Labour MPs aren’t known for moving quickly but they still have plenty of time to remove Starmer. They certainly need someone more gobby and willing to pick a fight with Reform .
The polite man in a suit might have worked in 2024 when the Tories self-destructed but it just won’t wash now .
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Her danger is next year, its the shires up for election. If they shit the bed, then all the we are turning it around narrative will be dead in the water.
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Tories second on NEV with Sky and some good results in areas like Westminster, Barnet, Harlow and Fareham secure her position.
Starmer's team also ensured expectations were so low for Labour, even Labour beating the Greens and Tories and LDs on seats won seems like a reasonable result despite the heavy losses of Labour seats to Reform in particular. So I suspect he also survives
Labour MPs aren’t known for moving quickly but they still have plenty of time to remove Starmer. They certainly need someone more gobby and willing to pick a fight with Reform .
The polite man in a suit might have worked in 2024 when the Tories self-destructed but it just won’t wash now .
Time to let rip !
I love how you think where Starmer is slipping up is too much polite restraint. Obviously not a big watcher of PMQs.
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Tories second on NEV with Sky and some good results in areas like Westminster, Barnet, Harlow and Fareham secure her position.
Starmer's team also ensured expectations were so low for Labour, even Labour beating the Greens and Tories and LDs on seats won seems like a reasonable result despite the heavy losses of Labour seats to Reform in particular. So I suspect he also survives
Everybody is a little happy (or relieved), and everyone is a little disappointed.
Reform is overjoyed they won so many councillors (and councils). But is disappointed they went backward in NEV compared to last year. Labour is relieved that they remained second in terms of councillors, and that they held up so well in Scotland. But they've still been absolutely butchered. The Conservatives are relieved to have held on in much of London and a fair number of boroughs in the South, holding off both Reform and the LibDems. But they're also gutted to be fourth in terms of number of councillors. The LDs are pleased they added 150-odd councillors, and did so well in Scottish constituencies. But they wanted a gain of 250-300 councillors and to be ahead of Labour. The Greens are pleased they won some many councillors. But hopes that they could be at 800 or so, and perhaps looking like they are the challenger to Reform have been dashed by coming fifth in what will almost certainly be the most promising local election cycle.
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Her danger is next year, its the shires up for election. If they shit the bed, then all the we are turning it around narrative will be dead in the water.
It's not very convincing right now tbh. Losing 40% of seats as opposed to 60% last year. It's progress. Of sorts. But pretty soon you'll have no base to build on whatsoever. The Tories may be clinging to decent results in some well to do places, but they are becoming utterly extinct in increasingly large areas of the country. The Labour Party results are cataclysmic. But we know the reason why. The least popular PM in history. But the Tories are pulling this off with the least unpopular Party leader. That's some achievement.
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Her danger is next year, its the shires up for election. If they shit the bed, then all the we are turning it around narrative will be dead in the water.
It's not very convincing right now tbh. We're losing 40% of our seats as opposed to 60% last year. It's progress. Of sorts. But pretty soon you'll have no base to build on whatsoever. The Tories may be clinging to decent results in some well to do places, but they are becoming utterly extinct in increasingly large areas of the country. The Labour Party results are cataclysmic. But we know the reason why. The least popular PM in history. But the Tories are pulling this off with the least unpopular Party leader. That's some achievement.
I agree they are still in massive trouble. I dont know who is their base nowadays.
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
So Kier blocked Burnham in Gorton and it has cost Labour dear. Gorton felt pivotal. I even bothered to doorknock. Burnham could have won, maybe. But instead we got Hannah and Kier got another few months.
Jeeze the selfishness and carelessness of ambition.
Labour must dispose of Sir Kier asap or they will be toast.
And another thing. These are smart people, why can’t they see the trend?
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
So Kier blocked Burnham in Gorton and it has cost Labour dear. Gorton felt pivotal. I even bothered to doorknock. Burnham could have won, maybe. But instead we got Hannah and Kier got another few months.
Jeeze the selfishness and carelessness of ambition.
Labour must dispose of Sir Kier asap or they will be toast.
And another thing. These are smart people, why can’t they see the trend?
Yep. And don't you reckon the blocking of Burnham has led to the shockingly bad results across Greater Manchester tonight?
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Tories second on NEV with Sky and some good results in areas like Westminster, Barnet, Harlow and Fareham secure her position...
It's a LD strategy: retreat to Con comfort zones, hold out in their hold-out and wait for the storm to pass. It's a good strategy...if your ambition is to come third and be the junior partner in a RefCon coalition.
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
Word soup
As bad as Starmer for that
ChatGPT-ization of politics.
I just used Grok to create the following:
Statement from Sir Keir Starmer
The British people have rejected the Labour government I lead. This is a catastrophic result, and I take full responsibility for it without hesitation or qualification.I was on the ballot.
I was the one who set the direction. The failures — on delivery, on listening to communities, on fixing the issues that matter most to working people — happened under my leadership. For that, I am truly sorry.Tonight, the voters have spoken clearly.
