The North Shropshire Byelection *edited by GNHQ*

Does “not turning out to vote (not “bite” but maybe that too!) still turn a massive Conservative majority round to a LibDem majority of 23,000?
Surely the 20% drop in turnout owed much to many Conservatives voting their feet ?

So maybe we need electoral reform

Calistemon

The turnout was 46.28%

In fact, as you so often point out, varian when telling us what a low % of the total electorate voted for Brexit, this result, following your logic, is undemocratic.

The turnout was higher than usual for a byelection. It's usually in the 30+% range.

MayBeMaw

Does “not turning out to vote (not “bite” but maybe that too!) still turn a massive Conservative majority round to a LibDem majority of 23,000?
Surely the 20% drop in turnout owed much to many Conservatives voting their feet ?

Yes, it was a protest vote against both Johnson and Patterson.
However 20% obviously could not bring themselves to vote for another party.

Whether that would be sustainable if there is a change of PM before a GE would be interesting.

MayBeMaw

Does “not turning out to vote (not “bite” but maybe that too!) still turn a massive Conservative majority round to a LibDem majority of 23,000?
Surely the 20% drop in turnout owed much to many Conservatives voting their feet ?

The LDs had 12,000 more people voting for them than at the previous GE. Can't all have been Labour people voting tactically. Therefore, not all tory voters stayed at home...

MaizieD

Calistemon

The turnout was 46.28%

In fact, as you so often point out, varian when telling us what a low % of the total electorate voted for Brexit, this result, following your logic, is undemocratic.

The turnout was higher than usual for a byelection. It's usually in the 30+% range.

I think this was quite a controversial bi-election, though, with current events and Patterson's shenanigans.

Interesting thing about a change of PM would be that most of the main contenders would have come from Johnson's cabinet. So supported him all through his continual lying and corruption. And supported the incompetence and the draconian and illiberal legislation.

Would voters take that into consideration, I wonder?

Interesting thing about a change of PM would be that most of the main contenders would have come from Johnson's cabinet.

Unless there is a huge rebellion!

Anyone in the current cabinet is tainted by association surely? And we know he chose nodding dogs, ar*e lickers and dimwits as supporting acts.

I’m afraid there’s not a lot to smile at these days, where would we be without Matt?

Article by Tom Slater in spiked This government has no principles, no point to it beyond its own survival. And voters have noticed.

Baggs

Article by Tom Slater in spiked This government has no principles, no point to it beyond its own survival. And voters have noticed.

It's a pity more journalists didn't notice what many people could have told them before Dec 2019.

This government only ever had one 'point' and it did that really badly.

What worries me is if they're going to lurch further to the right when Johnson goes.

Or will they come back towards the centre...?

Lurch to the right I hope.

Are you by any chance a tax dodging billionaire?

I can't see why anyone else would hope for a lurch to the right.

I am all for a lurch to the right, by the next election, with the NHS and education iin a situation of near collapse and more and more plutocrats swanning a round, no one will want to to vote for them.

M0nica

I am all for a lurch to the right, by the next election, with the NHS and education iin a situation of near collapse and more and more plutocrats swanning a round, no one will want to to vote for them.

Blimey!

Another one gung ho for deregulation, eh?

MaizieD

M0nica

I am all for a lurch to the right, by the next election, with the NHS and education iin a situation of near collapse and more and more plutocrats swanning a round, no one will want to to vote for them.

Blimey!

Another one gung ho for deregulation, eh?

I got it, M0nica!

But it might not have the result you predict.

Calistemon

I thought most people would. I do not have a track record as an extreme right winger.

I will just have to spell it out in more detail next time.

Maizie what I had in mind is that if the extreme right wingers take over, policy will go so right wing that the swing section of voters who vote differently at every election, will swing to another party and so will a number of the Conservative voters so the Conservatives would be in danger of losing the election, which would be a good thing. Because of that I think it will be good for the opposition if the Conservatives swing right.

M0nica

Calistemon

I thought most people would. I do not have a track record as an extreme right winger.

I will just have to spell it out in more detail next time.

Maizie what I had in mind is that if the extreme right wingers take over, policy will go so right wing that the swing section of voters who vote differently at every election, will swing to another party and so will a number of the Conservative voters so the Conservatives would be in danger of losing the election, which would be a good thing. Because of that I think it will be good for the opposition if the Conservatives swing right.

Phew, MOnica. Thanks for that. I thought you were having a funny turn