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Original poster

Labour take both by-elections

52 replies

BertaBobAndMeToo · 20/10/2023 03:38

Wow! Seismic results, even with turnout down, and this should school conservative HQ to the core.

anyone up and want to talk about it?

OP posts:
TomPinch · 20/10/2023 03:57

It's the 90s all over again, isn't it!

Especially Tamworth. A Tory vacates Parliament in dubious circumstances and and the Tory vote in the seat collapses in the ensuing by-election. There was a pretty low turnout.

TooBigForMyBoots · 20/10/2023 03:58

Up, but knackered.

I agree they were very significant wins.Grin But the Tory party cant/ won't learn much. Sunak is just about holding this zombie government together.

TomPinch · 20/10/2023 04:01

TooBigForMyBoots · 20/10/2023 03:58

Up, but knackered.

I agree they were very significant wins.Grin But the Tory party cant/ won't learn much. Sunak is just about holding this zombie government together.

Oh they will. They know it's over. The rats are stealing the lifeboats right now I think.

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hollyblueivy · 20/10/2023 04:20

If they know the show is over for them - what is their attitude likely to be before they get voted out?

NOTANUM · 20/10/2023 04:29

I imagine they know they’re on the way out. Starmer has finally got some discipline on the Labour front bench, there are some genuine strong people like Rachel Reeves and the balance of probability is that the next government will be Labour. There are a few loose cannons still - Khan is a liability in London - but I think they’re there.
I actually feel sorry for Sunak. He and Theresa May genuinely have the country’s interests at heart but the rest of the shower killed the party for them.

Gingernaut · 20/10/2023 04:31

I reckon the Tories are going to finish their smash and grab of assets and contracts

They're going to sod off, knowing that Labour are too hamstrung by lack of funds to be able to prosecute or legislate back to 'normal'

SuperNewMe · 20/10/2023 04:32

Haven't been following, but thank fuck.
Glad there's still some sense left out there

SuperNewMe · 20/10/2023 04:36

@TomPinch
It's the 90s all over again, isn't it!

Oh I hope so, I remember the feeling of the nation when Blair got in in 1997 ( the first year I was old enough to vote) and it was a feeling of things were all "on the way up."

TheOutlaws · 20/10/2023 04:43

I’ve got a question about the timing of the GE. Last one was Dec 2019, so it should be called for Dec ‘24, but elections are traditionally held in May. Will Sunak try to hold on for the next year?

sashh · 20/10/2023 05:13

NOTANUM · 20/10/2023 04:29

I imagine they know they’re on the way out. Starmer has finally got some discipline on the Labour front bench, there are some genuine strong people like Rachel Reeves and the balance of probability is that the next government will be Labour. There are a few loose cannons still - Khan is a liability in London - but I think they’re there.
I actually feel sorry for Sunak. He and Theresa May genuinely have the country’s interests at heart but the rest of the shower killed the party for them.

I don't think May did. She grabbed power and triggered Article 50 without a thought for how things could / would work. She could easily have delayed that and IMHO she should have goa cross party group to look at the different models / implications.

DuchessOfSausage · 20/10/2023 05:23

He and Theresa May genuinely have the country’s interests at heart but the rest of the shower killed the party for them.
I agree.

YokoOnosBigHat · 20/10/2023 05:35

Did that trip to Israel not make Sunak look statesman like enough for the voters in those constituencies, then? Shame!

General Election now, please!

YokoOnosBigHat · 20/10/2023 05:35

NOTANUM · 20/10/2023 04:29

I imagine they know they’re on the way out. Starmer has finally got some discipline on the Labour front bench, there are some genuine strong people like Rachel Reeves and the balance of probability is that the next government will be Labour. There are a few loose cannons still - Khan is a liability in London - but I think they’re there.
I actually feel sorry for Sunak. He and Theresa May genuinely have the country’s interests at heart but the rest of the shower killed the party for them.

What in the what now?!

AutumnCrow · 20/10/2023 05:39

I don’t feel the least bit sorry for Sunak.

DuchessOfSausage · 20/10/2023 06:42

I'm very pleased for Labour.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 20/10/2023 06:54

Very pleased to see the Tories humiliated, but turnout was low. It looks as if many Tory voters abstained, effectively, by staying away, while all the non-Tory voters turned out, as the Labour vote was similar to last GE, while the Tory vote collapsed. Not sure either seat will stay Labour at the GE. Nadine Dorries' name must be mud at Tory HQ. Grin

shams05 · 20/10/2023 06:57

I think sunak will be forced to resign before the next election, they'll bring blumbering Boris back and his fellow idiots will vote conservatives back in by a very narrow vote.
The conservatives won't leave Sunak in place to risk losing the white middle class vote who can't relate to someone who doesn't look like them.

DuchessOfSausage · 20/10/2023 06:59

Me neither, Gasp.People in a by-election often vote to express lack of confidence in the current government, but in a GE will vote for the party or party leader they want in power.

FikaMika · 20/10/2023 07:11

TheOutlaws · 20/10/2023 04:43

I’ve got a question about the timing of the GE. Last one was Dec 2019, so it should be called for Dec ‘24, but elections are traditionally held in May. Will Sunak try to hold on for the next year?

Weirdly it's January 2025 as apparently it's five years plus the time to run an election campaign!

elastamum · 20/10/2023 07:15

They can't bring Boris back as he isn't an MP. Hopefully they are finished. Sadly they will cling on to power for as long as they can and continue wrecking the country.

lavenderlou · 20/10/2023 07:18

Very pleased to see the Tories humiliated, but turnout was low.

Turnout in mid-Beds, while low in comparison to a GE, was actually high for a by-election. The next GE will hopefully motivate those who want change to get out and vote, whereas it is more likely to be fed-up Tory voters who stay home.

FrenchFancie · 20/10/2023 07:18

No they can’t bring Boris back (thank f*ck) because he’s not even an MP anymore….

Ratsoffasinkingsauage · 20/10/2023 07:19

Sunak has indicated that he intends to hold on as long as possible before triggering an election. So I’m afraid we have at least another year.

The only good thing about fixed term parliaments is that he has to do it sometime and can’t just hold on against confidence votes.

A lot can happen in a year. But I a hoping that Labour don’t stuff it up again.

AutumnCrow · 20/10/2023 07:23

FrenchFancie · 20/10/2023 07:18

No they can’t bring Boris back (thank f*ck) because he’s not even an MP anymore….

There is a loophole that has been activated once before I think in ye olden days of yore, whereby they could shove him into the Lords and make him the chair of the Cabinet, thus PM.

(Sorry I’m on my phone and not being very articulate, but hope you get the gist.)

PictureFrameWindow · 20/10/2023 07:24

Is Jan 25 really the latest that an election can happen 😱 I'd thought it was Oct 24!