Stop voting for fucking Tories

[C69]

Tories are upset that Labour and Libdems seem to be coordinating where they stand candidates for the local elections, they're trying to say it's a Starmer plot but it looks as much/more driven by the local level. The rainbow coalition seems possible now though (Labour + Libdems + whoever isn't a Tory and hopefully the SNP aren't needed). Interesting and worth some discussion.

First thing to understand is a rainbow coalition has been an option since 2010. It didn't happen then because the Libdems didn't want it. After the Libdems were blown away in 2015 it was Corbyn's Labour preventing it in the years afterwards. Meanwhile the Tories secured power with the Libdems in 2010, the DUP in 2017, and with some help from the Brexit Party standing candidates only where they could harm Labour in 2019.

The UK's electoral system isn't working like it's supposed to (a two party system, like the Republicans and Democrats in the US). Instead there's a proliferation of parties mostly formed around identity/regionalism, that's making it harder to secure majorities. The UK is now getting all the disadvantages of FPTP and some of the disadvantages of PR too (without the advantages of PR: seats in proportion to votes, alliances expected post-election and publicly discussed beforehand).

The interesting thing is what that means for 2024. It's hard to imagine Labour will not field candidates in some constituencies, but if Labour/Libdems/Greens did work together in most of England and Wales the non-Tory vote would be concentrated into one party in each constituency (something closer to how FPTP is supposed to function), which would produce more Labour and Libdem MPs than would've otherwise been the case. More likely is Labour standing candidates everywhere, and the Libdems and Greens not standing them in places they have no chance but Labour do. The Libdems normally do better when the Labour leader is seen as "safe" and in the centre, because people inclined to vote Tory become more comfortable voting Libdem (they don't mind as much if Labour win under those circumstances, they're just not going to vote for it directly).

Not convinced it'll be enough, Tory polling is still very high, even though just in the past month there's been Tory PM/MPs/Peers involved in: sexual harassment, lockdown fines, taking massive Russian loans, lying under oath, a pedophilia conviction, a home raided in connection with PPE corruption. Then there's all the new authoritarian Tory laws around protesting/immigration/elections. Then there's the economy. Tories are still polling in the mid-30s whilst carrying all that, some of these local election results are going to give an indication of if a rainbow coalition is enough to remove them, if it's not enough then the Tories are going to be in power for a long time yet.

Puts the Tories in a tougher spot though, "vote Labour or Libdem and get a Labour/Libdem coalition" isn't going to be much of a scare tactic.

UKIP and the Tories had a similar agreement tbh.

[Lobby]

Tories are upset that Labour and Libdems seem to be coordinating where they stand candidates for the local elections, they're trying to say it's a Starmer plot but it looks as much/more driven by the local level. The rainbow coalition seems possible now though (Labour + Libdems + whoever isn't a Tory and hopefully the SNP aren't needed). Interesting and worth some discussion.

First thing to understand is a rainbow coalition has been an option since 2010. It didn't happen then because the Libdems didn't want it. After the Libdems were blown away in 2015 it was Corbyn's Labour preventing it in the years afterwards. Meanwhile the Tories secured power with the Libdems in 2010, the DUP in 2017, and with some help from the Brexit Party standing candidates only where they could harm Labour in 2019.

The UK's electoral system isn't working like it's supposed to (a two party system, like the Republicans and Democrats in the US). Instead there's a proliferation of parties mostly formed around identity/regionalism, that's making it harder to secure majorities. The UK is now getting all the disadvantages of FPTP and some of the disadvantages of PR too (without the advantages of PR: seats in proportion to votes, alliances expected post-election and publicly discussed beforehand).

The interesting thing is what that means for 2024. It's hard to imagine Labour will not field candidates in some constituencies, but if Labour/Libdems/Greens did work together in most of England and Wales the non-Tory vote would be concentrated into one party in each constituency (something closer to how FPTP is supposed to function), which would produce more Labour and Libdem MPs than would've otherwise been the case. More likely is Labour standing candidates everywhere, and the Libdems and Greens not standing them in places they have no chance but Labour do. The Libdems normally do better when the Labour leader is seen as "safe" and in the centre, because people inclined to vote Tory become more comfortable voting Libdem (they don't mind as much if Labour win under those circumstances, they're just not going to vote for it directly).

