By-election and local authority results.

Katie59

Whitewavemark2

One major issue with the Tories, which causes the chaos we are witnessing and such poor policy making is the continual fighting between the factions.

There was a truce called in 2019 to sort out the Brexit issue, but the divisions are now evident in all their gruesome glory.

We will never have decent governance all the time the government is tearing itself apart.

That is one major off-put with the voting public.

Has the Labour Party declared a truce yet?, the factions there are every bit problematic .

I think if you look carefully that party discipline has been firmly installed by Starmer - who if you remember has cleared the deck of Corbyn and his cronies.

Starmer is quick in acting if a minister disagrees publicly with party policy - look at Jess Philips - now back on the back benches, and Asher Ali - the Rochdale candidate - Starmer withdrew support even though it meant that Labour would lose Rochdale.

Starmer is known for his strength.

Whitewavemark2

One major issue with the Tories, which causes the chaos we are witnessing and such poor policy making is the continual fighting between the factions.

There was a truce called in 2019 to sort out the Brexit issue, but the divisions are now evident in all their gruesome glory.

We will never have decent governance all the time the government is tearing itself apart.

That is one major off-put with the voting public.

Has the Labour Party declared a truce yet?, the factions there are every bit problematic .

Joseann

As I see it, the Met police has lost Londoners' trust under Sadiq Khan’s leadership. Isn't it now in special measures for the first time ever? I don't blame Khan personally for everything, but he needs to toughen up on this issue and get real.

I lived in London (Brixton) at the time of the riots. The subsequent Scarman Report pointed a finger at policing in the area. Since then, little has changed apart from the drop in numbers. Occasionally the head of the Met will say that things will change but the attitudes of many of the force towards people of colour and women have not changed and are unlikely to unless there is a change in the recruitment policy.

I didn't know much about Susan Hill (not a Londoner) but when I did google I was surprised at choosing her as an opponent for Khan - surely someone more moderate would have had greater success?
www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/15/conservative-london-mayor-candidate-susan-hall-liked-tweets-praising-enoch-powell
Not all her policies were bad ideas but I cant understand the choice.

Gtr Manchester has the second largest Jewish community next only to London. We also have a large Muslim community, centred near the city and in former cotton towns like Rochdale, Bolton, Oldham,Bury.
I agree with Whitewave’s earlier post about the need for the LP to distance itself from Corbyn, anti semitism, defence, uncosted promises dripping out during the election campaign
The current govt is leaving a terrible mess for the next. It’s also contributed to the disaffection many feel towards politicians

Freya5

vegansrock

Many people in favour of ULEZ. A lot of people want cleaner. Greener policies and to stop our roads getting clogged up with cars. I am happy Khan has won. I’m not sure how anyone can say he is “useless”- I wonder what one word label you would give to this current government?

ULEZ, no good to families if they've lost children to knife crime, in Khan's London.
Still the Islamists are happy. Saw them on TV

Surely more people would be losing children from asthma and other related diseases than knife crime. The last time I was in London (pre covid) I had to get taxis everywhere rather than walk as I was used to do when I lived there. I am asthmatic and one of the causes is traffic pollution.

One major issue with the Tories, which causes the chaos we are witnessing and such poor policy making is the continual fighting between the factions.

There was a truce called in 2019 to sort out the Brexit issue, but the divisions are now evident in all their gruesome glory.

We will never have decent governance all the time the government is tearing itself apart.

That is one major off-put with the voting public.

I can’t see votes changing in favour of the Tories, it’s too late for their fortunes to be turned. What the elections on Thursday have proved is that whatever happens next, the Tories aren’t going to win the next election. I haven’t seen any political pundits suggest that. If people don’t vote Labour they will either not vote, or vote for any other option except Tory.

“I think Starmer’s difficulty is that he needed to distance himself from the Corbyn era, and in doing so has managed to alienate the Muslim base.”

The Gaza issue could change the voting in the autumn, if it is settled - whichever way and goes off the headlines. Votes will change, if it drags on they will get more important.

And no protest marches re Ukraine war

Whitewavemark2

Iam64

Andy Burnham is very popular throughout Gtr Manchester. He’s grown into his role as Mayor and clearly loves our city. He was MP for a Gtr Manc area and is a northern man. His politics are good. In October 23, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Like Jess Phillips he’s strong enough to express his views without falling out with Keir Starmer.

I think Starmer’s difficulty is that he needed to distance himself from the Corbyn era, and in doing so has managed to alienate the Muslim base.

But I think he can very well pull that back without at the same time losing the Jewish vote. It looks very much as if a ceasefire is now possible and Starmer now needs to support a two party state (which he does) and the rebuilding of peace.

Bipartisan politics alive and growing in the UK.
Don't call for ceasefire, we'll not vote for you.
Only not apparent in Ukraine war. I wonder why that is.

Iam64

Andy Burnham is very popular throughout Gtr Manchester. He’s grown into his role as Mayor and clearly loves our city. He was MP for a Gtr Manc area and is a northern man. His politics are good. In October 23, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Like Jess Phillips he’s strong enough to express his views without falling out with Keir Starmer.

I remember him as Health Minister, he was one of the few in that role who was respected in the NHS - but he always strikes me as a very independent person, so the mayor role suits him well I would think - the Muslims in Manchester must have voted for him too to give him such a huge majority.

