Sorry to be boringly consensual, but (barring any Galloway-style wild card) I can't see anything other than a comfy Labour hold here, UKIP in a good second place, the Conservatives a poor but not derisory third, and the LibDems worried about losing their deposit. The seat seems very similar in many ways to Heywood and Middleton, but with a much larger Asian population which must surely mean it's a lot safer for Labour.

I'd disagree with Mike on LibDem strategy here - I think Farron should stay well away and the LibDems should make no effort. They should avoid putting resources and political capital into no-hopers, and instead conserve their forces in the hope that a nice juicy Con-LD by-election comes up.

Mr. Sandpit, Newsnight has a reputation for dropping even potentially contentious matters.

Ahem.

blackburn63 said:

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

You make my point nicely Malcolm.

Your dichotomy is this: if the English were to vote on Scots independence you'd be gone in an instant, unfortunately for us too many of your countrymen realised they were better off suckling on our teats.

I have very little interest in your teats, but perhaps you could provide some evidence for the massive English support for Scottish independence?

I live in England

So none then?
Fair enough.

I can't ever remember talking to anybody that was pleased the Scots voted to remain.

I'm not sure how you think the majority of people in England view Sturgeon, Salmond et al but it was very disappointing when you voted to keep your hands in the till.

We're stuck with you I'm afraid to say

It sounds like you only talk to people who think like you.

'A YouGov survey conducted in April 2014 found that although clear majorities of English (59% – 19%) and Welsh (61% – 19%) voters were opposed to Scottish independence, the majority of English voters (56%) and a plurality of Welsh voters (48%) supported cutting the amount of public spending in Scotland.'

http://tinyurl.com/mv6bqke

Strange that you support a party that is dedicated to keeping Scotland 'stuck' to you.

TheKrakenAwakes said:

SquareRoot said:

TheKrakenAwakes said:

Pulpstar said:

TKA What's your issue with Workie ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhOp8BJa2hk

Dood old Workie...forcing you boss to chip in his employees piss-away fund...oh, and let's get Joe Tax Payer to chip in too

Kracken, you remind me of a typical lefty who pisses it up against a wall during his/her working life and then whines about the pension the state provides.

I have saved VERY hard for my retirement and will not be a burden to the taxpayer in retirement ) so I reckon after foregoing a lot during my working life, If I want to buy a sports car (which I have on a PCP) , why shouldn't I. (and the Govt got 20% of the cost in VAT )

The left always want to control other peoples money and stop them from doing things.

Me too...I have a pension fund and it's for my retirement...I receive tax relief on it because it will relieve the state of me burdening them in my old age because i pissed it away at 56.
Tax relief should be provided for retirement funds - it absolutely should not be provided for sports car funds, pissing-away funds...

You do realise that if you take out the dosh and spend it on a sports car it is (apart from the 25% tax-free allowance) taxed at your highest rate, do you? Which is why almost no-one does anything of the sort.

TheKrakenAwakes said:

SquareRoot said:

TheKrakenAwakes said:

Pulpstar said:

TKA What's your issue with Workie ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhOp8BJa2hk

Dood old Workie...forcing you boss to chip in his employees piss-away fund...oh, and let's get Joe Tax Payer to chip in too

Kracken, you remind me of a typical lefty who pisses it up against a wall during his/her working life and then whines about the pension the state provides.

I have saved VERY hard for my retirement and will not be a burden to the taxpayer in retirement ) so I reckon after foregoing a lot during my working life, If I want to buy a sports car (which I have on a PCP) , why shouldn't I. (and the Govt got 20% of the cost in VAT )

The left always want to control other peoples money and stop them from doing things.

Me too...I have a pension fund and it's for my retirement...I receive tax relief on it because it will relieve the state of me burdening them in my old age because i pissed it away at 56.
Tax relief should be provided for retirement funds - it absolutely should not be provided for sports car funds, pissing-away funds...

You don't receive tax relief on it. You receive a tax deferral.

TheKrakenAwakes said:

Richard_Nabavi said:

TheKrakenAwakes said:

Simple question - why does the state give tax relief on pension contributions?

So you don't get taxed twice on the same income.

What ?? It's an incentive for individuals to save for their retirement

Yes, exactly. If they thought they were going to be taxed twice on the same income they would have a massive disincentive to save.