Not convinced it'll be enough, Tory polling is still very high, even though just in the past month there's been Tory PM/MPs/Peers involved in: sexual harassment, lockdown fines, taking massive Russian loans, lying under oath, a pedophilia conviction, a home raided in connection with PPE corruption. Then there's all the new authoritarian Tory laws around protesting/immigration/elections. Then there's the economy. Tories are still polling in the mid-30s whilst carrying all that, some of these local election results are going to give an indication of if a rainbow coalition is enough to remove them, if it's not enough then the Tories are going to be in power for a long time yet.

Puts the Tories in a tougher spot though, "vote Labour or Libdem and get a Labour/Libdem coalition" isn't going to be much of a scare tactic.

I think it’s more likely that Labour and the Lib Dems will stand in every seat, but will concentrate their campaign resources on seats they are most likely to win, and won’t campaign against each other in the seats where the other has a better chance.

One of the problems for Labour in the last election, was that campaign resources were either directed to supporting Corbynista candidates, rather than supporting marginal seats that they really needed to win, or to campaigns against high profile Tories that were doomed to failure (Owen Jones and his Twitterati were convinced they were going to oust Johnson right up until the votes were announced, and Johnson’s vote increased while Labour’s fell). A better run election campaign next time should help.

[dpedin]

Tories are upset that Labour and Libdems seem to be coordinating where they stand candidates for the local elections, they're trying to say it's a Starmer plot but it looks as much/more driven by the local level. The rainbow coalition seems possible now though (Labour + Libdems + whoever isn't a Tory and hopefully the SNP aren't needed). Interesting and worth some discussion.

First thing to understand is a rainbow coalition has been an option since 2010. It didn't happen then because the Libdems didn't want it. After the Libdems were blown away in 2015 it was Corbyn's Labour preventing it in the years afterwards. Meanwhile the Tories secured power with the Libdems in 2010, the DUP in 2017, and with some help from the Brexit Party standing candidates only where they could harm Labour in 2019.

The UK's electoral system isn't working like it's supposed to (a two party system, like the Republicans and Democrats in the US). Instead there's a proliferation of parties mostly formed around identity/regionalism, that's making it harder to secure majorities. The UK is now getting all the disadvantages of FPTP and some of the disadvantages of PR too (without the advantages of PR: seats in proportion to votes, alliances expected post-election and publicly discussed beforehand).

The interesting thing is what that means for 2024. It's hard to imagine Labour will not field candidates in some constituencies, but if Labour/Libdems/Greens did work together in most of England and Wales the non-Tory vote would be concentrated into one party in each constituency (something closer to how FPTP is supposed to function), which would produce more Labour and Libdem MPs than would've otherwise been the case. More likely is Labour standing candidates everywhere, and the Libdems and Greens not standing them in places they have no chance but Labour do. The Libdems normally do better when the Labour leader is seen as "safe" and in the centre, because people inclined to vote Tory become more comfortable voting Libdem (they don't mind as much if Labour win under those circumstances, they're just not going to vote for it directly).

Not convinced it'll be enough, Tory polling is still very high, even though just in the past month there's been Tory PM/MPs/Peers involved in: sexual harassment, lockdown fines, taking massive Russian loans, lying under oath, a pedophilia conviction, a home raided in connection with PPE corruption. Then there's all the new authoritarian Tory laws around protesting/immigration/elections. Then there's the economy. Tories are still polling in the mid-30s whilst carrying all that, some of these local election results are going to give an indication of if a rainbow coalition is enough to remove them, if it's not enough then the Tories are going to be in power for a long time yet.

Puts the Tories in a tougher spot though, "vote Labour or Libdem and get a Labour/Libdem coalition" isn't going to be much of a scare tactic.

I think it’s more likely that Labour and the Lib Dems will stand in every seat, but will concentrate their campaign resources on seats they are most likely to win, and won’t campaign against each other in the seats where the other has a better chance.

One of the problems for Labour in the last election, was that campaign resources were either directed to supporting Corbynista candidates, rather than supporting marginal seats that they really needed to win, or to campaigns against high profile Tories that were doomed to failure (Owen Jones and his Twitterati were convinced they were going to oust Johnson right up until the votes were announced, and Johnson’s vote increased while Labour’s fell). A better run election campaign next time should help.

Tories are shitting themselves and are already trying to manage expectations and blame others for their impending election disaster. Dowden is working to orders and the hypocrisy of what he is saying after his parties pact with the loony frog-faced Farage in the last election is breathtaking but not surprising. It is good to see all the other parties realising that the priority has to be getting out this shitfest of a Gov out of power as soon as possible, they can then fight for control after that. The behaviour of the current gov has really left everyone else with no option but to do whatever is required to shift the Blonde Bumblecunt and his Brexit Ultras out before the damage they have done to the country gets even worse. It has to work, feck knows what state the country is going to be in if it doesn't! I will be voting tactically on the 5th to support whoever has the best chance of defeating the Tory.