Iam64

Andy Burnham is very popular throughout Gtr Manchester. He’s grown into his role as Mayor and clearly loves our city. He was MP for a Gtr Manc area and is a northern man. His politics are good. In October 23, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Like Jess Phillips he’s strong enough to express his views without falling out with Keir Starmer.

I think Starmer’s difficulty is that he needed to distance himself from the Corbyn era, and in doing so has managed to alienate the Muslim base.

But I think he can very well pull that back without at the same time losing the Jewish vote. It looks very much as if a ceasefire is now possible and Starmer now needs to support a two party state (which he does) and the rebuilding of peace.

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Turn-out for local and by-elections is typically always low, and not a reliable indicator of GE voting. However I doubt very much that even a hardened Tory optimist would put money on anything but a good kicking for the blues in the next GE.

I don’t expect anything to improve very much in a hurry, though - it’ll be the usual story (whoever is in power) of blaming everything on the last X years of the other party’s misrule.

Andy Burnham is very popular throughout Gtr Manchester. He’s grown into his role as Mayor and clearly loves our city. He was MP for a Gtr Manc area and is a northern man. His politics are good. In October 23, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Like Jess Phillips he’s strong enough to express his views without falling out with Keir Starmer.

Joseann

As I see it, the Met police has lost Londoners' trust under Sadiq Khan’s leadership. Isn't it now in special measures for the first time ever? I don't blame Khan personally for everything, but he needs to toughen up on this issue and get real.

It does seem from what we read that the problems in the Met have been endemic for decades, and have all surfaced in the last couple of years Joseann. I guess it’s probably hit the bottom now, and needs to be supported to rebuild.
The mayors also act as the Police and Crime commissioners in their patches, whereas where there are no mayors the post is separate - rather than special measures I wonder if the need is for more dedicated commissioner time? I don’t know enough to comment on what would work, but something is needed other than government intervention I think.

As I see it, the Met police has lost Londoners' trust under Sadiq Khan’s leadership. Isn't it now in special measures for the first time ever? I don't blame Khan personally for everything, but he needs to toughen up on this issue and get real.

The Tories were obviously very disappointed by the overall result they lost a lot of votes to smaller parties, BUT despite all the hype at high profile gains Labour only achieved a 3% increase in the vote on a very low turnout

This is nothing like the landslide that Blair had before his GE victory, a good working majority has still got to be won and 6 months is a very long time in politics.

Sarnia

MaizieD

Sarnia

MaizieD

Sadiq Khan has been officially declared the winner in London.

No solution to knife crime any time soon then.

So, if you were Mayor of London, Sarnia, how would you cut down (no pun intended) on knife crime?

Knife crime has increased by almost 40% on his watch and gun crime is increasing. With every stabbing Khan comes out and wrings his hands and says measures must be taken to prevent the sale of zombie knives but there has been no progress on that front. It is a complex issue to tackle and needs more stringent law enforcement and punishment, community co-operation and preventative measures which Khan drags his heels on implementing. He much prefers to spend £6m on 'woke' renaming of stations.

Rationally Sarnia he hasn’t caused, and can help mitigate, but can’t solve knife crime. It’s a UK wide problem, London doesn’t even have the worst statistics. It’s very easy to blame, as was evident last week when that machete attack which killed the schoolboy happened, but the man was not previously known to the police as it transpired.
Like him or not, Khan was elected with an increased percentage of the vote, so Londoners obviously think he was the best of the anvailable options.

MaizieD

Sarnia

MaizieD

Sadiq Khan has been officially declared the winner in London.

No solution to knife crime any time soon then.

So, if you were Mayor of London, Sarnia, how would you cut down (no pun intended) on knife crime?

Knife crime has increased by almost 40% on his watch and gun crime is increasing. With every stabbing Khan comes out and wrings his hands and says measures must be taken to prevent the sale of zombie knives but there has been no progress on that front. It is a complex issue to tackle and needs more stringent law enforcement and punishment, community co-operation and preventative measures which Khan drags his heels on implementing. He much prefers to spend £6m on 'woke' renaming of stations.

To find out what has happened to the Tory party, you only need to look at two of the prospective mayoral candidates and their speeches yesterday.

Andrew Street - a speech of grace, humbleness and inclusion. Contrast that to Susan Halls speech of rudeness, arrogance and division.

People with the integrity, and intelligence shown by Street are as rare as hens teeth in the Tory party now, instead they have been replaced by the Susan Hall types who drag hate and ugliness around with them.

Casdon

No, Nick Buckley stood for Reform previously, I don’t know much about him at all.
There was apparently no Muslim/Gaza alternative candidate in Manchester, I wonder if Burnham has taken a different stance to the official Labour Party line on that, and has managed to retain the Muslim vote?

Hmm, that figures. (looking at NB's list)

There was no Independent on that POV in Oliver Coppard's (S Yorkshire) election but have been in local council wards.

But Andy Burnhams area includes Rochdale (as in George Galloway, who I won't comment on as unprintable)

Whitewavemark2

I didn’t realise that Andy Street and Michael Fabricant are partners. They seem such an unlikely couple.?

I thought Street conducted himself well in his defeat speech, as did Parker in his acceptance speech.

He put Hall to shame didn’t he.

No, Nick Buckley stood for Reform previously, I don’t know much about him at all.
There was apparently no Muslim/Gaza alternative candidate in Manchester, I wonder if Burnham has taken a different stance to the official Labour Party line on that, and has managed to retain the Muslim vote?