Aldwick West on Arun (Con defence) Result: Con 480 (35% -17% on last time), Lab 112 (8%, no candidate last time), Lib Dem 719 (53% +35% on last time), Green 54 (4%, no candidate last time) (No UKIP candidate this time -30%) Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservative with a majority of 239 (18%) on a swing of 26% from Con to Lib Dem
Comments
People remember the duck house we didn’t pay for not the fake office we did.
John Pienaar said tonight that he thinks this scandal is bigger. I disagree. I think it's mostly Westminster obsessives gossiping about people they know.
Westminster needs to stop believing that it is a special case, and not subject to the same rules, laws and discipline that the rest of the public are. I accept that it isn't all MPs behaving inappropriately (what a joke that is, grown men on at least 75 grand a year plus expenses, having to have a Code of Conduct on how to behave!), but there seems to be a substantial minority that treat it like a boy's club. Trump wanted to drain the swamp, perhaps we should knock parliament into the Thames and start again.
If there have been stuff like rape covered up, now that is explosive.
Obviously Con must be careful not to look as if playing party politics but would have thought mileage in attacking Corbyn for appointing Hopkins.
If Corbyn knew about Hopkins allegations then surely couldn't be right for him to then appoint Hopkins to Shadow Cabinet.
Expenses was explosive because it was a wtf these people claim for duck houses when I can’t even afford a house.
2017 GE:
Con 52
Lab 40
And you heard it here first
Just unbelievable
Some people will be accused and will be totally innocent of all charges, sadly their reputation will probably still be tarnished. That shouldn't allow us to let any tosspot MP who can't keep his hands to himself- or worse- to try and get off the hook. MPs are all under a cloud due to the actions of many of their number over decades.
Parliament absolutely needs to be modernised.
https://twitter.com/TSEofPB/status/926363322949210112
But now most people have voted for him to exist, it's all good...
The Tories have done the right thing in the circumstances though, re the Elphicke allegation.
Things happening on Friday nights doesn't help him write his Saturday morning thread.
IDS is in a particular circle of hell for resigning at 9pm on a Friday night
Parliament needs to be purely a place for lawmaking and government. Forget the billions needed to refurb the place, our MPs don't deserve it. Give them a purpose built building without the bars and listed architecture, they don't need it. Have a Premier Inn standard accommodation block next to it. Turn Westminster into something for the nation to enjoy and let the politicians get on with what we pay them to do.
Even if people are charged, delay until gets to Court, then MP must be convicted, then Govt must lose by-election (which itself could be delayed 6 months).
Seems extremely unlikely Govt would lose its majority within next 18 months, and still highly unlikely within 24 months.
Phil is going to have to come up with some middle class goodies in the budget now mind ! Return of MIRAS 8)
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/926562121013448711
What all this is doing for future investment in the Country heaven only knows
What is the collective noun for a bunch of misfits?
Secondly, it can be argued that MPs do get on and do what we pay them to do. The country works. Yes, it could be better (if only we could agree on what 'better' meant), but neither are we a failure.
Finally, does any major country have a political system and politicians that work in your eyes?
The Court of Public Opinion does not worry too much about accuracy or conviction
Plus of course 35% of 2015 Labour voters voted Leave and 20% of 2015 UKIP voters voted for Corbyn, he is not going to reverse Brexit and risk breaking his June coalition, he knows most Remainers will vote for him anyway given the alternative is the Brexit backing Tories.
He is also still committed to taking the UK out of the single market and ending free movement, he just will support a slightly longer transition period than the Tories would until any FTA is signed.
However, I'm halfway through tomorrow's piece and it'll need something bigger than that which has already happened to happen for me to start again.
https://twitter.com/CharlieElphicke/status/926564093913391106
The expenses scandal tarnished the reputation of all MPs, yet only a handful were convicted of anything
Tory Party pass it on to the police.
Police yet to contact Mr Elphicke.