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Original poster

Why did the remain parties not join forces for the European Elections???

41 replies

Desolate1 · 26/05/2019 22:33

So results for the North East are in.

Two Brexit Party MEPs and one Labour voted in.

Yet had the remain parties (Greens, Lib Dems, Change UK) clubbed together, one of the above would have been a remain MEP.

Just depressing and it’s going to be like that all night isn’t it Sad.

Now having to listen to Rees-Mogg’s sister and Suzanne Evans crowing Sad.

OP posts:
Original poster
Desolate1 · 27/05/2019 07:24

Missed the last three posts.

Now we are going to have to see Farage's smug face everywhere. yes Sad. Might have to get rid of the TV.

The Brexit party hasn’t gained much more compared to UKIP in 2014, yet others have gained more. good point, hadn’t thought of that and of course the statisticians are treating it as a completely new party, which it isn’t.

I really hope the Brexit party get nowhere near implementing Brexit. They have the sum total of no ideas apart from dismantling the NHS IMO. Or the ideas that they do have are so appalling, it would be best not to find out what they are.

Aren’t there European elections another opinion poll though, like the referendum (though lower turnout)?

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Original poster
Desolate1 · 27/05/2019 07:25

these not there

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Original poster
Desolate1 · 27/05/2019 07:26

This kind of puts the end to people saying if we held another referendum people would change their mind next time round.

I agree.

What a shame, but there it is.

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meditrina · 27/05/2019 07:29

The referendum wasn't an opinion poll. It was a single question put to the electorate for determination.

These aren't really an opinion poll either. But if they were, then Leave has it. (Labour had not abandoned its official stance of being a Leave party going in to the election)

Ces6 · 27/05/2019 07:32

The problem is that the Brexit party were not standing in order to serve in the European Parliament - they just wanted to "send a message" and disrupt the work of the EU. The other parties do want to actually serve in the European Parliament so they offer the electorate a range of views that they will implement. Of course, in an ideal world nobody would be morally bankrupt enough to vote for a party that doesn't have a manifesto and only wants to cause chaos.....

Ces6 · 27/05/2019 07:35

This kind of puts the end to people saying if we held another referendum people would change their mind next time round.

I strongly disagree. This election had a low turnout which always helps Farage. Also people knew that actually a vote for Farage is NOT a vote for leaving - the MPs still have to deal with that. I think with a second referendum more people would vote, and vote more carefully. Recent opinion polls all show that there is no longer a majority for Leave and puts a Remain win at around 60%!

Ces6 · 27/05/2019 07:37

These aren't really an opinion poll either. But if they were, then Leave has it.

But not Leave with No Deal which is not supported by Tories or Labour.

Original poster
Desolate1 · 27/05/2019 08:00

The referendum was an advisory non binding vote which was treated by politicians as being binding. In law it wasn’t. And the bar for such huge change should never have been set so low. And all the other criticisms of the referendum which still stand.

Can’t argue with the Murdoch press and a bunch of ignorant Eurosceptic Tories however, so leaving we are.

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Leighhalfpennysthigh · 27/05/2019 08:19

Having said that, maybe we can discount the Tory / Labour vote as being people who remain affiliated to their party in whatever circumstances

Yes, I think there's a lot of people who are so tribal and loyal to their parties that they will vote for them whatever.

However, I've just done the maths and assuming that there are 47 million people eligible to vote in the UK, the turnout was 37% so roughly 17.4 million people voted. Of those about 32% voted for the Brexit arsehole party (according to results so far) so that's about 5.5 million people - less than 12% of the population eligible to vote.

Nit the ringing endorsement they think, is it.

3in4years · 27/05/2019 08:24

Why should they? It's not a general election. It's for seats in the EU. It's not a referendum. It is parties representing us in Europe. Not a game with a winner.

Original poster
Desolate1 · 27/05/2019 08:29

Nit the ringing endorsement they think, is it.

I shall cheer myself up with this thought.

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Iggly · 27/05/2019 10:31

This kind of puts the end to people saying if we held another referendum people would change their mind next time round

Not really. If you add the Lib Dem, Change UK and Green Party votes up - they beat the Brexit party numbers. All of those parties were clearly for remain.

So it still remains close.

Plus turnout was much lower than for the referendum.

noodlenosefraggle · 27/05/2019 10:47

The problem I see is the amount of people who said they never voted in anything, or that they weren't interested in politics. I think people who are politically aware are in the minority. The majority just don't bother about it and just want everyone to shut up. If you don't think politics has anything to do with you, why would you be bothered with any arguments for remain or leave? You just want it to stop, and the easiest way for that to happen is just to leave. I don't care what the Tories do, and actually they are appealing to their voters in the main, but Labour need to come down on one side or another, say 'this is our policy on Europe' and go all out to explain why they feel that way. They are just playing silly games now, pretending they would support a second referendum if they didn't get a general election, but when they don't get a general election, still saying they want a general election and if they don't get one will support a referendum then not supporting a referendum! They don't want an election now, because they will lose out to both the Brexit Party and the Lib Dems.

billysboy · 27/05/2019 10:53

People dont like people that dont keep their promises !

Langrish · 27/05/2019 10:56

Tabbymumz

Fact is, it's shown lots of people have voted for the brexit party. This kind of puts the end to people saying if we held another referendum people would change their mind next time round.“

Not at all. In many areas the combined remain vote equals or exceeds the Brexit party. If they can organise into one unit, they will win outright.

noodlenosefraggle · 27/05/2019 11:02

Why are Leavers afraid of a second referendum if they think they will win? They should be campaigning to end the deadlock in Parliament and have a confirmatory referendum on the apparently fabulous new deal the new brexiteer PM is going to negotiate while sunning himself in Antigua for 3 months between July and October!

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