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Original poster

Today's by-election... how do you think it will go?

575 replies

Westfacing · 26/02/2026 15:11

A few months back according to the media it was Reform's for the taking - now it's a three-way bet between Labour, Greens and Reform

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
MikeRafone · 27/02/2026 05:27

the80sweregreat · 27/02/2026 05:20

The Greens have lunatic policies and ideas. I can’t understand why anyone wouid vote for them.
( not a conservative or reform voter myself, but honestly their actual policies really scare me, especially around drugs)
Five MPs now in Parliament.

Edited

To keep reform out

reform are claiming they’ve embarrassed Labour, but tactically Labour have lost votes to ensure reform stay out and people have punished Labour as they’re not happy with them.

  • Green Party - 14,980
  • Reform UK - 10,578
  • Labour Party - 9,364
  • Conservative Party - 706
  • Liberal Democrats - 653
Cyclebabble · 27/02/2026 05:34

its a mid-term election, so I do not think much can be read into it. For Labour it does show they are under some pressure from a number of directions. The Greens to the left, and Reform to the right. The May local elections will give a better and fuller picture of wider voter sentiment.

Viviennemary · 27/02/2026 05:35

The message is we don't want Labour. Anyone else will do. That's how I read it. Its a good result. Maybe now Starmer will go.

hattie43 · 27/02/2026 05:35

What lunatics vote for Greens, seriously I despair for this once great country . To think 2 wars were fought and all those lives lost for this rabble .

Userxyd · 27/02/2026 06:09

Wow that’s a good result for Labour - even with a tactical mass exodus to the Greens, Labour are still only 1200ish behind Reform. Farage will be gutted, Starmer quite relieved and Kemi will be floored by that. 25,000 left wing vs 11,000 right - with all the shit going on in the world that’s reassuring to me. Now we just need some better Left and centre options.

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:09

Good. Up yours, Nige.

xanthomelana · 27/02/2026 06:13

Userxyd · 27/02/2026 06:09

Wow that’s a good result for Labour - even with a tactical mass exodus to the Greens, Labour are still only 1200ish behind Reform. Farage will be gutted, Starmer quite relieved and Kemi will be floored by that. 25,000 left wing vs 11,000 right - with all the shit going on in the world that’s reassuring to me. Now we just need some better Left and centre options.

Labour had over a 13000 majority in 2024. How the hell is that a good result for them?

Firetreev · 27/02/2026 06:20

hattie43 · 27/02/2026 05:35

What lunatics vote for Greens, seriously I despair for this once great country . To think 2 wars were fought and all those lives lost for this rabble .

Would have been far worse if Reform had gotten in! I'm not a fan of the Greens, but I'd take them any day over Reform, especially over Matt Goodwin who is a particularly nasty and evil man.

ShakyBake · 27/02/2026 06:22

Userxyd · 27/02/2026 06:09

Wow that’s a good result for Labour - even with a tactical mass exodus to the Greens, Labour are still only 1200ish behind Reform. Farage will be gutted, Starmer quite relieved and Kemi will be floored by that. 25,000 left wing vs 11,000 right - with all the shit going on in the world that’s reassuring to me. Now we just need some better Left and centre options.

A good result for Labour? You must be joking

Firetreev · 27/02/2026 06:24

Userxyd · 27/02/2026 06:09

Wow that’s a good result for Labour - even with a tactical mass exodus to the Greens, Labour are still only 1200ish behind Reform. Farage will be gutted, Starmer quite relieved and Kemi will be floored by that. 25,000 left wing vs 11,000 right - with all the shit going on in the world that’s reassuring to me. Now we just need some better Left and centre options.

Yes, the majority in this country are on the left. We're going to need to vote tactically in the future to keep Reform out. They're the minority and Farage is so toxic his support does have a ceiling. As long as we vote tactically we can keep Reform out.

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:24

I don't think Starmer will go over this. The plotters will start planning for after the May elections.

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:26

Firetreev · 27/02/2026 06:24

Yes, the majority in this country are on the left. We're going to need to vote tactically in the future to keep Reform out. They're the minority and Farage is so toxic his support does have a ceiling. As long as we vote tactically we can keep Reform out.

Show quote history

I've already accepted I might have to vote Conservative next time to keep Reform out.

MsGreying · 27/02/2026 06:29

the80sweregreat · 27/02/2026 05:20

The Greens have lunatic policies and ideas. I can’t understand why anyone wouid vote for them.
( not a conservative or reform voter myself, but honestly their actual policies really scare me, especially around drugs)
Five MPs now in Parliament.

Edited

It came down to Gaza.
And then courting the vote.
Greens are really bonkers and not in a good way.

MsGreying · 27/02/2026 06:30

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:24

I don't think Starmer will go over this. The plotters will start planning for after the May elections.

May elections will be awful.

Gaza will change our political landscape.

Userxyd · 27/02/2026 06:30

Ok obviously not a literal good result for Labour - I mean in the context. They’re in a terrible state but still only got 1200 less than Reform- that’s 10k loyal voters even at the worst of times. Those Green votes are protest votes and still show they’re available to a good Left candidate. The biggest story I think is that Reform were so far behind the Greens and that the Cons loyalists are non existent.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/02/2026 06:31

Userxyd · 27/02/2026 06:30

Ok obviously not a literal good result for Labour - I mean in the context. They’re in a terrible state but still only got 1200 less than Reform- that’s 10k loyal voters even at the worst of times. Those Green votes are protest votes and still show they’re available to a good Left candidate. The biggest story I think is that Reform were so far behind the Greens and that the Cons loyalists are non existent.

Yep, this is what l think.

Big left vote.

the80sweregreat · 27/02/2026 06:33

Depressed by politics in the UK all round, but the only glimmer of light is the new MP is / was a lady plumber.
It’s a shame their actual policies and their leader are delusional though. Where have the more centrist parties gone?

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:34

I'm surprised Reform and Labour were as close as they were. I was really worried Reform would take it.

Twiglets1 · 27/02/2026 06:34

The accusations of family voting are worrying, if Muslim women were being coerced into voting a particular way by their husbands.

I wish people in the UK would focus more on local issues rather than voting re what is happening in Gaza. I'm old enough to me that to be "Green" is to be someone who votes that way mainly due to concern for the environment.

Having said that, I don't know if it's true that family voting occurred - I hope the accusation is investigated by a neutral body so we know the truth.

This is another big problem for Starmer - I imagine he regrets now not allowing Andy Burnham to stand.

SirChenjins · 27/02/2026 06:38

Fucking hell - the party of lunatic misogynists won?? 🤬

somuchbedding · 27/02/2026 06:38

Where have the more centrist parties gone?

Things are more divisive, more left or more right. I knew Reform wouldn’t win though.

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:39

Conservatives have lost their deposit 😂

the80sweregreat · 27/02/2026 06:41

The old two party system seem to be in ruins here..
I can’t see the other boroughs in May going Green though. I’d be very surprised if Basildon goes Green ( for example)

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/02/2026 06:42

dapsnotplimsolls · 27/02/2026 06:39

Conservatives have lost their deposit 😂

🙌🙌🙌

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/02/2026 06:44

the80sweregreat · 27/02/2026 06:41

The old two party system seem to be in ruins here..
I can’t see the other boroughs in May going Green though. I’d be very surprised if Basildon goes Green ( for example)

I can see my constituencey going Green. Middle class Labour area.