Plato_Says said:

I'm always amazed these places are vacant/abandoned in such postcodes.

Paradise lost and found: Fascinating pictures inside the crumbling manor house that was once home to epic poet John Milton

Berkyn Manor in Horton, Slough, has been a family home for 450 years - once to Paradise Lost poet John Milton
It has been lying empty since 1987, and has succumbed to damage beyond repair by nearly three decades of neglect
Haunting images taken inside show the dilapidated interior, where age old possessions have been lost in time

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3284238/Paradise-lost-Fascinating-pictures-inside-crumbling-manor-house-home-epic-poet-John-Milton.html#ixzz3pI5cwHuv

I did like this line from the article!

Mr Raynor, who died just four years short of 100, left behind all of his possessions

Best wishes to BJO and family.

What a ***ty year. Poor sods.

I find old stately homes really intriguing when they've been left to rot - we had Otham Court - a medieval manor down the lane from me - it's gorgeous, totally secluded and bought by Dire Straits band bloke for millions, then sold on to someone who couldn't afford the upkeep and started to wither.

I find it baffling that prime properties like this just fade here in the SE.

geoffw said:

You have to wonder how Milton bashed out Paradise Lost on a typewriter like that.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

You make my point nicely Malcolm.

Your dichotomy is this: if the English were to vote on Scots independence you'd be gone in an instant, unfortunately for us too many of your countrymen realised they were better off suckling on our teats.

I have very little interest in your teats, but perhaps you could provide some evidence for the massive English support for Scottish independence?

I live in England

So none then?
Fair enough.

I can't ever remember talking to anybody that was pleased the Scots voted to remain.

I'm not sure how you think the majority of people in England view Sturgeon, Salmond et al but it was very disappointing when you voted to keep your hands in the till.

We're stuck with you I'm afraid to say

It sounds like you only talk to people that think like you.

'A YouGov survey conducted in April 2014 found that although clear majorities of English (59% – 19%) and Welsh (61% – 19%) voters were opposed to Scottish independence, the majority of English voters (56%) and a plurality of Welsh voters (48%) supported cutting the amount of public spending in Scotland.'

http://tinyurl.com/mv6bqke

Strange that you support a party that is dedicated to keeping Scotland 'stuck' to you.

I would have thought the party of David Coburn was doing its very best to ensure an independent Scotland.

Honestly, on David Coburn's deathbed he's going to admit to being a Scot Nat plant.

The weird thing is that he's not just a one-off, more than a few Scottish Kippers are similarly 'interesting'.

It doesn't even have the fun of Old & Sad following Make Whities Angry intrigue.

Richard_Nabavi said:

Sorry to be boringly consensual, but (barring any Galloway-style wild card) I can't see anything other than a comfy Labour hold here, UKIP in a good second place, the Conservatives a poor but not derisory third, and the LibDems worried about losing their deposit. The seat seems very similar in many ways to Heywood and Middleton, but with a much larger Asian population which must surely mean it's a lot safer for Labour.

I'd disagree with Mike on LibDem strategy here - I think Farron should stay well away and the LibDems should make no effort. They should avoid putting resources and political capital into no-hopers, and instead conserve their forces in the hope that a nice juicy Con-LD by-election comes up.

SquareRoot said:

TheKrakenAwakes said:

SquareRoot said:

TheKrakenAwakes said:

Pulpstar said:

TKA What's your issue with Workie ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhOp8BJa2hk

Dood old Workie...forcing you boss to chip in his employees piss-away fund...oh, and let's get Joe Tax Payer to chip in too

Kracken, you remind me of a typical lefty who pisses it up against a wall during his/her working life and then whines about the pension the state provides.

I have saved VERY hard for my retirement and will not be a burden to the taxpayer in retirement ) so I reckon after foregoing a lot during my working life, If I want to buy a sports car (which I have on a PCP) , why shouldn't I. (and the Govt got 20% of the cost in VAT )

The left always want to control other peoples money and stop them from doing things.

Me too...I have a pension fund and it's for my retirement...I receive tax relief on it because it will relieve the state of me burdening them in my old age because i pissed it away at 56.
Tax relief should be provided for retirement funds - it absolutely should not be provided for sports car funds, pissing-away funds...

