Elections 2016 - Discussion Thread

[Jack_]

So there's a bunch of elections being held across the UK tomorrow, from local councils to Police & Crime Commissioners, two by-elections, as well as ones to the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies, Scottish Parliament and of course some mayoral's including London!

Huw Edwards, Jeremy Vine and Emily Maitlis are covering them for the BBC from 23:45, ITV aren't and who cares about Sky

A thread to discuss results/whether you're voting etc etc :spin2:

[Firewire]

Voting in the Scottish Parliament elections tomorrow. Haven't made up my mind yet, though.

[joeysteele]

Nice one Jack_ I will be voting obviously for Labour,and also there are 2 by elections too for the parliamentary seats for 'Ogmore' in Wales and 'Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough'.

[Jack_]

Here's Jezza with a breakdown of what to look out for tomorrow:

727856179964219392

Looks like they're back in Elstree again also:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChYUSfNWkAIP76R.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChSBOmWWUAAED9T.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Chn-NOZXIAAt0iN.jpg:large

[_Tom_]

Yes, I'll be voting.

:nono: BBC's coverage of the elections last year was dreadful. Sky News much better and clearer.

[zakman440]

Voting Labour in the Police & Crime Commissioner election (for the first time)!

[Jack_]

Yes, I'll be voting.

:nono: BBC's coverage of the elections last year was dreadful. Sky News much better and clearer.

bye their shouty Americanised nonsense will never top legend Jeremy's graphics, Emily's touchscreen and iconic Andrew Neil and Dimbleby and in general (even his off-camera meltdown of 'for God's sake!' was hilarious)

[Braden]

I think everyone back home will be voting for a new Police & Crime Commissioner and that's it, but I'm not at home atm so I won't be voting :/

[_Tom_]

bye their shouty Americanised nonsense will never top legend Jeremy's graphics, Emily's touchscreen and iconic Andrew Neil and Dimbleby and in general (even his off-camera meltdown of 'for God's sake!' was hilarious)

:xyxwave: Cantankerous Dimbleby is the worst thing about it, and the graphics are an expensive waste of time. At least Sky puts the numbers on screen as the results are read out. Beats the BBC's tired coverage every time.

[_Tom_]

Anyway I haven't made my mind up yet, I don't really know what my local election is for :unsure:

[Greg!]

Voting for big Nicky Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament election bc the rest are trash

[bots]

I like the BBC coverage .... much better than Sky

[Jack_]

:xyxwave: Cantankerous Dimbleby is the worst thing about it, and the graphics are an expensive waste of time. At least Sky puts the numbers on screen as the results are read out. Beats the BBC's tired coverage every time.

You need to show some respect for your elders :nono: Dimbleby is an iconic, timeless broadcaster that really should be covering these elections and is better than whatever irrelevant fodder they call ~journalists~ at Sky, the 'expensive waste of time' comment gives me DS Broadcasting forum teas and you can't have watched much because the BBC do put all the results on the screen:

http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article5658579.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Paddy-Ashdown-eat-his-hat.jpg

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/media/images/82848000/jpg/_82848861_zz44.jpg

[_Tom_]

Dermot Murnaghan >>>

And I meant when each constituency is reading out the number of votes for each party. The BBC doesn't put those numbers on screen. It is such a simple idea, not sure why the BBC doesn't do it.

[Jack_]

Yes they do, the second picture is an exact example of that :laugh:

Skip to 1:30

-xtTgo0I4UA

They displayed the raw figures, the shares, the change in shares and the swing...what more do you want? :laugh:

[_Tom_]

Yeah but that's after they have been read out, I'm talking about as they are being read out (0:20 on the video), which Sky does :laugh: although I can't find a video clip for it.

Yes it's a little detail but it makes a difference.

[bots]

Yes they do, the second picture is an exact example of that :laugh:

Skip to 1:30

-xtTgo0I4UA

They displayed the raw figures, the shares, the change in shares and the swing...what more do you want? :laugh:

i think bells on it :joker:

[Jack_]

Yeah but that's after they have been read out, I'm talking about as they are being read out (0:20 on the video), which Sky does :laugh: although I can't find a video clip for it.

Yes it's a little detail but it makes a difference.

Oh, well personally I prefer listening to the returning officer deliver the result, it's actually quite tense in swing seats to wait for the massive cheer when they realise a candidate has the most votes :joker:

[Jack_]

Anyway, just police commissioners here for me which is a little dull but oh well. Expect I'll be voting Labour but have some reading to do on the candidates tonight before I commit.

There are locals in my uni ward but I cba going over there just to vote in an election they stand no chance in :joker:

[_Tom_]

Some bells would be nice.

[_Tom_]

Just found my polling card and in Cambridge we're voting for the Police and Crime Commissioner as well as a councillor for my particular ward for the City Council. Leaning more towards a vote for Labour I think. I don't want them losing control to the Lib Dems.

[Kizzy]

Barnet outsourced their electoral service and guess what? Registered voters are arriving to find they are not on the list and are being turned away :idc:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2016/may/05/uk-national-and-local-elections-polling-day-live-updates

[Crimson Dynamo]

im off to vote in a wee while. my wee wooden community hall, built in 1939. Iv been voting there for 15 years or so now and it will be the same 2 ladies who greet me.

I will probably open with a joke like "is this where i register to join ISIS?" or " i see you are rushed off yer feet, ill come back later (as noone will be there)"

typical dad joke fodder

:idc:

[arista]

yes I voted 7AM sharp

[joeysteele]

yes I voted 7AM sharp

Snap. well done arista.
Now I am heading out a while to try to help in anyway I can to make sure others vote.

[TomC]

I've given both votes to the Scottish Conservatives and Unionists for the reason that I don't support Scottish Independence, as I don't see too much of a gain from leaving the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon keeps flip-flopping about independence, causing division. It should just have been put to bed for a while.

I don't like the idea of Scotland being a one-party state, and I feel Ruth Davidson is the best person to keep the SNP in check.

[bots]

Its only a police commissioner thing here and they all have dodgy looking pics ... so no vote here

[waterhog]

yes I voted 7AM sharp



I showed a few of my pales the clips of mayor of Kentish town and said this is who I am voting for ( they don't do voting) I have persuaded them to vote go and vote for the first time today and said its so easy just put a X by the mayor you want ie graham loose mayor of Kentish town.

this was all in gist as I said this guy is quackers and its only for a laugh but they fell for it.

just got a text - CAN not find graham loose on slip.


I am wetting myself :cheer2:

[joeysteele]

Its only a police commissioner thing here and they all have dodgy looking pics ... so no vote here

:joker: I really love that one.:joker:

It's helped cheer me up for a tense and anxious day ahead probably.:joker:

[Kizzy]

Its only a police commissioner thing here and they all have dodgy looking pics ... so no vote here

You are judging competence on personal appearance?

I can't even....

[Cherie]

im off to vote in a wee while. my wee wooden community hall, built in 1939. Iv been voting there for 15 years or so now and it will be the same 2 ladies who greet me.

I will probably open with a joke like "is this where i register to join ISIS?" or " i see you are rushed off yer feet, ill come back later (as noone will be there)"

typical dad joke fodder

:idc:

:joker: I bet they roll their eyes when they see you coming and lay bets on which old joke you will use

[bots]

You are judging competence on personal appearance?

I can't even....

i have been around the block long enough to be able to judge a lot about character from a photo. My instincts are very rarely wrong

[waterhog]

i have been around the block long enough to be able to judge a lot about character from a photo. My instincts are very rarely wrong


ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh dot cotton - where are you :joker:

[Kizzy]

i have been around the block long enough to be able to judge a lot about character from a photo. My instincts are very rarely wrong

You should offer your services to the police, that kind of ability could save £1000s :joker:

[Black Dagger]

I didn't register quick enough </3.

I'm getting registered for the EU vote though.

[Kizzy]

Well I'm liking the 'flatpack democracy' movement, let's have some more of this.

[DemolitionRed]

All done :)

[_Tom_]

Barnet outsourced their electoral service and guess what? Registered voters are arriving to find they are not on the list and are being turned away :idc:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2016/may/05/uk-national-and-local-elections-polling-day-live-updates

What a shambles! :bored:

[Nicky91]

no i can't vote from the Netherlands so i voted no in the poll :hehe:

[arista]

I didn't register quick enough </3.

I'm getting registered for the EU vote though.



typical

[billy123]

No local election in the high peak today just a police and crime commissioner election which i have voted in. I have to say the runners for Labour.Lib dems and torys put forward very good election promises whereas the pathetic UKIP tard that was on the list didnt even bother to fill out a charter after putting himself forward the chode He didnt even bother to upload a photo never mind put forward a case as to why he should be elected f*c*ing by the idiots for the idiots they really are bunch of BNP wannabes.

https://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/area/derbyshire

[Josy]

Will be going to vote shortly

[Greg!]

I've given both votes to the Scottish Conservatives and Unionists for the reason that I don't support Scottish Independence, as I don't see too much of a gain from leaving the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon keeps flip-flopping about independence, causing division. It should just have been put to bed for a while.

I don't like the idea of Scotland being a one-party state, and I feel Ruth Davidson is the best person to keep the SNP in check.

NOT the vile Tories who want to charge for medicine and reintroduce tuition fees :worry:

[AnnieK]

Done

[_Tom_]

That's my votes cast! http://www.pic4ever.com/images/128fs318181.gif

[arista]

So there's a bunch of elections being held across the UK tomorrow, from local councils to Police & Crime Commissioners, two by-elections, as well as ones to the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies, Scottish Parliament and of course some mayoral's including London!

