First reactions to the Newport by-election on both turnout & the result. If I was a Conservative MP who does not have a comfortable majority, I would be worried. But if I was a Labour MP outside London and without a comfortable majority in strong Leave constituency, I would be very worried indeed.
It shows that even in a ‘Leave’ seat, the Labour vote can splinter towards pro-Remain parties.
First reactions to the Newport by-election on both turnout & the result. If I was a Conservative MP who does not have a comfortable majority, I would be worried. But if I was a Labour MP outside London and without a comfortable majority in strong Leave constituency, I would be very worried indeed.
It shows that even in a ‘Leave’ seat, the Labour vote can splinter towards pro-Remain parties.
It shows in a by-election the major parties votes can splinter towards minor parties.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
They got almost double that share of the vote in 2015.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
8.6% isn't an alarm klaxon, it's a little farty sound
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
They got almost double that share of the vote in 2015.
They had a functioning party and a leader people had heard of in 2015.
What I see from this result is that when given a free hit, leavers are willing to dump Lab/Con and lend UKIP a protest vote. Even though UKIP are barely a party any more.
If we do end up participating in euro elections later this year this result will inform my betting.
I voted leave but I take no joy in seeing the UKIP share of vote rise while lab/con fall.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
8.6% isn't an alarm klaxon, it's a little farty sound
Perhaps they aren't sure if UKIP is ENF (Savlini/Le Pen) or EFDD (Farage and five star) - as some of their MEPs still sit with Farage in the latter although Batten sits with the former in Brussels
Perhaps Neil Hamilton isn't sure!
Didn't realise the new Renew party was allied with Mrs Merkel and Mr Juncker! Perhaps the Lib Dems stopped them joning with the Liberals.
Didn't realise the new Renew party was allied with Mrs Merkel and Mr Juncker! Perhaps the Lib Dems stopped them joning with the Liberals.
Somebody ran a party like this in London in the last Euros as well. I guess it's weird that Britain doesn't have a conservative party, and they thought they should test how popular one would be. (Not massively popular, it turns out.)
Latest Brexit rumour: Tusk preparing to offer 12-month A50 extension, with early exit clause if a Withdrawal Agreement is ratified. That's a whole extra year for Parliament to agree on nothing, if true. And if the 27 are willing to go along with it.
With respect to the by-election, I'd tend to agree that it isn't very revealing. Labour will be satisfied to have held, the Tories will be satisfied that their vote share has not gone completely down the loo (and, indeed, has held up a bit better than Labour's,) but that's about it.
The tweet from the Tory last night suggested it had been damned hard work getting their vote out, or stopping it drifting over to UKIP. The management expectaton from Labour suggested the same. All candidates got into three figures, on a low turnout, suggesting there's no love left for the big two parties.
Not a surprise there. But there will be plenty of MPs uneasy about their job security this morning, if we are headed for an early election. Time to finally pass May's Shit Deal?
The tweet from the Tory last night suggested it had been damned hard work getting their vote out, or stopping it drifting over to UKIP. The management expectaton from Labour suggested the same. All candidates got into three figures, on a low turnout, suggesting there's no love left for the big two parties.
Not a surprise there. But there will be plenty of MPs uneasy about their job security this morning, if we are headed for an early election. Time to finally pass May's Shit Deal?
I doubt it. Too many entrenched positions, especially given that the No Dealers and People's Voters are both in with a chance of winning if a straightforward MV4 fails or is never held.
How do you lose a quarter of your vote share in a seat you've held for 30 years when the government has been in power for nine years and looks like a refugee from a sketch by Monty Python?
Part of it may be Flynn's personal vote share unwinding. People who would have voted for him probably saw no reason to vote for Labour at this moment.
But it's still a poor result for Labour.