So you want a law to stop people buying drink or cars with their retirementt pensions. I'll be a stormer wording it legally and terribly popular with the voters

The key word there is "retirement" - we are talking about pension funds being stripped out at 55 - fully 12 years before retirement. For those who piss away their pension fund at 55, tax payers not only gross up their pension funds but they also have to pick up the bills when they can't manage on a state pension alone.

I 'd have thought you Tory PBers would see the benefit of encouraging saving for RETIREMENT rather than encourage frivolous spending of tax payers money- after all you just love telling us all of the frivolous spending of "benefit scrounger"

Always sad to see a long-serving Parliamentarian depart this coil.

Meacher was one of the few Lab MPs who nominated Corbo and meant it. He is already losing friends. Cant help thinking that his death won't help with the democratic deficit between Labour leadership and the MPs.

Did Kaufman and Skinner nominate Corbo too?

I've found this humdinger, from last November, which may top that Sion Simon article for its brilliant prescience, this is by Tom Watson

UKIP victory in Rochester by-election could spell end for Conservative Party

http://bit.ly/1W61Idg

MarqueeMark said:

MaxPB said:

Plato_Says said:

I'm always amazed these places are vacant/abandoned in such postcodes.

Paradise lost and found: Fascinating pictures inside the crumbling manor house that was once home to epic poet John Milton

Berkyn Manor in Horton, Slough, has been a family home for 450 years - once to Paradise Lost poet John Milton
It has been lying empty since 1987, and has succumbed to damage beyond repair by nearly three decades of neglect
Haunting images taken inside show the dilapidated interior, where age old possessions have been lost in time

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3284238/Paradise-lost-Fascinating-pictures-inside-crumbling-manor-house-home-epic-poet-John-Milton.html#ixzz3pI5cwHuv

I do wonder how much it would cost to buy that Manor and get it back into a liveable condition.

A huge amount. We had a neighbour who bought a house untouched since the 60's. By the time they had upgraded the roof, electrics, plumbing, added a conservatory etc etc, the builder told me they could have demolished it, rebuilt a fantastic modern house to their own spec, which would have been greener, cheaper to run - and have have cost them significantly less overall.

And that is before the Listed Building bods start saying what has to be replaced to what standard...

Major issue round here, with pretty well everything in the town centre area “Listed”. We had lots of problems a few years ago refurbishing the Village Hall. (No, don’t know why we are a town and have a Village Hall! Probably something to do with community size, which apparent;ly matters.)

13 year old murderer?

https://twitter.com/skynewsbreak/status/657095639021584384

Daniel is on good form http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11947143/An-idiots-guide-to-overcoming-BBC-bias.html

1. If you pigeonhole your guests, be even-handed

If you insist on labelling one side, please label the other. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been introduced like this: “Joining us now are Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Daniel Hannan, a hardline Eurosceptic”. From the off, the audience has been primed to perceive one position as more doctrinaire than the other. I was once driven to complain on air, and the BBC, to its credit, apologised handsomely; but, of course, you can’t complain on air without coming across as a bit of a tit...

Plato_Says said:

Daniel is on good form http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11947143/An-idiots-guide-to-overcoming-BBC-bias.html

1. If you pigeonhole your guests, be even-handed

If you insist on labelling one side, please label the other. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been introduced like this: “Joining us now are Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Daniel Hannan, a hardline Eurosceptic”. From the off, the audience has been primed to perceive one position as more doctrinaire than the other. I was once driven to complain on air, and the BBC, to its credit, apologised handsomely; but, of course, you can’t complain on air without coming across as a bit of a tit...

Could have benn worse, they could have said "Dan Hannan, whose political hero is Enoch Powell..."

"who wants to abolish the NHS" "who regularly appears with Republic politicians"

It's just so blinking obvious, he's turned down dozens of invites from the BBC when he's only invited on as someone to play up against. As my MEP, I think he's fab, but he's not got the personal warmth required for day to day politics. Too forensic and clear - he comes across as a trifle surgical.

isam said:

Plato_Says said:

Daniel is on good form http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11947143/An-idiots-guide-to-overcoming-BBC-bias.html

1. If you pigeonhole your guests, be even-handed

If you insist on labelling one side, please label the other. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been introduced like this: “Joining us now are Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Daniel Hannan, a hardline Eurosceptic”. From the off, the audience has been primed to perceive one position as more doctrinaire than the other. I was once driven to complain on air, and the BBC, to its credit, apologised handsomely; but, of course, you can’t complain on air without coming across as a bit of a tit...