They have lost trust in us, and that loss of trust is down to me. I will not point fingers at others. I will not make excuses about headwinds or inherited problems.
This defeat is on me.I will contact the party chair immediately to begin the process of a smooth transition to new leadership. Labour needs to take a long, hard look at itself and change course. We must go back to being the party that truly serves working people, not distant from their concerns.
The country deserves better, and it is right that I now step aside so that Labour can rebuild.
So Kier blocked Burnham in Gorton and it has cost Labour dear. Gorton felt pivotal. I even bothered to doorknock. Burnham could have won, maybe. But instead we got Hannah and Kier got another few months.
Jeeze the selfishness and carelessness of ambition.
Labour must dispose of Sir Kier asap or they will be toast.
And another thing. These are smart people, why can’t they see the trend?
Yep. And don't you reckon the blocking of Burnham has led to the shockingly bad results across Greater Manchester tonight?
I mean it probably also doesn't help their local Labour mayor is endlessly briefing the media about his various schemes to create maximum drama and telling everybody their national Labour government is shite?
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
Word soup
As bad as Starmer for that
ChatGPT-ization of politics.
I just used Grok to create the following:
Statement from Sir Keir Starmer
The British people have rejected the Labour government I lead. This is a catastrophic result, and I take full responsibility for it without hesitation or qualification.I was on the ballot.
I was the one who set the direction. The failures — on delivery, on listening to communities, on fixing the issues that matter most to working people — happened under my leadership. For that, I am truly sorry.Tonight, the voters have spoken clearly.
They have lost trust in us, and that loss of trust is down to me. I will not point fingers at others. I will not make excuses about headwinds or inherited problems.
This defeat is on me.I will contact the party chair immediately to begin the process of a smooth transition to new leadership. Labour needs to take a long, hard look at itself and change course. We must go back to being the party that truly serves working people, not distant from their concerns.
The country deserves better, and it is right that I now step aside so that Labour can rebuild.
Why has it missed out spaces after some of the full stops? Did you edit it?
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
Word soup
As bad as Starmer for that
ChatGPT-ization of politics.
I just used Grok to create the following:
Statement from Sir Keir Starmer
The British people have rejected the Labour government I lead. This is a catastrophic result, and I take full responsibility for it without hesitation or qualification.I was on the ballot.
I was the one who set the direction. The failures — on delivery, on listening to communities, on fixing the issues that matter most to working people — happened under my leadership. For that, I am truly sorry.Tonight, the voters have spoken clearly.
They have lost trust in us, and that loss of trust is down to me. I will not point fingers at others. I will not make excuses about headwinds or inherited problems.
This defeat is on me.I will contact the party chair immediately to begin the process of a smooth transition to new leadership. Labour needs to take a long, hard look at itself and change course. We must go back to being the party that truly serves working people, not distant from their concerns.
The country deserves better, and it is right that I now step aside so that Labour can rebuild.
Why has it missed out spaces after some of the full stops? Did you edit it?
I split it into paragraphs so may have removed a space or two but no editing of actual content
Can I big up the Welsh Senedd election? Not in terms of the result, but the electoral method and graphics. All sorted out by mid-afternoon and nice graphics (see below for an example)
Can I big up the Welsh Senedd election? Not in terms of the result, but the electoral method and graphics. All sorted out by mid-afternoon and nice graphics (see below for an example)
But perhaps the thresholds are too high. 11/12% is demanding. Particularly for smaller parties and independents. Doesn't make the end result as representative as it might be.
Must research how resignations/Party switches ate to be handled
Streeting backing Starmer in media pool interview.....nobody is going to go over the top.are they.
The Thatcher Cabinet backed her right up to the point when they didn't.
Yes but thats the Tories who never stop plotting to oust their leader and their system makes it much easier.
I suspect you are wrong this time. He's gone, Johnson style by conference. Bookmark here.
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Her danger is next year, its the shires up for election. If they shit the bed, then all the we are turning it around narrative will be dead in the water.
It's not very convincing right now tbh. We're losing 40% of our seats as opposed to 60% last year. It's progress. Of sorts. But pretty soon you'll have no base to build on whatsoever. The Tories may be clinging to decent results in some well to do places, but they are becoming utterly extinct in increasingly large areas of the country. The Labour Party results are cataclysmic. But we know the reason why. The least popular PM in history. But the Tories are pulling this off with the least unpopular Party leader. That's some achievement.
I agree they are still in massive trouble. I dont know who is their base nowadays.
Can I big up the Welsh Senedd election? Not in terms of the result, but the electoral method and graphics. All sorted out by mid-afternoon and nice graphics (see below for an example)
But perhaps the thresholds are too high. 11/12% is demanding. Particularly for smaller parties and independents. Doesn't make the end result as representative as it might be.
Must research how resignations/Party switches ate to be handled
If a MS dies/resigns he/she is replaced by next person on list. There are no byelections.
If a MS resigns from party he/she remains as independent MS - original party loses official funding for that individual. If defecting to another party, i dont think funding follows to new party.
Danger for Tories is if they lose two MS they lose group status -and lots of £.