It's funny that Corbyn, who whatever his many faults is undoubtedly a superb campaigner and street pounder, simply can't get by-elections right. Copeland was of course the most disastrous but Stoke and now Newport are showing that Labour are simply no good at them.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
8.6% isn't an alarm klaxon, it's a little farty sound
If UKIP cannot reach 10% on a much reduced turnout during the current fiasco, then they are toast. Nothing to fear here.
The central point for me is that both main parties lost vote share. The hoovering up that took place between them in 2017 unwound and then some. Now this may just be because it’s a by-election but it potentially makes the next election very difficult to predict indeed.
The central point for me is that both main parties lost vote share. The hoovering up that took place between them in 2017 unwound and then some. Now this may just be because it’s a by-election but it potentially makes the next election very difficult to predict indeed.
How often have I said that the next election will be decided by who loses the least number of votes? It's still very likely to be true.
So much for all these anecdotes that people are desperate for the chance to protest about not getting Brexit.
UKIP share only just over half what they got in 2015. Boosts for various anti-Brexit parties. Low turnout. No real enthusiasm for the larger parties but otherwise little to see here.
Another MP for the side of sanity in parliament, hopefully.
First reactions to the Newport by-election on both turnout & the result. If I was a Conservative MP who does not have a comfortable majority, I would be worried. But if I was a Labour MP outside London and without a comfortable majority in strong Leave constituency, I would be very worried indeed.
It shows that even in a ‘Leave’ seat, the Labour vote can splinter towards pro-Remain parties.
A ghost from the past Fitalaff back, CCHQ must really be scared.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
I wonder if name recognition had anything to do with it - he's famous but can't remember why.
A no-deal Brexit could have "significant implications" on an EU-led military operation in Bosnia, European diplomats have warned.
The U.K. plays a key role in Operation Althea, the European Union's peacekeeping mission based in Sarajevo, but might have to withdraw abruptly from the deployment in case of a no-deal departure....
The U.K. currently provides "most of the capabilities" in terms of military force and intelligence, a third diplomat said.
Seems like there was an overall move to Remain-backing parties in a constituency that voted Leave in 2016. It was a low turnout, so we can’t read too much into it - except that Remain-backers are pretty energised and Labour potentially has a very, very big problem.
It’s worth remembering that in most Leave constituencies most Remain voters were Labour voters. It doesn’t take many of those Remain voters to feel betrayed and to switch for Labour to be in all kinds of trouble.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
8.6% isn't an alarm klaxon, it's a little farty sound
If UKIP cannot reach 10% on a much reduced turnout during the current fiasco, then they are toast. Nothing to fear here.
Seems like there was an overall move to Remain-backing parties in a constituency that voted Leave in 2016. It was a low turnout, so we can’t read too much into it - except that Remain-backers are pretty energised and Labour potentially has a very, very big problem.
It’s worth remembering that in most Leave constituencies most Remain voters were Labour voters. It doesn’t take many of those Remain voters to feel betrayed and to switch for Labour to be in all kinds of trouble.
Which does of course presuppose Brexit is the key driver of their vote choice. For Labour, there is of course evidence to suggest it isn't, although that could change.
You can’t read anything into a safe seat by-election that we don’t already know. Turnout warps everything.
Probably right. It seems unsurprising that voters aren't keen on either major party. The difference though is that if Labour changed leader (to someone without the baggage) they would likely get an immediate boost. A change of leader for the Tories by contrast would have the opposite affect
Seems like there was an overall move to Remain-backing parties in a constituency that voted Leave in 2016. It was a low turnout, so we can’t read too much into it - except that Remain-backers are pretty energised and Labour potentially has a very, very big problem.
It’s worth remembering that in most Leave constituencies most Remain voters were Labour voters. It doesn’t take many of those Remain voters to feel betrayed and to switch for Labour to be in all kinds of trouble.
Which does of course presuppose Brexit is the key driver of their vote choice. For Labour, there is of course evidence to suggest it isn't, although that could change.
People who aren't obsessed by Brexit have to vote for someone.