[C69]

I have voted Labour for the first time in well over a decade

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Tories are shitting themselves and are already trying to manage expectations and blame others for their impending election disaster.

Things are going to have to go very badly for that to happen. They do badly in London anyway these days, they might well drop behind Labour in Scotland. Otherwise the seats being defended put many more Labour positions up for grabs than Tory ones. In another cycle they might well be pooping themselves, but this time the voting could go rather badly and the outcome probably isn't going to make it hard to spin a mid-term blues line.

What they and others may read into it as regards a future general election is sort of interesting, but the number of people voting, or rather than lack of people voting, is going to make any projection problematic even before lots can change very quickly

If it actually is a disaster that would almost certainly be it for Boris, but you'd be talking about them getting a similar vote share as the Lib Dems for that sort of outcome. And I don't know things look that bad for them, arguably more's the pity but still

[Insane_Homer]

[ia801310]

For all the bad times the Tories are still going through I still think the most likely outcome is a Tory Majority at the next election.

For all their faults the Tories always give the impression of thinking that Britain is the greatest country on Earth.

Labour always give the impression that the British people are a bunch of thick racists who need to be taught the error of their ways by the Labour party. Ultimately people won't vote for a party that despises them.

[Raggs]

For all the bad times the Tories are still going through I still think the most likely outcome is a Tory Majority at the next election.

For all their faults the Tories always give the impression of thinking that Britain is the greatest country on Earth.

Labour always give the impression that the British people are a bunch of thick racists who need to be taught the error of their ways by the Labour party. Ultimately people won't vote for a party that despises them.

Really? I get the impression that they think the British public are a bunch of gullible cunts that can be bought with soft statements like "Britain is awesome." and then leave it at that. Claiming to be world/eu leading in areas where it's just not true etc. Playing up the jingoistic bullshit, whilst merrily taking over nations citizenships, and earning as much dirty cash as they can.

[ia801310]

For all the bad times the Tories are still going through I still think the most likely outcome is a Tory Majority at the next election.

For all their faults the Tories always give the impression of thinking that Britain is the greatest country on Earth.

Labour always give the impression that the British people are a bunch of thick racists who need to be taught the error of their ways by the Labour party. Ultimately people won't vote for a party that despises them.

Really? I get the impression that they think the British public are a bunch of gullible cunts that can be bought with soft statements like "Britain is awesome." and then leave it at that. Claiming to be world/eu leading in areas where it's just not true etc. Playing up the jingoistic bullshit, whilst merrily taking over nations citizenships, and earning as much dirty cash as they can.

The Tory response to that would be "Do you not think Britain is awesome?" "Do you not think the UK is world leading in xxxx?" Difficult for Labour to answer without coming across anti British.

Puts Labour on the back foot and is an example of why the Tory party is the most successful political party of the last 100 years in any western democracy.

[Dogbert]

For all the bad times the Tories are still going through I still think the most likely outcome is a Tory Majority at the next election.

For all their faults the Tories always give the impression of thinking that Britain is the greatest country on Earth.

Labour always give the impression that the British people are a bunch of thick racists who need to be taught the error of their ways by the Labour party. Ultimately people won't vote for a party that despises them.

Really? I get the impression that they think the British public are a bunch of gullible cunts that can be bought with soft statements like "Britain is awesome." and then leave it at that. Claiming to be world/eu leading in areas where it's just not true etc. Playing up the jingoistic bullshit, whilst merrily taking over nations citizenships, and earning as much dirty cash as they can.

There does appear to be a growing body of evidence that this is actually fact

[C69]

For all the bad times the Tories are still going through I still think the most likely outcome is a Tory Majority at the next election.

For all their faults the Tories always give the impression of thinking that Britain is the greatest country on Earth.

Labour always give the impression that the British people are a bunch of thick racists who need to be taught the error of their ways by the Labour party. Ultimately people won't vote for a party that despises them.

Really? I get the impression that they think the British public are a bunch of gullible cunts that can be bought with soft statements like "Britain is awesome." and then leave it at that. Claiming to be world/eu leading in areas where it's just not true etc. Playing up the jingoistic bullshit, whilst merrily taking over nations citizenships, and earning as much dirty cash as they can.

There does appear to be a growing body of evidence that this is actually fact

Seems fair tbh

[Raggs]

For all the bad times the Tories are still going through I still think the most likely outcome is a Tory Majority at the next election.