If say a group of 6 Reform MS defect to Restore - they would not be recognised as a group and would not qualify for funding.
The Senedd arithmetic means that Plaid > (Reform & Cons). Green would probably back Plaid in most votes, and single LD wont make a difference - so in majority of votes, it all comes down to Labour.
As kingmakers they can either actively support Plaid (and be accused of propping up Plaid) - or actively support Reform (and be accused of worse). So expect a series of tactical abstensions.
FIRST DECISIONS: 1. Election of Llywydd (Presiding Officer) & Deputy
Reform have said they expect this role (as official opposition) but there is no precedent for this and I expect Plaid & Labour to work together to block this as it would lead to chaos (simply due to inexperience).
Instead I expect Llywydd to be Huw Irranca Davies (Labour) and Deputy maybe Peter Fox (Conservative). Old hands who should be able to control Senedd business. And maintaining party balance (or voting bloc balance).
2. Election of First Minister
Plaid will nominate Rhun ap Iorwerth - who will probably be backed by Green - giving 45 votes. Not a majority.
Reform will nominate Dan Thomas. He might get Conservative support - giving 41 votes - but more likely Conservatives will not support at this stage.
Other parties will go through motions of nominating their own leaders who will all fall way short. Votes then repeated - Labour will abstain and so Rhun will be elected
Why is Greek white wine now the best in the world, when it used to be the worst?
It is very good. Totally with you on that. (A local aside - I presume you know the wine shop in Queens Park that has lots of wines from lesser regarded countries?)
No, I don't. I get all my fancy wines from Vivino, generally
The only problem with Greek white wine is that everyone else has also discovered that it is brilliant. I am old enough to remember when I was basically the first to realise, and I was getting these dreamy dreamy assyrtikos for under a tenner a bottle. Now they are over £20
Well go and look. I absolutely promise you it's a great place. They have a magnificent range of wines. As posted in my edit: Salusbury wines. Obviously I have no connection etc.
Greek white wine has improved. I was in Thessaloniki last year and you can wander into food and wine that would get michelin stars here.
Yes. Greek food is also improving fast - following the wine
I went to Athens in the post Covid summer of 2022 and had it basically to myself. It was glorious. And I ate in loads of cool new restaurants. The food was generally excellent
The Greeks know how to keep it simple yet delicious
I don’t know why the wine suddenly got so good. But it did
1) Reform have done great, but I don't think well enough to win a majority. Not yet. Their areas of strength will see them to north of 200 seats but short of a majority as there is significant opposition, and it's becoming clear who is competitive regionally.
2) The Tories aren't dead. They are losing seats to Reform and aren't recovering in the Southern Wall lost to the Lib Dems. But there are still certain areas that are uniquely Tory and not susceptible to either of these.
3) The Greens haven't reached the 'tipping point'. They have done well but their vote is not as well distributed as some of the other parties. At this level they'd probably be similar to Reform last time: lots of second places but disappointingly few wins. It remains to be seen if they can continue to build on their momentum.
4) Given the above, I expect a Reform-Tory coalition or similar is the most likely next government. But three years is a long time in politics so who knows...
The uniquely Tory point is an interesting one, and one I’ve also clocked. There are still plenty of redoubts up and down the country. One of the things I have long thought is that if Reform were on course for a majority those Tory wards (which I think are generally the leafy affluent suburbs of population centres) would reliably start flipping. But they haven’t - not yet - at least not in the numbers to give Reform the numbers to win.
Because Reform are crass, angry, ineffective, somewhat unpleasant, and a bit low-brow.
It's not actually their policies that are the problem - that's a centrist Dad take - it's them.
1) They need to get decision right. Who is best to take on Farage and persuade Green vote to return are my two key questions. I don't think answer to either is clear at the moment.
2) Iran/Hormuz crisis may require taking some very tough and unpopular decisions. Not good for country if they are being taken during a leadership campaign.
3) Starmer (at least until now) still had a lot of membership support. Him going quietly is probably the best option.
But they shouldn't wait too long. Christmas seems reasonable?
someone analyzed all 5000+ accepted papers at ICLR 2026, and it's a good signal who's pushing the research of AI: > China has surpassed the US with 43.7% of the papers > Europe's contribution is surprisingly small (5.3% including UK)
1) They need to get decision right. Who is best to take on Farage and persuade Green vote to return are my two key questions. I don't think answer to either is clear at the moment.
2) Iran/Hormuz crisis may require taking some very tough and unpopular decisions. Not good for country if they are being taken during a leadership campaign.
3) Starmer (at least until now) still had a lot of membership support. Him going quietly is probably the best option.
But they shouldn't wait too long. Christmas seems reasonable?
If seeing Starmer go would give them an immediate and significant bounce - and all the signs are it would - then 2028 would be their best date, just before calling the next election.
And, helpfully, that's the time that would suit him as well.
I've always thought he was going nowhere - in all senses - and nothing I've seen in the last 36 hours has changed my view.
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
The Vote for 16 year olds probably already going to backfire for Labour.