Huw Edwards, Jeremy Vine and Emily Maitlis are covering them for the BBC from 23:45, ITV aren't and who cares about Sky

A thread to discuss results/whether you're voting etc etc :spin2:



But Jack Today a live Debate
on SkyNewsHD
had a Great debate on Poverty
with Owen Jones and Ella Whelan
http://ellawhelan.co.uk/post/139904341688/sky-newsdoes-tv-impact-our-ideal-body-image

BBC can not do that

Its good to have choice
it is that simple

[TomC]

NOT the vile Tories who want to charge for medicine and reintroduce tuition fees :worry:

Better than SNP who do a good job of dividing the people of Scotland, and Labour who are supposedly a bit of a mess with a leader with the charisma of a potato!

Ruth Davidson <3

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/ruth1-559580.jpg

[_Tom_]

Sky News are live from 10:00PM for Decision Time with Adam Boulton and Anna Botting :wink:

[arista]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/05/05/09/33DC799D00000578-3574634-image-a-56_1462438577613.jpg
[Rosie Wyatt posted her polling card
on Twitter and said she was '********** fuming'
at not being allowed into vote
despite bringing the card with her ]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3574634/Voters-turned-away-ballot-box-absolute-shambles-London-borough-leaves-polling-station-staff-without-date-voter-lists.html#ixzz47nI6i9ec

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/05/05/12/33DD2DFB00000578-3574634-image-a-80_1462446843114.jpg

[joeysteele]

What a mess in Barnet and now they are asking the turned away voters to go back or vote by proxy as they now have the up to date register.
What total incompetence.

[zakman440]

Voted Labour :clap1:

(There was literally no-one at my polling station :laugh:)

[arista]

Sky News are live from 10:00PM for Decision Time with Adam Boulton and Anna Botting :wink:


Yes well before Jacks Bloated BBC starts up

[Greg!]

Voted
It was actually really busy which is good considering it's only getting media coverage in Scotland really

[Greg!]

Also its the first election where 16 and 17 year olds are allowed to vote

[Crimson Dynamo]

im off to vote in a wee while. my wee wooden community hall, built in 1939. Iv been voting there for 15 years or so now and it will be the same 2 ladies who greet me.

I will probably open with a joke like "is this where i register to join ISIS?" or " i see you are rushed off yer feet, ill come back later (as noone will be there)"

typical dad joke fodder

:idc:

Just voted. I said "if this is the speed dating night I am here for my refund" and the two old dears cackled and said "aye an if you are awe were huv to chose fae then we want oors furst"

:joker:

i love Scotland

[_Tom_]

Just voted. I said "if this is the speed dating night I am here for my refund" and the two old dears cackled and said "aye an if you are awe were huv to chose fae then we want oors furst"

:joker:

i love Scotland

:laugh: :love:

[zakman440]

This is reason enough to watch the BBC's political coverage tbh:

https://www.facebook.com/BBCQuestionTime/videos/1255178814495841/

[Shaun]

Prepared for disappointment since I'm the only person under 40 that's popped next door to our local polling station. :idc:

[Jack_]

Sky News are live from 10:00PM for Decision Time with Adam Boulton and Anna Botting :wink:

whOOoooOoOOOOOOoooooOO /scottmills

[Jack_]

I voted for Labour in the end, and 2nd for an independent candidate who said he thinks the OPCC is a complete waste of public money and that he wouldn't take a salary if elected :joker:

[DrunkerThanMoses]

I voted Plyd Cymru

[joeysteele]

I voted for Labour in the end, and 2nd for an independent candidate who said he thinks the OPCC is a complete waste of public money and that he wouldn't take a salary if elected :joker:

Quite a number of the candidates for that post think that way Jack_.:joker:

[joeysteele]

But Jack Today a live Debate
on SkyNewsHD
had a Great debate on Poverty
with Owen Jones and Ella Whelan
http://ellawhelan.co.uk/post/139904341688/sky-newsdoes-tv-impact-our-ideal-body-image

BBC can not do that

Its good to have choice
it is that simple

I have just watched this,Owen Jones was awesome,really knows his stuff that guy.

[bots]

What would be considered a bad enough result for Labour to trigger a leadership election I wonder

[joeysteele]

What would be considered a bad enough result for Labour to trigger a leadership election I wonder

the bad scenario's in my opinion would be.
If they are really in difficulty of at least leading the govt in Wales,either as a minority or in coalition.

Scotland is lost to Labour for a good while until all talk of independence referenda is eradicated.Coming 3rd however will just add to the woes there.

Khan not wining London Mayor would be the main trigger however.

The council seats are more of a puzzler,in 2012 when these seats were last fought, Labour was 7 points above the Conservatives in the polling
Now they are 5 points behind the Conservatives.
In 2012, after a great year too the year before in 2011,Labour won 823 more councillors to take their tally to over 2000, the Conservatives lost over 400 councillors to fall to around 1000.

So on the polling figures, if correct, Labour should lose seats and the Conservatives should gain seats.
If the losses of council seats exceeds 250 to 300 then that will not be good for Corbyn in my view.

The other thing to watch is the results of the 2 normally safe Labour seats as in the by elections of Ogmore in Wales and Sheffield Brightside.

[waterhog]

What would be considered a bad enough result for Labour to trigger a leadership election I wonder


a 0 % but if I no labour - they would say - that's better then nothing :fist:

[bots]

I was listening to McDonnell there, and he was talking about getting an improvement in % behind the Conservatives. I found that quite astounding, as the government in power always suffers in mid term results, and with a new leadership, one would want (in my opinion) a serious bump in Labours popularity. Anything else, and its likely to go down from here, not up.

[arista]

http://news.sky.com/images/a0e8b771.party-colour.png

[Jack_]

Also its the first election where 16 and 17 year olds are allowed to vote

I didn't realise this! That's great, we could learn so much from the Scots

Quite a number of the candidates for that post think that way Jack_.:joker:

With the pathetically low turnouts they get I'm not surprised :joker:

I have just watched this,Owen Jones was awesome,really knows his stuff that guy.

He does doesn't he :clap1:

[Jack_]

Re: Labour, I don't think too much focus should be placed on council seats. These are local elections and local factors will play a huge role in the makeup of the new councils

Scotland, Wales and London though, most definitely.

[zakman440]

Minor technical glitch on BBC Scotland's coverage:

728348438602125313

[bots]

Minor technical glitch on BBC Scotland's coverage:

728348438602125313

haha :joker:

[zakman440]

BBC England's coverage has started :clap1:

[bots]

how the mighty fall .... the lib dems aren't even getting a mention in this election

[Jack_]

McDonnell's the voice of reason tonight, dare I say he'd make a good political editor himself

[arista]

Labour not doing better in Scotland


Conservative doing better



Utter Bliss

[arista]

I have just watched this,Owen Jones was awesome,really knows his stuff that guy.


Yes and with Ella
on SkyNewsHD daytime
Great Debate
better Ending.

[Jack_]

John Curtice thinking the SNP's majority on the constituency vote alone is not a certainty

[Jack_]

Joel and Glyn are at their Welsh Assembly count in Cardiff Central

728370494496514048

[Jack_]

Good night for the Lib Dems it seems. Nice to see

[zakman440]

728435980017901572

Leanne Wood gains the seat from Leighton Andrews.

[Jack_]

John Curtice thinking the SNP's majority on the constituency vote alone is not a certainty

He adds that their total of 69 seats looks likely to be lower this time around, citing the issue of independence cropping up again splitting voters in Scotland between the SNP and unionists which has negatively affected Labour and helped the Tories

[Jack_]

Not a bad night at all in England for Labour, they've retained a few of the southern councils they have control of and even increased their majority in some. Losses so far are nowhere near the 200 odd predicted

[MTVN]

They've held up better than some feared in England but still not much to celebrate after falling to third in Scotland and after Corbyn claimed they wouldn't lose seats at all earlier this week. Everything should have been in Labour's favour for a very strong showing at these polls but ultimately there's been no real progress.

[Firewire]

At least no one can argue Scotland is being controlled by a government no one voted for when the Tories came second.

I can't believe they let this happen

[arista]

At least no one can argue Scotland is being controlled by a government no one voted for when the Tories came second.

I can't believe they let this happen



Scotland does not need Labour
the SNP are better for the locals

[arista]

[ 'It's Grim': Labour Gets Thrashed In Scotland
Labour are overtaken by the Tories north
of the border ]

http://news.sky.com/story/1691081/its-grim-labour-gets-thrashed-in-scotland


A great day for Scotland

[arista]

Not a bad night at all in England for Labour, they've retained a few of the southern councils they have control of and even increased their majority in some. Losses so far are nowhere near the 200 odd predicted



But the Fool Labour Leader
said he would not lose any in England.

He lost a Council.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Good night for the Lib Dems it seems. Nice to see
not in Scotland

[Crimson Dynamo]

At least no one can argue Scotland is being controlled by a government no one voted for when the Tories came second.

I can't believe they let this happen

Ruth is a good and credible leader here so I am not surprised at all. Nicola needs a good opponent and the canny Scots have decided that Ruth is the right one - I think they are right

[bots]

Labour has no representation in Glasgow. That's unprecedented in Scotland's largest city. The Corbyn revolution hasn't moved the Labour party forward at all, and given the place they are at the moment, it can only go down from here on in.

UKIP did very badly given the focus is completely on them from the referendum. I think from here they will disappear. The seats gained in Wales were earned for taking part in the election, not for their breakthrough in popularity

[Josy]

Ruth is a good and credible leader here so I am not surprised at all. Nicola needs a good opponent and the canny Scots have decided that Ruth is the right one - I think they are right

Yeah I would agree this.

