, perhaps both. Neither deserves to be.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Don't apologise, glad you're feeling happier today, and I know feel happy on my sell of Labour seats.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Thank you for this info. And once again, get some rest after this!
My favourite Wigan joke which bears re-telling while we're waiting for the exit poll. Not suitable for snowflakes.
A St Helens man goes to Wigan and sees a little girl crying her eyes out at the side of the road. "What's wrong, little girl?" he asks. "It's my mummy," she says. "I've lost her and can't find her anywhere." "Don't worry," he says. "We'll soon find her. What's she like?" "Bingo and cock," comes the answer.
It's a scouse joke, so they switch towns if they're in Wigan.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Thanks David,
You've worked hard on this one and represent the very best of the Tories. Relax, have a beer and wait for the exit poll.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Thank you for this info. And once again, get some rest after this!
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
Used to live there as a teenager. We used to say we could see three neighbours - when the fog lifted.
When the Tory manifesto came out I said that it was time to get some unpalatable stuff on the table and a hit in the polls wouldn't hurt too much. . I'm sure the same calculation was done by the Tories. The joker was May's poor campaigning performance. I don't think it's so bad as to prevent an increased majority but it could have been better and it has also revealed May's Achilles heel, public speaking - strange in a politician
I am no fan of TM but at least she is offering a serious platform. Her style is a bit wooden but I think people would rather have someone tell you the truth rather than the Blair and to a lesser extent Cameron who were all polish and media focused. If you look back at dynamic PMs they are usually followed by technocratic types. Think: Macmillan followed by Home or Wilson followed by Callaghan or Thatcher followed by Major or Blair followed by Brown and now Cameron followed by May. Politics is a cycle, if Labour can get rid of Corbyn they should be in for a period of rejuvenation as the pendulum swings against the Tories.
May is not telling the truth on Brexit.
Is anyone?
That song 'liar liar' can be applied to both May and Corbyn.
Probably my favourite Jim Carrey movie
I still like "The Mask", especially when the dog put the mask on. I nearly wet myself laughing at that when I saw it in the cinema.
At my polling station in Birkhill tonight it was bouncing. I am usually there at the crack of so it was an unusual time but I have never seen it so busy.
Bit weird really. Dundee West is not marginal, no one canvassed us, no tellers, no obvious GOTV operation. My guess is that the SNP storm troopers are all in Angus and Perth and North Perthshire. But people are voting, no doubt about it.
You'd describe it as risk then?
Post work is always the busiest time when I've voted
No chance. Minor and completely unimportant battle for 2nd place but the SNP being under 50% would be a surprise.
My other hot prediction is that Labour will end up with fewer seats than the Exit Poll initially predicts.
That I agree with for the reasons I have said but I think 180 is excessively pessimistic, let alone 160. I expect Labour to be around 200. Above or below will be quite important psychologically.
I would have thought the 209 seats they won in the 1983 election might hold more psychological resonance.
I look at the list of seats that need to fall for Labour even to be down at 180 and I just shake my head. I just can't see any of them with a Tory MP.
If they do fall, it is a political earthquake that Corbyn will have unleashed (for it will be his doing, and not that of Theresa May).
One of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will be safe in place for the next two years after this evening, perhaps both. Neither deserves to be.
Agree entirely. Thanks on behalf of this conservative voter for all your efforts and good luck in Wakefield!!
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
Used to live there as a teenager. We used to say we could see three neighbours - when the fog lifted.
That sounds about right. It is nice if you like that sort of thing, but it is not for me.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Thank you for this info. And once again, get some rest after this!
Rest? Am off to the count at 9.30 and will be up till god knows when. Am posting from the chippy now :-)
My other hot prediction is that Labour will end up with fewer seats than the Exit Poll initially predicts.
That I agree with for the reasons I have said but I think 180 is excessively pessimistic, let alone 160. I expect Labour to be around 200. Above or below will be quite important psychologically.
I would have thought the 209 seats they won in the 1983 election might hold more psychological resonance.
