> @kjh said: > > @stodge said: > > Clearly a good night for the Lib Dems - a torrid one for the Tories and a disappointing one for Labour. But the other significant growth is the rise of 'Independents' - proportionately even more impressive than the Lib Dems - anyone know how these break down? I'm sure its not all 'Residents Association' (small 'c' Conservatives) - who else? Plays to the 'plague on both/ all your houses'..... > > > > As you say, "Independent" covers a multitude of sins. The days of the go-it-alone Independent are over - modern politics doesn't work that way. Instead, we've seen the rise of what I prefer to call micro-parties, groups coalescing around local identities and issues (mainly housing) which have a direct impact. The Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group in Tandridge has been hugely successful and won more seats last night while there are a couple of village-based micro-parties in Guildford which may have won seats. > > > > These micro-parties are often well funded and utilise local-based social media as their main campaigning tool. They can get information out very quickly to large numbers of people within a concentrated area. It's an evolution of the LD "community politics" and is both political and apolitical at the same time - it functions as a political party but beyond the local so a supporter (as distinct from a member) of the Conservative, Labour or LD parties can support the micro-party locally while staying with their national party at Westminster elections. > > In Guildford we have two independent groups. It is all to do with the local plan and they are very anti the Conservative administration, but not because they are Conservatives, just because of the incompetence, arrogance and what appears to be some 'interesting' stuff re the local plan. One of the groups was formed by a mix of councillors from both the Tory and LD group. This group ranges in political views significantly, but are all agreed on what they think of the local plan.
I saw at least one seat won by 'For Britain' - an off-shoot of UKIP - in Hartlepool, and there seems to have been a few called 'Veterans & People's Party' or similar up north etc. It seems veterans play well on the doostep.
> @KentRising said: > Yeah, all those Sunderland voters suddenly want a second referendum do they? Laughable. I think it's more likely they want the first one respected. >
The problem our politics has at the moment is with that word "all". Clearly many Remain voters, of which there were some in Sunderland, want another referendum, while Leave voters mostly do not. But we can't compromise by half having another referendum.
LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
Result in May's own backyard is 'interesting'. Windsor & Maidenhead Council Tories lost 15 of 38 councillors and the opposition has gone from 3 to 18; 9 LD (was1), 5 Rs Ass (was 2) and 4 Greens. (All new)
> @Nigel_Foremain said: > > @nico67 said: > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done . > > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
> @dyedwoolie said: > Wow, clear late night horror for the blues! Minus 1000 looks on, LD plus 700? > Let's have Rees Mogg out of a seat please. > Crumb of comfort for the blues - it's not 1995. However I expect them to coalesce around Boris with the remainers fleeing to Change or the twitching zombie corpse of the LDs
You guys always think the Lib Dems are dead... Pretty much since the party was founded it's been jokes on the "ex parrot" but in fact we are not only very much alive, but tentatively prospering...
Even in Leave areas you’d still find Remainers but somehow an increase in the Lib Dem vote there now negates their Stop Brexit message because how dare some voters in Sunderland actually vote to Stop Brexit .
> @Sunil_Prasannan said: > LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
> @CD13 said: > A poor night for Labour in St Helens. I stuck to my strict political principles of voting for the best looking one who had two X chromosomes per cell, and wasn't a Green. > > She unseated the old Labour councillor who'd been in place for years - an ugly bastard with only one X chromosome.
Er... Every human has more than two X chromosomes. Women have 46.
It is also bigoted to vote for people based on genetics rather than on policies.
> > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
>
> Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
Lib Dem speciality is campaigning on local issues - and the Tories and Labour understandably avoided Brexit like the plague. Yet now this is 'a vote for Remain'.
Bassetlaw count underway. Might be interesting one, as the archetypal Northern leave seat where 'Brexit means Brexit' should be a factor if Northern MPs are to be believed.
> @AndyJS said: > > @kamski said: > > This election result doesn't really change my take on labour's prospects. > > > > This is all anecdotal (but might represent a significant chunk of 2017 Labour voters), but I wasn't surprised by Labour doing better than expected in 2017 because I knew loads of people who were very enthusiastic about Corbyn. They were often people who hadn't voted before/for a long time and I could imagine were difficult for pollsters to capture. Some were motivated to get back on the electoral roll because of the 2016 referendum, all seemed to be enthusiastic about Corbyn's honesty, integrity, principles and lack of spin, nearly all were strongly anti-brexit. > > > > They seem (going by social media posts and conversations) to be very anti-Corbyn now and are not voting Labour and won't in a general election (maybe a commitment to a 2nd referendum would bring some back, but it might be too late now). Some (eg my mum, who's 79) joined Labour because of Corbyn, and have now left Labour because of Corbyn. > > > > It's not just that they are disappointed with Labour's Brexit policy (or lack of it), it's also that Corbyn is seen as having been hypocritical and dishonest over the biggest issue that he has influence over, and so his personal appeal of integrity etc has been trashed. Additionally, because of this (I'm speculating here), people who might have been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt over anti-semitism now don't. > > > > Long story short: 2 years ago my timeline was full of very enthusiastic Corbyn supporters, now mostly anti. If Corbyn is leader at the next general election I think Labour will do badly, probably worse than most people seem to expect at the moment. Their only chance is if the Conservatives do even worse (which is always possible). > > Corbyn has been a Euro-sceptic for his entire political career. If people couldn't be bothered to find that out, that's their mistake. They shouldn't be disappointed by it.