[joeysteele]

Ruth Davidson is a really good and strong leader,although disappointed with the Scottish results myself obviously,I am sure that when the tide turns against the SNP,there are good numbers of votes there to return to Labour, that will never go to the Conservatives.

Labour has a still a massive problem in Scotland that really set in 2 Holyrood elections ago,
However despite what the final results are this time round as long as it is the SNP in control, then I am content.
Although if the SNP do fail to get an overall majority status that is another big surprise and maybe signs of slow change looming in the years ahead.

Well done to Ruth and the Conservatives there however, she fought a good and really strong campaign.

Wales has been a little disappointing to but labour will still govern there likely again in coalition as has been the case all through except for last time when Labour got 30 of the 60 seats.

The local elections so far,as I stated earlier would result in Labour losses,however it appears small losses,there was talk of Labour losing loads of seats.
Council elections always have odd results here and there as most are fought on local issues,
At present with the exception of Dudley,Labour has by and large held onto the Councils it had and held many surprising ones too.

London is now all important, the Assembly and the Mayor election.

This is no way a general election winning performance from Labour but it is not in any way the meltdown many wished, hoped for and predicted and were longing to have the chance to rub their hands with glee over..

The ease of wins as to the 2 parliamentary seats too,actually increasing the percentage of votes in Sheffield they got in May last year,also do not spell any doom for the leadership.

Scotland however is lost to Labour now for some considerable time,certainly until the SNP lose favour, and I doubt Kezia can really remain as Scottish leader there again.

Oppositions do usually better in local elections after a General election because they are ahead in the opinion polls, Labour is not ahead in any polling,the Conservatives still hold a lead over Labour but one which may see their overall majority gone.

Ben Bradshaw,Labour MP for Exeter and who increased his majority in the May election last year,is right to say Labour should be 10 to 20 points ahead of the Conservatives and not still be behind them in any way.
I think the party does need to heed things people like him say,he is down there in Exeter and has held that seat since 1997.
Whatever he is doing there and his constituency Labour party are doing there should be really looked at because he holds a seat that should be near impossible to do so.

However for the Conservatives still being at least 5 points ahead of Labour in all polling, they have not in any way so far, made the substantial gains they could have on those figures.
In the 2 parliamentary by elections, they were as far away as ever in those.

However the Conservatives can now likely work together nicely I am sure with UKIP in Thurrock.
UKIP have done fairly well so far but hardly any explosive change for them really despite the fact they had heightened attention with an EU referendum going on too as well as all these other elections.

[bots]

Ben Bradshaw,Labour MP for Exeter and who increased his majority in the May election last year,is right to say Labour should be 10 to 20 points ahead of the Conservatives and not still be behind them in any way.
I think the party does need to heed things people like him say,he is down there in Exeter and has held that seat since 1997.
Whatever he is doing there and his constituency Labour party are doing there should be really looked at because he holds a seat that should be near impossible to do so.

However for the Conservatives still being at least 5 points ahead of Labour in all polling, they have not in any way so far, made the substantial gains they could have on those figures.
In the 2 parliamentary by elections, they were as far away as ever in those.


This is the reality, listening to the labour leadership talking last night, they kept saying this is a long term thing. That's just not how the British public react though. They say ... that looks fresh and new, I will vote for it or else they just don't bother. I still believe the current leadership are unelectable, I say leadership, because Corbyn has brought in an entire team that are unelectable, its not just him. If steps aren't taken to reverse this now, Labour could be out of the running for the next 10 years

[Crimson Dynamo]

amazed at the number of first time conservative and labour to conservative voters calls to the BBC Radio Scotland talk show at the mo :shocked:

PR has certainly helped the Tories in Scotland but they can be well pleased with the result. Just shows you what a decent leader can achieve for you

[joeysteele]

This is the reality, listening to the labour leadership talking last night, they kept saying this is a long term thing. That's just not how the British public react though. They say ... that looks fresh and new, I will vote for it or else they just don't bother. I still believe the current leadership are unelectable, I say leadership, because Corbyn has brought in an entire team that are unelectable, its not just him. If steps aren't taken to reverse this now, Labour could be out of the running for the next 10 years

I want a Labour or a Labour led govt,however I agree with you,as the Leadership stands at present,no way can Labour probably even get to be the largest party on these figures,the very best they can hope for is to remove the overall majority status of the Conservatives.

The task is even harder for that, not because of Scotland as the SNP are now as anti Conservative as any other party save UKIP.
It is going to be harder if the boundary changes proposed are put in place before the 2020 election.
It is estimated that could mean on the figures of voting in May 2015,an extra 15 to 20 seats for the Conservatives.

This is not,except for Scotland, the full doom and gloom night predicted for Labour, although the London results are not in yet but it is an as you were sort of night for Labour as to 2012 in England and Wales and that didn't result in an election win 3 years later.
Although that was also because, no matter the reasons, that Ed Miliband was unable to hold the position he was in as to 2012 come the general election of 2015.

Scotland however, I applaud Ruth Davidson, she is a great asset to the Conservative party, again though, she is as far behind the SNP in Holyrood as Labour was in 2011.
To make any impact on how the SNP govern Ruth is going to have to unite the opposition in Holyrood and she will need Labour to do so,otherwise the SNP outnumbering her two to one can make any opposition not look credible.

The 2 Parliamentary results, one in Wales and the other in Sheffield will make good reading fro Labour as did the one in Oldham before these.

While safe seats,if UKIP really are making strong inroads anywhere as to labour, then they need to do far better than rather dismal 2nd places in by elections.
I agree with you as to the long term issue,with the state this govt is in and the EU split almost half and half as to the Conservative party,as a good number of Labour MPs are saying, Labour should be 10 to 20 points ahead.
Not even being any points ahead at this stage and still being behind does not look good at all for 2020.

[Braden]

When will we find out who the new Mayor of London is?

[joeysteele]

When will we find out who the new Mayor of London is?

Not until tonight probably.

[Braden]

Not until tonight probably.

Okay, thank you! :)

[user104658]

The voting in Scotland is still an independence issue, with an SNP vote being seen as a pro-indy vote and a number of people, probably traditional Labour voters, shifting to Tory as a pro-Union alternative.

Sadly, it's pretty much that simple.

[bots]

Too funny :laugh:
_uGQUh4p9i0

[smudgie]

Too funny :laugh:
_uGQUh4p9i0

It's like he had a crystal ball:joker:

[bots]

When will we find out who the new Mayor of London is?

You can follow the counting as it happens, with regular updates here:

https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/election-results/live-count-progress-2016?contest=23

So far labour are well in the lead

[Crimson Dynamo]

The voting in Scotland is still an independence issue, with an SNP vote being seen as a pro-indy vote and a number of people, probably traditional Labour voters, shifting to Tory as a pro-Union alternative.

Sadly, it's pretty much that simple.

Indeed but a dreadful labour leader and campaign made that easy to do

[Braden]

You can follow the counting as it happens, with regular updates here:

https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/election-results/live-count-progress-2016?contest=23

So far labour are well in the lead

Thanks for that. I appreciate it :)

[Livia]

Labour celebrating despite their result being 6% worse than Miliband's last year.

[Firewire]

Indeed but a dreadful labour leader and campaign made that easy to do

I think Kezia is very likeable, she's just not a leader.

Ruth is great though. Not a fan of Tory policies but she's strong.

[joeysteele]

Not a bad night at all in England for Labour, they've retained a few of the southern councils they have control of and even increased their majority in some. Losses so far are nowhere near the 200 odd predicted

It isn't as bad a night for Labour at all, many were predicting losses in the hundreds, none of that has materialised.

I like how the 2 parliamentary by elections are being overlooked in the main, wherein UKIP is in 2nd place in both shoving the Conservatives down.

There is an improvement in Labour's position since last year, nowhere near enough however but on last years general election, Labour is up a few points on last year and the Conservatives are down a few.

Then from 2012, when Labour had a good lead then over the Conservatives.although on that showing Labour is down now, the Conservative vote is stuck much as it was then.
What Miliband was unable to do was carry his position in 2012 through to 2015,had he been able to,another coalition govt would be in place now, the other probable fact is, even these results in 2016 would in a general election likely wipe out easily this govts overall majority.

However as you say, not that bad a night for Labour and for those who were waiting to smugly and with glee be hoping to point out as to endless losses for Labour,they are left unable to do so.

This is not an election winning night for Labour by any means admittedly.
Although the 2 by elections,despite being in safe seats point to better success, as again in one the percentage of votes won was bigger than the general election.
In Sheffield Brightside for instance the swing was around 5.5% from Conservative to Labour.

The holding of the Southern councils too actually even surprised me and in Exeter they increased their majority on that council.

I am not too worried as to Scotland, I think and hope Labour will in time claw back there in the future but as long as the SNP keeps the Conservatives well at bay, I am happy with that.

As for any building on their success in Wales for the Conservatives where they took 2 seats from Labour then in the general election last year, well that challenge has fizzled out rather.

[joeysteele]

I think Kezia is very likeable, she's just not a leader.

Ruth is great though. Not a fan of Tory policies but she's strong.

Ruth is a really good leader and sticks to issues,she fought an excellent campaign and just missed getting 2nd place as to overall votes as well as seats.

Kezia would make a better deputy leader for Labour in my view.

However I expected anyone,no matter who they were, would be on a losing ticket for Labour this time round in Scotland and maybe even next time round again too.
There will be no comeback for Labour as long as the SNP remains strong.
I can live with that though.

