By-election and local authority results.

They just announced on our evening news here in Australia that the Conservatives will be wiped out under Rishi Sunak at the next election. Why don’t they ditch him and make a last bid effort to win a few seats? I don't particularly like him and wouldn’t vote for him if I could but it is not good for the country to have no opposition and be totally ruled by Labour or anyone else come to that.

Casdon I could only agree to compulsory voting if there was a box marked "none of the above" and that result was also recorded. As it currently stands writing that on your ballot paper would just get recorded in with the spoiled ballots, not recorded as a conscious decision you couldn't back any of those standing.

The turn out being low is a worry. I’m hoping that that isn’t a prediction for the GE. I understand not knowing who to vote for, because our choices were dire.
Like others on here, there are deal breakers that I won’t accept.
The problem is, as with Brexit, the group/party or issue who get the most votes carry the day. The percentage winning in Brexit was tiny, but that tiny percentage was over a million votes. Over a million fewer people either voted remain or didn’t vote.

GrannyGravy13

It’s not just the matter of latching on to one issue growstuff
I think it is that many people have deal breakers like Galaxy has posted.

I couldn’t vote for a party if in their manifesto it said they were intent on initiating something/s that were to me ^deal breakers^

You’re right - but what happens is that many then don’t vote at all, which contributes to us ending up with more and more conflict between the different factions. I think voting should be compulsory, which would at least mean that whatever the outcome it’s a majority choice.

The Tories will hang on till late 2024. The ones who will lose need time to find other lucrative jobs and want to collect their MP's pay for as long as possible while racking up their pensions. Some of them may even get put up to the Lords with lavish daily expenses.

It’s not just the matter of latching on to one issue growstuff
I think it is that many people have deal breakers like Galaxy has posted.

I couldn’t vote for a party if in their manifesto it said they were intent on initiating something/s that were to me deal breakers

^Yes I agree. Focusing on one issue, say, Gaza/Israel or immigration, and even Brexit, makes for very poor politics, and governments.
I would go so far as to suggest that single issue government has caused the chaos we see at present^

Agreed Whitewave. The last GE was won by the Tory’s based on Johnson’s ‘Get Brexit Done’ and look what that led to. Governing a country is highly complex and can’t be reduced to one issue - particularly important at the GE.

growstuff

Curtaintwitcher

The turnout was low, because many people just couldn't decide who to vote for. I usually cast my vote but on this occasion, I didn't. It was a council election and I haven't been very impressed by my local councillor.

I'm very concerned by the fact that Muslims brought the situation in the Middle East into the equation. They see being pro-Israel as being anti-Muslim and take it personally.
I hope this is not going to be allowed to overshadow British politics.

Unfortunately, that's how politics works for some people. It's not just the Palestinian issue. Some people latch on to one issue, but don't consider the rest of any party's agenda or the outcome of voting one way or the other.

Partisan politics, arrived in Britain.

I agree that the police commissioner role seems pointless and would be very interested in an analysis of the benefits.
In terms of voting on one issue I mostly agree, but there are single issues that would impact my vote. If labour for example decided to support capital punishment I couldnt vote for them even if I agreed with the rest of the manifesto. So there are issues (not many) for me that are 'deal breakers' so I suppose I cant complain if that's the same for others.

growstuff

Curtaintwitcher

The turnout was low, because many people just couldn't decide who to vote for. I usually cast my vote but on this occasion, I didn't. It was a council election and I haven't been very impressed by my local councillor.

I'm very concerned by the fact that Muslims brought the situation in the Middle East into the equation. They see being pro-Israel as being anti-Muslim and take it personally.
I hope this is not going to be allowed to overshadow British politics.

Unfortunately, that's how politics works for some people. It's not just the Palestinian issue. Some people latch on to one issue, but don't consider the rest of any party's agenda or the outcome of voting one way or the other.

Yes I agree. Focusing on one issue, say, Gaza/Israel or immigration, and even Brexit , makes for very poor politics, and governments.

I would go so far as to suggest that single issue government has caused the chaos we see at present.

That is why it is absolutely essential to look at the manifesto and to give consideration to the likely outcomes of what is stated in them.

Curtaintwitcher

The turnout was low, because many people just couldn't decide who to vote for. I usually cast my vote but on this occasion, I didn't. It was a council election and I haven't been very impressed by my local councillor.

I'm very concerned by the fact that Muslims brought the situation in the Middle East into the equation. They see being pro-Israel as being anti-Muslim and take it personally.
I hope this is not going to be allowed to overshadow British politics.

Unfortunately, that's how politics works for some people. It's not just the Palestinian issue. Some people latch on to one issue, but don't consider the rest of any party's agenda or the outcome of voting one way or the other.