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but under her leadership are the ones most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
The Senedd arithmetic means that Plaid > (Reform & Cons). Green would probably back Plaid in most votes, and single LD wont make a difference - so in majority of votes, it all comes down to Labour.
As kingmakers they can either actively support Plaid (and be accused of propping up Plaid) - or actively support Reform (and be accused of worse). So expect a series of tactical abstensions.
FIRST DECISIONS: 1. Election of Llywydd (Presiding Officer) & Deputy
Reform have said they expect this role (as official opposition) but there is no precedent for this and I expect Plaid & Labour to work together to block this as it would lead to chaos (simply due to inexperience).
Instead I expect Llywydd to be Huw Irranca Davies (Labour) and Deputy maybe Peter Fox (Conservative). Old hands who should be able to control Senedd business. And maintaining party balance (or voting bloc balance).
2. Election of First Minister
Plaid will nominate Rhun ap Iorwerth - who will probably be backed by Green - giving 45 votes. Not a majority.
Reform will nominate Dan Thomas. He might get Conservative support - giving 41 votes - but more likely Conservatives will not support at this stage.
Other parties will go through motions of nominating their own leaders who will all fall way short. Votes then repeated - Labour will abstain and so Rhun will be elected
Then tge fun begins
I think the maths is such that Plaid can effectively govern as a minority, maybe with a side deal with the Greens.
All the other parties will rarely agree to unite to knock it down. They are just too different and dispersed.
So it'll only be on totemic stuff or budgets, if that.
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but the Tories under her leadership is the one most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
I think she gets to live on until next local elections because same problem as Labour, who is up to the job and actually wants to do it. Also with the tetonic plates shifting under Labour, I presume the Tories will want to know who they are actually going to be up against come the GE. If they get another spanking in the locals in a years time, this time in much more shire heavy locals, then all the "I am turning around the titanic" narrative will be done for.
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
The Vote for 16 year olds probably already going to backfire for Labour.
Well, they haven't enacted it yet and teenagers don't vote anyway, so I'm not sure I agree.
But if they do any other changes I think it will be to the Lords rather than the electoral system.
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
The Vote for 16 year olds probably already going to backfire for Labour.
Well, they haven't enacted it yet and teenagers don't vote anyway, so I'm not sure I agree.
But if they do any other changes I think it will be to the Lords rather than the electoral system.
I thought they had passed the legislation, no? I didn't realise until yesterday they hadn't even passed the Hillsborough law yet and obviously stuff like assisted dying got totally bogged down, they are literally getting f##k all done, even stuff that should be easy for them with such a massive majority.
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
The Senedd arithmetic means that Plaid > (Reform & Cons). Green would probably back Plaid in most votes, and single LD wont make a difference - so in majority of votes, it all comes down to Labour.
As kingmakers they can either actively support Plaid (and be accused of propping up Plaid) - or actively support Reform (and be accused of worse). So expect a series of tactical abstensions.
FIRST DECISIONS: 1. Election of Llywydd (Presiding Officer) & Deputy
Reform have said they expect this role (as official opposition) but there is no precedent for this and I expect Plaid & Labour to work together to block this as it would lead to chaos (simply due to inexperience).
Instead I expect Llywydd to be Huw Irranca Davies (Labour) and Deputy maybe Peter Fox (Conservative). Old hands who should be able to control Senedd business. And maintaining party balance (or voting bloc balance).
2. Election of First Minister
Plaid will nominate Rhun ap Iorwerth - who will probably be backed by Green - giving 45 votes. Not a majority.
Reform will nominate Dan Thomas. He might get Conservative support - giving 41 votes - but more likely Conservatives will not support at this stage.
Other parties will go through motions of nominating their own leaders who will all fall way short. Votes then repeated - Labour will abstain and so Rhun will be elected
Then tge fun begins
I think the maths is such that Plaid can effectively govern as a minority, maybe with a side deal with the Greens.
All the other parties will rarely agree to unite to knock it down. They are just too different and dispersed.
So it'll only be on totemic stuff or budgets, if that.
Labour only has to abstain on key votes for a Plaid/Green confidence and supply arrangement to be pretty comfortable. If both the Llywydd and the Dirprwy are from the opposition - say, Huw Irranca-Davies and Jane Dodds - the maths looks even better. I don't think Plaid will want to enter a formal coalition if they can avoid it as the other parties are too openly sectional and their first goal is (or should be ) to show they can reach beyond their Welsh-speaking heartlands and govern for all of Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth has had pretty much the best result he could hope for and actually Plaid are the one party who should be absolutely ecstatic.
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
The Vote for 16 year olds probably already going to backfire for Labour.
Well, they haven't enacted it yet and teenagers don't vote anyway, so I'm not sure I agree.
But if they do any other changes I think it will be to the Lords rather than the electoral system.
I thought they had passed the legislation, no? I didn't realise until yesterday they hadn't even passed the Hillsborough law yet and obviously stuff like assisted dying got totally bogged down, they are literally getting f##k all done, even stuff that should be easy for them with such a massive majority.
They only put the bill forward two months ago, never mind passed it!