[Jack_]

John Curtice and the BBC have now used the results in 900 wards to calculate a projected national share of the vote, if this were a general election:

Lab - 31%
Con - 30%
LD - 15%
UKIP - 12%

[Jack_]

It isn't as bad a night for Labour at all, many were predicting losses in the hundreds, none of that has materialised.

I like how the 2 parliamentary by elections are being overlooked in the main, wherein UKIP is in 2nd place in both shoving the Conservatives down.

There is an improvement in Labour's position since last year, nowhere near enough however but on last years general election, Labour is up a few points on last year and the Conservatives are down a few.

Then from 2012, when Labour had a good lead then over the Conservatives.although on that showing Labour is down now, the Conservative vote is stuck much as it was then.
What Miliband was unable to do was carry his position in 2012 through to 2015,had he been able to,another coalition govt would be in place now, the other probable fact is, even these results in 2016 would in a general election likely wipe out easily this govts overall majority.

However as you say, not that bad a night for Labour and for those who were waiting to smugly and with glee be hoping to point out as to endless losses for Labour,they are left unable to do so.

This is not an election winning night for Labour by any means admittedly.
Although the 2 by elections,despite being in safe seats point to better success, as again in one the percentage of votes won was bigger than the general election.
In Sheffield Brightside for instance the swing was around 5.5% from Conservative to Labour.

The holding of the Southern councils too actually even surprised me and in Exeter they increased their majority on that council.

I am not too worried as to Scotland, I think and hope Labour will in time claw back there in the future but as long as the SNP keeps the Conservatives well at bay, I am happy with that.

As for any building on their success in Wales for the Conservatives where they took 2 seats from Labour then in the general election last year, well that challenge has fizzled out rather.

I agree with everything you've said, this is obviously a disappointing night for Labour but certainly not as disastrous as many were predicting. Local elections inevitably have local factors so while the losses aren't great news, they aren't entirely unexpected. Plus crucially the share of the vote is up on last year - I think that's the main sticking point to take away from this. McDonnell was the voice of reason on the programme last night and his sense of realism is welcoming and not often found amongst politicians. It's nothing to shout about, but it's a basis upon which to build. Jeremy is 8 months into his leadership, I think it's time his critics in the parliamentary party remember the overwhelming mandate he's received (one which I think he'd probably retain were another vote conducted, might I add) and give him a proper amount of time to re-establish the party before we take very seriously the need for a new leadership. I think some people are forgetting just how catastrophic the collapse last year was.

[MTVN]

Bloody hell they've only just started counting the votes for my district council, get a move on lads

[DemolitionRed]

I've seen so many differing reports, depending on the media's bias, but from what I can tell, Labour lost one council seat, is still the majority in Wales and has the London Mayor.

[_Tom_]

Jenny Jones dropping a 'C' bomb :laugh:

728600053657513985

[Crimson Dynamo]

not looking good for London Mayor

jesus wept

[Jack_]

not looking good for London Mayor

jesus wept

It's looking excellent actually, a complete rejection of what has been a disgustingly divisive campaign from Goldsmith's team. He's sold his soul to the devil and has gone from a man whom many on all sides of politics considered to be someone with principles, to the head of a campaign which has sought to smear, divide and conquer.

[DemolitionRed]

It's looking excellent actually, a complete rejection of what has been a disgustingly divisive campaign from Goldsmith's team. He's sold his soul to the devil and has gone from a man whom many on all sides of politics considered to be someone with principles, to the head of a campaign which has sought to smear, divide and conquer.

:worship:

If the media can call on Labour members to be suspended because of anti-Semitism remarks, then to show unbiased, they now need to be calling on Zac Goldsmith to be suspended for running an anti-Muslim campaign in London.

[bots]

:worship:

If the media can call on Labour members to be suspended because of anti-Semitism remarks, then to show unbiased, they now need to be calling on Zac Goldsmith to be suspended for running an anti-Muslim campaign in London.

it wasn't an anti muslim campaign, it was a why is this candidate sharing a stage with extremists. A perfectly good question. Or is it not politically correct now to ask questions of potential candidates that are going to represent us?

[arista]

http://news.sky.com/story/1691589/sadiq-khan-pulls-ahead-in-london-mayor-race


Sadiq looks like he will win this Mayor Of London Job
it will be very hard for him to get his housing built , though


Good luck to him

[joeysteele]

I agree with everything you've said, this is obviously a disappointing night for Labour but certainly not as disastrous as many were predicting. Local elections inevitably have local factors so while the losses aren't great news, they aren't entirely unexpected. Plus crucially the share of the vote is up on last year - I think that's the main sticking point to take away from this. McDonnell was the voice of reason on the programme last night and his sense of realism is welcoming and not often found amongst politicians. It's nothing to shout about, but it's a basis upon which to build. Jeremy is 8 months into his leadership, I think it's time his critics in the parliamentary party remember the overwhelming mandate he's received (one which I think he'd probably retain were another vote conducted, might I add) and give him a proper amount of time to re-establish the party before we take very seriously the need for a new leadership. I think some people are forgetting just how catastrophic the collapse last year was.

Oh he would indeed Jack_ you are spot on.

As it happens the Conservatives are almost losing it seems in the end, a few more councillors than Labour too.

I would have liked to see more progress but this is far from being the results I was expecting and dreading.
I and others in the Party were last night expecting 150 to 200 losses and up to 100 gains to the Conservatives.

Overall, an as you were of Councils across the whole of England,the London Mayor expected result,the Wales results and also the extremely comfortable 2 by-election wins.
This turned out to be a fairly promising result in the end.

Obviously Scotland is an entirely different situation for some time to come I fear.

[joeysteele]

It's looking excellent actually, a complete rejection of what has been a disgustingly divisive campaign from Goldsmith's team. He's sold his soul to the devil and has gone from a man whom many on all sides of politics considered to be someone with principles, to the head of a campaign which has sought to smear, divide and conquer.

True again and from what I hear from friends in London, many Conservatives are angry at the racist and dubious tones of Zac Goldsmith's campaign.

[Jack_]

it wasn't an anti muslim campaign, it was a why is this candidate sharing a stage with extremists. A perfectly good question. Or is it not politically correct now to ask questions of potential candidates that are going to represent us?

Except this particular 'extremist' is someone whom Khan represented as a defence lawyer because that was his job and is also one that has shared a stage with several Tories and is, oh...what's that? A supporter of the Conservative party, including Zac Goldsmith...whom he's been photographed with! Now doesn't that paint an interesting picture :think:

Add to that the racial profiling their campaign conducted in targeting leaflets to certain Hindu/Sikh and other minority communities saying that Sadiq would be taxing their jewellery, and I think you've most definitely found yourself a pretty disgusting Islamaphobic and racist campaign!

[arista]

Confirmed Sadiq has has was Won the Mayor Job

Good Luck to him


Ref: SkyNewsHD

[Ross.]

Jenny Jones dropping a 'C' bomb :laugh:

728600053657513985

even bigger mess at Kay Burley's reaction

[arista]

Labour's Khan Wins London Mayoral Election
http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2016/5/6/463795/default/v3/11910250-1-1-736x414.jpg
[Labour's Sadiq Khan has broken
the Conservatives' eight-year hold
on the London mayoralty by
defeating Tory rival Zac Goldsmith.
The Tooting MP will become the first
Muslim mayor of London after he
emerged as the victor over
Mr Goldsmith and 11 other contenders.]

http://news.sky.com/story/1691744/labours-khan-wins-london-mayoral-election

[Braden]

Very happy that Sadiq Khan won. A great victory for The Labour Party!

[DemolitionRed]

it wasn't an anti muslim campaign, it was a why is this candidate sharing a stage with extremists. A perfectly good question. Or is it not politically correct now to ask questions of potential candidates that are going to represent us?

I previously posted a video made by Owen Jones which fully explains this platform.

Yes, Goldsmith repeatedly stated that Khan had shared the same platform as Islamic extremists but Khan is a defence lawyer and chairman of the civil liberties group 'Liberty'. The rules of justice include everyone, which means even the most unsavoury members of society have access to a defence lawyer. Khan was likely chosen because he speaks their mother tongue. The only platform Khan has shared with an Islamic extremist is within the justice system; a place where he was doing his job.

No matter which way you look at this, you can’t turn it into guilt by association. You can however, suggest Khan attended certain things where there were also certain unsavoury names in attendance, but take it from me, when an investigative journalist digs deep enough he would route out enough evidence to make even me look like terrorist supporter…its just nonsense.

Remember Suleiman Ghani, the man accused of preaching some pretty unsavoury things? David Cameron stood up in PMQT and suggested Khan shared a platform with this man and that Suleiman Ghani was an IS supporter. This has got to be one of the most sinsister things ever spewed out of Cameron’s over-active and un-researched gob. Why would Cameron use the phrase “IS” when he insists the press and the rest of Parliament refer to them as “Daesh”?

Suleiman Ghani is not an IS supporter; on the contrary he’s repeatedly stood up and spoken out against IS. When Cameron was questioned about this strange turn of phrase, he retracted his words and said he meant “Islamic State”…yeah like hell he did and the trouble is, the damage had already been done.

[Jack_]

I previously posted a video made by Owen Jones which fully explains this platform.

Yes, Goldsmith repeatedly stated that Khan had shared the same platform as Islamic extremists but Khan is a defence lawyer and chairman of the civil liberties group 'Liberty', The rules of justice include everyone, which means even the most unsavoury members of society have access to a defence lawyer. Khan was likely chosen because he speaks their mother tongue. The only platform Khan has shared with an Islamic extremist is within the justice system; a place where he was doing his job.