That over 6,000 voters turned out for UKIP in 2015 yet only 2,000 last night suggests the size of the angry army has been overestimated. Farage's tiny March and rally suggest the same.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
I wonder if name recognition had anything to do with it - he's famous but can't remember why.
Everyone's got a soft spot for cash in a plain brown envelope
Do you guys not read UKpollingreport by Anthony Wells? After almost every by-election he writes almost the same thing...
"As usual, by-elections don’t tell us a huge amount about the bigger political picture, but are very important in setting the political narrative.
By-elections are very unusual beasts. Because they don’t decide who will form the government for the next five years, only who will be the local MP, people are comparatively free to use them to register a protest. They are much more fiercely contested than your average seat at a general election. The constituency itself will also normally have its own local ideosyncracities that mean it can’t just be read as if it is a microcosm of Britain as a whole. So when people ask me what by-elections tell us, I normally say not much: if the change in the vote is in line with what the national polls are showing then it tells us nothing we didn’t already know, if the change is different to the national polls it’s probably just because by-elections are very different to general elections."
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
I wonder if name recognition had anything to do with it - he's famous but can't remember why.
Everyone's got a soft spot for cash in a plain brown envelope
An interesting canvassing technique. Must have run out of envelopes, I guess.
Mr. B2, after yesterday, there's never been a clearer indication of which MPs really are wet.
It set a new record for leaking to the press corps.
Demob happy again? Do you finish for Easter this weekend or next?
Today's the last day.
School's have been out for a week in Scotland
Slackers.
Might that explain your misused apostrophe ?
It could be the early hour and my tea not having penetrated yet possibly, though more likely that I was busy laughing as my wife was looking at Rate my Haircut and it was a hoot. I could also say I was only speaking about one particular school mind you, if I was being pedantic, given they tend to all close at different times etc up here just to confuse people.
You can’t read anything into a safe seat by-election that we don’t already know. Turnout warps everything.
Probably right. It seems unsurprising that voters aren't keen on either major party. The difference though is that if Labour changed leader (to someone without the baggage) they would likely get an immediate boost. A change of leader for the Tories by contrast would have the opposite affect
Given the TV coverage, the parties are lucky anyone turns out for a foregone conclusion.
Utter vindication for Mrs May and her strategy on Brexit.
TBF any swing in that direction is pretty impressive. There may be a level of sympathy there for T. May which would disappear among some of the other contenders for her job. The mistakes she has made have been manifold but her basic position right now is sound
You can’t read anything into a safe seat by-election that we don’t already know. Turnout warps everything.
Probably right. It seems unsurprising that voters aren't keen on either major party. The difference though is that if Labour changed leader (to someone without the baggage) they would likely get an immediate boost. A change of leader for the Tories by contrast would have the opposite affect
Yes. The almost inexplicable parity of the two main parties arises almost entirely from the personalities of both leaders. In particular the Tories underestimate sympathy support for Mrs May, among those not paying much attention, at their peril.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
8.6% isn't an alarm klaxon, it's a little farty sound
If UKIP cannot reach 10% on a much reduced turnout during the current fiasco, then they are toast. Nothing to fear here.
Ditto the Lib Dem’s, Renew, Greens, etc.
Overall, a swing to pro Remain parties exceeding UKIP and assorted neo nazis.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
How do you lose a quarter of your vote share in a seat you've held for 30 years when the government has been in power for nine years and looks like a refugee from a sketch by Monty Python?
Part of it may be Flynn's personal vote share unwinding. People who would have voted for him probably saw no reason to vote for Labour at this moment.
But it's still a poor result for Labour.
It's funny that Corbyn, who whatever his many faults is undoubtedly a superb campaigner and street pounder, simply can't get by-elections right. Copeland was of course the most disastrous but Stoke and now Newport are showing that Labour are simply no good at them.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
No we are not.
Don't WTO rules mean the UK has to follow international rules and obligations?
