Yes But Conservative Still has the most Councils
in England

http://news.sky.com/story/1086321/lo...make-big-gains

Actually listening to him, Michael Gove would be,in my view, a far better leader of the Conservative party than David Cameron.
He was interesting to listen to when he was talking as to the local elections.

The Conservatives may well have the most councils in England, they had even more councils in 2010 but still didn't get an overall majority, in fact they haven't won an overall majority in a general election for 21 years now.

In my consituency, Conservatives held all 11 of their previously held seats and even gained one from the LibDems. We only failed to gain 1 seat which has been LibDem ever since there were LibDems and we didn't expect to win it anyway, even so our candidate did the work, knocked on doors, canvassed and delivered literature. As a result we did come in second on that seat, raising our majority by quite a bit. UKIP didn't win one seat in my area. Neither did they put out any literature, do any campaigning or (in all but two cases) bother to turn up for the count.

Before people start making predictions about the General Election (which in many cases will be run alongside District Elections in 2015), we have European Elections. Let's see what happens between now and May 2014. I think the Conservatives will be forced into making law a referendum on Europe. Apart from a protest vote, UKIP have got votes because of their stance on immigration and an intention to withdraw from Europe (although they have no strategy for how they plan to do it and how they plan to pay for it). They have very flimsy bullet points when it comes to other issues, which is another reason that I think they're going to fall on their faces in local government.

I love how the far right has been on the rise for so long in Europe (especially UK, France, Greece, Spain, Italy. Norway) but it's just explained away as "people are unhappy about policies"

ofcourse when the tea party emerges in America, "THEY'RE ALL RACISTS, DUMB RACIST AMERICANS!!!"

The far right in Europe is far scarier than anything going on in America.

I never saw the conservative candidate anywhere round here. UKIP were everywhere, constantly..everytime I went shopping they were there, they were round the doors, they were wandering round the streets... Labour knocked on my door once and had a bit of a natter. No sign of the Tories at all..

Possibly because I live in Durham though, and they know theres little to no chance of ever getting in here so why bother wasting time.

My home area council has 57 seats, the Conservatives had 42 before this election.
They lost 12 to end up with 30, Labour went from having only 3 seats up to 12, UKIP gained 4 seats and the Lib Dems previously had 8 seats and lost 5 of them.

They nearly lost it to noc but now only have a 3 overall majority down from a 27 overall majority.

Local elections: Nigel Farage hails results as a 'game changer'
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22382098

:pipe:

UKIP's growing share of the vote
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22396689

So far, so good ..... ;)

The Tories got in here, but that was expected as it is a known Tory hold. It was pretty much a foregone conclusion that wasn't going to change.

I have to admit that I don't think this is a flash in the pan from UKIP.

They did well in the last by-election and in the South Shields one they have also done really well, how the Lib Dems can put anything positive on their placing in South Shields is beyond my understanding, the Lib Dems always claimed the North East as good ground for them.

It is the consistency too though as to UKIP in these council elections,always getting to the high teens to mid 20s as to percentage of votes won.
It will be interesting to see what they do in next years.

I also agree with the statement being made now too that Nigel Farage should likely be considered to be alongside the other party leaders in the leaders debates if they take place at the next election.
If UKIP do hold this success gained today next year I cannot see where he ought to be denied a place in those debates too.

Just maybe something has happened in UK politics this week that will be likely more difficult to reverse than could have ever been imagined.

"Just maybe something has happened in UK politics this week that will be likely more difficult to reverse than could have ever been imagined. "

Yes I blame Labour for having the Worst & Wrong Leader
driving Labour voters to UKIP.

I agree, the current Labour Leader , Ed Miliband is ill suited as a party leader and potential PM. He does not have any charisma or charm cannot really connect with the voters. I would even go as far as to say he lacks presence with an annoying voice and a slight lisp.

He has not made the impact many in the party had hoped for.

Why they chose him over David is anyones guess...:conf:

I agree with your sentiments Alex. I read a Spanish forum regularly and the most vociferous voice in favour of UKIP are a section of expats who left England to live in Spain to get away from "all the foreigners", always makes me smile :D:

Well considering massively far more Conservative usual/possible supporters clearly went to UKIP, by the same token as to what you say above,David Cameron must be a far worse leader to have driven such large numbers of them to UKIP too.