No matter which way you look at this, you can’t turn it into guilt by association. You can however, suggest Khan attended certain things where certain unsavoury names were also present but take it from me, when an investigative journalist digs deep enough he would route out enough evidence to make even me look like terrorist supporter…its just nonsense.

Remember Suleiman Ghani, the man accused of preaching some pretty unsavoury things? David Cameron stood up in PMQT and suggested Khan shared a platform with this man and that Suleiman Ghani was an IS supporter. This has got to be one of the most sinsister things ever spewed out of Cameron’s over-active and un-researched gob. Why would Cameron use the phrase “IS” when he insists the press and the rest of Parliament refer to them as “Daesh”?

Suleiman Ghani is not an IS supporter; on the contrary he’s repeatedly stood up and spoken out against IS. When Cameron was questioned about this strange turn of phrase, he retracted his words and said he meant “Islamic State”…yeah like hell he did and the trouble is, the damage had already been done.

Cameron's use of the term 'IS' in the legally protected chamber which is the House of Commons was truly disturbing and the fact he's refused to repeat the same line outside of it when asked to by Ghani himself speaks volumes.

Lynton Crosby has a lot to answer for in what is arguably one of the nastiest campaigns ever run by the Tories - and he's just been ****ing knighted!

[arista]

Amazing that UKIP added Council Members
in Wales

http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2016/5/6/463710/default/v1/wales-performance-1-589x442.jpg

http://news.sky.com/story/1691428/labour-majority-gone-in-wales-as-ukip-wins-seats

[arista]

Very happy that Sadiq Khan won. A great victory for The Labour Party!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/05/06/19/article-3576676-33E837F500000578-186_964x554.jpg

[DemolitionRed]

Cameron's use of the term 'IS' in the legally protected chamber which is the House of Commons was truly disturbing and the fact he's refused to repeat the same line outside of it when asked to by Ghani himself speaks volumes.

Lynton Crosby has a lot to answer for in what is arguably one of the nastiest campaigns ever run by the Tories - and he's just been ****ing knighted!

Ah, the man of coded language – euphemisms. I wonder if being knighted was part of the deal.

[Crimson Dynamo]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/05/06/19/article-3576676-33E837F500000578-186_964x554.jpg

Disgusting to think he really believes in his superstitious cult and its bronze age lies


and he supports Liverpool


Good luck London, you have picked a winner...


:facepalm:

[bots]

I previously posted a video made by Owen Jones which fully explains this platform.

Yes, Goldsmith repeatedly stated that Khan had shared the same platform as Islamic extremists but Khan is a defence lawyer and chairman of the civil liberties group 'Liberty'. The rules of justice include everyone, which means even the most unsavoury members of society have access to a defence lawyer. Khan was likely chosen because he speaks their mother tongue. The only platform Khan has shared with an Islamic extremist is within the justice system; a place where he was doing his job.

No matter which way you look at this, you can’t turn it into guilt by association. You can however, suggest Khan attended certain things where there were also certain unsavoury names in attendance, but take it from me, when an investigative journalist digs deep enough he would route out enough evidence to make even me look like terrorist supporter…its just nonsense.

Remember Suleiman Ghani, the man accused of preaching some pretty unsavoury things? David Cameron stood up in PMQT and suggested Khan shared a platform with this man and that Suleiman Ghani was an IS supporter. This has got to be one of the most sinsister things ever spewed out of Cameron’s over-active and un-researched gob. Why would Cameron use the phrase “IS” when he insists the press and the rest of Parliament refer to them as “Daesh”?

Suleiman Ghani is not an IS supporter; on the contrary he’s repeatedly stood up and spoken out against IS. When Cameron was questioned about this strange turn of phrase, he retracted his words and said he meant “Islamic State”…yeah like hell he did and the trouble is, the damage had already been done.

Your post above intersperses snippets with your own opinions and portrays it as fact. Seems to me that you are jumping to conclusions driven by political correctness

[DemolitionRed]

The results of Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/06/labours-gill-furniss-comfortably-wins-sheffield-brightside-byelection

"Labour held the seat with 14,087 votes (62%). In second place was the Ukip candidate, Steven Winstone, with 4,497 (22%), followed by the Lib Dems’ Shaffaq Mohammed on 1,385 (6.09%), and the Conservative candidate, Spencer Pitfield, with 1,267 votes (5.57%).

Labour’s share of the vote went up 5.8%. Ukip came second, but their share of the vote was down 2.2%. And the Conservatives saw their share of the vote fall by 5.4%"

This speaks for itself. Labour is doing just fine in England and Wales and there certainly isn't a Corbyn backlash.

[DemolitionRed]

Your post above intersperses snippets with your own opinions and portrays it as fact. Seems to me that you are jumping to conclusions driven by political correctness

Not at all, that post was the knowledge I gained from listening to people like Owen Jones and Owen Jones is the one political journalist I respect for speaking truths.

[empire]

labour supports and members need to stop blaming one person, and look at the party, and its attitude and politics, with a hard cold eye, and say, why are you not gaining where you should really be at, blair's new labour where nothing more than the soft version of the tory party, and today's party are the far left, so you face a hard choice, for 2020, stay as a far left party, and face being obliterated for the next ten years, or become a centrist party and gain back your votes, there is also a huge sectarian problem in the party, that is hushed up by the media, you can't tell working families that they are bigots, and have islamic fanatics taking power in the party,

[Jack_]

Oh and an update on the Cardiff Central result where Joel and Glyn stood:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChwC2pUVIAAH1J7.jpg:large

Labour hold the seat with an increased majority. Lib Dems in second, Joel in third for the Tories but down -6.2% on the share from last time. And just 400 votes behind him, Glyn comes fourth for Plaid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/wales-constituencies/W09000031

[Ross.]

poor Joel

[Jack_]

Joel's political views are an abomination, I like him but he needs to ditch the Tories immediately...I have a feeling he's in favour of leaving the EU too :umm2:

Glyn should've polled higher than him tbh

[_Tom_]

I didn't know they actually stood for the seat!

[joeysteele]

I like Joel, really nice guy but wrong party.

Also as to the campaign of Zac Goldsmith,I am so glad leading Conservative figures are now condemning this campaign.
I would actually hope this rumbles on too and let's see if there is any racism there that warrants suspensions from the Conservative party.

If people hold any prejudices towards others themselves, they need to be careful of any verbal stones they throw at others,it may be they come back to them in the end.

[joeysteele]

The results of Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/06/labours-gill-furniss-comfortably-wins-sheffield-brightside-byelection

"Labour held the seat with 14,087 votes (62%). In second place was the Ukip candidate, Steven Winstone, with 4,497 (22%), followed by the Lib Dems’ Shaffaq Mohammed on 1,385 (6.09%), and the Conservative candidate, Spencer Pitfield, with 1,267 votes (5.57%).

Labour’s share of the vote went up 5.8%. Ukip came second, but their share of the vote was down 2.2%. And the Conservatives saw their share of the vote fall by 5.4%"

This speaks for itself. Labour is doing just fine in England and Wales and there certainly isn't a Corbyn backlash.

These are 3 extremely good by election results in a row now DemRed,when the Oldham one is taken into account as well.
No real UKIP breakthrough here in even Labour safe seats and the Conservatives fast heading nowhere.

[bots]

it appears there is a problem with the computer that does the counting in the London Mayor election ..... The computer which counts the votes has apparently allocated them to the wrong party .... really, couldn't make it up :joker:

[joeysteele]

it appears there is a problem with the computer that does the counting in the London Mayor election ..... The computer which counts the votes has apparently allocated them to the wrong party .... really, couldn't make it up :joker:

I couldn't believe that when they said there was a problem,what a farce.:joker:

[zakman440]

Sadiq Khan now officially the Mayor of London :clap1:

[_Tom_]

Britain First candidate Paul Golding turns his back on Sadiq Khan during his speech.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2d2j53l.jpg

[_Tom_]

727810615968972800

:smug:

[reece(:]

727810615968972800

:smug:

Can she retract

[arista]

727810615968972800

:smug:


She does say Stupid things

[DemolitionRed]

727810615968972800

:smug:

Haha- that's how sure she was that he wouldn't get in. I think we should all hold her to that or nobody will take her seriously in future.

[joeysteele]

Britain First candidate Paul Golding turns his back on Sadiq Khan during his speech.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2d2j53l.jpg

That's just a sign of someone totally ignorant. Absolutely pathetic.

[billy123]

Disgusting to think he really believes in his superstitious cult and its bronze age lies


and he supports Liverpool


Good luck London, you have picked a winner...


:facepalm:LOL true colours showing. You must be devastated ha ha ha.

http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/failed.gif

[billy123]

That's just a sign of someone totally ignorant. Absolutely pathetic.Either that are just someone so dumb they dont even know which way is front and which way is back. :joker:

[Cherie]

Britain First candidate Paul Golding turns his back on Sadiq Khan during his speech.

http://i64.tinypic.com/2d2j53l.jpg

Making himself look like a buffoon.

The Greens tapping into the vote of those who can't bring themselves to vote for either of the two main parties :clap2:

[Cherie]

Amazing that UKIP added Council Members
in Wales

http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2016/5/6/463710/default/v1/wales-performance-1-589x442.jpg

http://news.sky.com/story/1691428/labour-majority-gone-in-wales-as-ukip-wins-seats

The Welsh swing to UKIP :umm2:

[joeysteele]

The Welsh swing to UKIP :umm2:

I don't get the election of UKIP to the assembly but it was only on the PR system of voting there is as to the 2 votes.

That is however another point as to the local election results too,the comparison of the 2 main parties against 2012 and the results then are affected by the fact that UKIP was not that strong in local politics in 2012.