Could have benn worse, they could have said "Dan Hannan, whose political hero is Enoch Powell..."

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

Theuniondivvie said:

blackburn63 said:

You make my point nicely Malcolm.

Your dichotomy is this: if the English were to vote on Scots independence you'd be gone in an instant, unfortunately for us too many of your countrymen realised they were better off suckling on our teats.

I have very little interest in your teats, but perhaps you could provide some evidence for the massive English support for Scottish independence?

I live in England

So none then?
Fair enough.

I don't think there is support for it (only anecdotally from those I speak to of course). I do think many had emotions ranging from bemusement to hurt having been exposed to how much they were hated by some (very vocal) Scots.

You're quite correct - and all their other liberal handwringing about Guardianista First World Problems when they've a whole planet to address.

It's just pathetic. Everytime I see *UN* in a headline, I scroll down.

Morris_Dancer said:

Miss Plato, are you suggesting that the UN claim we were horrid [I forget the precise term used] over Dale Farm travellers who were there illegally for a decade before finally being evicted were not necessarily correct?

[Think I got the farm name right, but it was a couple of years ago, so I could be wrong].

An intriguing idea. There was a decade or so ago a fashion for buying titles. It may be rather nouveau riche for many post-80s, but worth a try.

Luckyguy1983 said:

Plato_Says said:

I find old stately homes really intriguing when they've been left to rot - we had Otham Court - a medieval manor down the lane from me - it's gorgeous, totally secluded and bought by Dire Straits band bloke for millions, then sold on to someone who couldn't afford the upkeep and started to wither.

I find it baffling that prime properties like this just fade here in the SE.

geoffw said:

You have to wonder how Milton bashed out Paradise Lost on a typewriter like that.

I think we should create new hereditary Baronetcies and attach them to at risk rotting piles/estates. If people go in and restore the properties (and reside there for a certain portion of time), they are the Baronet, and their ancestors keep the title for as long as they reside. It would be interesting to see if this has any appeal for today's billionnaire.

Plato_Says said:

An intriguing idea. There was a decade or so ago a fashion for buying titles. It maybe rather nouveau riche for many post-80s, but worth a try.

Luckyguy1983 said:

Plato_Says said:

I find old stately homes really intriguing when they've been left to rot - we had Otham Court - a medieval manor down the lane from me - it's gorgeous, totally secluded and bought by Dire Straits band bloke for millions, then sold on to someone who couldn't afford the upkeep and started to wither.

I find it baffling that prime properties like this just fade here in the SE.

geoffw said:

You have to wonder how Milton bashed out Paradise Lost on a typewriter like that.

I think we should create new hereditary Baronetcies and attach them to at risk rotting piles/estates. If people go in and restore the properties (and reside there for a certain portion of time), they are the Baronet, and their ancestors keep the title for as long as they reside. It would be interesting to see if this has any appeal for today's billionnaire.

Perhaps it might appeal to Russian Oligarchs and maybe Indians and eventually Chinese - I think Americans are probably to cool for it these days.

It would have to be legit - not like those ghastly title sales that mean you can have it on your chequebook and get flight upgrades.

I see John Mann is the latest labourite to fret that tax credit cuts will cost his opponents popularity.

I'm sure his concern is appreciated.

For the benefit of The Kraken Awakes, it makes more financial sense for people at the lower end of the wealth spectrum to cash in their pots (to avoid an adverse impact on benefits in future) than for people at the top end of the wealth spectrum to do so, given they are taxed at their marginal rate.

There's been a lot of talk of pension pots being cashed in to buy Lamborghinis. It's more appropriate for them to be cashed in to buy second hand Ladas.

TheScreamingEagles said:

I've found this humdinger, from last November, which may top that Sion Simon article for its brilliant prescience, this is by Tom Watson

UKIP victory in Rochester by-election could spell end for Conservative Party

http://bit.ly/1W61Idg

Oh I don't know. This was quite prescient:

"Peel created a modern political force capable of metamorphosing itself to survive in any political climate and prosper in the face of adversity."