I look at the list of seats that need to fall for Labour even to be down at 180 and I just shake my head. I just can't see any of them with a Tory MP.
If they do fall, it is a political earthquake that Corbyn will have unleashed (for it will be his doing, and not that of Theresa May).
One of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will be safe in place for the next two years after this evening, perhaps both. Neither deserves to be.
Thanks for the update David - I must admit that and the 'kaboom' rumours combined to see me bottle some of my position at first last night before then putting another £1k down on Tory Maj as bravado.... will likely cost me a few hundred in potential profit due to that BUT that is as naught compared to my thanks for all your efforts supporting the blue team, when this campaign they've not done that much to deserve it from you. Respect!
Whatever May's presumed failures as a campaigner, she could be single handedly responsible for hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of votes that the Tories might not otherwise have got. That is not something to be treated lightly. The question is how she will go about trying to retain them.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable evening whatever your political views. I will be watching the BBC results show for as long as I can stay awake but I'll not be popping by PB as my personal preference is for the BBC results to be my one and only source of news on election nights... I suppose I like to watch it as an unfolding live drama untainted by spoilers.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Thank you for this info. And once again, get some rest after this!
Rest? Am off to the count at 9.30 and will be up till god knows when. Am posting from the chippy now :-)
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
My first car was an ex-National Rivers Authority Land Rover 110. It nearly killed me three times, including once when I was travelling over the tops between Chesterfield and Matlock on a foggy night and lost all electrics, including lights.
My brother had much more fun with his Land Rover, including the time he was on its roof and it rolled onto him. That's an impressive feat!
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Nothing to apologise about and thank you for the update.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable evening whatever your political views. I will be watching the BBC results show for as long as I can stay awake but I'll not be popping by PB as my personal preference is for the BBC results to be my one and only source of news on election nights... I suppose I like to watch it as an unfolding live drama untainted by spoilers.
I'll be sticking with them too.. hopefully they won't miss too many declarations this time! I don't think I could get away from PB though, nights like these are what it is made for!
3 young voters in front of me at the Marsh polling station. Looked like Labour voters. Rowley at the bottom of the ballot paper might have an effect. Maybe.
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
Used to live there as a teenager. We used to say we could see three neighbours - when the fog lifted.
That sounds about right. It is nice if you like that sort of thing, but it is not for me.
It's not nice when you don't like that sort of thing, but your parents decide to drag your moody teenage arse out into the middle of East Bumfuck Nowhere regardless!
In the services for a pee break...how's it looking for us anti-corbynites? Are there masses of photos from across the country on twitter of 1000 deep queues of yuff waiting to vote for the messiah?
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Nothing to apologise about and thank you for the update.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable evening whatever your political views. I will be watching the BBC results show for as long as I can stay awake but I'll not be popping by PB as my personal preference is for the BBC results to be my one and only source of news on election nights... I suppose I like to watch it as an unfolding live drama untainted by spoilers.
I'll be sticking with them too.. hopefully they won't miss too many declarations this time! I don't think I could get away from PB though, nights like these are what it is made for!
Yes... and not talking over the declarations that they do show would also be a great step forwards too. But I imagine with all the polling confusion this year it is going to be quite hard for the broadcasters to decide which declarations to show live once the results start coming thick and fast.
Why would anybody choose the BBC over Sky. Why curtice was still saying too close to call in the EU referendum and 2015 GE, Thrasher had already calculated the results and gone home.
In the services for a pee break...how's it looking for us anti-corbynites? Are there masses of photos from across the country on twitter of 1000 deep queues of yuff waiting to vote for the messiah?
PB Tories are just setting up the stage for their Sheffield Rally.
I miss her too - the site is much the poorer without her, she was after all a former Poster of the Year, which shouldn't be forgotten. I really imagined she and Rod Crosby would have been allowed back for the GE campaign, always assuming that they wished to return, which is probably doubtful now.
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
Used to live there as a teenager. We used to say we could see three neighbours - when the fog lifted.
