The North Shropshire Byelection *edited by GNHQ*

I dont think it's a lib dem revival, I think its conservative defeat. Different things.

It’s not going to make a difference to my area.

I don't know what area you're in Lincslass, but if a 23,000 majority can be reduced to just 12,000 votes in the truest of true-blue Tory seats, I think every sitting Tory PM must be sweating this morning. Unless you're in one of the 3 seats that would remain Tory.

When we were little, it often used to happen that if things didn't go the way a bad loser wanted them to go, they used to say they hadn't wanted it anyway.

Lib Dems got in easily, thank goodness Labour didn’t win. Tells them both doesn’t it?

Labour were never going to win this rural constituency, they didn’t even under the Blair landslide.

But, great that the LDs won it, it’s about time Johnson is ousted.

And, if reports are correct, there is likely to be a challenge after
Christmas.?

Thanks to all Labour voters who voted for the Lib Dems.

A good lesson learned.

They’ll bring in Rishi before the next election to guarantee another win.

I can’t see Labour ever winning an election under kier Starmer, he just doesn’t seem that popular at all, which is a shame as there should always be a decent opposition. The libdems haven’t got enough support to win general elections.

Thanks to all Labour voters who voted for the Lib Dems

That would be the libdems who sided with the tories in 2010.

Kandinsky

*Thanks to all Labour voters who voted for the Lib Dems*

That would be the libdems who sided with the tories in 2010.

Good try, Kandinski, but it's not the same as the party that went into coalition with the tories. That's water under the bridge now. You can never step in the same river twice...

Great result. I used to be a Lib Dem. I don't think they will get anywhere near being in power, but anything which upsets the present tories can only be good.

Can only re-use to left and right a favourite mantra on here:

The Lib Dem’s won. Get over it.

I’m not sure Rishi with his 12 houses and austerity agenda would be a vote winner

vegansrock

I’m not sure Rishi with his 12 houses and austerity agenda would be a vote winner

I’ve been reading some very unpleasant stuff about Sunak.

Alegrias1

^It’s not going to make a difference to my area.^

I don't know what area you're in Lincslass, but if a 23,000 majority can be reduced to just 12,000 votes in the truest of true-blue Tory seats, I think every sitting Tory PM must be sweating this morning. Unless you're in one of the 3 seats that would remain Tory.

When we were little, it often used to happen that if things didn't go the way a bad loser wanted them to go, they used to say they hadn't wanted it anyway.

Why be derogatory again, just making an observation, and yes they will be sweating, good maybe they’ll pull their finger out , not sure who will replace Johnson, hopefully not Sunak, another one who doesn’t seem to know what ordinary people need. The Lib Dem’s are a vote against Johnson, do you think I like Johnson just because I voted Tory, did at first, not anymore.

Pity Tim Farron wasn't still leader. I liked that man.

I’m afraid his religious beliefs made it impossible for him to be leader, but I agree about him being a nice bloke. I do like Davey though.

Galaxy^I dont think it's a lib dem revival, I think its conservative defeat. Different things^

I totally agree, and I am a Lib Dem supporter. The really significant figure in this byelection is the turnout - 46% .

In other words, most Conservatives stayed home and didn't vote because they couldn't bring themselves to vote for another party. The cosntintuency would still go Conservative in a general election.

The other significant figure is how few people voted for UKIP or its holgram, Reform. I think they polled around 3,000 votes. North Shropshire, may have voted for Brexit, but they are middle of the road Conservatives and remain so.

Labour's poor result and the high abstention rate show that, if it gets a new leader, the Conservative party are still strong throughout the country. But if they want to stay there they need to change their leader. It also shows how far Labour still has to go to regain the ground lost to it by Jeremy Corbyn.

Galaxy

I dont think it's a lib dem revival, I think its conservative defeat. Different things.

Agree...interesting that the Labour vote didn't bounce back.

I dont think that's significant as it was tactical voting.

In other words, most Conservatives stayed home and didn't vote because they couldn't bring themselves to vote for another party. The constituency would still go Conservative in a general election.

Not so.

Electorate about 80,000. Turnout in 2019, 67%, turnout this time, 46%. Reduction of 21% or about 16,000 people.
Tory vote dropped from 35,000 to 12,000, which is more than 16,000 people, it's 23,000 people.

The Tory voters from 2019 didn't just stay at home, they changed their vote.

It was very significant tactical voting expressing very strong feelings! So yes, VERY significant.

And it can be both a Lib Dem Revival, AND a massive Cons defeat.

As long as Labour is so divided, they will not bounce back. And very few will support the Labour extreme left- those days are gone, aspirations and lives have changed.

Do you think the lib dems are united? They certainly werent when I dipped my toes in the water, it was a battle between liberalism and well the exact opposite to be honest.

but they are middle of the road Conservatives and remain so.

As a politically left of centre voter, I'd be fairly content - at the moment - with a government made up of those middle-of-the-roaders type politicians.

And in order to change government those middle of the road conservatives need to switch to Labour or another party. Apparently they then become 'good people' as opposed to evil Tories. Demonising those who vote Tory is in my view a terrible idea if you want a change in government.
I know you werent saying that Dickens I am just thinking out loud

Excellent result, whatever the reason. I think it was tactical voting by LP supporters.

Can’t see a problem with demonising voters who continue to vote for a morally empty corrupt government just because they always have done. Having said that, having campaigned over the past few years with people from all parties ( with the exception of UKIP and it’s various incarnations) I’ve found the extreme left wing of the Labour Party to be the most unpleasant, especially as they hounded me out of our local branch of the Labour Party when I was a member. I have to say that, of all the people I’ve met over the years, when it comes to actual party supporters, I’ve never met with any unpleasantness from any LibDems. But this is a purely personal view of course.