Morning all. New teal-coloured dawn down here. We've switched from 32/50 seats for Labour/Conservatives to .....4/50. The peasants have revolted. Now looking forward to have the potholes fixed; social care well financed; bins emptied; and excellence in education,
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
That analysis rather begs the question. In particular, this part: "The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority..."
Are LibDems on the left? They entered a coalition with the Conservatives within living memory. If the LibDems are properly classified as centre-right, then does ‘the left’ have a majority?
We can ask the same question of the Greens. Some greens want the environment preserved in aspic, or even turned back to some golden age by rewilding and general NIMBYism. Sounds a bit small-c conservative. And what of their new-found Middle East wing? A touch of extreme social conservatism there.
So if the Greens and LibDems are not part of it, where is the author's claimed PR majority for ‘the left’?
Frankly it would be more convincing to take the economically left parts of Reform's support. Reform is NOTA, regardless of what Tory retreads and Brexiteers think. A large number of their voters come from the economically disadvantaged who would traditionally support Labour. At least that would suggest TND had thought about the issue.
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but under her leadership are the ones most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
Worst day of all parties? Labour lost c.58% of the seats it was defending. Conservatives lost c.42% of the seats they were defending.
The Senedd arithmetic means that Plaid > (Reform & Cons). Green would probably back Plaid in most votes, and single LD wont make a difference - so in majority of votes, it all comes down to Labour.
As kingmakers they can either actively support Plaid (and be accused of propping up Plaid) - or actively support Reform (and be accused of worse). So expect a series of tactical abstensions.
FIRST DECISIONS: 1. Election of Llywydd (Presiding Officer) & Deputy
Reform have said they expect this role (as official opposition) but there is no precedent for this and I expect Plaid & Labour to work together to block this as it would lead to chaos (simply due to inexperience).
Instead I expect Llywydd to be Huw Irranca Davies (Labour) and Deputy maybe Peter Fox (Conservative). Old hands who should be able to control Senedd business. And maintaining party balance (or voting bloc balance).
2. Election of First Minister
Plaid will nominate Rhun ap Iorwerth - who will probably be backed by Green - giving 45 votes. Not a majority.
Reform will nominate Dan Thomas. He might get Conservative support - giving 41 votes - but more likely Conservatives will not support at this stage.
Other parties will go through motions of nominating their own leaders who will all fall way short. Votes then repeated - Labour will abstain and so Rhun will be elected
Then tge fun begins
I think the maths is such that Plaid can effectively govern as a minority, maybe with a side deal with the Greens.
All the other parties will rarely agree to unite to knock it down. They are just too different and dispersed.
So it'll only be on totemic stuff or budgets, if that.
Labour only has to abstain on key votes for a Plaid/Green confidence and supply arrangement to be pretty comfortable. If both the Llywydd and the Dirprwy are from the opposition - say, Huw Irranca-Davies and Jane Dodds - the maths looks even better. I don't think Plaid will want to enter a formal coalition if they can avoid it as the other parties are too openly sectional and their first goal is (or should be ) to show they can reach beyond their Welsh-speaking heartlands and govern for all of Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth has had pretty much the best result he could hope for and actually Plaid are the one party who should be absolutely ecstatic.
Otoh maybe Plaid's goal should be to ram through as much Welsh nationalism as possible while they've got the chance. And remember, most of their members believe the population will love it once freed from English oppression. Win-win.
Ramming through PR, disregarding buggering the electoral system for partisan advantage, would be absolutely the last thing to do if you wanted to stop Reform.
There's a strong anti-Reform sentiment among many people, but they also have relatively high levels of support. Tactical voting is way harder with PR. Coalition is near certain. Reform could easily end up with most seats.
We have our first Reform UK Defenestrato of this cohort.
Farage has got around to expelling The Holocaust Denying One, Jay Leslie Cooper elected for Bootle West, in Sefton. He was told a fortnight ago, but did nothing until he was elected and the media started asking questions. It's a tricky one to combine with reaching out to the Jewish community.
JLC stated on Facebook last year of Hitler: "I don’t agree with him murdering innocent people. But the Hallocaust [sic] is a hoax. There wasn’t [sic] even 6 million Jews in Europe at the time. Propaganda.”, amongst a lot of conspiracy theories.
I'm sure we were informed on good authority earlier that Ref UK are not a far-right party. I'd suggest it is more like a fruitcake, with all kinds of fruit and nuts in it with a full range from Grumpy Labour to neo-Nazis.
I sure hope Farage has a pre-printed supply of "a few bad apples always get through the world class vetting system" press releases.
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but the Tories under her leadership is the one most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
I think she gets to live on until next local elections because same problem as Labour, who is up to the job and actually wants to do it. Also with the tetonic plates shifting under Labour, I presume the Tories will want to know who they are actually going to be up against come the GE. If they get another spanking in the locals in a years time, this time in much more shire heavy locals, then all the "I am turning around the titanic" narrative will be done for.
The Kemical Weapon has proved surprisingly durable. If only she were 20-30% less black, she might actually have a shot at being PM.