It's just that he didn't see it still applying in 2015.....

Good result for Farron is a saved deposit

Great result for Dave is 2nd place

Low turnout Lab hold by 8K which will be 35%

The family home of the 17th century poet John Milton, appears to be a 19th century Victorian Mansion and a fairly mundane one at that. – Fortunately, Milton Cottage, where Milton once lived is perfectly preserved and a museum open to the public.

http://www.miltonscottage.org/

I prefer Old Mother Hubbard's Shoe.

SimonStClare said:

The family home of the 17th century poet John Milton, appears to be a 19th century Victorian Mansion and a fairly mundane one at that. – Fortunately, Milton Cottage, where Milton once lived is perfectly preserved and a museum open to the public.

http://www.miltonscottage.org/

Is that Fatty Foulkes?

Pulpstar said:

watford30 said:

MaxPB said:

Pulpstar said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Plato_Says said:

I find old stately homes really intriguing when they've been left to rot - we had Otham Court - a medieval manor down the lane from me - it's gorgeous, totally secluded and bought by Dire Straits band bloke for millions, then sold on to someone who couldn't afford the upkeep and started to wither.

I find it baffling that prime properties like this just fade here in the SE.

geoffw said:

You have to wonder how Milton bashed out Paradise Lost on a typewriter like that.

I think we should create new hereditary Baronetcies and attach them to at risk rotting piles/estates. If people go in and restore the properties (and reside there for a certain portion of time), they are the Baronet, and their ancestors keep the title for as long as they reside. It would be interesting to see if this has any appeal for today's billionnaire.

The problem is that whacking great truck park next to the house I reckon. Without it there might be a few willing investors.

Why the hell is that there? Did the owner sell or lease the land to some truckers?

The owners, relatives of the deceased, still use the farm buildings and yard for business purposes.

Shocking that they care so little for the house.

It would cost a fortune to restore, and then is still situated right under Heathrow's flightpath.

runnymede said:

Is that Fatty Foulkes?

George Foulkes : We are moving towards a situation where the SNP are delivering significantly better services than those in England.
Interviewer : Is that a bad thing?
Foulkes : But they're doing it deliberately

antifrank said:

For the benefit of The Kraken Awakes, it makes more financial sense for people at the lower end of the wealth spectrum to cash in their pots (to avoid an adverse impact on benefits in future) than for people at the top end of the wealth spectrum to do so, given they are taxed at their marginal rate.

There's been a lot of talk of pension pots being cashed in to buy Lamborghinis. It's more appropriate for them to be cashed in to buy second hand Ladas.

Difficult. On Autotrader at the moment there are 162 used Lamborghinis for sale but only one Lada.

david_herdson said:

Difficult. On Autotrader at the moment there are 162 used Lamborghinis for sale but only one Lada.

Clearly showing that antifrank was right, all the Ladas have been snapped up but you have the devil of a job persuading a pensioner to cash in his pension and fork out on a Lamborghini.

JohnO said:

Plato_Says said:

"Let's not be snobbish," says fantastically snobbish piece lamenting the lack of Balliol PPEists in Corbyn's Labour https://t.co/uaYY2aK22R

Ah, but he realized his error and has duly atoned by his appointment yesterday of Seumas Milne (Winchester, Balliol [first in PPE] and Lubyanka) as his strategy supremo.

Mr O

do you know where Neil is these days ?

I knew I was on thin ice when I started talking about cars.

Looks like a hold doesn't it?

But I would LMAO if they managed to lose this one.

The referendum battle over Europe has tightened dramatically, according to an exclusive poll that suggests David Cameron needs to restore key powers to Westminster and curb migration if he is to persuade large numbers of sceptics to switch sides.

If the referendum was held today, 57 per cent of those who have reached a view would vote to stay in the European Union, while 43 per cent would vote to leave, found the Ipsos MORI survey for the Evening Standard.

The 14-point lead to stay will be cold comfort for Mr Cameron because it marks a narrowing of the gap since June, when the lead was 69-31.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/cameron-faces-plunge-in-support-for-staying-in-eu-a3096816.html

Plato_Says said:

What was the last Labour safe seat to go kerplunk before Bradford West?

