politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Alastair Meeks reflects on last night’s events
Thursday night’s drama was hugely enjoyable. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a series of unfolding surprises. It’s led us to a whole new political landscape, with a whole new range of political problems to chew over.
I have made some progress in the last two years because I have become much quicker to recognise that I might be wrong. This didn’t just save me money this time, it made me money.
I don't think you should underestimate this skill. I'm up nearly £900 because I realised the value was with Labour. I wasn't expecting them to do as well as they did, but it became clear that the market was underestimating their chances.
You know if there is another election fairly soon Labour can just put out that same manifesto maybe a couple of tweaks here and there.
You CANNOT say that about the Tory Manifesto. They need a major policy review and rethink after this result. That takes time, time they might not have.
Feels like generational revenge. Long, long overdue, but bittersweet.
Not really. As pointed out down thread, yes more younger voters did turn out but that doens't account for what happened.
It was a combination of more young voters going for Jezza and older voters not fancying voting to have their houses stolen off them if they get ill so they either switched to other parties or stayed at home.
Once again last night i was grateful for my upbringing where my parents managed to convey to me that betting was in moral terms not far off drug taking or shoplifting :-)
Or I can accept that I urgently need to start seeking out new perspectives, to be checking existing ideas against new developments and generally being more open-minded. Only the second is an honest choice. So I’m going to try to take it. Who knows, it might actually be fun.
You know if there is another election fairly soon Labour can just put out that same manifesto maybe a couple of tweaks here and there.
You CANNOT say that about the Tory Manifesto. They need a major policy review and rethink after this result. That takes time, time they might not have.
Rail and energy nationalisation policies were brilliant, and popular.
The idea that we can't nationalise our own services but CAN nationalise them to foreign powers is just laughable.
Brexit is still on, the A50 clock is still ticking and it will feel hard, not soft. We won’t be nearly ready in 2019. We weren’t anyway, but this disruption makes that date even more unachievable in an orderly way. We need to ask the EU27 for a unanimously agreed extension to the Article 50 process. The EU will demand a high price to do so. The country will pay for May’s stupidity in triggering Article 50 before we were ready to do so.
I suggest the Lib Dems, Labour and SNP try to work out a common position on Brexit and then go to the government and say, we will support your government’s negotiations if you follow our proposals. Failing agreement, Labour does the same thing. Cons+DUP don’t have the numbers to push through a slight;y controversial Brexit deal. Cons+Labour do.
UKIP is finished. Even if Brexit is “betrayed”, it won’t come back as a meaningful force.
Theresa May and David Davis need to be replaced. May can’t deliver the deal and both are associated with a failed “take it or leave it” approach to Brexit.
Great post by Alastair but really he shouldn't feel so down on himself.
No-one could possibly have foreseen that Labour surge, or imagined that Corbyn would be such an amazingly good campaigner.
Plenty of people said Corbyn could enthuse voters, not least Peter Hitchens
"Do not underestimate Jeremy Corbyn. Labour’s Blairites lie dead and dying all over the place because they made that mistake. Tory Blairites such as David Cameron might be wise to learn from this, especially given last week’s dismal, shrinking manufacturing and export figures, which were pushed far away from front pages by other stories, but which cast doubt on the vaunted recovery.
If (like me) you have attended any of Mr Corbyn’s overflowing campaign meetings, you will have seen the hunger – among the under-30s and the over-50s especially – for principled, grown-up politics instead of public relations pap."
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
No. No elections. We can't afford to fuck up again, it lets Jez into No. 10 which would be a disaster for this country. We have been dealt a poor hand and now whoever becomes PM has to play it for at least 3 years. Labour are too well organised and motivated, another election could see Jez win an overall majority.
Feels like generational revenge. Long, long overdue, but bittersweet.
Not really. As pointed out down thread, yes more younger voters did turn out but that doens't account for what happened.
It was a combination of more young voters going for Jezza and older voters not fancying voting to have their houses stolen off them if they get ill so they either switched to other parties or stayed at home.
Agreed. Voters like lots of goodies while their heads are stuck in the sand.
You know if there is another election fairly soon Labour can just put out that same manifesto maybe a couple of tweaks here and there.