> @Cicero said: > > @dyedwoolie said: > > Wow, clear late night horror for the blues! Minus 1000 looks on, LD plus 700? > > Let's have Rees Mogg out of a seat please. > > Crumb of comfort for the blues - it's not 1995. However I expect them to coalesce around Boris with the remainers fleeing to Change or the twitching zombie corpse of the LDs > > You guys always think the Lib Dems are dead... Pretty much since the party was founded it's been jokes on the "ex parrot" but in fact we are not only very much alive, but tentatively prospering...
Would make a great party slogan: 'The Lib Dems - tentatively prospering here'!
> @Richard_Tyndall said: > > @Nigel_Foremain said: > > > @nico67 said: > > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done . > > > > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin > > Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
If voters wanted to send a message for pro Brexit they could have voted UKIP. They didn’t and the only other party with a clear message the Lib Dems are doing well .
The media would be spinning this differently if the Brexit Party were doing well .
> @Sunil_Prasannan said: > LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
UKIP (Uber Leave) -32% Con (Hard Leave) -26% Lab (Soft Leave) -6% LD (Remain) +109% Green (Remain) +500%
Message is very clear - the UK now wants to Remain.
Not so convinced, even though I'd like to be as a remainer 1. Low (though normal for locals) turnout. Most people not that fussed about politics and probably also not that strong opinions about Brexit, hard to say how they would vote or if they would vote in another referendum 2. Remainers have clear choices to support - LD or Green both unequivocal in policy. Leavers not motivated to vote Labour (still on the fence and may pivot to referendum, who knows?), nor probably Conservative: pro-Brexit but making a right horlicks of delivering it. UKIP works for pro-Brexit but look like real extremists now, hard to see remotely decent non-racist leavers voting for them (but would probably vote for the, on the surface at least, less extreme BP) 3. Also some local issues in some votes
Opinion polls on EU better guide I think (and also heading in remain direction, though not conclusively so). EU elections also a better though very imperfect guide - there's a reasonable option for annoyed leavers to express their annoyance, BP.
> @Brom said: > > @GIN1138 said: > > > @Scott_P said: > > > https://twitter.com/krishgm/status/1124239449112629248 > > > > People are clearly protesting again Con and Lab... But should probably wait and see how the Brexit Party do in the EU elections before drawing too many conclusions about Brexit. > > Would agree. Those drawing entirely remain narratives from low turnout local elections in parts of the country will presumably report on a seismic shift in the nation's outlook in a mere 3 week period. It's more complicated than people like Krishnan think and Nandy is probably closest to the mark.
I see tories got bashed in bath. Now obviously they have a lib dem mp and very remainy, but i was there a few weeks ago and a number of people i met were doing their nut over council proposal for some london style emission zone.
Suspect Rory running is more likely to result in being offered a top Cabinet job after the contest than actually winning, but you never know. Go for it Rory!
The country is crying out for an Etonian and Oxford PPE PM. He's also too Remainy for the undead horde. I might as well announce I'm running for leader of the tories; we both have the same chance.
> @Richard_Tyndall said: > > @Nigel_Foremain said: > > > @nico67 said: > > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done . > > > > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin > > Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
We can all play games with numbers. Unequivocally anti-Brexit parties won about 20-25% of the vote, and will pick up 15-20% of the seats. That tells us nothing that opinion polls don't already tell us.
> @CarlottaVance said: > > @Nigel_Foremain said: > > > > @nico67 said: > > > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done . > > > > > > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin > > > > Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims. > > Lib Dem speciality is campaigning on local issues - and the Tories and Labour understandably avoided Brexit like the plague. Yet now this is 'a vote for Remain'.
Gotta remember as well that in many places the options were only: Con, Lab, Lib Dem and Green - how do you register a protest about Brexit and wanting to get it done when they are your only options, apart from spoiling your ballot? Wouldn't be surprised if the Lib Dems and Greens benefitted from simply not being the two main parties, despite their pro-Brexit stance (I bet a large chunk of voters don't even know what the Greens' stance is on Europe, seeing them as a one issue party).
> @Cicero said: > > @dyedwoolie said: > > Wow, clear late night horror for the blues! Minus 1000 looks on, LD plus 700? > > Let's have Rees Mogg out of a seat please. > > Crumb of comfort for the blues - it's not 1995. However I expect them to coalesce around Boris with the remainers fleeing to Change or the twitching zombie corpse of the LDs > > You guys always think the Lib Dems are dead... Pretty much since the party was founded it's been jokes on the "ex parrot" but in fact we are not only very much alive, but tentatively prospering...
Yes your 11 MPs are simply framing the narrative for decades to come Once Change move into view you're done,
10.26 Corbyn being interviewed in Trafford: “We have won Trafford. We have swings to Labour in a number of boroughs and that gives us a basis on which we can win marginal seats… I’m looking for an election in which we can do that.”
On the loss of Labour heartlands, he said: “I’m very sorry we lost them. We’ll win them back.”
Why did Labour lose in those areas? “Some of them were local factors, and some of them were people disagreeing with both parties on attitudes towards the EU.”
If you’re expecting these local election results to change Labour’s Brexit policy, think again.
'Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley says it has been "the biggest election night in our history".
The party has gained 42 councillors so far.
"Voters see that we need a new kind of politics, one that recognises the huge imperative of acting on climate change, but also the social emergency that is creating misery and suffering in communities across the country," Mr Bartley says.
He adds that Brexit has also played "a significant role" in the elections, with the Greens "standing up for the UK's membership of the European Union".'