Floater said:

Looks like a hold doesn't it?

But I would LMAO if they managed to lose this one.

One of the Glasgow seats in 2008

Isn't that taking the whole Corbyn Jesus cult a bit far?

I wouldn't have chosen to let Meacher die if I were Corbyn.

Recidivist said:

Floater said:

Looks like a hold doesn't it?

But I would LMAO if they managed to lose this one.

It is a bit of a no win situation for Corbyn. If it is held well it can't really be extrapolated to seats which are tougher for Labour. But if the Labour vote is revealed to be weak in any respect it will be evidence that he is a problem. I wouldn't have chosen to let Meacher die if I were Corbyn.

Plato_Says said:

Isn't that taking the whole Corbyn Jesus cult a bit far?

I wouldn't have chosen to let Meacher die if I were Corbyn.

Recidivist said:

Floater said:

Looks like a hold doesn't it?

But I would LMAO if they managed to lose this one.

It is a bit of a no win situation for Corbyn. If it is held well it can't really be extrapolated to seats which are tougher for Labour. But if the Labour vote is revealed to be weak in any respect it will be evidence that he is a problem. I wouldn't have chosen to let Meacher die if I were Corbyn.

It wasn't intended as a serious suggestion. He does have strange powers though.

A friend I have known since school and has voted Labour religiously at every election since 1979, and who may well be a party member, has switched to of all people the Lib Dems. (Though he does live in Eastbourne, where it probably makes more sense than it would in most places.) He works in the public sector so he is the archetype of a Labour voter and not the kind of person that Labour should be losing. On the other hand, a couple of highly entrepreneurial small business starters that I deal with who you'd have expected to be running their local Tory branches have both told me that they think Corbyn is just the kind of politician they have been waiting for.

I am confused.

Here are 9 reasons Denmark’s socialist economy leaves the US in the dust

http://usuncut.com/world/here-are-9-reasons-denmarks-socialist-economy-leaves-the-us-in-the-dust/

It sounds confusing.

Stephen Lloyd was in the words of Eastbourne LD activists, their closest attempt at a Tory. He had a significant personal vote [I met a lot of them at the polling station] and he still lost at GE2015.

The Labour guy is very pleasant, they polled about 5k votes. IIRC the CLP here has about 400 members now post Corbyn's election.

Recidivist said:

Plato_Says said:

Isn't that taking the whole Corbyn Jesus cult a bit far?

I wouldn't have chosen to let Meacher die if I were Corbyn.

Recidivist said:

Floater said:

Looks like a hold doesn't it?

But I would LMAO if they managed to lose this one.

It is a bit of a no win situation for Corbyn. If it is held well it can't really be extrapolated to seats which are tougher for Labour. But if the Labour vote is revealed to be weak in any respect it will be evidence that he is a problem. I wouldn't have chosen to let Meacher die if I were Corbyn.

It wasn't intended as a serious suggestion. He does have strange powers though.

A friend I have known since school and has voted Labour religiously at every election since 1979, and who may well be a party member, has switched to of all people the Lib Dems. (Though he does live in Eastbourne, where it probably makes more sense than it would in most places.) He works in the public sector so he is the archetype of a Labour voter and not the kind of person that Labour should be losing. On the other hand, a couple of highly entrepreneurial small business starters that I deal with who you'd have expected to be running their local Tory branches have both told me that they think Corbyn is just the kind of politician they have been waiting for.

I am confused.

A friend I have known since school and has voted Labour religiously at every election since 1979, and who may well be a party member, has switched to of all people the Lib Dems. (Though he does live in Eastbourne, where it probably makes more sense than it would in most places.) He works in the public sector so he is the archetype of a Labour voter and not the kind of person that Labour should be losing. On the other hand, a couple of highly entrepreneurial small business starters that I deal with who you'd have expected to be running their local Tory branches have both told me that they think Corbyn is just the kind of politician they have been waiting for.

I am confused.

Interestingly, down here in deepest rural West Wales, where my branch has doubled its membership, quite a few of the new members are small business people. It had caught my notice as well and is interesting. I suspect it is something to do with green JC's credentials.