You CANNOT say that about the Tory Manifesto. They need a major policy review and rethink after this result. That takes time, time they might not have.
I think this needs to be a key priority for the tories. What are they actually for now?
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
Haven't been betting for the last couple of years, which is a good thing since I'd have been wrong about everything.
Anyhow, watching the people here who do well the impressive thing isn't how much they're right, it's how quickly they reverse themselves when they're wrong.
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
It's not going to be easy, that's for sure. Mrs May is going to have to keep Peter Bone and Ken Clarke both happy.
Did you bet on Con Most Seats we discussed the other night? I got my fingers burned on the majority and the spreads, and not enough gains elsewhere
"JonCisBack said: There are some amazing Lab results out there in seats they were nowhere in before, e.g.
Truro and Falmouth 37.7% +22.5!"
The unwind of the tactical votes for LibDems. Second referendum toxic down here in the SW.
Tbh, somewhat surprised the Cons held on to Camborne and Redruth. George Eustice must have run a good campaign. Fantastic result for Johnny Mercer in Plymouth Moorview as well - he hoovered up the great bulk of the departing Kipper vote. (Compare to say North Devon, where the blues picked up only a quarter of it.)
Huge increase in Ben Bradshaw's personal vote in Exeter.
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
No. No elections. We can't afford to fuck up again, it lets Jez into No. 10 which would be a disaster for this country. We have been dealt a poor hand and now whoever becomes PM has to play it for at least 3 years. Labour are too well organised and motivated, another election could see Jez win an overall majority.
I think quite shortly Jezz is going to have to be given his chance to govern - The only way the bubble will burst on him and his far left policies is to let him have a chance to govern and mess it up.
Or I can accept that I urgently need to start seeking out new perspectives, to be checking existing ideas against new developments and generally being more open-minded.
Think you might need to learn some coding skills (or Excel wizardry might suffice) and try some YouGov style modeling. That really does look like the way forward from here!
Any thoughts on a second Brexit referendum? Wth youth vote fired up and registered, would sure be 55/45 Remain?
No one will offer it. Jez is a Leaver and has committed to a very similar hard Brexit that May committed to. The Tories will never offer a second referendum.
Modesty becomes you. I too have no idea what lies ahead, but then I never did.
An odd campaign all around. Nobody went big on the Debt or the Deficit - the dog that didn't bark in the night. It's a feeling that we've done it to death and it doesn't matter any more.
In this constituency, the Labour party majority rose from 20,000 to 25,000, and this is a Northern, 58% Leave area. Things might be different in the South, but Brexit was hardly mentioned here.
I'm loathe to offer advice to the Tories. Firstly because I don't know much about politics, and secondly because they can cock it up without help from me. But ... May's gotta go, pick someone young, and remember that voters like sweeties. Austrity? So last decade.
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
It's not going to be easy, that's for sure. Mrs May is going to have to keep Peter Bone and Ken Clarke both happy.
Did you bet on Con Most Seats we discussed the other night? I got my fingers burned on the majority and the spreads, and not enough gains elsewhere
I wasn't going to bet, because it all looked so uncertain. But after the exit poll, when the markets moved back towards a Tory majority, I felt they must be wrong, and went for a spread bet on No Overall Majority.
I really enjoyed the ITV coverage in particular last night/this morning. Osborne and Balls with great analysis.
Indeed. That would be worth a thread in its own right. Those two were absolutely excellent – they make a great duo. They are highly intelligent guys and clearly good friends. They are a massive loss to the British political scene.
Well said, Mr Meeks. I'm in the same position. I've called it wrong far too often for comfort.
I did point out that No Overall Majority was incredible value at 20/1 a coupla weeks ago. But that's about it. Otherwise I've been wrong about almost everything.
Theresa May needs to show the same humility, the ridiculous bint. She needs to accept that 48% of the people don't want Brexit, that many Leavers don't want Hard Brexit, and that the young and the old have grown too far apart on everything.
She needs to deliver a very soft Brexit, and do something drastic on housing. She needs to transition us into EFTA/EEA then we all have a rethink. That's my weary and probably wrong headed analysis of the day.
No, Theresa May needs to resign. What the next Con leader does is another matter but she has to accept responsibility for this **** up and go right now.