The worst leader of the political parties for me is Nick Clegg though.
Anyone who can dare to really kick so badly in the teeth the people who voted for and trusted the Lib Dems, then go on to ensure he has the maximum time possible of being in power by making sure a fixed parliament was put in place, is clearly someone not fit for any public position never mind having a place in any Govt.

Feck Me


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...86_634x481.jpg

Joey
Even Michael Foot did better than your Ed Miliboy

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...01_306x423.jpg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...akthrough.html

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...10_634x437.jpg

http://media.skynews.com/media/image...-1-329x437.jpg

Very different times then arista, modern politics is a world away from how things were then.
I still say,Ed Miliband is being underestimated, I also think that David Cameron is in fact a loser,he is seen as that by the voters and I also believe by a growing number of Conservative backbenchers and activists too.

I expect easily, at the very least a Labour/Lib Dem coalition after the 2015 election but I still feel that it will be a majority Labour Govt that is voted in,no matter who their Leader is.
Ed Miliband though arista is not my Ed Miliboy, I don't in fact particularly like him myself, he certainly would not have been my choice for a leader of a party but he will despite that, get my vote for Labour at the 2015 election.
Labour will get that vote because I already feel more at home with the policies they are currently beginning to outline and I have not a single bit of respect or liking for the policies this Govt is now pursuing,particularly against the most vulnerable and poorest in society.

I will not feel able to believe or trust what David Cameron says at the 2015 election, his words of guranteeing no full reform of the NHS,then him doing a full reform of it will resound solidily in my ears if I was ever tempted to believe him again.

Nick Clegg, I cannot stand at all,I believe he has no political credibility or political integrity left, All I want to see is him gone from UK politics,(probably to a handsomely paid position in the EU), after 2015 for his betrayal of those who trusted his party and voted for them.

"Ed Miliband though arista is not my Ed Miliboy,
I don't in fact particularly like him myself"


Millions Hate Him.

Exactly how I feel about it too. They're only popular because Europe is an easy scapegoat for all the economic woes.

Well millions liikely strongly dislike David Cameron as a leader too but it certainly is not David Cameron's party that is ahead in the polls.
Or even now as to votes cast even in their strongest rural areas as the local elections showed.

Millions may not like Ed Miliband at all,that won't stop enough of them voting Labour though just as the many who dislike David Cameron will still vote for him too but will be really glad to see the back of him after the 2015 election.

UKIP is 'here to stay', says Nigel Farage
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22418387

We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work

:dance:

The simple fact is that the real bulk of Labour voters and also Lib Dem voters will not in enough quantities support UKIP because of their EU stance of withdrawal at any cost.

It is in fact, Conservative voters who are the most volatile now as to the EU and they are the likely best hunting grounds for UKIP.
Even then though I doubt enough will turn to UKIP in a general election although I do think UKIP will do well in 2015,even picking up a few seats,not from Labour or the Lib Dems though but from the Conservatives.

"at any cost" ..... :conf:

I don't think so ..... :nono:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22396690

http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2012/12...-about-europe/

There you have it - not exactly in a nutshell, but in summary ..... :pipe:

I simply cannot see any such thing as an 'amicable divorce' from the EU as to the other Nations in it towards the UK.

UKIP want us out the EU, I as a supporter of the UK staying fIrmly in the EU cannot hold to their policy of withdrawal from same.
Of course were a 'binding',(and that is the operative word), referendum held as to staying in or coming out,with the coming out vote winning the day.
Then clearly any Govt of the day during that referendum would have to negotiate that action.

I myself though, cannot see any way it would be welcomed or in any way amicable with the other EU Nations at all.
I also believe the costs to the UK as to investment in the UK and the businesses we already have here,as well as the costs of severance with the EU could be likely enormous.

That is UKIP's policy and it's why I cannot support them but I don't deny a great many people who dislike the EU intensely will give their support to UKIP's arguments.

Lord Lawson calls for UK to exit EU
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22429790

The ex-heavyweight enters the ring ..... ;)