Tonight’s results

His political career follows a repeating pattern doesn’t it!

Channel 4 far too colourful for my eyes, BBC far more soothing!

MaizieD

Doodledog

MaizieD

Sunderland and Blyth. I'm not at all surprised. It's echoing the Brexit vote. NE still hasn't had any benefit, still 'left behind'.

I think (and hope) that that explains the results. I also hope that something is done to reverse the swing to the Far Right. I agree that those areas are 'left behind' and someone needs to speak to the people there who are Old Labour, of the rather sexist and racist persuasion (and let's not pretend that the Left doesn't have a fair share of people who think that way). I may not share their outlook, but they are not basically fascist - they are politically homeless and want to protest about being patronised and ignored.

Other people on X are saying the same as me. Reform mirroring the Brexit vote. Some think that this won't hold over all of the UK.

I hope to god that they only come second in my red wall constituency...

I think we're going to have a very split country. I have no doubt that Labour will win this election, but Reform will be strong in the "red wall" seats, particularly in the North East and coastal constituencies.

The south of the country will be different. Some will remain rock solid Conservative, with some areas tending towards the LibDems. The big cities (apart from Birmingham) will be Labour.

So, there's going to be a realignment of the parties - the Conservatives might even disappear as we've known them over the last few decades. Some more moderate Conservatives might join the LibDems or create a new party. Labour will probably be more "middle class" (so-called) and continue to alienate traditional "working class" voters, who will turn to Reform.

It's possible that we might end up with four parties in England (plus the parties in the devolved countries). If that happens, it would be a good time to introduce PR.

Whatever happens, I think we're going to see historic changes over the next few years.

PS. Go on then! You can bookmark this and have a good laugh in a year or two when I'm totally wrong!

keepingquiet

Channel 4 far too colourful for my eyes, BBC far more soothing!

I've tried both. Frying pans and fire come to mind. :-(

MaizieD

Doodledog

MaizieD

Sunderland and Blyth. I'm not at all surprised. It's echoing the Brexit vote. NE still hasn't had any benefit, still 'left behind'.

I think (and hope) that that explains the results. I also hope that something is done to reverse the swing to the Far Right. I agree that those areas are 'left behind' and someone needs to speak to the people there who are Old Labour, of the rather sexist and racist persuasion (and let's not pretend that the Left doesn't have a fair share of people who think that way). I may not share their outlook, but they are not basically fascist - they are politically homeless and want to protest about being patronised and ignored.

Other people on X are saying the same as me. Reform mirroring the Brexit vote. Some think that this won't hold over all of the UK.

I hope to god that they only come second in my red wall constituency...

I don't know where you are based, but I hope so too. But if, as expected, the LP has a huge majority overall, it should stop focussing on middle class, 'politically correct' types and remember who they are supposed to represent.

I am not looking backwards, and nor am I saying that the 'middle class politically correct' types shouldn't be considered (I am one of them, after all ), but a democracy has to include everyone, and that means Alf Garnett as well as David Tennant. That hasn't happened since I don't know when.

Labour supporters are now predominantly graduates with professional or 'white collar' occupations, and the flat cap manual workers have been left out, and need to go somewhere. If Labour doesn't want them they will go elsewhere, and Labour will sink.

As I see it, if you need to work for a living it doesn't matter what you do - 'professional', admin, manager, tradesperson, unskilled worker are all pointless divisions. Someone decides what your labour is worth and bases that on the minimum they can pay. Everyone in that position should stick together and refuse to be exploited, rather than fighting amongst ourselves. I am not bothered by immigration, but maybe I would be if I worked as a builder or someone whose standard of living might be threatened by people from countries with lower wages willing to work for less. We all need to listen to one another.

Washington and Gateshead South (another NE constituency) has declared as Labour.

Robert Buckland is giving a good account of the state of the Tory party and what went wrong.