Feels like generational revenge. Long, long overdue, but bittersweet.
Not really. As pointed out down thread, yes more younger voters did turn out but that doens't account for what happened.
It was a combination of more young voters going for Jezza and older voters not fancying voting to have their houses stolen off them if they get ill so they either switched to other parties or stayed at home.
Agreed. Voters like lots of goodies while their heads are stuck in the sand.
This is the worse bit. Cameron / Osborne won the argument of socially liberal / economically conservative approach, such that at the last GE Labour and Lib Dems were offering only minor spins on this.
Now its "politics of the madhouse - this time it is genuinely insane"....
It looks like if Labour had won 10 more seats they probably would have had enough to form a progressive alliance government with the SNP, LDs, Greens, PC and Corbyn would be heading for Downing Street.
Well said, Mr Meeks. I'm in the same position. I've called it wrong far too often for comfort.
I did point out that No Overall Majority was incredible value at 20/1 a coupla weeks ago. But that's about it. Otherwise I've been wrong about almost everything.
Theresa May needs to show the same humility, the ridiculous bint. She needs to accept that 48% of the people don't want Brexit, that many Leavers don't want Hard Brexit, and that the young and the old have grown too far apart on everything.
She needs to deliver a very soft Brexit, and do something drastic on housing. She needs to transition us into EFTA/EEA then we all have a rethink. That's my weary and probably wrong headed analysis of the day.
No, Theresa May needs to resign. What the next Con leader does is another matter but she has to accept responsibility for this **** up and go right now.
Only 3 MPs need to lodge letters with the committee right? That will definitely happen.
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
And up against an opponent they now know is great in an election campaign.
I think this is the worst possible result for the Tories...even a Corbyn Govt would have been better for them...they would have had the chance to regroup....
What an unholy, monumental cockup of terrible dimensions...after the chaos of Brexit, the Tories should not be allowed anywhere near government.....
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
Could be. But offering soft Brexit would leave their right flank vulnerable to UKIP.
Do you think so? I think they'd take any kind of Brexit now
I still don't think the Brexit process can be reversed, practically speaking, because that would require unanimous agreement, and the temptation to impose conditions on Britain's future terms of membership would be powerful.
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
Feels like generational revenge. Long, long overdue, but bittersweet.
Not really. As pointed out down thread, yes more younger voters did turn out but that doens't account for what happened.
It was a combination of more young voters going for Jezza and older voters not fancying voting to have their houses stolen off them if they get ill so they either switched to other parties or stayed at home.
Agreed. Voters like lots of goodies while their heads are stuck in the sand.
This is the worse bit. Cameron / Osborne won the argument of socially liberal / economically conservative approach, such that at the last GE Labour and Lib Dems were offering only minor spins on this.
Now its "politics of the madhouse - this time it is genuinely insane"....
This, however now we're playing by the madhouse's rules I want my goodies.
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
No. No elections. We can't afford to fuck up again, it lets Jez into No. 10 which would be a disaster for this country. We have been dealt a poor hand and now whoever becomes PM has to play it for at least 3 years. Labour are too well organised and motivated, another election could see Jez win an overall majority.
I think quite shortly Jezz is going to have to be given his chance to govern - The only way the bubble will burst on him and his far left policies is to let him have a chance to govern and mess it up.
A minority Corbyn government is better for everyone else than a majority one. Esp with the FTPA.
Great post by Alastair but really he shouldn't feel so down on himself.
No-one could possibly have foreseen that Labour surge, or imagined that Corbyn would be such an amazingly good campaigner.
Plenty of people said Corbyn could enthuse voters, not least Peter Hitchens
"Do not underestimate Jeremy Corbyn. Labour’s Blairites lie dead and dying all over the place because they made that mistake. Tory Blairites such as David Cameron might be wise to learn from this, especially given last week’s dismal, shrinking manufacturing and export figures, which were pushed far away from front pages by other stories, but which cast doubt on the vaunted recovery.
If (like me) you have attended any of Mr Corbyn’s overflowing campaign meetings, you will have seen the hunger – among the under-30s and the over-50s especially – for principled, grown-up politics instead of public relations pap."