> @CarlottaVance said: > Proportionate change in seat numbers, currently: > > UKIP (Uber Leave) -32% > Con (Hard Leave) -26% > Lab (Soft Leave) -6% > LD (Remain) +109% > Green (Remain) +500% > > Message is very clear - the UK now wants to Remain. > > You don't win elections on percentage changes - you win them on won seats. > > How does your calculation look if you measure it that way?
> LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
> @Streeter said: > Proportionate change in seat numbers, currently: > > UKIP (Uber Leave) -32% > Con (Hard Leave) -26% > Lab (Soft Leave) -6% > LD (Remain) +109% > Green (Remain) +500% > > Message is very clear - the UK now wants to Remain.
You've got that back to front.
Lots of seats with no UKIP candidate, and they've gone fairly mental anyway, plus their councilors are often useless and tend not to be re-elected. Tory vote has collapsed because they are meant to be running the country, and won't implement Brexit. They are not for Soft Brexit - they are for incompetence and can kicking. Labour vote has collapsed in leave voting areas, because they are too keen on remaining, and in remain areas because they are too keen on leaving. LD vote has held up because they are the only lot that have actual stuck to their principles and done what they said they would do.
It's not that the country has become more remainy - it's simply that leavers can't trust any of the supposedly leave parties to get on and do it. I spoiled my ballot yesterday, for the first time ever, because I couldn't bring myself to endorse T May, and there were no other even remotely leavey options - I can't believe I was alone.
Note also that independents have done very well - had I been offered one, I would have voted for them almost regardless of stated policies (if any) - I would suggest in many ways they are a proxy for the (non running) Brexiteers.
I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories.
I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
To put the results so far in context, based on the standard 4 year cycle which approximates to the seats now being contested, the LDs started off with 1846 councillors defending these seats in 2011, were down to 1,098 after the 2011 elections and were reduced to 658 after 2015.
The results are consistent with the very modest LD recovery since 2015 in the opinion polls, with the changes in seats mainly attributable to the meltdown of from their 2015 opinion poll levels.
The thread header of "putting the coalition years behind them" therefore reeks of wishful thinking even if the LDs double their gains so far. Are they going to end up with anything close to 1846 seats at a time of Tory meltdown? No.
> @GIN1138 said: > What this election also proves is that no matter how bad a party's fortunes are... There is ALWAYS scope for recovery in time. > > In 2015 the Lib-Dems looked dead and buried - But here they are back in business in local government once again. > > It's taken four years but welcome back to the game Liberal Demorcrats.
Perhaps the secret to success is have an invisible leader then nobody hates you.
> @AlastairMeeks said: > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
We'll see Lib-Dems and Greens 1st and 2nd in the EU elections then?
> @nico67 said: > > @Richard_Tyndall said: > > > @Nigel_Foremain said: > > > > @nico67 said: > > > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done . > > > > > > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin > > > > Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims. > > If voters wanted to send a message for pro Brexit they could have voted UKIP. They didn’t and the only other party with a clear message the Lib Dems are doing well . > > The media would be spinning this differently if the Brexit Party were doing well .
A lot of Brexiteers stayed at home or even spoiled their ballots with no Brexit Party candidate in most wards and the LDs were the default option for those dissatisfied with the Tories or Labour.
Come the European elections Brexiteers will be out in force to vote for the Brexit Party, that will give a clearer indication of the strength of Remain and Leave feeling (especially as even some Leavers will have voted LD to mend the potholes, that does not mean they want to stay in the EU)
> @Theuniondivvie said: > > @isam said: > > Ooh look what popped through my letterbox this morning > > Their canvassing database is a bit raggy if it doesn't have you down as a sure thing.
I suspect that most of the "hot takes" about what these local elections mean, are going to look quite silly in a few weeks time, if the European Parliament elections take place.
Sure they can. And people can vote Labour and Conservatives for other reasons too.
But if people are not voting for those two parties because they are disaffected over their Brexit stance, and people are voting Lib Dem and Greens and are not disaffected over their Brexit stance, clearly an out-and-proud pro-Remain position is less of a drawback.
> @GIN1138 said: > > @AndyJS said: > > > @GIN1138 said: > > > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands > > > > > > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council > > > > > > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party... > > > > It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion. > > I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories.
In 1995 Blair gained 1,807 council seats, so far Corbyn has lost 79 council seats on the same electoral cycle
The only way this is the 90s is the LDs are taking some Tory seats, from a Labour perspective it has been a poor set of results so far
> @GIN1138 said: > > @AlastairMeeks said: > > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now. > > We'll see Lib-Dems and Greens 1st and 2nd in the EU elections then?
> @AlastairMeeks said: > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. > > https://twitter.com/election_data/status/1124245748936318978 > > > > Sure they can. And people can vote Labour and Conservatives for other reasons too. > > But if people are not voting for those two parties because they are disaffected over their Brexit stance, and people are voting Lib Dem and Greens and are not disaffected over their Brexit stance, clearly an out-and-proud pro-Remain position is less of a drawback.
Though even if you combine the Lib Dem and Green votes and seat totals, they are firmly in third place.
Difficult to see local election results as a pro - Remain vote rather than a protest vote given the polling for the Euro elections. People don’t vote for divided parties.
What Corbyn showed in 2017 however was that Brexit wasn’t going to determine how people voted in a GE. That would be on the usual issues. Brexit needs to be done and dusted before the next General Election.