Which makes the 2015 voting results figures a better barometer to look at where the 2 main parties are now,as in 2015 that was when UKIP soared to gaining 176 councillors and taking Thanet council.
Eating into the votes of both main parties in 2015 too.

[bots]

That's just a sign of someone totally ignorant. Absolutely pathetic.

Exactly, and to be fair, the new mayor seems like a decent chap. I would certainly welcome him in preference to Ken Livingstone .... and those with a few memory cells will remember when Jeffrey Archer was a pubic hair away from becoming the mayor... so all in all ... not too bad :laugh:

[Livia]

Britain First candidate Paul Golding turns his back on Sadiq Khan during his speech.



So? Corbyn and his little enclave of far-leftists turned their backs on British troops returning from Afghanistan. Labour supporters on here either refused to believe that, or said it was his right to do so. Is it okay for Corbyn but, not okay for anyone else? Or does it just depend on whether it's someone you support as to how disgusting you think it is?

[AProducer'sWetDream]

So? Corbyn and his little enclave of far-leftists turned their backs on British troops returning from Afghanistan. Labour supporters on here either refused to believe that, or said it was his right to do so. Is it okay for Corbyn but, not okay for anyone else? Or does it just depend on whether it's someone you support as to how disgusting you think it is?

Is there some kind of article about this you could post? I've just googled it and couldn't find the story.

[Livia]

Is there some kind of article about this you could post? I've just googled it and couldn't find the story.

I don't know, I'm afraid. Soldiers from my husband's regiment were present, amongst others and were bloody outraged. The main regiments involved were the Royal Engineers and the Royal Green Jackets. It was in Islington.

[joeysteele]

This has nothing to do with Corbyn,this was just a winner,Sadiq Khan, of an election for a high public office after a shocking racist campaign against him,who was making a speech after the fact.

No justification for it whatsoever,he could have looked at his feet or elsewhere while Sadiq Khan was making his speech,no need at all to show the depths of his ignorance here in this situation at all.
Sad that any may even think it can be justified.

[smudgie]

He probably thought of it as a protest.
Personally it smacks of someone being a bad loser..and rather ignorant to boot.

[joeysteele]

He probably thought of it as a protest.
Personally it smacks of someone being a bad loser..and rather ignorant to boot.

Indeed,and well said.

[DemolitionRed]

He probably thought of it as a protest.
Personally it smacks of someone being a bad loser..and rather ignorant to boot.

:clap1:

[joeysteele]

Is there some kind of article about this you could post? I've just googled it and couldn't find the story.

I cannot find anything either no matter how you phrase it or enter the search.
However,if he did I would be as critical of him after seeing it, in that scenario, as I am as to the point of this guy turning his back to Khan.

In fact I would be even stronger in my criticism as to any turning of backs on returning heroes.

[joeysteele]

Haha- that's how sure she was that he wouldn't get in. I think we should all hold her to that or nobody will take her seriously in future.

It stuns me that anyone takes her seriously anyway :joker:.

[empire]

ukip started to break into the big gains in 2013, with 147 seats in the council elections, with 23 percent of the vote, three years on, they are biting into the votes of the two main parties, one thing is rare that a small party, like ukip could gain 147 council seats, and then a few years now they where on 176, now after thursday nights double gain's in area's, thurrock,dudley,great yarnouth,basildon,alvaston,hartlepool, and its a big shock that they now have seven seats in the welsh assembly, how did they get those seats.

[joeysteele]

ukip started to break into the big gains in 2013, with 147 seats in the council elections, with 23 percent of the vote, three years on, they are biting into the votes of the two main parties, one thing is rare that a small party, like ukip could gain 147 council seats, and then a few years now they where on 176, now after thursday nights double gain's in area's, thurrock,dudley,great yarnouth,basildon,alvaston,hartlepool, and its a big shock that they now have seven seats in the welsh assembly, how did they get those seats.

They did,to their credit,put a lot of effort into Wales this time round and 2 of those elected for them in the Welsh assembly are the former MP Mark Reckless and also Neil Hamilton.

[Livia]

I cannot find anything either no matter how you phrase it or enter the search.
However,if he did I would be as critical of him after seeing it, in that scenario, as I am as to the point of this guy turning his back to Khan.

In fact I would be even stronger in my criticism as to any turning of backs on returning heroes.

You're referring to my post so I am posting this for clarification.

For clarity... Corbyn DID turn his back on our troops. I have first-hand accounts. If people don't believe it, well... there's nothing I can do about that. But I know. It's probably not in the news because it was when it was a lowly MP for Islington North that no one had heard of and not Leader of the Labour Party.

Also for the record, I am delighted that Khan won the election. Goldsmith is a weak politician and Khan was clearly the best candidate, whatever his politics. Had I still been living in London I would have voted for Khan.

The BR moron who turned his back made himself look like the arse he is... as did Corbyn.

[Pete.]

Sadiq :clap1:

[joeysteele]

You're referring to my post so I am posting this for clarification.

For clarity... Corbyn DID turn his back on our troops. I have first-hand accounts. If people don't believe it, well... there's nothing I can do about that. But I know. It's probably not in the news because it was when it was a lowly MP for Islington North that no one had heard of and not Leader of the Labour Party.

Also for the record, I am delighted that Khan won the election. Goldsmith is a weak politician and Khan was clearly the best candidate, whatever his politics. Had I still been living in London I would have voted for Khan.

The BR moron who turned his back made himself look like the arse he is... as did Corbyn.

No one is doubting your post at all.
However as with anything anyone says including myself,to accuse someone of anything need substantiation.

For me this was you say troops returning from Afghanistan,well that is only over the last 10 years or so at best.
Surely some media has some record of that, we are getting negative news and things brought up as to Corbyn from the 1990s and even the 1980s at times too.
Things that are far less controversial than this would be.

All I and the other poster was asking and saying, there is no record we can find anywhere of this at all as to Corbyn.
When anyone tells me anything, that sets me off,not disbelieving them at all but to gather all the info and the context all is done or said in as to the accusation.

When a link is provided that's is great,all I am saying is I cannot find any reference to this anywhere
Also knowing the press as I do such as the SUN or Daily Mail particularly,I am surprised that something as big as this would be, is nowhere to be seen at all.

So I am not myself going to get at him for it, without substantiation,that would neither be right or fair in my view.
If it is right then it is something for sure I would heavily and endlessly condemn him for 100%.
I also think it is something that should be made known,someone must have some evidence of it.

I am not at all doubting your word with the fullest respect but I would not have made the claim in the first place if I could not prove it happened.
My Family are ex servicemen, my Brothers and Father to,2 of them live in London, they have gone to welcome troops home wherever they have come to, they haven't heard or seen Corbyn doing this either as to troops returning from Afghanistan.

You said he did,not me with respect.

[user104658]

As always I prefer transparency. If he felt compelled to turn his back then it was right that he turned his back - as it shows his true feelings and allows us to know exactly what sort of people we are dealing with, and exactly what we should think of them. If he had hidden it, as is too often the case in politics (and in the world), then it opens up too much uncertainty in how that individual should be regarded.

In other words... if I encounter a bigot I want them to announce proudly that they are a bigot, so that I have full justification in disregarding / ignoring them and everything that they say from that point onwards.

[billy123]

Election results 2016: Tories lose twice as many council seats as Labour as final votes are announced

Well thats an awkward result. :joker:

http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article7891910.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/David-Cameron-polling-times-MAIN.jpg

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/election-results-2016-tories-lose-7923335#ICID=sharebar_twitter

[joeysteele]

Election results 2016: Tories lose twice as many council seats as Labour as final votes are announced

Well thats an awkward result. :joker:

http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article7891910.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/David-Cameron-polling-times-MAIN.jpg

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/election-results-2016-tories-lose-7923335#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Indeed it is.

There were prophesies of doom for Labour that they were going to lose tons of seats.
As it is, the out performed the Conservatives,no where near as much as they should be doing but Labour starting from a very high base in 2012 as to these results last time and the Conservatives starting from a very low base as to 2012.

The losses should have been much greater at the very least on the Labour side in a bad election.

In Wales too,Labour held on to their position there, they have never won more than 30 seats in the Welsh assembly and have won as little as 26,they held onto 29.
All despite a rising performance from UKIP too.

The London assembly they came only 1 seat short from taking a majority there overall with the Conservatives faring poorly again there.

A great lot to do to get to any winning position in 2020 and I do not see tat myself in any event.
However they can do enough by then to be the largest party certainly and Thursday's results would already easily remove the present govts overall majority, bringing them down to just under 300 seats from 330.

So while not a triumph, it could have been and was expected to be a great deal worse.
Those expecting big losses for Labour and predicting same,must have at the same time be likely expecting good gains for the Conservatives.
Since huge labour lost seats would have to go somewhere.

As you mention,with Bristol still to declare,it is the Conservatives who have in the end lost twice as many seats as Labour have.

[MTVN]

Think most governments expect to lose seats in local elections so nothing unusual there, the Tories losses weren't disastrous all things considered and won't provide too much cause for concern. A point I heard today was that Michael Foot, William Hague and Ed Miliband all made huge gains in local elections and were then trounced when it came to the general election. Corbyn is celebrating because they only made small losses and, in his own words, 'hung on'. I can't see how Labour can use these results as a basis for optimism at all and most sensible Labour MPs seem to realise that.

[arista]

Think most governments expect to lose seats in local elections so nothing unusual there, the Tories losses weren't disastrous all things considered and won't provide too much cause for concern. A point I heard today was that Michael Foot, William Hague and Ed Miliband all made huge gains in local elections and were then trounced when it came to the general election. Corbyn is celebrating because they only made small losses and, in his own words, 'hung on'. I can't see how Labour can use these results as a basis for optimism at all and most sensible Labour MPs seem to realise that.