Any thoughts on a second Brexit referendum? Wth youth vote fired up and registered, would sure be 55/45 Remain?
I am a die-hard Remainer but even I believe that there is no way we can have a second referendum. We are such damaged goods now that the EU is well rid of us. This country is practically schizophrenic towards Europe.
Feels like generational revenge. Long, long overdue, but bittersweet.
Not really. As pointed out down thread, yes more younger voters did turn out but that doens't account for what happened.
It was a combination of more young voters going for Jezza and older voters not fancying voting to have their houses stolen off them if they get ill so they either switched to other parties or stayed at home.
Agreed. Voters like lots of goodies while their heads are stuck in the sand.
This is the worse bit. Cameron / Osborne won the argument of socially liberal / economically conservative approach, such that at the last GE Labour and Lib Dems were offering only minor spins on this.
Now its "politics of the madhouse - this time it is genuinely insane"....
This, however now we're playing by the madhouse's rules I want my goodies.
The worst bit, the Lib Dems probably had the most sensible manifesto when it came to economics.
1p on income tax for NHS and social care, that sounds perfectly sensible to me, it is neither going to cripple people or have people running for the exit doors or unwilling to set up business....or worrying their homes are going to be taken from them.
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
Could be. But offering soft Brexit would leave their right flank vulnerable to UKIP.
Do you think so? I think they'd take any kind of Brexit now
I still don't think the Brexit process can be reversed, practically speaking, because that would require unanimous agreement, and the temptation to impose conditions on Britain's future terms of membership would be powerful.
That's probably what's going to happen.
We'll finish up more "integrated" in the EU not less...
In a sense, it is the worst possible result for the Tories, isn't it? They can't duck the responsibility of trying to carry on governing, because the arithmetic doesn't allow an alternative. But even with DUP support they are vulnerable to the smallest backbench rebellion from any faction. No majority in the Lords, and no moral authority to make the Lords comply. May fatally wounded, but having to carry on, at least for the time being. And facing the most difficult task since the the Second World War.
Agree
The worst thing for them is that they are still the incumbents, they still have to own Brexit.
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
If the Tories go for an Autumn election I expect they would lose.
They now need to get a better leader and start delivering some quality of life improvements and stop obsessing about Europe.
Yes, I think this is basically where we're at. A quick EU negotiation, accept EEA/EFTA, pay them €30bn or whatever and the €3-5bn per year access charge and call it a day. Get on with the business of government sooner rather than later, stop banging on about the deficit, keep cutting taxes for the low paid, keep the minimum wage rising and hammer buy-to-let landlords until they are forced to sell, support first time buyers with government backed mortgages. I would also hope that the next Tory PM makes a big pledge to give the NHS £350m per week and we draw a line under the leave campaign.
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
Could be. But offering soft Brexit would leave their right flank vulnerable to UKIP.
Do you think so? I think they'd take any kind of Brexit now
I still don't think the Brexit process can be reversed, practically speaking, because that would require unanimous agreement, and the temptation to impose conditions on Britain's future terms of membership would be powerful.
Article 50 can be cancelled if the EU agrees so, and we are after all the second largest net contributors. However we may have to wave goodbye the the rebate.
Great post by Alastair but really he shouldn't feel so down on himself.
No-one could possibly have foreseen that Labour surge, or imagined that Corbyn would be such an amazingly good campaigner.
Plenty of people said Corbyn could enthuse voters, not least Peter Hitchens
"Do not underestimate Jeremy Corbyn. Labour’s Blairites lie dead and dying all over the place because they made that mistake. Tory Blairites such as David Cameron might be wise to learn from this, especially given last week’s dismal, shrinking manufacturing and export figures, which were pushed far away from front pages by other stories, but which cast doubt on the vaunted recovery.
If (like me) you have attended any of Mr Corbyn’s overflowing campaign meetings, you will have seen the hunger – among the under-30s and the over-50s especially – for principled, grown-up politics instead of public relations pap."
Many thanks to tipsters here whose antennae enabled me to make a pleasing little profit on Scon. Poor result politically for me but a night of great nerd fun, too. Thank you, OGH, TSE, other mods and (almost) all posters for providing absolutely the best place to be during elections.