> @AlastairMeeks said: > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
And yet i voted LD as the only likely party to beat the tories, because the tories have been so crap over Brexit and in fact just monumentally crap in general.
I will not be voting LD in the Euros. May I respectfully suggest that the European elections may be a better guide to people views on, er, Europe. If you were to interpret my protest vote against the tories yesterday as a pro Remain one, you would be wholly incorrect.
LDs are 2nd to the tories in most shire seats, so they get the most protest votes. Simple as that
I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
> @HYUFD said: > > @GIN1138 said: > > > @AndyJS said: > > > > @GIN1138 said: > > > > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands > > > > > > > > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council > > > > > > > > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party... > > > > > > It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion. > > > > I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories. > > In 1995 Blair gained 1,807 council seats, so far Corbyn has lost 79 council seats on the same electoral cycle > > > The only way this is the 90s is the LDs are taking some Tory seats, from a Labour perspective it has been a poor set of results so far >
History never repeats exactly... But you can see the Tories are currently having a terrible time of it... Things have been going from bad to worse under May and Hammond ever since they took over in 2016.
Maybe this time instead of Blair and Labour the threat will be from Farage and Brexit Party?
> @Mysticrose said: > I feel a surge of new hope today. This county is crying out for a centrist pro-Remain party and not one tarnished and incompetent like the Tiggers. > > Once the LibDems have their new leader, assuming it's someone even half-competent, they will be a formidable force once more. > > This is a big remain backlash which the msn are having considerable trouble reconciling.
> @isam said: > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now. > > In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
Similarly, I gave the Greens two of my three votes yesterday even though I'm voting Brexit Party on the 23rd. They ran a very good local campaign and one of their candidates is a good lad who volunteers for the RNLI. I haven't become a Remainer.
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
And yet i voted LD as the only likely party to beat the tories, because the tories have been so crap over Brexit and in fact just monumentally crap in general.
I will not be voting LD in the Euros. May I respectfully suggest that the European elections may be a better guide to people views on, er, Europe. If you were to interpret my protest vote against the tories yesterday as a pro Remain one, you would be wholly incorrect.
LDs are 2nd to the tories in most shire seats, so they get the most protest votes. Simple as that
I seriously considered voting Lib Dem - I even told the candidate I'd vote for him (I feel a bit bad now) - but then I saw the PEB for the Lib Dems and thought about what would happen the day after the vote and thought "I can't vote for them."
> @FrancisUrquhart said: > New International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has said he intends to stand for the Conservative leadership after Theresa May steps down. > > Given he gets overlooked time and time again for a big job, supposed the only way to get one is via this route.
That almost makes me want to join the party. Almost.
> @isam said: > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now. > > In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
Of course, but the ebb and flow of Local election results does largely reflect the national polls.
Clearly the LDs are electable again, as are the Greens.
> @isam said: > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now. > > In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
> LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
Brave of you to come out of the closet.
Oh, I mentioned it on PB, albeit some years ago! Did you know I voted UKIP at the Euros in 2014? My only flirtation with the Purples!
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
>
> In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
Easily addressed. Labour Party members/supporters who want Brexit are either:
1) rich enough such that Brexit is an ideological project for them (eg Milne et al); or 2) not well educated enough to understand Brexit (eg. the bbcqt folk).
> @isam said: > > @isam said: > > > Ooh look what popped through my letterbox this morning > > > > Their canvassing database is a bit raggy if it doesn't have you down as a sure thing. > > Wouldn’t they think I might vote UKIP?
> Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion.
The Lib Dems and the Alliance ran Chelmsford for 20 years from 1983 to 2003 with a gap of only four years. It’s been Tory for a while but given whole council elections and a unpopular Tory government it was always going to revert back one day.
> @Sunil_Prasannan said: > > @Sunil_Prasannan said: > > > LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there. > > > > Brave of you to come out of the closet. > > Oh, I mentioned it on PB, albeit some years ago! Did you know I voted UKIP at the Euros in 2014? My only flirtation with the Purples!
So it is a toss-up between Brexit Party and ChUK for you this year?
> @DavidL said: > > @FrancisUrquhart said: > > New International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has said he intends to stand for the Conservative leadership after Theresa May steps down. > > > > Given he gets overlooked time and time again for a big job, supposed the only way to get one is via this route. > > That almost makes me want to join the party. Almost.
> @GIN1138 said: > > @HYUFD said: > > > @GIN1138 said: > > > > @AndyJS said: > > > > > @GIN1138 said: > > > > > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands > > > > > > > > > > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council > > > > > > > > > > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party... > > > > > > > > It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion. > > > > > > I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories. > > > > In 1995 Blair gained 1,807 council seats, so far Corbyn has lost 79 council seats on the same electoral cycle > > > > > > The only way this is the 90s is the LDs are taking some Tory seats, from a Labour perspective it has been a poor set of results so far > > > > History never repeats exactly... But you can see the Tories are currently having a terrible time of it... Things have been going from bad to worse under May and Hammond ever since they took over in 2016. > > Maybe this time instead of Blair and Labour the threat will be from Farage and Brexit Party?
Comments
> Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
> > @stodge said:
> > Clearly a good night for the Lib Dems - a torrid one for the Tories and a disappointing one for Labour. But the other significant growth is the rise of 'Independents' - proportionately even more impressive than the Lib Dems - anyone know how these break down? I'm sure its not all 'Residents Association' (small 'c' Conservatives) - who else? Plays to the 'plague on both/ all your houses'.....