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
You do realise that TM is the reason the party vote is holding up.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
No we are not.
Don't WTO rules mean the UK has to follow international rules and obligations?
Yes international rules and obligations.
In the EU and Customs Union are national rules and obligations are set internationally.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
Keep kicking that can, you would almost think that there has been a real plan for the last 3 years after all.
A twelve month extension means we vote in the EURO elections. I'm not sure what will change in that time, except for more uncertainty for business and more politicking. Without a strict deadline, nothing will ever be decided - that's the way bureaucrats work. Why pander to them?
Is 37% a low turnout for a by-election?
Is UKIP back in operation? I suspect it needs a definitive 'No' to Brexit before it will make much progress. With this Schrodinger version, it's still all up in the air, although delay can only help Brexit-fatigue.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
No we are not.
If we can’t achieve your preferred Brexit because of Northern Ireland, perhaps you’re looking at the wrong union.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
You do realise that TM is the reason the party vote is holding up.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
I couldn't care less if that was the case and I don't believe that anyway. Besides since she is going before next General Election anyway [thankfully] that is entirely moot, why cling on to a moribund failed leader?
Business has had 3 years to plan moving to Europe if it wanted to.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
No we are not.
Don't WTO rules mean the UK has to follow international rules and obligations?
Yes international rules and obligations.
In the EU and Customs Union are national rules and obligations are set internationally.
Can you rephrase this, I don't understand what you mean
He really doesn't understand the concept of the slippery slope, does he?
He can barely understand the concept of breakfast, let alone Brexit...
I was formerly in the constituency of his father and at university with his son. Neither of them are that bright, but it was always clear he was going for a career in Tory politics.
Breaking: BBC confirms PM will write to Brussels mid-morning to ask for extension
Breaking .........LOL, state propaganda mouthpiece gives out government propaganda, soften them up with Tusk message and then say St Theresa is writing to ask for exactly what he offered, how convenient. The sheeple will all be happy and return to grazing.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
You do realise that TM is the reason the party vote is holding up.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
I couldn't care less if that was the case and I don't believe that anyway. Besides since she is going before next General Election anyway [thankfully] that is entirely moot, why cling on to a moribund failed leader?
Business has had 3 years to plan moving to Europe if it wanted to.
Your laissez faire attitude to business is frankly shocking.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
No we are not.
If we can’t achieve your preferred Brexit because of Northern Ireland, perhaps you’re looking at the wrong union.
We can't achieve my preferred Brexit at the minute because Northern Ireland is being abused, not because it exists.
While I'd prefer we were rid of Northern Ireland I only want them to leave if that is their choice, which they've not made. If the Republic and the EU won't come up with an equitable free trade deal without a backstop then we should leave anyway and have a border within Ireland. Its entirely manageable as Varadkar has already made clear.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
You do realise that TM is the reason the party vote is holding up.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
I couldn't care less if that was the case and I don't believe that anyway. Besides since she is going before next General Election anyway [thankfully] that is entirely moot, why cling on to a moribund failed leader?
Business has had 3 years to plan moving to Europe if it wanted to.
Your laissez faire attitude to business is frankly shocking.
Once the extension is in place it isn't obvious why those MPs happy with a delay would vote to resolve the deal impasse in the options exercise on Monday.
Edit/ This surely makes a PV more likely, as a way to cement the extension?
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National Position 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
You do realise that TM is the reason the party vote is holding up.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
I couldn't care less if that was the case and I don't believe that anyway. Besides since she is going before next General Election anyway [thankfully] that is entirely moot, why cling on to a moribund failed leader?
Business has had 3 years to plan moving to Europe if it wanted to.
Your laissez faire attitude to business is frankly shocking.
Jenkin on R4 just now: "leaving the EU means GB becoming a free country, with this deal we do not become a free country, therefore this deal is not leaving the EU" five seconds later : "I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
Yes we are a free country under WTO rules.