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
The Vote for 16 year olds probably already going to backfire for Labour.
Well, they haven't enacted it yet and teenagers don't vote anyway, so I'm not sure I agree.
But if they do any other changes I think it will be to the Lords rather than the electoral system.
I thought they had passed the legislation, no? I didn't realise until yesterday they hadn't even passed the Hillsborough law yet and obviously stuff like assisted dying got totally bogged down, they are literally getting f##k all done, even stuff that should be easy for them with such a massive majority.
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but under her leadership are the ones most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
Worst day of all parties? Labour lost c.58% of the seats it was defending. Conservatives lost c.42% of the seats they were defending.
And Labour lost its hegemony in Wales.
Kemi had a bad day. Starmer had a far worse one.
Given I heard nothing of Magic Grandpa's YourParty winning anything, they clearly also smashed it.
Starmer is a coward. A Jobsworth. It's been obvious since he went on his Farage tribute act six months ago and appointed Mahmood and started curbing the use of innocuous slogans that he was finished.
Very decent Labour supporters who were not 'anti anything' became infuriated. Watching 80 year old women pastors being dragged into police vans became the norm and Starmer's Britain became a very grim place indeed. He was unlucky only in the sense that The Greens turned up and reminded then what a middle of the road Party which didn't hate immigrants could look like.
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but under her leadership are the ones most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
Worst day of all parties? Labour lost c.58% of the seats it was defending. Conservatives lost c.42% of the seats they were defending.
And Labour lost its hegemony in Wales.
Kemi had a bad day. Starmer had a far worse one.
When we look at council byelections the Tory vote often holds up better at local level than national polling. To a greater degree than other parties voters make a distinction between Tory local government than national.
Add in that the Opposition should be making sweeping gains at this time in the Parliamentary cycle and things look very grim for the Tories in England. Scotland and Wales look even worse.
Birmingham Council is the one to watch. That is the sort of result that Parliament will have in 2029. Try to form a government from that!
Strange that Kemi has avoided the flak. The once mighty Tories have not only had the worst day of all the parties and are clearly going backwards but the Tories under her leadership is the one most certain not to be in contention for anything in 2028-9.
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
I think she gets to live on until next local elections because same problem as Labour, who is up to the job and actually wants to do it. Also with the tetonic plates shifting under Labour, I presume the Tories will want to know who they are actually going to be up against come the GE. If they get another spanking in the locals in a years time, this time in much more shire heavy locals, then all the "I am turning around the titanic" narrative will be done for.
The Kemical Weapon has proved surprisingly durable. If only she were 20-30% less black, she might actually have a shot at being PM.
If she found herself a sense of humour and stopped reminding everyone of their least favourite headmistress I don't think anyone would care less what Pantone she was using
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
If anything, I would have thought List PR would be more likely to put Reform into government. It would benefit them enormously in terms of seats and momentum. Yes, they would have to form a coalition but they would be doing so from a position of strength while under FPTP it's likely they would still be doing so from a position of weakness.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
The Vote for 16 year olds probably already going to backfire for Labour.
See Thomas Chester on youtube if you want an insight into the mind of a coherent and articulate 17-year-old Restore supporter. Here are his local election projections:
Comments
Due to Starmer's travails does Badenoch fly under the radar? In any other circumstances she would have had a shocker of a day.
Labour MPs aren’t known for moving quickly but they still have plenty of time to remove Starmer. They certainly need someone more gobby and willing to pick a fight with Reform .
The polite man in a suit might have worked in 2024 when the Tories self-destructed but it just won’t wash now .
Time to let rip !
Starmer's team also ensured expectations were so low for Labour, even Labour beating the Greens and Tories and LDs on seats won seems like a reasonable result despite the heavy losses of Labour seats to Reform in particular. So I suspect he also survives
Seven Kings - 2 Lab, 1 Ind.
Reform is overjoyed they won so many councillors (and councils). But is disappointed they went backward in NEV compared to last year.
Labour is relieved that they remained second in terms of councillors, and that they held up so well in Scotland. But they've still been absolutely butchered.
The Conservatives are relieved to have held on in much of London and a fair number of boroughs in the South, holding off both Reform and the LibDems. But they're also gutted to be fourth in terms of number of councillors.
The LDs are pleased they added 150-odd councillors, and did so well in Scottish constituencies. But they wanted a gain of 250-300 councillors and to be ahead of Labour.
The Greens are pleased they won some many councillors. But hopes that they could be at 800 or so, and perhaps looking like they are the challenger to Reform have been dashed by coming fifth in what will almost certainly be the most promising local election cycle.
Losing 40% of seats as opposed to 60% last year.
It's progress. Of sorts. But pretty soon you'll have no base to build on whatsoever.
The Tories may be clinging to decent results in some well to do places, but they are becoming utterly extinct in increasingly large areas of the country.
The Labour Party results are cataclysmic. But we know the reason why. The least popular PM in history.
But the Tories are pulling this off with the least unpopular Party leader.
That's some achievement.