That's a beautifully written piece, Alastair. Mea culpa's? First, assuming that enough Eurosceptics would realise Leave didn't have a plan or clue about how to Brexit. It seems it wasn't a case them of them not realising the absence of a plan; they didn't think it mattered. The second was the assumption that because Jeremy Corbyn wasn't a leader, no-one would vote for him. Incidentally, I wasn't opposed to him on the issues. It was that he didn't have any policies, which involve choices and priorities. Then something remarkable happened. Mr Corbyn decided to become a serious politician after forty years. To do the compromises, dissembling and spin that all politicians go through. The Labour manifesto was the first sign of this. Yes there was a deal of moneytree in it, but essentially it was a social democratic document where every proposal was rigorously focus-grouped.
Alastair - like you I'm bemused. I do think there remain two or three key themes running through it all though: 1. We're a patiriotic bunch and don't like being bossed about or perceived unfairness. Don't like the EU but don't like getting told how to vote either. 2. Paul has more votes than Peter and wants some of his jam. Especially the young 'uns. 3. Parties need charismatic, engaging leaders. Not Brown / May type automatons.
If Labour can rediscover their inner Union Jack / England flag and be a bit less Islington they'll clean up nexy time - until we're bankrupt and then the Tories are back. Meanwhile the Tories need to find a communicator and accept that the 'sound money god' can't survive too much inequality.
That is a total joke. Sinn Fein could just take their seats temporarily to defeat their arch enemies and the pact would be within one MP rebellion of losing its majority.
Comments
I don't think you should underestimate this skill. I'm up nearly £900 because I realised the value was with Labour. I wasn't expecting them to do as well as they did, but it became clear that the market was underestimating their chances.
Total votes
Labour 1997 (Blair landslide)
13,518,167
Conservatives 2017 (May disaster)
13,650,900 (with 1 to come)
LD collapse since 1997 explains it of course, but looking at the Tory performance in isolation it's decent.
Lab + Con share has never increased by anything like as much in one election - huge change.
#statto
You CANNOT say that about the Tory Manifesto. They need a major policy review and rethink after this result. That takes time, time they might not have.
It was a combination of more young voters going for Jezza and older voters not fancying voting to have their houses stolen off them if they get ill so they either switched to other parties or stayed at home.
No-one could possibly have foreseen that Labour surge, or imagined that Corbyn would be such an amazingly good campaigner.
Once again last night i was grateful for my upbringing where my parents managed to convey to me that betting was in moral terms not far off drug taking or shoplifting :-)
Labour ahead by 38 votes I think, on second recount.
Everyone has apparently gone home as counters are out on their feet.
Yet the guy is pollster of the century.
All credit to him.
Isn't the obvious next step a new younger Tory leader offering soft Brexit and a GE in the autumn?
The idea that we can't nationalise our own services but CAN nationalise them to foreign powers is just laughable.
Credit to whoever came up with those.
Brexit is still on, the A50 clock is still ticking and it will feel hard, not soft. We won’t be nearly ready in 2019. We weren’t anyway, but this disruption makes that date even more unachievable in an orderly way. We need to ask the EU27 for a unanimously agreed extension to the Article 50 process. The EU will demand a high price to do so. The country will pay for May’s stupidity in triggering Article 50 before we were ready to do so.
I suggest the Lib Dems, Labour and SNP try to work out a common position on Brexit and then go to the government and say, we will support your government’s negotiations if you follow our proposals. Failing agreement, Labour does the same thing. Cons+DUP don’t have the numbers to push through a slight;y controversial Brexit deal. Cons+Labour do.
UKIP is finished. Even if Brexit is “betrayed”, it won’t come back as a meaningful force.
Theresa May and David Davis need to be replaced. May can’t deliver the deal and both are associated with a failed “take it or leave it” approach to Brexit.
I'm done with polls - I know I say that every time but I really mean it this time!
318 Con
261 Lab
35 SNP
12 LD
10 DUP
7 SF
1 Grn
1 Ind (Silvia Hermon)
"Do not underestimate Jeremy Corbyn. Labour’s Blairites lie dead and dying all over the place because they made that mistake. Tory Blairites such as David Cameron might be wise to learn from this, especially given last week’s dismal, shrinking manufacturing and export figures, which were pushed far away from front pages by other stories, but which cast doubt on the vaunted recovery.