Yup, in exactly the same way as we are a free country in the EU, or in the single market, or in the customs union...
No we are not.
Don't WTO rules mean the UK has to follow international rules and obligations?
Yes international rules and obligations.
In the EU and Customs Union are national rules and obligations are set internationally.
Can you rephrase this, I don't understand what you mean
WTO rules are international affecting everyone. For instance the concept of MFN.
EU/Customs Union rules are national affecting the nations it applies to.
Under the WTO we would be a free nation setting our own national laws within the established international order. In the EU/CU some of our national rules will be set by the EU. In the latter case without us even getting a say.
As a moderate leaver I say this without any joy, but the rise in the UKIP share of the vote - with Neil Hamilton of all people - must surely be an alarm klaxon in the shape of things to come if we end up remaining.
8.6% isn't an alarm klaxon, it's a little farty sound
If UKIP cannot reach 10% on a much reduced turnout during the current fiasco, then they are toast. Nothing to fear here.
Ditto the Lib Dem’s, Renew, Greens, etc.
Overall, a swing to pro Remain parties exceeding UKIP and assorted neo nazis.
The Lib Dems: losing deposits one by-election at a time.
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0° National PositLaiion 1° Nat 0° 0° EU Leave % 53% 52% 52% British Identity 31% 26% 29% Good Health 46% 47% 48% UK Born 92% 95% 88% Good Education 38% 36% 39% Good Job 52% 46% 51% High SEC 50% 46% 51% Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5 ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
The swing should worry Labour all the more.
I agree with him. Long extension, hold EU elections, defenestrate May, sack Fox [and Grayling*], prepare properly for No Deal in 12 months time, renegotiate deal without a backstop if EU take us seriously, leave with No Deal in 12 months if they don't.
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
The longer the delay the more likely we remain
And the more likely we get a better deal.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
You do realise that TM is the reason the party vote is holding up.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
I couldn't care less if that was the case and I don't believe that anyway. Besides since she is going before next General Election anyway [thankfully] that is entirely moot, why cling on to a moribund failed leader?
Business has had 3 years to plan moving to Europe if it wanted to.
Your laissez faire attitude to business is frankly shocking.
Its what draws me to the Conservative Party.
Words fail me
Laissez-faire is the basis of classical liberalism which is what I believe in, what Thatcher fought for, the economics of Friedman. Laissez-faire works.
Comments
What I see from this result is that when given a free hit, leavers are willing to dump Lab/Con and lend UKIP a protest vote. Even though UKIP are barely a party any more.
If we do end up participating in euro elections later this year this result will inform my betting.
I voted leave but I take no joy in seeing the UKIP share of vote rise while lab/con fall.
https://twitter.com/gsoh31/status/1113962288707448838
https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1113976005012664321
Perhaps Neil Hamilton isn't sure!
Didn't realise the new Renew party was allied with Mrs Merkel and Mr Juncker! Perhaps the Lib Dems stopped them joning with the Liberals.
With respect to the by-election, I'd tend to agree that it isn't very revealing. Labour will be satisfied to have held, the Tories will be satisfied that their vote share has not gone completely down the loo (and, indeed, has held up a bit better than Labour's,) but that's about it.
Not a surprise there. But there will be plenty of MPs uneasy about their job security this morning, if we are headed for an early election. Time to finally pass May's Shit Deal?
https://twitter.com/MKarnitschnig/status/1113760351299018752
Part of it may be Flynn's personal vote share unwinding. People who would have voted for him probably saw no reason to vote for Labour at this moment.
But it's still a poor result for Labour.
It's funny that Corbyn, who whatever his many faults is undoubtedly a superb campaigner and street pounder, simply can't get by-elections right. Copeland was of course the most disastrous but Stoke and now Newport are showing that Labour are simply no good at them.
UKIP share only just over half what they got in 2015. Boosts for various anti-Brexit parties. Low turnout. No real enthusiasm for the larger parties but otherwise little to see here.