Yes they must sort our Corbyn
he wants no Nuke Weapons
His Party in the Bulk
want them.
Thats a General Election Issue
that can not be ignored

[joeysteele]

Think most governments expect to lose seats in local elections so nothing unusual there, the Tories losses weren't disastrous all things considered and won't provide too much cause for concern. A point I heard today was that Michael Foot, William Hague and Ed Miliband all made huge gains in local elections and were then trounced when it came to the general election. Corbyn is celebrating because they only made small losses and, in his own words, 'hung on'. I can't see how Labour can use these results as a basis for optimism at all and most sensible Labour MPs seem to realise that.

We didn't have the 5 moderately successful parties in play then however,UKIP were not on the scene bigtime in 2012, they rose at the European elections and then local elections since.

The Conservatives had few seats to lose from the low base they fell to in 2012,Labour had loads to lose from their high base in 2012,when the seats up for election this time were last fought.

They have an optimistic element to them because we now have 5 parties in play in local election and general elections who are all in with a shout of winning seats in both elections.
That was not the case at al in 2012.

So just looking at the average voting figures for last Thursday nationally as to actual votes won in an election, has Labour on 31%,up 2.5% on last years election result,the Conservatives on 30%,that's down over 6% on the election last year.

No way is that optimism for Labour winning an election but already in a year it would be enough to wipe out the overall majority status of the present govt.following that really bad result for Labour last year.
It leaves room for some optimism for Labour in that things are getting better very slowly and less optimism for the govt as things for them are getting worse slowly.
Also Labour have just gained Bristol too from no overall control before,this brings their losses down to only 18 with 48 losses to the Conservatives.

However the 2 by election results on Thursday,where the Conservatives fell much further behind,with UKIP coming a far distant 2nd to Labour in both seats, fills me with more optimism than the local election results do.
Especially with Labour's share of the votes increased or the same as last year,with the Conservatives vote falling away.

It will be a real important result in Tooting now when that by-election is held,since Sadiq Khan is giving up his seat there.
The majority there is a much smaller one and if Labour do as well in that as in the other 3 by-elections they have had already in the last year,that will paint a different picture for more optimism.

[empire]

labour won't win the 2020 election.or any in the next 25 years, the reason why is, that the party is split three ways, with the blairites, the far left, and the centre left, fighting eachother, in the future there might be that the center left labour, will move out and make their own labour party, but they will not get second place in the big elections for the next 20 years, and the main labour party will end up being a third rate party, and a 20 year power vacuum will mean that other parties,snp.plaid cymru,ukip, will just eat into their vote base, you can not blame corbyn for all your problems, because it goes back a long time ago, in the 80s and 90s, because 80s labour was very stale, and 90s new labour went from a working mans party to a red left wing tory party, now its a far left party, and today has a very big ethnic minority vote than it did in the 70s, and they ask why can't they get more white british voters, and they go around in circles, well because of there obsession with racial equality will appeal too one big part of society, but it won't appeal to the other big part of society, and you just lose half of the vote, because you can't call that person, the uneducated class and bigots, corbyn has been in that party a long time, and he knew what happened in the 80s when labour split bady, but the party of the last nineteen years does not appeal to half of working class families anymore, history can repeat itself, but much worst.

[letmein]

Khan is shady as hell and has ties to Islamic extremists. Labour is a disaster under anti-Western, antisemitic, Corbyn. The Left in Britain is a disgrace!

Sadiq Khan slammed for calling moderate Muslim groups ‘Uncle Toms’
(http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/04/sadiq-khan-slammed-for-calling-moderate-muslim-groups-uncle-toms-5857705/#ixzz4872G4m2z)

http://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2016/04/22/11/sadiq1.jpg

[DemolitionRed]

Khan is shady as hell and has ties to Islamic extremists. Labour is a disaster under anti-Western, antisemitic, Corbyn. The Left in Britain is a disgrace!

Sadiq Khan slammed for calling moderate Muslim groups ‘Uncle Toms’
(http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/04/sadiq-khan-slammed-for-calling-moderate-muslim-groups-uncle-toms-5857705/#ixzz4872G4m2z)

http://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2016/04/22/11/sadiq1.jpgb

This has all been proven to be absolute nonsense. You call the left a disgrace because you buy everything said against the left, including what you posted here. Why don't you try and look at both sides of the truth instead of just the bit that gives you ammunition to hopefully shock us all.

[Cherie]

b

This has all been proven to be absolute nonsense. You call the left a disgrace because you buy everything said against the left, including what you posted here. Why don't you try and look at both sides of the truth instead of just the bit that gives you ammunition to hopefully shock us all.

The Uncle Tom quote isn't nonsense is it?

[MTVN]

We didn't have the 5 moderately successful parties in play then however,UKIP were not on the scene bigtime in 2012, they rose at the European elections and then local elections since.

The Conservatives had few seats to lose from the low base they fell to in 2012,Labour had loads to lose from their high base in 2012,when the seats up for election this time were last fought.

They have an optimistic element to them because we now have 5 parties in play in local election and general elections who are all in with a shout of winning seats in both elections.
That was not the case at al in 2012.

So just looking at the average voting figures for last Thursday nationally as to actual votes won in an election, has Labour on 31%,up 2.5% on last years election result,the Conservatives on 30%,that's down over 6% on the election last year.

No way is that optimism for Labour winning an election but already in a year it would be enough to wipe out the overall majority status of the present govt.following that really bad result for Labour last year.
It leaves room for some optimism for Labour in that things are getting better very slowly and less optimism for the govt as things for them are getting worse slowly.
Also Labour have just gained Bristol too from no overall control before,this brings their losses down to only 18 with 48 losses to the Conservatives.

However the 2 by election results on Thursday,where the Conservatives fell much further behind,with UKIP coming a far distant 2nd to Labour in both seats, fills me with more optimism than the local election results do.
Especially with Labour's share of the votes increased or the same as last year,with the Conservatives vote falling away.

It will be a real important result in Tooting now when that by-election is held,since Sadiq Khan is giving up his seat there.
The majority there is a much smaller one and if Labour do as well in that as in the other 3 by-elections they have had already in the last year,that will paint a different picture for more optimism.

You make fair points as always but I think the fundamental point remains that the Tories did about as you would expect a party in their position to do; Labour did worse. And considering the Tories are divided over Europe, they've just had a key minister resign, they've had a poorly received budget and they've had to perform several u-turns then I think they'll be quite relieved they did not do worse. Labour started from a high base true, I'm not sure I buy that there's more competition now though from UKIP and the Greens because the Lib Dems are nowhere near as competitive as they once were and used to pose a greater threat to both the Tories and Labour than they, Ukip and the Greens now all do put together probably. The fact also remains that, as Caroline Flint said, these Labour results are the worst for an opposition party after a general election in 30 years. And considering the Scotland result its clear that Labour are going to have to do much better in England and I can't see that happening.

[Kizzy]

Anyone hear Boris sing 'Ode to joy' he would've been the toast of the Reichsmusiktage.

[DemolitionRed]

You make fair points as always but I think the fundamental point remains that the Tories did about as you would expect a party in their position to do; Labour did worse. And considering the Tories are divided over Europe, they've just had a key minister resign, they've had a poorly received budget and they've had to perform several u-turns then I think they'll be quite relieved they did not do worse. Labour started from a high base true, I'm not sure I buy that there's more competition now though from UKIP and the Greens because the Lib Dems are nowhere near as competitive as they once were and used to pose a greater threat to both the Tories and Labour than they, Ukip and the Greens now all do put together probably. The fact also remains that, as Caroline Flint said, these Labour results are the worst for an opposition party after a general election in 30 years. And considering the Scotland result its clear that Labour are going to have to do much better in England and I can't see that happening.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-elections-2016-results-in-full-council-seats-conservative-tory-labour-jeremy-corbyn-a7019041.html

According to this, "the Tories are down 47 seats compared to 18 for Labour."

That means the Tories lost more seats than Labour.

"Nationally, with results from 123 out of 124 contested councils now in, the Conservatives have 828 seats, down 47 from before Thursday’s local government elections.

Labour, by contrast have 1,289 seats and are down only 18."

Once again, the right wing press have been putting a bad spin on things. Which party lost more seats? Not Labour!

[joeysteele]

You make fair points as always but I think the fundamental point remains that the Tories did about as you would expect a party in their position to do; Labour did worse. And considering the Tories are divided over Europe, they've just had a key minister resign, they've had a poorly received budget and they've had to perform several u-turns then I think they'll be quite relieved they did not do worse. Labour started from a high base true, I'm not sure I buy that there's more competition now though from UKIP and the Greens because the Lib Dems are nowhere near as competitive as they once were and used to pose a greater threat to both the Tories and Labour than they, Ukip and the Greens now all do put together probably. The fact also remains that, as Caroline Flint said, these Labour results are the worst for an opposition party after a general election in 30 years. And considering the Scotland result its clear that Labour are going to have to do much better in England and I can't see that happening.

You make equally fair points although I can see some signs of a Lib Dem start to modest gains again in the future.
They on the estimated voting last Thursday rose to 15%,that is quite an improvement for them from the election.
They also took full control of Watford council to.

If the Lib Dems do start to regain any ground and they held up very well where they were before in places like Eastleigh and South Lakeland,then they will be a threat to the Conservatives in the south West again and even across the south.

No one is or should be saying Labour can win the next election outright,however in all 3 by elections there has been,the swing from the Conservatives has been over 5%,Labour needs something like a 9% swing to win an election outright,that is extremely unlikely.