That sounds about right. It is nice if you like that sort of thing, but it is not for me.
It's not nice when you don't like that sort of thing, but your parents decide to drag your moody teenage arse out into the middle of East Bumfuck Nowhere regardless!
I thought these days you lived on the extreme westerly edge of civilisation in a sort of Derbyshire-by-the-sea?
Just back from doing a few hours of GOTV in a marginal NW seat (I won't say which one because of not wanting to jinx things). I am puzzled by the CCHQ strategy, which involved us knocking up targeted non-Tories, and if this is what David Herdson was faced with last night I'm not surprised he wasn't impressed. Anyhow the biggest rumour is that the turnout on the University campus is lower than 2015. Make of that what you will!
Why would anybody choose the BBC over Sky. Why curtice was still saying too close to call in the EU referendum and 2015 GE, Thrasher had already calculated the results and gone home.
Hello all. Latest feedback after an afternoon's knocking up here in Wakefield.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
Nothing to apologise about and thank you for the update.
He says that at every election since he has been a commentator. In 2010 he said the tory campaign was all wrong despite the fact the Tories would have to win more seats than at any post war election and then again in 2015, he doubled down on the mistake. In international politics he said Trump could never win the Republican nomination and then after that the General Election. I don't think he understands how political parties work which is surprising as he worked for the Tories. He is more of an ideology person compared to a person who understands the machine required to win a election.
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
My first car was an ex-National Rivers Authority Land Rover 110. It nearly killed me three times, including once when I was travelling over the tops between Chesterfield and Matlock on a foggy night and lost all electrics, including lights.
My brother had much more fun with his Land Rover, including the time he was on its roof and it rolled onto him. That's an impressive feat!
I regularly drive past the Land Rover factory in Liverpool. There are plenty more of them to go around so tell your brother not to worry too much
Just back from doing a few hours of GOTV in a marginal NW seat (I won't say which one because of not wanting to jinx things). I am puzzled by the CCHQ strategy, which involved us knocking up targeted non-Tories, and if this is what David Herdson was faced with last night I'm not surprised he wasn't impressed. Anyhow the biggest rumour is that the turnout on the University campus is lower than 2015. Make of that what you will!
Well lots of universities the sttttuddennntsss have buggered off home. I was on a uni campus yesterday and it was a ghost town.
The question nobody seems to know the answer to is where are they registered to vote and have they.
Why would anybody choose the BBC over Sky. Why curtice was still saying too close to call in the EU referendum and 2015 GE, Thrasher had already calculated the results and gone home.
For me it depends on the graphics, best graphics get on the TV, second best on the laptop, ITV off.
Just been watching Ch4 News about Trump. I have to say whatever anyone might think about 'Leavers' in Hartlipool or any voter for any of our mainstream parties there's no way a chancer like Trump would have got anywhere near high office in this country. That's quite comforting when reflecting on election night.
He says that at every election since he has been a commentator. In 2010 he said the tory campaign was all wrong despite the fact the Tories would have to win more seats than at any post war election and then again in 2015, he doubled down on the mistake. In international politics he said Trump could never win the Republican nomination and then after that the General Election. I don't think he understands how political parties work which is surprising as he worked for the Tories. He is more of an ideology person compared to a person who understands the machine required to win a election.
At my polling station in Birkhill tonight it was bouncing. I am usually there at the crack of so it was an unusual time but I have never seen it so busy.
Bit weird really. Dundee West is not marginal, no one canvassed us, no tellers, no obvious GOTV operation. My guess is that the SNP storm troopers are all in Angus and Perth and North Perthshire. But people are voting, no doubt about it.
You'd describe it as risk then?
Post work is always the busiest time when I've voted
No chance. Minor and completely unimportant battle for 2nd place but the SNP being under 50% would be a surprise.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable evening whatever your political views. I will be watching the BBC results show for as long as I can stay awake but I'll not be popping by PB as my personal preference is for the BBC results to be my one and only source of news on election nights... I suppose I like to watch it as an unfolding live drama untainted by spoilers.
unfortunately they barely seem to both covering live declarations they are so busy speculating on what might happen with their guests if so and so happen and who'll do what with whom tomorrow - so you usually just get recorded results when they can tear themselves away from their 'fascinating' waffle.