Good
Clementswood - 2 Lab, I Indy
Valentines - 1 Lab, 2 Indy
Just Hainault left!
Green 27.0%
Reform 24.2%
LD. 23.1%
Labour 17.9%
Indies. 4.0%
Con. 3.7%
Lab 43
Redbridge Indies 9
Con 5
Green 5
Reform 1
Lab -15
Green +5
Indies +9
Ref +1
https://x.com/shabanamahmood/status/2052875177503936513
A devastating night in Birmingham and across the country. Good public servants, colleagues and friends have lost their seats. This was a verdict on us not them. The PM has rightly said we must do better. It is a privilege to serve the British people and we must live up to it.
It’s all nonsense.
FPTP pretty brutal if you're below 20%.
As bad as Starmer for that
Jeeze the selfishness and carelessness of ambition.
Labour must dispose of Sir Kier asap or they will be toast.
And another thing.
These are smart people, why can’t they see the trend?
And don't you reckon the blocking of Burnham has led to the shockingly bad results across Greater Manchester tonight?
Ref 1,443 (+1,441)
Lab 959 (-1,395)
Lib 834 (+151)
Con 773 (-555)
Gre 511 (+370)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1428pev1n0t
Statement from Sir Keir Starmer
The British people have rejected the Labour government I lead. This is a catastrophic result, and I take full responsibility for it without hesitation or qualification.I was on the ballot.
I was the one who set the direction. The failures — on delivery, on listening to communities, on fixing the issues that matter most to working people — happened under my leadership. For that, I am truly sorry.Tonight, the voters have spoken clearly.
They have lost trust in us, and that loss of trust is down to me. I will not point fingers at others. I will not make excuses about headwinds or inherited problems.
This defeat is on me.I will contact the party chair immediately to begin the process of a smooth transition to new leadership. Labour needs to take a long, hard look at itself and change course. We must go back to being the party that truly serves working people, not distant from their concerns.
The country deserves better, and it is right that I now step aside so that Labour can rebuild.
- REF 284 seats (27% of vote)
- LAB 110 seats (15% of vote)
- CON 96 seats (20% of vote)
- LIB 80 seats (14% of vote)
- SNP 36 (? of vote)
- PCU 13 (? of vote)
- GRE 13 (14% of vote)
https://news.sky.com/story/english-council-elections-what-the-results-so-far-are-telling-us-in-maps-and-charts-13541348SNP is on 58, -6
Labour 17, -4
Reform on 17, +17
Green 15, +6
Conservatives 12, -19
LibDem 10, +6
Looks like Reform just beat out Labour in vote share in the list vote.
https://x.com/BBCWalesNews/status/2052799869530583081
But perhaps the thresholds are too high. 11/12% is demanding. Particularly for smaller parties and independents. Doesn't make the end result as representative as it might be.
Must research how resignations/Party switches ate to be handled
They know. Another year in the toaster is just going to result in very blackened toast.
If a MS resigns from party he/she remains as independent MS - original party loses official funding for that individual. If defecting to another party, i dont think funding follows to new party.
Danger for Tories is if they lose two MS they lose group status -and lots of £.
If say a group of 6 Reform MS defect to Restore - they would not be recognised as a group and would not qualify for funding.
As kingmakers they can either actively support Plaid (and be accused of propping up Plaid) - or actively support Reform (and be accused of worse). So expect a series of tactical abstensions.
FIRST DECISIONS:
1. Election of Llywydd (Presiding Officer) & Deputy
Reform have said they expect this role (as official opposition) but there is no precedent for this and I expect Plaid & Labour to work together to block this as it would lead to chaos (simply due to inexperience).
Instead I expect Llywydd to be Huw Irranca Davies (Labour) and Deputy maybe Peter Fox (Conservative). Old hands who should be able to control Senedd business. And maintaining party balance (or voting bloc balance).
2. Election of First Minister
Plaid will nominate Rhun ap Iorwerth - who will probably be backed by Green - giving 45 votes. Not a majority.
Reform will nominate Dan Thomas. He might get Conservative support - giving 41 votes - but more likely Conservatives will not support at this stage.
Other parties will go through motions of nominating their own leaders who will all fall way short. Votes then repeated - Labour will abstain and so Rhun will be elected
Then tge fun begins
If it isn't SNP will try and govern as a minority.
So this year he stays.
After that it gets very repetitive and boring.
It's not actually their policies that are the problem - that's a centrist Dad take - it's them.
The king’s speech on Wednesday will also include policy announcements, though a cabinet reshuffle is not expected.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/08/keir-starmer-under-pressure-to-agree-exit-plan-after-election-mauling
1) They need to get decision right. Who is best to take on Farage and persuade Green vote to return are my two key questions. I don't think answer to either is clear at the moment.
2) Iran/Hormuz crisis may require taking some very tough and unpopular decisions. Not good for country if they are being taken during a leadership campaign.
3) Starmer (at least until now) still had a lot of membership support. Him going quietly is probably the best option.
But they shouldn't wait too long. Christmas seems reasonable?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvp5rqrde3o
I wonder if Starmer takes the sting and the fall as she flies under the radar.