> >
> > As you say, "Independent" covers a multitude of sins. The days of the go-it-alone Independent are over - modern politics doesn't work that way. Instead, we've seen the rise of what I prefer to call micro-parties, groups coalescing around local identities and issues (mainly housing) which have a direct impact. The Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group in Tandridge has been hugely successful and won more seats last night while there are a couple of village-based micro-parties in Guildford which may have won seats.
> >
> > These micro-parties are often well funded and utilise local-based social media as their main campaigning tool. They can get information out very quickly to large numbers of people within a concentrated area. It's an evolution of the LD "community politics" and is both political and apolitical at the same time - it functions as a political party but beyond the local so a supporter (as distinct from a member) of the Conservative, Labour or LD parties can support the micro-party locally while staying with their national party at Westminster elections.
>
> In Guildford we have two independent groups. It is all to do with the local plan and they are very anti the Conservative administration, but not because they are Conservatives, just because of the incompetence, arrogance and what appears to be some 'interesting' stuff re the local plan. One of the groups was formed by a mix of councillors from both the Tory and LD group. This group ranges in political views significantly, but are all agreed on what they think of the local plan.
I saw at least one seat won by 'For Britain' - an off-shoot of UKIP - in Hartlepool, and there seems to have been a few called 'Veterans & People's Party' or similar up north etc. It seems veterans play well on the doostep.
> Yeah, all those Sunderland voters suddenly want a second referendum do they? Laughable. I think it's more likely they want the first one respected.
>
The problem our politics has at the moment is with that word "all". Clearly many Remain voters, of which there were some in Sunderland, want another referendum, while Leave voters mostly do not. But we can't compromise by half having another referendum.
> > @nico67 said:
> > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
>
> Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
> Wow, clear late night horror for the blues! Minus 1000 looks on, LD plus 700?
> Let's have Rees Mogg out of a seat please.
> Crumb of comfort for the blues - it's not 1995. However I expect them to coalesce around Boris with the remainers fleeing to Change or the twitching zombie corpse of the LDs
You guys always think the Lib Dems are dead... Pretty much since the party was founded it's been jokes on the "ex parrot" but in fact we are not only very much alive, but tentatively prospering...
Even in Leave areas you’d still find Remainers but somehow an increase in the Lib Dem vote there now negates their Stop Brexit message because how dare some voters in Sunderland actually vote to Stop Brexit .
> Looks like Labours tactic of trying to ride two horses on Brexit has been finally found out.
That and also the party is focused on its internal struggles rather than on creating a convincing story to take to the electorate.
> LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
Was Cambridge LD in 2005?
> A poor night for Labour in St Helens. I stuck to my strict political principles of voting for the best looking one who had two X chromosomes per cell, and wasn't a Green.
>
> She unseated the old Labour councillor who'd been in place for years - an ugly bastard with only one X chromosome.
Er... Every human has more than two X chromosomes. Women have 46.
It is also bigoted to vote for people based on genetics rather than on policies.
> > @kamski said:
> > This election result doesn't really change my take on labour's prospects.
> >
> > This is all anecdotal (but might represent a significant chunk of 2017 Labour voters), but I wasn't surprised by Labour doing better than expected in 2017 because I knew loads of people who were very enthusiastic about Corbyn. They were often people who hadn't voted before/for a long time and I could imagine were difficult for pollsters to capture. Some were motivated to get back on the electoral roll because of the 2016 referendum, all seemed to be enthusiastic about Corbyn's honesty, integrity, principles and lack of spin, nearly all were strongly anti-brexit.
> >
> > They seem (going by social media posts and conversations) to be very anti-Corbyn now and are not voting Labour and won't in a general election (maybe a commitment to a 2nd referendum would bring some back, but it might be too late now). Some (eg my mum, who's 79) joined Labour because of Corbyn, and have now left Labour because of Corbyn.
> >
> > It's not just that they are disappointed with Labour's Brexit policy (or lack of it), it's also that Corbyn is seen as having been hypocritical and dishonest over the biggest issue that he has influence over, and so his personal appeal of integrity etc has been trashed. Additionally, because of this (I'm speculating here), people who might have been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt over anti-semitism now don't.
> >
> > Long story short: 2 years ago my timeline was full of very enthusiastic Corbyn supporters, now mostly anti. If Corbyn is leader at the next general election I think Labour will do badly, probably worse than most people seem to expect at the moment. Their only chance is if the Conservatives do even worse (which is always possible).
>
> Corbyn has been a Euro-sceptic for his entire political career. If people couldn't be bothered to find that out, that's their mistake. They shouldn't be disappointed by it.
and yet they are.
> > @dyedwoolie said:
> > Wow, clear late night horror for the blues! Minus 1000 looks on, LD plus 700?
> > Let's have Rees Mogg out of a seat please.
> > Crumb of comfort for the blues - it's not 1995. However I expect them to coalesce around Boris with the remainers fleeing to Change or the twitching zombie corpse of the LDs
>
> You guys always think the Lib Dems are dead... Pretty much since the party was founded it's been jokes on the "ex parrot" but in fact we are not only very much alive, but tentatively prospering...
Would make a great party slogan: 'The Lib Dems - tentatively prospering here'!
> > @Nigel_Foremain said:
> > > @nico67 said:
> > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
> >
> > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
>
> Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
If voters wanted to send a message for pro Brexit they could have voted UKIP. They didn’t and the only other party with a clear message the Lib Dems are doing well .