The worst of it is when they break in to potentially interesting comments from Laura/Prof C because so and so is in his or her car on the way to their count, or walking in to their count etc etc. Helicopeters in the air all the way showing a car driving in the dark or early morning which is BORING as xxxx....
My Labour friend in the North West who first alerted me to the possibility that Leave were going to win it is nervous.
The voters that turned out then are turning out now.
But he's not sure who they are voting for.
Must be like a scene from Shaun Of The Dead.
Clearly you've been to Wigan then!
Mr Eagles! I had a nice meal in Wigan once. Well.... on the outskirts of Wigan..... err..... OK.... M6 services...
Tebay
best of the bunch, almost worth the trip by itself
It used to be. I stopped in it 2 or 3 years ago and it had declined noticeably. Twenty years ago, it was in competition with Killington Lake (on the other carriageway) and they were both very nice back then.
I have never quite got over the disappearance of the Little Chef on the Dumfries Ring Road where the A75 from Gretna takes a right turn. It used to be great for a cup of tea and some fish fingers for the kids.
I hope that everyone has an enjoyable evening whatever your political views. I will be watching the BBC results show for as long as I can stay awake but I'll not be popping by PB as my personal preference is for the BBC results to be my one and only source of news on election nights... I suppose I like to watch it as an unfolding live drama untainted by spoilers.
unfortunately they barely seem to both covering live declarations they are so busy speculating on what might happen with their guests if so and so happen and who'll do what with whom tomorrow - so you usually just get recorded results when they can tear themselves away from their 'fascinating' waffle.
The worst of it is when they break in to potentially interesting comments from Laura/Prof C because so and so is in his or her car on the way to their count, or walking in to their count etc etc. Helicopeters in the air all the way showing a car driving in the dark or early morning which is BORING as xxxx....
I may be going overboard too early.
There is a lot to be said for ITV's straightforward coverage. Results, results, results.
BBC is too preoccupied with Westminster village machinations (at least it was in 2015).
Going to flick between the channels again, especially when the BBC does loads of interviews instead of you know announcing results (the actual point of the broadcast).
Will check out Balls and Osborne a little on ITV, and if Labour are in for a pasting got to check Owen Jones's reaction of course. Actually Osborne's reaction might be interesting considering some of the attacks on May since he went to the Evening Standard. Of course I will be checking here as well
Snacks and drinks all ready, I think I can make it until at least 4 am, though the last two GE's it was like 8 am I went to bed.
Just been watching Ch4 News about Trump. I have to say whatever anyone might think about 'Leavers' in Hartlipool or any voter for any of our mainstream parties there's no way a chancer like Trump would have got anywhere near high office in this country. That's quite comforting when reflecting on election night.
If we had a nationwide Presidential election in the period 2011ish - EUref then I think that Farage would have done really quite well.
You could describe Farage as Trump without the spelling mistakes.
Mrs C, Yorkshire is a flourishing and bountiful land, nourished by the timely rain. Not a parched realm of nightmares, like Mordor.
Leave Derbyshire out of this.....
Derbyshire has been left out of everything since the dawn of civilisation.....
It is slowly creeping up on Sheffield though. It seems to get closer every time I go over Snake Pass.
It's a sneaky county, Derbyshire. You've got to watch it like a hawk....
It is so bleak up in the hills. If you car has a problem up there then you might as well be on the back of the moon as far as mobile phones are concerned.
Used to live there as a teenager. We used to say we could see three neighbours - when the fog lifted.
That sounds about right. It is nice if you like that sort of thing, but it is not for me.
It's not nice when you don't like that sort of thing, but your parents decide to drag your moody teenage arse out into the middle of East Bumfuck Nowhere regardless!
I thought these days you lived on the extreme westerly edge of civilisation in a sort of Derbyshire-by-the-sea?