For all their faults the Tories always give the impression of thinking that Britain is the greatest country on Earth.

Labour always give the impression that the British people are a bunch of thick racists who need to be taught the error of their ways by the Labour party. Ultimately people won't vote for a party that despises them.

Really? I get the impression that they think the British public are a bunch of gullible cunts that can be bought with soft statements like "Britain is awesome." and then leave it at that. Claiming to be world/eu leading in areas where it's just not true etc. Playing up the jingoistic bullshit, whilst merrily taking over nations citizenships, and earning as much dirty cash as they can.

There does appear to be a growing body of evidence that this is actually fact

True.

[Stranger]

Really? I get the impression that they think the British public are a bunch of gullible cunts that can be bought with soft statements like "Britain is awesome." and then leave it at that. Claiming to be world/eu leading in areas where it's just not true etc. Playing up the jingoistic bullshit, whilst merrily taking over nations citizenships, and earning as much dirty cash as they can.

There does appear to be a growing body of evidence that this is actually fact

True.

Agreed

[mos_eisely_]

Oliver Dowden is demanding answers from Labour over a possible election pact. Funny how this has cropped up now the Tories have given themselves complete control over the body that oversees elections.

And this is where the real issues lie, not with some no name MP making deposits in his wank bank, however shitty his conduct is. Although a Tory resigning on a point of principle is probably front page news given the cunts in the Cabinet.

Funny what is happening north of the border

[C69]

Who would have thought these are the same Tories that had a pact with the Lib Dems, the Ulster Unionists for £2BN and the Brexit Party.

[Lobby]

Who would have thought these are the same Tories that had a pact with the Lib Dems, the Ulster Unionists for £2BN and the Brexit Party.

TBF Scottish politics can be quite odd at the local Council level. West Lothian is run by a Tory Labour coalition!

[PCPhil]

“Who’s Lorraine?”

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be real things that makes Joe Public aghast.

[C69]

“Who’s Lorraine?”

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be real things that makes Joe Public aghast.

Eviscerated by the political heavy weight that is



Suzzanna Reid

So out of touch, so incompetent so pathetic.
Boris is now like a Fast show character

[_Os_]

I think it’s more likely that Labour and the Lib Dems will stand in every seat, but will concentrate their campaign resources on seats they are most likely to win, and won’t campaign against each other in the seats where the other has a better chance.

Yes that makes more sense, the by-election strategy but in a general election. Then the Libdems will have to hope they can get a coalition, and Labour will have to hope for a majority. And if neither happens with what will be the best chance there will be, then the Tories are in power deep into the 2030s.

Tories are shitting themselves and are already trying to manage expectations and blame others for their impending election disaster.

This is the crux of it, what would be a disaster for them in this election? Remembering that the seats being contested were last contested in 2018 (England) and 2017 (Scotland and Wales).

Things are going to have to go very badly for that to happen. They do badly in London anyway these days, they might well drop behind Labour in Scotland. Otherwise the seats being defended put many more Labour positions up for grabs than Tory ones. In another cycle they might well be pooping themselves, but this time the voting could go rather badly and the outcome probably isn't going to make it hard to spin a mid-term blues line.

What they and others may read into it as regards a future general election is sort of interesting, but the number of people voting, or rather than lack of people voting, is going to make any projection problematic even before lots can change very quickly

If it actually is a disaster that would almost certainly be it for Boris, but you'd be talking about them getting a similar vote share as the Lib Dems for that sort of outcome. And I don't know things look that bad for them, arguably more's the pity but still

The expected result is going to be easy for the Tories to spin away (lost seats but no lost councils), but that result would be a disaster for them, because it'll be a reversion to something before 2019 when they got their general election majority. If they lose a lot of seats and don't lose councils it means their support hasn't grown since 2017/2018, and likely in the weeds their support among the new Tory voters that got them over the line in 2019 would be eroding.

[Hal Jordan]

“Who’s Lorraine?”

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be real things that makes Joe Public aghast.

Eviscerated by the political heavy weight that is



Suzzanna Reid

So out of touch, so incompetent so pathetic.
Boris is now like a Fast show character

Yes but Starmer curry.

[Biffer]

“Who’s Lorraine?”

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be real things that makes Joe Public aghast.

Eviscerated by the political heavy weight that is



Suzzanna Reid

So out of touch, so incompetent so pathetic.
Boris is now like a Fast show character

To be fair, Susanna Reid is very good, she just took a wedge of money to put up with Piers Morgan.