However 2 things for me and this would be my target for labour,to have a new leader for the 2020 election and to target to win of course but to really go for getting to be the largest party status.
That is much nearer achievable in my view and there could easily be another coalition govt from that.

The results last week, leave plenty to build on for that and hopefully also, Labour will have sorted itself out better,especially for post the EU referendum and the now almost certain battle for the Conservative leadership that will ensue from whatever the result may be.

Things change very quickly in politics,it is hard to say or predict what will be the case 1 year from now let alone another 4 years.
Scotland does not bother me in the slightest,Labour have only won 3 elections out of the last 8 general elections with all the seats they had in Scotland for all that time.

As long as those seats and votes are with the SNP,I am content,because SNP votes will never help the Conservatives in any way.
Also I firmly believe that the SNP has in its tally of votes at least 12% to 15% of 'loaned; Labour votes, were the SNP bubble to start to slip,then the recipients of the lost votes would likely be in the main Labour.

Scotland is a very different place now, no more being taken for granted, no more being a dumping ground for Conservative controversial policy testing.
With the SNP, any chance of booting out the Conservatives as the govt of the UK would be done by the SNP.
So Scotland is fine for me as it is.

I can easily see Labour being the largest party in 2020 if they work at that and plan carefully and I can further see the SNP ensuring a Labour led govt or coalition takes over if it is possible to do so.
the SNP can never be the sole govt of the UK,there are only 59 seats in Scotland, and there will be a few less if the boundary changes go through.

This is why I love politics, the unpredictability of it,the forecasts of hundreds of Labour seats to be lost last Thursday,never materialising in any way.
Then the general election last year, no party will get near an overall majority,one did and got one.

The voters are often a fickle lot and they turn very quickly at times, if we leave the EU and all goes downhill for a time, the govt will likely be blamed for ever holding a referendum in the first place.
If we stay in and things are going wrong, the govt will be blamed for recommending the staying in scenario.

So to say any fortunes will be good or bad for either main party by 2020,would be unwise in my view.
However again, looking at right now,from the high base of 2012,Labour did not slip,lost a few votes but held the seats.
From an extremely low base,the Conservatives slipped even further slightly downwards.

Now, what Ed Miliband failed to manage to do was hold onto to his position of 2012 by the time we got to 2015.
If this time round, Labour finds the way to hold onto what they are at now in 2016 right up to 2020.
Even with Labour not building anymore on that,that will then mean this govt is at least well short of an overall majority in 2020,and depending on the actual arithmetic, anything could happen as to who governs.

That is why I can and do afford myself a little optimism after last week but if I was a Conservative still, I would be far less optimistic.

UKIP in my view, if we vote to leave the EU will largely become irrelevant,if we stay in however, they will then likely gain strength moreso if it's a narrow vote to stay in, and could cause all sorts of difficulties in the next general election.

[Kizzy]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-elections-2016-results-in-full-council-seats-conservative-tory-labour-jeremy-corbyn-a7019041.html

According to this, "the Tories are down 47 seats compared to 18 for Labour."

That means the Tories lost more seats than Labour.

"Nationally, with results from 123 out of 124 contested councils now in, the Conservatives have 828 seats, down 47 from before Thursday’s local government elections.

Labour, by contrast have 1,289 seats and are down only 18."

Once again, the right wing press have been putting a bad spin on things. Which party lost more seats? Not Labour!

Good point! All you hear about is Scotland.....Screw Scotland! Stupid square sausage munching numpties. ;)

[joeysteele]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-elections-2016-results-in-full-council-seats-conservative-tory-labour-jeremy-corbyn-a7019041.html

According to this, "the Tories are down 47 seats compared to 18 for Labour."

That means the Tories lost more seats than Labour.

"Nationally, with results from 123 out of 124 contested councils now in, the Conservatives have 828 seats, down 47 from before Thursday’s local government elections.

Labour, by contrast have 1,289 seats and are down only 18."

Once again, the right wing press have been putting a bad spin on things. Which party lost more seats? Not Labour!

I agree with MTVN in that Labour should have done better, however many were saying Labour were going to lose hoards of seats and it never happened.
Now it cannot be said that a party is going to do badly and lose hundreds of seats,then say they have done badly when they didn't.

However where MTVN is on the ball, is the govt is in chaos,labour should in the popular vote be running at least around 8 to 10 points ahead of the Conservatives, and they are nowhere near that.
So at this time, the prospects for 2020 do not look encouraging.

That does not mean as I said above too, that gaining the largest party status is likely out of reach for Labour.
Simple gains of 40 to 50 seats would bring that about.

[Kizzy]

Voters aren't fickle, they're thick! All the govt has to do is spin a story 'leak' it to the torygraph and badda bing Labour lose votes :/

[empire]

labour lost its main base voters in scotland, and london is now there main base, but london is a tiny spot, compared to scotland, today's labour is very far left, the tory's pro eu stance, has lost them some big voters to ukip, over the last few years, and both labour and the tory's are in the same bad way now, and nationalism is rising in europe, and it has been in the last ten years, there many here in the uk that are, fed up with both parties, and don't bother voting for them,

[DemolitionRed]

Corbyn has only been Labour leader for 8 months. Its another 40 months before we choose a new PM. I think its far too early to be making predictions.

[DemolitionRed]

The Uncle Tom quote isn't nonsense is it?

The way its been quoted in the Metro? Yes, absolutely. Its a standing joke in the Muslim communities round here that Sadiq Khan is an uncle Tom and Khan himself accepts that any Muslim working within British politics including himself, will be seen as uncle Toms. What he saying in that video is, he can't only speak and listen to people who think like he does.

[bots]

Well I asked Joey what would be seen as a bad result for labour before the counting started, so its not really fair to move the goalposts now wrt it being a good/bad result even if i want to :laugh:

One can never read too much into by elections mid term, particularly given that one was the wife of the elected mp, so I set them to one side. The SNP aren't going to go away any time soon, and for some reason they are seen as the protector of the Scottish people, so Labour will do very well to get more than a handful of seats from Scotland at the next GE. Given that traditional base is gone, it means that labour have to make inroads into the traditional english tory vote if they are to even stand a chance of getting even with the tories, let alone forming a majority government.

With the best will in the world, those voters are not going to switch over with seriously left wing policies, its just not going to happen, so while the results were not bad for labour, they are just not going to capture sufficient voters from the tories to seriously consider being a majority government. They will need to move much much closer to the center ground.

[joeysteele]

Well I asked Joey what would be seen as a bad result for labour before the counting started, so its not really fair to move the goalposts now wrt it being a good/bad result even if i want to :laugh:

One can never read too much into by elections mid term, particularly given that one was the wife of the elected mp, so I set them to one side. The SNP aren't going to go away any time soon, and for some reason they are seen as the protector of the Scottish people, so Labour will do very well to get more than a handful of seats from Scotland at the next GE. Given that traditional base is gone, it means that labour have to make inroads into the traditional english tory vote if they are to even stand a chance of getting even with the tories, let alone forming a majority government.

With the best will in the world, those voters are not going to switch over with seriously left wing policies, its just not going to happen, so while the results were not bad for labour, they are just not going to capture sufficient voters from the tories to seriously consider being a majority government. They will need to move much much closer to the center ground.

I forgot you asked me what a bad result for Labour would be.:joker:

I am starting to think it may well be that the days of good and maybe too, any overall majority govts are going.

These are struggling with a 12 overall majority and that was unexpected by all Parties and voters alike anyway.

It will be far harder for labour to get any overall majority without Scottish seats admittedly, however for me the fact the SNP will never likely back the Conservatives is good enough for me and I also do think the SNP do a good job in Scotland.

IT isn't really fair to dismiss good results in any elections,especially 3 of them,as to the by-elections, they still have to be won.
Also UKIP were making great play as to both Oldham and Ogmore, yes they came 2nd but miles behind in 2nd.

True in Sheffield the winner is the wife of the deceased former MP but in the other 2 by elections in the last year in Ogmore and Oldham, Labour held their share of the vote or increased it and the fact is that Conservatives fell further behind in them.
Had Labour barely won them or even lost one, people would certainly be shouting off about that.

Reasonable turnouts too in all for by-elections as well.

A good test is coming up in the future, in Tooting, Sadiq Khan's seat,his majority was under 3,000.
If Labour win that again and do really well, 4 by-elections cannot be dismissed.

What is needed is a by-election in a Conservative held seat.

I am under no illusion at all that Labour can win in 2020 outright but I still can see them reaching a point of pushing close to being, or just getting there as to being the largest party.

This however is not mid term, it is only one year after an overall majority victory for this govt.

The coalition was the govt before, and the Lib Dems were slaughtered in the election last year and the Conservatives won.
It is then actually just past this govts own first year of govt.

[Cherie]

The way its been quoted in the Metro? Yes, absolutely. Its a standing joke in the Muslim communities round here that Sadiq Khan is an uncle Tom and Khan himself accepts that any Muslim working within British politics including himself, will be seen as uncle Toms. What he saying in that video is, he can't only speak and listen to people who think like he does.

The video is from 2009, the point of the comment by Metro is Khans hypocrisy at slating Livingstone for using racial slurs while happy to use them himself

It’s unfortunate timing. Days ago, Mr Khan condemned the use of the term Uncle Tom while criticising Ken Livingstone for comments he described as ‘appalling and disgusting’.

Now two Labour councillors are suspended for anti-Israeli Facebook posts
Last night, a spokesman for Mr Khan said last night that he ‘regrets’ using the term.

not sure what the standing joke in your area has to do with anything, apart from being tasteless.