If (like me) you have attended any of Mr Corbyn’s overflowing campaign meetings, you will have seen the hunger – among the under-30s and the over-50s especially – for principled, grown-up politics instead of public relations pap."
http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2015/09/labour-has-a-real-leftyso-can-we-have-proper-conservatives.html
Bojo to be new EU friendly Ted Heath
Just ask David Herdson on the eve of poll. And bet accordingly.
David must have an unbeatable shout at post of the year.
LAB 261!!
Anyhow, watching the people here who do well the impressive thing isn't how much they're right, it's how quickly they reverse themselves when they're wrong.
Rights for EU citizens in
Fox hunting out
Grammar schools Out
Four reasons to be cheerful
Did you bet on Con Most Seats we discussed the other night? I got my fingers burned on the majority and the spreads, and not enough gains elsewhere
"JonCisBack said:
There are some amazing Lab results out there in seats they were nowhere in before, e.g.
Truro and Falmouth 37.7% +22.5!"
The unwind of the tactical votes for LibDems. Second referendum toxic down here in the SW.
Tbh, somewhat surprised the Cons held on to Camborne and Redruth. George Eustice must have run a good campaign. Fantastic result for Johnny Mercer in Plymouth Moorview as well - he hoovered up the great bulk of the departing Kipper vote. (Compare to say North Devon, where the blues picked up only a quarter of it.)
Huge increase in Ben Bradshaw's personal vote in Exeter.
Modesty becomes you. I too have no idea what lies ahead, but then I never did.
An odd campaign all around. Nobody went big on the Debt or the Deficit - the dog that didn't bark in the night. It's a feeling that we've done it to death and it doesn't matter any more.
In this constituency, the Labour party majority rose from 20,000 to 25,000, and this is a Northern, 58% Leave area. Things might be different in the South, but Brexit was hardly mentioned here.
I'm loathe to offer advice to the Tories. Firstly because I don't know much about politics, and secondly because they can cock it up without help from me. But ... May's gotta go, pick someone young, and remember that voters like sweeties. Austrity? So last decade.
Indeed. That would be worth a thread in its own right. Those two were absolutely excellent – they make a great duo. They are highly intelligent guys and clearly good friends. They are a massive loss to the British political scene.
Now its "politics of the madhouse - this time it is genuinely insane"....
They now need to get a better leader and start delivering some quality of life improvements and stop obsessing about Europe.
A disappointing result, but at least the Union emerges stronger from it.
Leader in a government of national unity? Fantasy politics but would be quite something...
What an unholy, monumental cockup of terrible dimensions...after the chaos of Brexit, the Tories should not be allowed anywhere near government.....
1p on income tax for NHS and social care, that sounds perfectly sensible to me, it is neither going to cripple people or have people running for the exit doors or unwilling to set up business....or worrying their homes are going to be taken from them.
And the voters went....WHERE ARE MY SWEETIES.....
We'll finish up more "integrated" in the EU not less...
Seems to have had a splendid result down there, majority more or less quadrupled. One happy Tory at least.
Do you think other leaders will adopt it in future? Would it even work for other leaders?
Many thanks to tipsters here whose antennae enabled me to make a pleasing little profit on Scon. Poor result politically for me but a night of great nerd fun, too. Thank you, OGH, TSE, other mods and (almost) all posters for providing absolutely the best place to be during elections.
1. We're a patiriotic bunch and don't like being bossed about or perceived unfairness. Don't like the EU but don't like getting told how to vote either.
2. Paul has more votes than Peter and wants some of his jam. Especially the young 'uns.
3. Parties need charismatic, engaging leaders. Not Brown / May type automatons.
If Labour can rediscover their inner Union Jack / England flag and be a bit less Islington they'll clean up nexy time - until we're bankrupt and then the Tories are back.
Meanwhile the Tories need to find a communicator and accept that the 'sound money god' can't survive too much inequality.
It only makes 328.
That is a total joke. Sinn Fein could just take their seats temporarily to defeat their arch enemies and the pact would be within one MP rebellion of losing its majority.