The media would be spinning this differently if the Brexit Party were doing well .
> LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
Brave of you to come out of the closet.
If true, that's a symbolic end to the Cameron era.
1. Low (though normal for locals) turnout. Most people not that fussed about politics and probably also not that strong opinions about Brexit, hard to say how they would vote or if they would vote in another referendum
2. Remainers have clear choices to support - LD or Green both unequivocal in policy. Leavers not motivated to vote Labour (still on the fence and may pivot to referendum, who knows?), nor probably Conservative: pro-Brexit but making a right horlicks of delivering it. UKIP works for pro-Brexit but look like real extremists now, hard to see remotely decent non-racist leavers voting for them (but would probably vote for the, on the surface at least, less extreme BP)
3. Also some local issues in some votes
Opinion polls on EU better guide I think (and also heading in remain direction, though not conclusively so). EU elections also a better though very imperfect guide - there's a reasonable option for annoyed leavers to express their annoyance, BP.
> > @GIN1138 said:
> > > @Scott_P said:
> > > https://twitter.com/krishgm/status/1124239449112629248
> >
> > People are clearly protesting again Con and Lab... But should probably wait and see how the Brexit Party do in the EU elections before drawing too many conclusions about Brexit.
>
> Would agree. Those drawing entirely remain narratives from low turnout local elections in parts of the country will presumably report on a seismic shift in the nation's outlook in a mere 3 week period. It's more complicated than people like Krishnan think and Nandy is probably closest to the mark.
I see tories got bashed in bath. Now obviously they have a lib dem mp and very remainy, but i was there a few weeks ago and a number of people i met were doing their nut over council proposal for some london style emission zone.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council
Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
> > @Nigel_Foremain said:
> > > @nico67 said:
> > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
> >
> > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
>
> Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
We can all play games with numbers. Unequivocally anti-Brexit parties won about 20-25% of the vote, and will pick up 15-20% of the seats. That tells us nothing that opinion polls don't already tell us.
> > @Nigel_Foremain said:
>
> > > @nico67 said:
>
> > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
>
> >
>
> > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
>
>
>
> Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
>
> Lib Dem speciality is campaigning on local issues - and the Tories and Labour understandably avoided Brexit like the plague. Yet now this is 'a vote for Remain'.
Gotta remember as well that in many places the options were only: Con, Lab, Lib Dem and Green - how do you register a protest about Brexit and wanting to get it done when they are your only options, apart from spoiling your ballot? Wouldn't be surprised if the Lib Dems and Greens benefitted from simply not being the two main parties, despite their pro-Brexit stance (I bet a large chunk of voters don't even know what the Greens' stance is on Europe, seeing them as a one issue party).
> > @dyedwoolie said:
> > Wow, clear late night horror for the blues! Minus 1000 looks on, LD plus 700?
> > Let's have Rees Mogg out of a seat please.
> > Crumb of comfort for the blues - it's not 1995. However I expect them to coalesce around Boris with the remainers fleeing to Change or the twitching zombie corpse of the LDs
>
> You guys always think the Lib Dems are dead... Pretty much since the party was founded it's been jokes on the "ex parrot" but in fact we are not only very much alive, but tentatively prospering...
Yes your 11 MPs are simply framing the narrative for decades to come
Once Change move into view you're done,
On the loss of Labour heartlands, he said: “I’m very sorry we lost them. We’ll win them back.”
Why did Labour lose in those areas? “Some of them were local factors, and some of them were people disagreeing with both parties on attitudes towards the EU.”
If you’re expecting these local election results to change Labour’s Brexit policy, think again.
LabourList
'Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley says it has been "the biggest election night in our history".
The party has gained 42 councillors so far.
"Voters see that we need a new kind of politics, one that recognises the huge imperative of acting on climate change, but also the social emergency that is creating misery and suffering in communities across the country," Mr Bartley says.
He adds that Brexit has also played "a significant role" in the elections, with the Greens "standing up for the UK's membership of the European Union".'
> Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands
>
> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council
>
> Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion.
> Proportionate change in seat numbers, currently:
>
> UKIP (Uber Leave) -32%
> Con (Hard Leave) -26%
> Lab (Soft Leave) -6%
> LD (Remain) +109%
> Green (Remain) +500%
>
> Message is very clear - the UK now wants to Remain.
>
> You don't win elections on percentage changes - you win them on won seats.
>
> How does your calculation look if you measure it that way?
It looks very different.
> Proportionate change in seat numbers, currently:
>
> UKIP (Uber Leave) -32%
> Con (Hard Leave) -26%
> Lab (Soft Leave) -6%
> LD (Remain) +109%
> Green (Remain) +500%
>
> Message is very clear - the UK now wants to Remain.
You've got that back to front.
Lots of seats with no UKIP candidate, and they've gone fairly mental anyway, plus their councilors are often useless and tend not to be re-elected.
Tory vote has collapsed because they are meant to be running the country, and won't implement Brexit. They are not for Soft Brexit - they are for incompetence and can kicking.
Labour vote has collapsed in leave voting areas, because they are too keen on remaining, and in remain areas because they are too keen on leaving.
LD vote has held up because they are the only lot that have actual stuck to their principles and done what they said they would do.
It's not that the country has become more remainy - it's simply that leavers can't trust any of the supposedly leave parties to get on and do it. I spoiled my ballot yesterday, for the first time ever, because I couldn't bring myself to endorse T May, and there were no other even remotely leavey options - I can't believe I was alone.
