The biggest surprise in the by elections is that Reform UK trounced the Lib Dem’s!

Urmstongran

The Lib Dems were 4th place in both by elections yesterday. Unless they input Ed Davey’s lib dem votes into a Horizon computer? Not seen much of him these days have we? I think he’s toxic for the party.

Moving on. Tory say if you vote Reform UK we are handing the keys to No.10 to Keir Starmer. Well as far as I can see that’s a given now anyway so I’m happy to vote Reform UK at the GE.

They need a boost though. More membership money or donations. Farage joining in some centre stage capacity would definitely boost their ratings.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems must be in turmoil. “We need to talk about Ed” …

I read in BBC news online that Reform came 3rd not 4th.
After them came the Lib Dem vote.
A few posters seem to think that it’s all Conservative voters going over to Reform but it’s more nuanced than that, I work in a care home and we were talking about this at break this morning, two people said they’d vote Reform at the next election and they’d voted Labour up to now.I think there will be a good few former Labour members voting that way for various reasons.The Lib Dem vote seems to be nosediving.

Sorry OP I worded that first sentence badly.

Meant to add, that Reform votes will affect both Labour and Conservative Parties IMO.
Not great as I wanted to Labour to have a big majority.

Oreo

Meant to add, that Reform votes will affect both Labour and Conservative Parties IMO.
Not great as I wanted to Labour to have a big majority.

I’m not bothered about Reform tbh - it is the brexity party and that vote is disappearing by the day the longer we go on.

That is not to say that Labour’s win is a done deal though - far from it. There is a lot more to do.

Doesnt look as if its disappearing.

Freya, Jeremy Hoskin funds the Reclaim party (Laurence Fox), not sure he also funds Reform but prepared to be corrected.

I'm interested in where those who claim to know where Reform's funding come from have found that out?

They are a company, and thus legally have to file accounts with Companies House. They file only micro (or filleted) accounts, so no profit and loss accounts and no details of income from donations/fundraising.

If you can tell me, therefore, where you have found out who their donors are, I would be grateful.

The limited filed accounts do show over £1.1m of debt, most of which is a directors loan. They also owed other people, as at December 2022, more than they could pay.

bylinetimes.com/2024/01/18/reform-uk-limited-the-political-business-brought-to-you-by-billionaires/

For anyone interested.

In the 2015 general election UKIP got 15% of the vote in Kingswood, and 19% in Wellingborough. I’d conclude that the same people are voting for Reform who voted for UKIP then ( but a few % less).

Talk of the demise of the Lib Dem’s is unfounded in my opinion. these are seats where they have historically not done well, and have lost their deposit before too. They know how to pick their battles, and they will contest very strongly in seats where there is a chance of them beating the Tories. I’d be very surprised if they have less than 30 seats at the General Election. I’d be even more surprised if Reform have any at all.

It's not really about what happens at this election in my view.

Reform had some shiny new liveried bus on their electioneering - must have cost a pretty penny. Wonder who paid for that?

Only 39% of people voted in the Kingswood by-election. That's not many people making an effort, is it?

This is my constituency so we have had a whole rainforest of leaflets delivered over the last month but still people didn't bother. ... perhaps because it's half term here and they are busy.

I disagree that it's a foregone conclusion that Labour will get in. People always like to make a point with mid-term by-elections.

growstuff

Nicenanny3

Liberal Democrats lose their deposits in both by-elections
Party’s share of vote plummets on 2019 election result as it receives less than five per cent of votes cast and forfeits the £500 payment(Daily Telegraph)

Bet Ed's not a happy bunny today😊

Unless there was a 'behind the scenes' agreement to give Labour a better chance ...

Not necessarily the parties themselves but voters sensibly voting tactically.

MayBee70

growstuff

Nicenanny3

Liberal Democrats lose their deposits in both by-elections
Party’s share of vote plummets on 2019 election result as it receives less than five per cent of votes cast and forfeits the £500 payment(Daily Telegraph)

Bet Ed's not a happy bunny today😊

Unless there was a 'behind the scenes' agreement to give Labour a better chance ...

Not necessarily the parties themselves but voters sensibly voting tactically.

The Lib Dem’s have never done well in either of these seats, I think that is the material point. There didn’t need to be any behind the scenes deal with Labour, who convincingly won both seats.
What I didn’t realise is that part of the Kingswood constituency will fall in with the constituency of Jacob Rees Mogg in the general election. That will be interesting.

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

This Conservative voter would never vote Lib Dem’s.

No idea who is standing in my constituency.

I disagree. I think they will.

I have no idea how others will vote, I just know that I will not vote Lib Dem.

Is anybody saying that it is a foregone conclusion that Labour will get in at the general election Sparklefizz, I haven’t heard that either in the media or on Gransnet. I don’t think you’d find any Labour supporters saying any such thing?

Urmstongran

Where is Ed??

Unfortunately, I think the main question for too many people would be not "where is Ed?" but "Who is Ed?".

He might be a really nice man (I have no idea), but lacks the qualities needed to lead the Lib Dems. The word 'nonentity' comes to mind.

How many people would even recognise him or be able to name him if he appeared on their screens without a caption?

The party needs a much stronger, more visible and vocal leader, someone people actually notice when he or she speaks, even if they don't agree with what is being said. Someone who attracts the attention of the media.

It's true what they say: " you've got to be in it to win it ", and unfortunately the LibDems haven't come close to being in it with Ed as their leader

Ed Davey has said of the campaign in the two seats, ‘we didn’t
take them too seriously’, ! !

Casdon

MayBee70

growstuff

Nicenanny3

Liberal Democrats lose their deposits in both by-elections
Party’s share of vote plummets on 2019 election result as it receives less than five per cent of votes cast and forfeits the £500 payment(Daily Telegraph)

Bet Ed's not a happy bunny today😊

Unless there was a 'behind the scenes' agreement to give Labour a better chance ...

Not necessarily the parties themselves but voters sensibly voting tactically.

The Lib Dem’s have never done well in either of these seats, I think that is the material point. There didn’t need to be any behind the scenes deal with Labour, who convincingly won both seats.
What I didn’t realise is that part of the Kingswood constituency will fall in with the constituency of Jacob Rees Mogg in the general election. That will be interesting.

I think it's going to be very difficult to predict results in some seats. Boundary changes and tactical voting will have to be factored in.

This Labour voter will be voting Labour! I would never vote Lib Dem and certainly wouldn’t ever give Reform my vote - IMO they (Reform) are divisive, narrow-minded and insular. I’m surprised that anyone gives them the time of day!

IMO they are narrow minded, divisive and insular lizziedrip if you have the time, could you expand?

I'm in a pickle with regards to who I vote for. They all seem in a shambles.

I think the Lib Dems underperformed because they are saddled with Ed Davey and his role as post office Minister. They should ditch him.

HousePlantQueen

bylinetimes.com/2024/01/18/reform-uk-limited-the-political-business-brought-to-you-by-billionaires/

For anyone interested.

3/4 conjecture, opinion ie too many "it was reported, it was said, according to etc."

One out right lie, that I know of.

The rest was a collection of info from the public domain of who funded and by how much. Which I presume to be correct as I havent checked.

Quite poor journalism Imo.

All parties are funded by people who believe in the policies they stand for.
What's so different about that?

Fair enough. I just thought a few people may be interested in an opinion not churned out by an overseas, non tax paying newspaper owner.

They are HousePlantQueen. Byline Times is often right, and ahead of the game. It’s definitely worth reading.