Callistemon21

Casdon

It’s going very well for Labour so far, and for the Lib Dem’s in their strongholds, it’s going to be an interesting day.

I want to have a little whinge though, about the Police Commissioner elections where that is the only election you are voting for. I don’t know if it was the case anywhere else, but because the PCCs are elected nationally on the same cycle, a huge amount of money was spent sending out polling cards, running polling stations and for the counts just for them - I’d be very surprised if the turnout was above about 15% - I voted at 8.30am, and I was only the third person at my station. Surely it would make more sense if they were elected on the same cycle as local councils for each area?

Oh yes!

I always vote but for the first time I didn't, because I would have spoiled my ballot paper anyway. I don't agree with the role of Police and Crime Commissioner. A useless, needless layer of bureaucracy imo.

Absolutely agree! Essex's Police Commissioner is the Fire Commissioner too! It sounds like a cushy non-job - how on earth did we manage before the role was invented? Has anybody ever done any research about whether the role improves the service for end users (ie us)?

The turnout was low, because many people just couldn't decide who to vote for. I usually cast my vote but on this occasion, I didn't. It was a council election and I haven't been very impressed by my local councillor.

I'm very concerned by the fact that Muslims brought the situation in the Middle East into the equation. They see being pro-Israel as being anti-Muslim and take it personally.
I hope this is not going to be allowed to overshadow British politics.

Visgir1

Whitewavemark2... Apprently Reform won 2 seats... So the BBC website claim.

They hadn't when Wwmk2 posted.

BBC now showing them with 2 seats with 102 out of 107 council results in.

They may have scared the tories with the by election result but they're making no progress at all at local council level.

Casdon

It’s going very well for Labour so far, and for the Lib Dem’s in their strongholds, it’s going to be an interesting day.

I want to have a little whinge though, about the Police Commissioner elections where that is the only election you are voting for. I don’t know if it was the case anywhere else, but because the PCCs are elected nationally on the same cycle, a huge amount of money was spent sending out polling cards, running polling stations and for the counts just for them - I’d be very surprised if the turnout was above about 15% - I voted at 8.30am, and I was only the third person at my station. Surely it would make more sense if they were elected on the same cycle as local councils for each area?

Oh yes!

I always vote but for the first time I didn't, because I would have spoiled my ballot paper anyway. I don't agree with the role of Police and Crime Commissioner. A useless, needless layer of bureaucracy imo.

Urmstongran

By elections and or local council elections used to be considered as an opportunity for a protest vote. I don’t think this is the case with yesterday’s polling. I think the Tories will get annihilated at the GE - whenever it is held. I’m in two minds though about this. I want the Tories out they’ve made such a mess of pretty much everything but I’m wary of Labour, who will romp it. Eek!

It's a pity local elections are used as a protest vote.

Over the years, I have noticed that Conservatives seemed to work better than other parties in Local Government, more concerned about local affairs and more in touch with the thoughts and needs of the local population, than Labour or other parties, particularly the Lib Dems and Greens.

However, in Central Government they are often disastrous.

Why?

Whitewavemark2... Apprently Reform won 2 seats... So the BBC website claim.

Reform haven’t won a single seat.

They can keep saying their vote share is at the level they predicted for a general election as if that’s a good thing, but it’s not, because it’s reasonable to expect a higher share in local elections (as per the posts above about Labour).

In the Blackpool by-election, the combined Reform and Tory vote share was only just over half that of Labour, suggesting there are quite a lot of centrist votes to play for, although that’s not, I suspect, the message the Tories will hear.

Lib dems!😄

Whitewavemark2

Oh that is interesting katie59

I would be grateful if you could send me the data that suggests a hung parliament.

I have looked but can’t find it.

Have just read that on either BBC or Sky news.Based on what happened yesterday the analysis is that Labour would be about 32 seats short of a majority.They would then need a coalition with Lid Dems or others.
An actual GE tho may be completely different.

Primrose53

Not paid too much attention to this but I hear Reform party did very well.

Well enough to worry the Tories, and well enough to hearten Labour that the Tory vote will be split.

Reform have zero seats. It’s a repeat of UKIP, the BNP etc.

Not paid too much attention to this but I hear Reform party did very well.

Locally we still have a hung council - in order of seats, Labour, Lib Dem, Greens, slight increase Labour tho in each seat their share of the vote went up substantially.

The big news of the day is that my town for years and years has only had one Tory councillor - and it flipped completely over to a large Labour majority. I think something local must have been going on as here traditionally Lib Dems are the Labour opposition.

I’ve just noticed that in the latest version of the local election results the Lib Dem’s have moved into second place, they currently have more declared councillors than the Tories.

Be careful what you vote for.
Is there a Common sense party that
would make a nice change.
Have a good day everybody.