Note also that independents have done very well - had I been offered one, I would have voted for them almost regardless of stated policies (if any) - I would suggest in many ways they are a proxy for the (non running) Brexiteers.
> https://twitter.com/abradacabla/status/1124246507354578944
We will in 3 weeks....
> Ooh look what popped through my letterbox this morning
Their canvassing database is a bit raggy if it doesn't have you down as a sure thing.
In 2015 the Lib-Dems looked dead and buried - But here they are back in business in local government once again.
It's taken four years but welcome back to the game Liberal Demorcrats.
https://twitter.com/election_data/status/1124235356247863296
https://twitter.com/election_data/status/1124237877888655360
Lab 228
Ind 225
Con 225
> > @GIN1138 said:
> > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands
> >
> > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council
> >
> > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
>
> It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion.
I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories.
Boris needs to turn up if he wants to be PM.
> I see Ruth has blocked BoJo from turning up at the SCon conference.
Ross Thomson will be greetin'. I'm sure he was dying to do his hand maiden act to another triumphant Boris entrance on his home turf.
> LD +302
> Con -433
> Lab -85
>
> https://election.news.sky.com/england-local-council-elections-26
To put the results so far in context, based on the standard 4 year cycle which approximates to the seats now being contested, the LDs started off with 1846 councillors defending these seats in 2011, were down to 1,098 after the 2011 elections and were reduced to 658 after 2015.
The results are consistent with the very modest LD recovery since 2015 in the opinion polls, with the changes in seats mainly attributable to the meltdown of from their 2015 opinion poll levels.
The thread header of "putting the coalition years behind them" therefore reeks of wishful thinking even if the LDs double their gains so far. Are they going to end up with anything close to 1846 seats at a time of Tory meltdown? No.
> What this election also proves is that no matter how bad a party's fortunes are... There is ALWAYS scope for recovery in time.
>
> In 2015 the Lib-Dems looked dead and buried - But here they are back in business in local government once again.
>
> It's taken four years but welcome back to the game Liberal Demorcrats.
Perhaps the secret to success is have an invisible leader then nobody hates you.
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
We'll see Lib-Dems and Greens 1st and 2nd in the EU elections then?
> > @Richard_Tyndall said:
> > > @Nigel_Foremain said:
> > > > @nico67 said:
> > > > Amazing a party on a Stop Brexit message doing very well and the media desperate to couch this as a vote to get Brexit done .
> > >
> > > Indeed. They are swallowing the Labour and Tory spin
> >
> > Considering the main party positions are completely incoherent and the main pro Brexit party did not even stand, I suspect (or rather I hope) you are very much clutching at straws. I do not see the Euros confirming your claims.
>
> If voters wanted to send a message for pro Brexit they could have voted UKIP. They didn’t and the only other party with a clear message the Lib Dems are doing well .
>
> The media would be spinning this differently if the Brexit Party were doing well .
A lot of Brexiteers stayed at home or even spoiled their ballots with no Brexit Party candidate in most wards and the LDs were the default option for those dissatisfied with the Tories or Labour.
Come the European elections Brexiteers will be out in force to vote for the Brexit Party, that will give a clearer indication of the strength of Remain and Leave feeling (especially as even some Leavers will have voted LD to mend the potholes, that does not mean they want to stay in the EU)
> > @isam said:
> > Ooh look what popped through my letterbox this morning
>
> Their canvassing database is a bit raggy if it doesn't have you down as a sure thing.
Nobody likes to be taken for granted!
https://twitter.com/justinmadders/status/1124248313333735425
But if people are not voting for those two parties because they are disaffected over their Brexit stance, and people are voting Lib Dem and Greens and are not disaffected over their Brexit stance, clearly an out-and-proud pro-Remain position is less of a drawback.
> > @AndyJS said:
> > > @GIN1138 said:
> > > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands
> > >
> > > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council
> > >
> > > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
> >
> > It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion.
>
> I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories.
In 1995 Blair gained 1,807 council seats, so far Corbyn has lost 79 council seats on the same electoral cycle
The only way this is the 90s is the LDs are taking some Tory seats, from a Labour perspective it has been a poor set of results so far
"Jeremy Corbyn has arrived in Trafford"
> > @AlastairMeeks said:
> > I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
>
> We'll see Lib-Dems and Greens 1st and 2nd in the EU elections then?
2nd and 1st!
Once the LibDems have their new leader, assuming it's someone even half-competent, they will be a formidable force once more.
This is a big remain backlash which the msn are having considerable trouble reconciling.
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge.
>
> https://twitter.com/election_data/status/1124245748936318978
>
>
>
> Sure they can. And people can vote Labour and Conservatives for other reasons too.
>
> But if people are not voting for those two parties because they are disaffected over their Brexit stance, and people are voting Lib Dem and Greens and are not disaffected over their Brexit stance, clearly an out-and-proud pro-Remain position is less of a drawback.
Though even if you combine the Lib Dem and Green votes and seat totals, they are firmly in third place.
What Corbyn showed in 2017 however was that Brexit wasn’t going to determine how people voted in a GE. That would be on the usual issues. Brexit needs to be done and dusted before the next General Election.
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
And yet i voted LD as the only likely party to beat the tories, because the tories have been so crap over Brexit and in fact just monumentally crap in general.
I will not be voting LD in the Euros. May I respectfully suggest that the European elections may be a better guide to people views on, er, Europe. If you were to interpret my protest vote against the tories yesterday as a pro Remain one, you would be wholly incorrect.
