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.