Just got back from voting. Beautiful sunny evening here after a sporadically torrential day. Two observations: good to see a fair few younger* voters heading to the station, particularly in a fairly remote village; and I don't think I've ever voted at a GE where I've only had three candidates on the paper. I hadn't realised the Greens had stood down to support LD here; it's traditionally a strong seat for Green.
*obviously my definition of "younger" gets broader each election
Comments
The Greens have often claimed to be speaking for 'the people', not just 'people'.
The Tory vote is more solid than it appeared to me last night. Sorry again for the major wobble - stress, anger at the ineptitude of some of those running the campaign (and at the selfishness of one particular voter), exhaustion and what I think now must just have been a particularly misleading set of responses just pushed me into seriously doubting whether the Blue wall was holding. (but WHY did it have to happen to me on election eve?!?)
I now think that it pretty much is. There is still anger out there at some of the policies and a lack of enthusiasm for May but a mixture of pragmatism and fear of Corbyn should see the Tories home, if not by a huge margin.
Apologies again for being all over the place these last 24 hours.
(And again, only popping in here briefly as other stuff to do but after causing a few jitters last night, I felt I owed it to people here to report on what I'd found today.)
My favourite Wigan joke which bears re-telling while we're waiting for the exit poll. Not suitable for snowflakes.
A St Helens man goes to Wigan and sees a little girl crying her eyes out at the side of the road.
"What's wrong, little girl?" he asks.
"It's my mummy," she says. "I've lost her and can't find her anywhere."
"Don't worry," he says. "We'll soon find her. What's she like?"
"Bingo and cock," comes the answer.
It's a scouse joke, so they switch towns if they're in Wigan.
You've worked hard on this one and represent the very best of the Tories. Relax, have a beer and wait for the exit poll.
hope you are right re Wakefield!
Good luck!
Have you been to see the Wonder Woman movie yet?
Presume you mean after Friday though.
https://twitter.com/virtuallydead/status/872476247384887296
https://twitter.com/montie/status/872735243391913984
https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/872884153917865984
My brother had much more fun with his Land Rover, including the time he was on its roof and it rolled onto him. That's an impressive feat!
LAB piling up votes in heartlands methinks
F all anywhere it needs them.
75 majority to Weak n Wobbly
Rowley at the bottom of the ballot paper might have an effect. Maybe.
We all get candiditis....
best of the bunch, almost worth the trip by itself
If anyone wants a break from politics, the first Top of the Pops of 1984 is on BBC4 now.
I will get my coat & hat
I really imagined she and Rod Crosby would have been allowed back for the GE campaign, always assuming that they wished to return, which is probably doubtful now.
The question nobody seems to know the answer to is where are they registered to vote and have they.
Con XLII %
Lab XXVIII %
The worst of it is when they break in to potentially interesting comments from Laura/Prof C because so and so is in his or her car on the way to their count, or walking in to their count etc etc. Helicopeters in the air all the way showing a car driving in the dark or early morning which is BORING as xxxx....
I may be going overboard too early.
I have never quite got over the disappearance of the Little Chef on the Dumfries Ring Road where the A75 from Gretna takes a right turn. It used to be great for a cup of tea and some fish fingers for the kids.
I may lose money on it but, if Corbyn wins, I am buggered anyway so what the hell.
BBC is too preoccupied with Westminster village machinations (at least it was in 2015).
Will check out Balls and Osborne a little on ITV, and if Labour are in for a pasting got to check Owen Jones's reaction of course. Actually Osborne's reaction might be interesting considering some of the attacks on May since he went to the Evening Standard. Of course I will be checking here as well
Snacks and drinks all ready, I think I can make it until at least 4 am, though the last two GE's it was like 8 am I went to bed.
You could describe Farage as Trump without the spelling mistakes.
*obviously my definition of "younger" gets broader each election
https://twitter.com/_AngelaLansbury/status/872559410379444224
I actually think this is quite a cool celeb endorsement. Obviously runs in the family.