LDs are 2nd to the tories in most shire seats, so they get the most protest votes. Simple as that
> Thread:
>
> https://twitter.com/election_data/status/1124235356247863296
>
>
>
> https://twitter.com/election_data/status/1124237877888655360
Methodism (and Trade Union-ism) vs Marx. When they work together, it's fine; when they don't .........
> > @GIN1138 said:
> > > @AndyJS said:
> > > > @GIN1138 said:
> > > > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands
> > > >
> > > > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council
> > > >
> > > > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
> > >
> > > It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion.
> >
> > I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories.
>
> In 1995 Blair gained 1,807 council seats, so far Corbyn has lost 79 council seats on the same electoral cycle
>
>
> The only way this is the 90s is the LDs are taking some Tory seats, from a Labour perspective it has been a poor set of results so far
>
History never repeats exactly... But you can see the Tories are currently having a terrible time of it... Things have been going from bad to worse under May and Hammond ever since they took over in 2016.
Maybe this time instead of Blair and Labour the threat will be from Farage and Brexit Party?
> I feel a surge of new hope today. This county is crying out for a centrist pro-Remain party and not one tarnished and incompetent like the Tiggers.
>
> Once the LibDems have their new leader, assuming it's someone even half-competent, they will be a formidable force once more.
>
> This is a big remain backlash which the msn are having considerable trouble reconciling.
Bless
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
>
> In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
Similarly, I gave the Greens two of my three votes yesterday even though I'm voting Brexit Party on the 23rd. They ran a very good local campaign and one of their candidates is a good lad who volunteers for the RNLI. I haven't become a Remainer.
Let's see what happens in a couple of weeks.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2016/06/27/how-britain-voted
> New International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has said he intends to stand for the Conservative leadership after Theresa May steps down.
>
> Given he gets overlooked time and time again for a big job, supposed the only way to get one is via this route.
That almost makes me want to join the party. Almost.
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
>
> In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
Of course, but the ebb and flow of Local election results does largely reflect the national polls.
Clearly the LDs are electable again, as are the Greens.
> I really don't think there's any way to interpret these results as anything other than Remainers' revenge. Now you might argue that an effective pro-Brexit party would also have done well (UKIP, I note though, are also down on the seat count), but that's pure speculation for now.
>
> In local elections I vote for the Residents Association without any idea of their view on the EU and wouldn’t mind at all if the Lib Dem’s ran my local council
RA: Hitler youth with hedge clippers
https://twitter.com/AaronBastani/status/1124107263185235974
1) rich enough such that Brexit is an ideological project for them (eg Milne et al); or
2) not well educated enough to understand Brexit (eg. the bbcqt folk).
> > @isam said:
>
> > Ooh look what popped through my letterbox this morning
>
>
>
> Their canvassing database is a bit raggy if it doesn't have you down as a sure thing.
>
> Wouldn’t they think I might vote UKIP?
Oh, I thought you'd joined BP?
Didn’t get the LDs into national government then.
> https://twitter.com/JohnMannMP/status/1124247290661752832
eh? first results look similar to the national picture
> > @Sunil_Prasannan said:
>
> > LibDems did well last night, congrats! I actually voted LD in two GEs, 2001 (Ilford N) and 2005 (Cambridge), plus Cambridge locals 2005-07, while I was working there.
>
>
>
> Brave of you to come out of the closet.
>
> Oh, I mentioned it on PB, albeit some years ago! Did you know I voted UKIP at the Euros in 2014? My only flirtation with the Purples!
So it is a toss-up between Brexit Party and ChUK for you this year?
> I see Ruth has blocked BoJo from turning up at the SCon conference.
Can't blame her......
> > @FrancisUrquhart said:
> > New International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has said he intends to stand for the Conservative leadership after Theresa May steps down.
> >
> > Given he gets overlooked time and time again for a big job, supposed the only way to get one is via this route.
>
> That almost makes me want to join the party. Almost.
Having a PM from Cumbria would be nice.
> a ward somewhere in West Suffolk
>
> Lab 228
> Ind 225
> Con 225
I bet there was some healthy argument over the spoiled papers.
> > @HYUFD said:
> > > @GIN1138 said:
> > > > @AndyJS said:
> > > > > @GIN1138 said:
> > > > > Vicky Ford MP on the verge of tears and head in her hands
> > > > >
> > > > > https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48146485/election-results-mp-vicky-ford-upset-as-tories-lose-council
> > > > >
> > > > > Perfect metaphor for Theresa May's Conservative Party...
> > > >
> > > > It's only a council, it's not the end of the world. Let's keep a sense of proportion.
> > >
> > > I was thinking more of the image of the MP with head on her hands and fighting back tears... Instantly takes you back to the "dark days" of the 90s for the Tories.
> >
> > In 1995 Blair gained 1,807 council seats, so far Corbyn has lost 79 council seats on the same electoral cycle
> >
> >
> > The only way this is the 90s is the LDs are taking some Tory seats, from a Labour perspective it has been a poor set of results so far
> >
>
> History never repeats exactly... But you can see the Tories are currently having a terrible time of it... Things have been going from bad to worse under May and Hammond ever since they took over in 2016.
>
> Maybe this time instead of Blair and Labour the threat will be from Farage and Brexit Party?
Until we leave the EU quite possibly
https://twitter.com/AllieHBNews/status/1124254307933671424
In County Fermanagh, the turnout was almost 72% in the Erne East DEA.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-47969822