I'm not in the UK atm,but I understand she ripped him a new arsehole, in a way that will connect with the general public / GMB audience, rather than a news night interview which would have been roundly ignored by most.

[Tichtheid]

“Who’s Lorraine?”

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be real things that makes Joe Public aghast.

Eviscerated by the political heavy weight that is



Suzzanna Reid

So out of touch, so incompetent so pathetic.
Boris is now like a Fast show character

To be fair, Susanna Reid is very good, she just took a wedge of money to put up with Piers Morgan.

I'm not in the UK atm,but I understand she ripped him a new arsehole, in a way that will connect with the general public / GMB audience, rather than a news night interview which would have been roundly ignored by most.

She a professional journalist with a degree in Politics and Philosophy and post grad qualification in broadcast journalism.

She told the prime minster of a 77 year old woman who had to ride around in a bus all day to save heating costs at home, since her costs had recently skyrocketed, Johnson's response was that he had introduced the bus pass that allowed her to do so.

[tabascoboy]

“Who’s Lorraine?”

Sometimes it doesn’t have to be real things that makes Joe Public aghast.

Eviscerated by the political heavy weight that is



Suzzanna Reid

So out of touch, so incompetent so pathetic.
Boris is now like a Fast show character

Dorries to demand "review" of ITV franchises in 3...2...1

[C69]

For the record I like Ms Reid and her relationship with Tony Benn was particulary interesting.

[sturginho]

Given Lorraine's history of "wardrobe malfunctions" on live TV, it is quite surprising to learn that the PM doesn't have her show on series link

[SaintK]

Whoops!!!

A Conservative police and crime commissioner who pledged to crack down on speeding has been caught breaking a 30mph limit five times within a 12-week period, PA Media reports. PA says:

The PCC for Nottinghamshire police, Caroline Henry, admitted the offences, including two committed on consecutive days, at a previous hearing in February at Nottingham magistrates’ court.
Magistrates were told Henry, who is the wife of Broxtowe MP Darren Henry, had written a letter to the court saying she was “very sorry, embarrassed and ashamed”.
Speed cameras clocked the PCC’s speed as high as 40mph in a 30mph zone, with other excess speeds recorded at 35mph and 38mph.

[Insane_Homer]

[C69]

To be honest I think they are gone soft. The Tories og old would be turning the heating down on the bus

Won't be long before you bow down in Eire before your Sinn Fein overlords.

[GogLais]

Where do these heated buses run?

[C69]

Where do these heated buses run?

London and the SE

[GogLais]

Where do these heated buses run?

London and the SE

Well of course.

[fishfoodie]

Where do these heated buses run?

London and the SE

Well of course.

The Tories are trialing, in NI, a version for North of the Watford services, but they need to work out some bugs.

[C69]

London and the SE

Well of course.

The Tories are trialing, in NI, a version for North of the Watford services, but they need to work out some bugs.

Don't worry after Sinn Fein win on Thursday it will be a familiar picture

[sturginho]

[GogLais]

London and the SE

Well of course.

The Tories are trialing, in NI, a version for North of the Watford services, but they need to work out some bugs.

Fortunately I never need to travel in these vehicles. As Maggie supposedly said, any man who travels in a bus when he’s over 30 is a failure.

[fishfoodie]

Well of course.

The Tories are trialing, in NI, a version for North of the Watford services, but they need to work out some bugs.

Fortunately I never need to travel in these vehicles. As Maggie supposedly said, any man who travels in a bus when he’s over 30 is a failure.

QED

[tabascoboy]

While there is nothing wrong with the advice itself, it's pretty insulting if he thinks people aren't intelligent enough to make that kind of decision for themselves, as well as coming from someone clearly not short of a few bob

[fishfoodie]

While there is nothing wrong with the advice itself, it's pretty insulting if he thinks people aren't intelligent enough to make that kind of decision for themselves, as well as coming from someone clearly not short of a few bob

From the people who think you just need to cut back on the netflix & coffees to get a deposit for a house.

[Paddington Bear]

Crossrail/Elizabeth Line to open later this month. Obviously it's late and will have teething problems, but this is an incredible piece of engineering and a step change in infrastructure terms. Possible to get very negative about the country, but projects like this are things we do very well.

[robmatic]

Crossrail/Elizabeth Line to open later this month. Obviously it's late and will have teething problems, but this is an incredible piece of engineering and a step change in infrastructure terms. Possible to get very negative about the country, but projects like this are things we do very well.

I'm sure this news will warm the heart of passengers chugging along on TransPennine Express.