Another MP for the side of sanity in parliament, hopefully.
Mr. B2, after yesterday, there's never been a clearer indication of which MPs really are wet.
I blame Brexit, Corbyn and all these unicorns you see everywhere on the site.
(While I know what you meant, I don't think there is a sane side in Parliament right now.)
The U.K. plays a key role in Operation Althea, the European Union's peacekeeping mission based in Sarajevo, but might have to withdraw abruptly from the deployment in case of a no-deal departure....
The U.K. currently provides "most of the capabilities" in terms of military force and intelligence, a third diplomat said.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-warns-of-brexit-implications-on-peacekeeping-mission-in-bosnia/
It’s worth remembering that in most Leave constituencies most Remain voters were Labour voters. It doesn’t take many of those Remain voters to feel betrayed and to switch for Labour to be in all kinds of trouble.
That over 6,000 voters turned out for UKIP in 2015 yet only 2,000 last night suggests the size of the angry army has been overestimated. Farage's tiny March and rally suggest the same.
"As usual, by-elections don’t tell us a huge amount about the bigger political picture, but are very important in setting the political narrative.
By-elections are very unusual beasts. Because they don’t decide who will form the government for the next five years, only who will be the local MP, people are comparatively free to use them to register a protest. They are much more fiercely contested than your average seat at a general election. The constituency itself will also normally have its own local ideosyncracities that mean it can’t just be read as if it is a microcosm of Britain as a whole. So when people ask me what by-elections tell us, I normally say not much: if the change in the vote is in line with what the national polls are showing then it tells us nothing we didn’t already know, if the change is different to the national polls it’s probably just because by-elections are very different to general elections."
This was after the Stoke and Copeland Byelections in 2015
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/9811
Might that explain your misused apostrophe ?
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/cgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Newport West
Newport West/Wales/GB
Economic Position 5° Left 9° Left 0°
National Position 1° Nat 0° 0°
EU Leave % 53% 52% 52%
British Identity 31% 26% 29%
Good Health 46% 47% 48%
UK Born 92% 95% 88%
Good Education 38% 36% 39%
Good Job 52% 46% 51%
High SEC 50% 46% 51%
Average Age 48.9 49.6 48.5
ABC1 Class 52% 47% 53%
Utter vindication for Mrs May and her strategy on Brexit.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/17552156.sturgeon-no-sign-of-may-compromising-on-brexit-deal/
And on that sentence, I have a last day to get to. Have a good day, everyone!
12 month flextension, probably good but is a terribble neoligism.
five seconds later :
"I am in favour of leaving under WTO rules"
sorry, but if we have to follow WTO rules we are not a free country.
I guess under his definition the only "free country" in the world is North Korea
* Not Brexit related but JFDI.
12 months with Euro elections, and new party leaders, October GE.
It depends who replaces May. If we get a long extension May should acknowledge she's failed and go.
The danger in a longer delay is business has more time to plan moving to Europe
In the EU and Customs Union are national rules and obligations are set internationally.
Is 37% a low turnout for a by-election?
Is UKIP back in operation? I suspect it needs a definitive 'No' to Brexit before it will make much progress. With this Schrodinger version, it's still all up in the air, although delay can only help Brexit-fatigue.
Business has had 3 years to plan moving to Europe if it wanted to.
While I'd prefer we were rid of Northern Ireland I only want them to leave if that is their choice, which they've not made. If the Republic and the EU won't come up with an equitable free trade deal without a backstop then we should leave anyway and have a border within Ireland. Its entirely manageable as Varadkar has already made clear.
Edit/ This surely makes a PV more likely, as a way to cement the extension?
EU/Customs Union rules are national affecting the nations it applies to.
Under the WTO we would be a free nation setting our own national laws within the established international order.
In the EU/CU some of our national rules will be set by the EU. In the latter case without us even getting a say.