I would rather have the Tories with a much reduced majority and the ability to come back with a will to work instead of posturing, than Reform who will have no control over any MPs that may get elected.

I hope the Conservative Party returns to it’s core values instead of trying to become UKIP/Reform. The thought of Reform being the opposition horrifies me.

MayBee70

I hope the Conservative Party returns to it’s core values instead of trying to become UKIP/Reform. The thought of Reform being the opposition horrifies me.

Me too. The good news is that they will be an opposition with little power.

But Labour has to listen to the Reform voters. I don't think that they are all naturally Right Wingers. They have been forgotten, and need to find a home with a party that will take them seriously.

keepingquiet

Robert Buckland is giving a good account of the state of the Tory party and what went wrong.

I would rather have the Tories with a much reduced majority and the ability to come back with a will to work instead of posturing, than Reform who will have no control over any MPs that may get elected.

For me, it would depend what kind of Tory. If they were all like Rory Stewart, I wouldn't have too much of a problem, but not a Conservative government (even with a reduced majority) with the likes of Kemi Badenoch, Suella Bravemann, Danny Kruger and their ilk.

I’m still up, but will now go to bed - going on holiday in the morning.

So much to think about.

I don’t think that the country is out of the woods yet and Labour will have to be very careful about its strategy if we are to avoid a far right populist swing in 5 years time.

Labour hasn't had much opportunity to do anything for the 'manual workers' over the past 14 years, have they?

The tories have held all the cards being in government. This is the bit that voters don't seem to understand, the 'opposition' is powerless.

Labour plans to strengthen workers' rights, introduce a true living wage. That would help. But, of course, the problem in the north is lack of employment. Only growth and more regional autonomy can sort that, I think.

growstuff I think we crossposted earlier but were saying similar things. Who knows who will be laughing in five years time?

AI will bring massive changes very soon, and those who have clung to traditional certainties will need to reconsider, I think. The question will be whether the people whose 'brain' jobs can be done by AI can expect support from those they have patronised and exploited - ie those who need manual skills - remains to be seen.

There is such a lot up in the air just now, and as I keep saying we need to pull together before it is too late.

Goodnight, Wwmk2 Sweet dreams...

We're going on holiday tomorrow but not leaving until mid afternoon. I can linger a bit longer.

Doodledog

growstuff I think we crossposted earlier but were saying similar things. Who knows who will be laughing in five years time?

AI will bring massive changes very soon, and those who have clung to traditional certainties will need to reconsider, I think. The question will be whether the people whose 'brain' jobs can be done by AI can expect support from those they have patronised and exploited - ie those who need manual skills - remains to be seen.

There is such a lot up in the air just now, and as I keep saying we need to pull together before it is too late.

Participation in higher education in the north east is much lower than it is anywhere else in the country. I can't remember the actual figures, but I seem to remember it's about half the national average in the north east (25%), whereas it's about 75% in the home counties. You're right about AI and education is going to be key to success (both personal and at a national level). I understand that people don't like being told what to do, but somehow or other anti-education thinking has to change.

Blair knew about the importance of education, Starmer also has to bring it back into focus.

Conservatives seats in this area after the count up...
0

We’ve got ITV here live in Australia! Amazing. Sitting here mid morning with a nice cup of coffee and pussycat on my knee.

Yes, it's quite something isn't it?

Lee Anderson has won. No words. Horrible man.

Wow! Labour has won my 'home town' (in Essexj from the tories. It has never in my lifetime (70+) been Labour!

That's my bit of excitement for the night...

MayBee70

Lee Anderson has won. No words. Horrible man.

I'm really surprised by that.
He's not at all appealing, is he?

Nothing much, or unexpected, happening? Going back to bed.

Whois the bloke opposite Nicola Sturgeon in the blue suit ?

But according to others here, things have been happening. Still going back to bed!

Labour have won Ken Clarke old constituency. People I knew from there only voted Conservative because of Ken.. I think I would have done, too.