> China has surpassed the US with 43.7% of the papers
> Europe's contribution is surprisingly small (5.3% including UK)
https://x.com/Hesamation/status/2052792603997814914?s=20
The government wittering on about the UK only second to the US in AI, bulllllshit. Need to get serious on this.
And, helpfully, that's the time that would suit him as well.
I've always thought he was going nowhere - in all senses - and nothing I've seen in the last 36 hours has changed my view.
Pause.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
gasps
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Welcome to PR without the PR voting system.
However, if the direct correlation coefficient between Reform and Conservative is as I think it is, I would prefer to see someone less, er crap.
https://x.com/PhilipProudfoot/status/2052818798290370910?s=20
There is an escape route for Labour from certain disaster at the general election: use their Commons majority to ram through PR. It’s cynical, + they’d never govern alone again, but it locks Reform out of No10. The left (Lab, Gr, LD) still have a majority over the right in the UK
https://x.com/tnewtondunn/status/2052802123671220348?s=20
Looks at Wales and Scotland to see how trying to rig the system works out.....
Reform underperformed, Labour and Tories suffered huge losses, LDs failed to capitalise, and the Greens will also be disappointed with their return.
To block Reform AV would be a better choice (and I'm hoping TSE is still asleep and doesn't read that...)
Perhaps the newshounds are giving SKS a going over before they turn their guns on her? Surely her chances of surviving the year as leader must be very slim indeed?
All the other parties will rarely agree to unite to knock it down. They are just too different and dispersed.
So it'll only be on totemic stuff or budgets, if that.
But if they do any other changes I think it will be to the Lords rather than the electoral system.
Rhun ap Iorwerth has had pretty much the best result he could hope for and actually Plaid are the one party who should be absolutely ecstatic.
Exclusive: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is preferred choice of new leader for 42% of those surveyed
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/09/labour-members-keir-starmer-party-fortunes-poll
Or maybe not.
Are LibDems on the left? They entered a coalition with the Conservatives within living memory. If the LibDems are properly classified as centre-right, then does ‘the left’ have a majority?
We can ask the same question of the Greens. Some greens want the environment preserved in aspic, or even turned back to some golden age by rewilding and general NIMBYism. Sounds a bit small-c conservative. And what of their new-found Middle East wing? A touch of extreme social conservatism there.
So if the Greens and LibDems are not part of it, where is the author's claimed PR majority for ‘the left’?
Frankly it would be more convincing to take the economically left parts of Reform's support. Reform is NOTA, regardless of what Tory retreads and Brexiteers think. A large number of their voters come from the economically disadvantaged who would traditionally support Labour. At least that would suggest TND had thought about the issue.
And Labour lost its hegemony in Wales.
Kemi had a bad day. Starmer had a far worse one.
Ramming through PR, disregarding buggering the electoral system for partisan advantage, would be absolutely the last thing to do if you wanted to stop Reform.
There's a strong anti-Reform sentiment among many people, but they also have relatively high levels of support. Tactical voting is way harder with PR. Coalition is near certain. Reform could easily end up with most seats.
Farage has got around to expelling The Holocaust Denying One, Jay Leslie Cooper elected for Bootle West, in Sefton. He was told a fortnight ago, but did nothing until he was elected and the media started asking questions. It's a tricky one to combine with reaching out to the Jewish community.
JLC stated on Facebook last year of Hitler: "I don’t agree with him murdering innocent people. But the Hallocaust [sic] is a hoax. There wasn’t [sic] even 6 million Jews in Europe at the time. Propaganda.”, amongst a lot of conspiracy theories.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/nigel-farage-says-new-merseyside-33915457
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/reform-uk-face-questions-after-holocaust-is-a-hoax-candidate-elected/
I'm sure we were informed on good authority earlier that Ref UK are not a far-right party. I'd suggest it is more like a fruitcake, with all kinds of fruit and nuts in it with a full range from Grumpy Labour to neo-Nazis.
I sure hope Farage has a pre-printed supply of "a few bad apples always get through the world class vetting system" press releases.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c8jvee3x3wro
Team bosses agree to changes for 2027. They'll need more substantial changes later, I think. Totally shit the bed with current rules.
Very decent Labour supporters who were not 'anti anything' became infuriated. Watching 80 year old women pastors being dragged into police vans became the norm and Starmer's Britain became a very grim place indeed. He was unlucky only in the sense that The Greens turned up and reminded then what a middle of the road Party which didn't hate immigrants could look like.
I can't find anywhere with information that detailed.
Bury - wiped out
Burnley - wiped out
Blackburn - wiped out
Bolton - lost half their seats
Add in that the Opposition should be making sweeping gains at this time in the Parliamentary cycle and things look very grim for the Tories in England. Scotland and Wales look even worse.
Birmingham Council is the one to watch. That is the sort of result that Parliament will have in 2029. Try to form a government from that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gECL5zECMk
Sir John Curtice doesn't need to be too worried just yet ...
Makes me glad they didn't have youtube or twitter when I was 17 or God knows what would be out there on me.