To think there isn’t going to be a general election?

[Pringlefan]

I hear talk of ‘Corbyn by Christmas’ and also discussion about which tory candidate would be best to win a general election.

Have I missed something? With tory support at rock bottom they’re hardly going to call an election are they? Heaven knows I wish they would, but I just can’t see how it’s even vaguely possible??

The Tories won’t call an election. That really would be turkeys voting for Christmas.

The best chance of an election would be if Johnson becomes PM having committed himself to no deal & Corbyn calls an immediate no-confidence vote. There might just be enough outraged Tory remainers with nothing to lose who would consider abstaining or even voting with the opposition as a nuclear option to bring down the government and trigger an election.

Emily Thornberry could deliver a GE for Labour, not that the Unions would back her.

There is no chance unless a vote of confidence was lost. The DUP would not support it as they hate Corbyn for his IRA support in the past, so unless there were to be defections from the Tory Party or by-election losses, it will not happened. Even if the Tories are stupid enough to elect Boris Johnson, Tories will not vote against him in a confidence motion.

Disagree with most comments on here.

I think there’s a very high chance of a GE before Christmas, though the PM won’t call it.

As we approach Halloween, we’ll likely be facing a no-deal Brexit with an extension only on offer if there’s a GE or referendum. It will only take 3 Tory MPs to join the opposition in a vote of no confidence, possibly a couple more if a few hardcore Labour brexiteers support the Government (which i think is unlikely).

For those who would respond by saying that “turkeys don’t vote for Christmas”... firstly four Tories have already jumped ship to Change UK or independent... and quite a few more have indicated they would do so should we be faced with a Tory Government launching ourselves headlong into a no-deal crash out. And secondly, for a number of the Tory “turkeys”, it’s already Christmas... they’re at the end of their careers and have nothing to lose.

And Tory MPs would do so making the judgment that the certainty of a no-deal Brexit is worse than the possibility of a Labour Government, as in all likelihood, by that point, soft EU friendly Tories would lend their votes to the LDs giving them more than enough seats to put the brakes on Corbyn doing anything too crazy.

Lib Dems are seeking a new leader themselves but really don't look like they'll have enough seats to have any clout and none of the other parties could field enough credible candidates to jostle for majority.

They’r polling well at the moment and if a GE were held tomorrow could easily get 50+ seats, possibly many more. Should there be a GE, it will be because the Tories have split, and the “one-nation” types like Oliver Letwin and Ken Clarke can stomach it no more. In that case, expect the LDs to have a massive boost as the 20% of Tories switch to them as the best way of stopping no-deal and Corbyn... that could propel them quite quickly into three-figures in terms of seats.

that leaves a Conservative/ Brexit Party/ DUP mash up. And that's fucking horrific.

Agree on both points. Corbyn is unelectable thank God, the twat, the Tories are all horrendous and the Lib Dems never do as well in GEs as in locals.

I too would like to see a coalition of Lib Dem, Labour, SNP & Plaid, plus Greens. Won't happen, but is the least worst of a lot of bad options.

I hope not. Ive no idea which way to vote now. First time ever!!!!! Im against mn now (mn is nasty to peope who think brexit should happen and refuse to listen) but with most of the country that we need brexit asap. I wish we never had to vote on this as very happy with as it was but now...we have to follow through for 1000 reasons. Best thing for dc is to leave at the present time. (Puts on steel hat as mn is the only place that doesnt want brexit). Cameron has alot to answer for and dont get me on useless may. There is no one and i mean no one whos a leader in any party now!

I honestly think the only way to long term save the Tories is to hold a GE soon and them lose it.

It's no deal or no Brexit, if it's no deal, the country will be plunged into a recession they will be directly blamed for and their main selling point of being good on the economy will be lost for a generation. If it's no Brexit, then the leave voters will never forgive them. Either option leads to long term problems for the party, the only solution is to force someone else to make the decision and take responsibility for the fall out .

Brexit party winning power, no deal and economic melt down, then they get to come save the day. (They can point to May's deal and say they wouldn't have done that). LibDem/remain party cancelling Brexit, well we tried to deliver it and would have done if youd voted for us... promise of another referendum in the dim future when the economy is stable again.

Losing is the only way to win. However, politicians can be terribly shortsighted and 2 years of power now may seem more interesting.

I think there will be a GE but due to a no confidence vote.

God I wish Labour would ditch Corbyn.

I hope there is a vote of no confidence but i doubt it. I think the Tories will scrape through on the threat of corbyn as pm. I quite like Corbyn himself ( i don't think he's managed the party very well but his policies and opinions are mainly in line with my own) and I don't think it's definite that he wouldn't win but I think the next GE will be in 22 and he will have stepped down by then.

I think a female like thornberry would be a great shout or Jess Phillips.

If there is a GE and you vote Boris you are voting for a misogynistic, racist, climate change denier. You think we have problems in this country now. Give it 5 years with him in charge.

I don't think Corbyn will call a non-confidence vote, because I simply don't believe Labour wants to be in power at the moment.

I don’t think labour CAN ditch Corbyn - he really believes he’s appealing to a disenfranchised section that will sweep him to victory - see his extending the min wage hike to the 16-18 bracket. He won’t listen until he’s lost another election at least.

Corbyn....Dear god, I absolutely despise the wet insipid twat!
But then I think the PM candidates are a joke too!

These days politics is nothing other than a self serving good job, with good pay and good pension...the only caveat is you have to talk utter bollocks and say it as you mean it.

Wankers the lot of 'em

I hope the fucking Russians invade and take control - At least they've got balls!!

Great Britain, the laughing stock on the planet!!

I don't think Corbyn will call a non-confidence vote, because I simply don't believe Labour wants to be in power at the moment.

I think it will be irresistible if there are the Tory votes to win one. Imagine this, we hurtle towards the 31 Oct with the PM determined to take us out without a deal.... a dozen “sane” Tories break ranks and press for a no-confidence vote to be called to avert a no-deal disaster... How on earth could he not call a vote of no confidence in those circumstances?! After years of calling for a GE, he refuses when he can get one in order that the Tories can deliver no-deal Brexit can happen and hang on for another 2 1/2 years!.....

His position would be beyond untenable - it would be an utterly absurd and the most suicidal act imaginable!

Besides, in such a circumstance could others call a vote of no confidence? I’m no expert but after the spectacle of Parliament taking control to force Brexit indicative votes a few months back, I’d be surprised if they couldn’t.

Labour's only chance is getting a genuine Remainer in. Labour's support is more Remain leaning than the general population, and their 2017 increase in support was because of Remainers seeing them as the best bet to avoid Hard Brexit. Remainers no longer trust Corbyn because of the prevarication.

Labour and the Tories both want to avoid a GE currently as each would lose seats, but that's not to say there won't end up being one.

Our best hope is a rainbow coalition of Lib Dem, Labour, SNP & Plaid.

As best hopes go, that one leaves me feeling pretty queasy.

Yes a coalition with 2 parties that are the Scottish and Welsh populist nationalists who want to break up a different union. I think you’re right but it would be a coalition that won’t happen if Labour sticks to its ‘we’ll get a better deal’ bollocks and will fall apart as soon as a referendum is had if it is put together on that basis.

Hardly worth a formal governing coalition, they might as well just join forces for the referendum vote

Labour won't elect a female leader, even if they are shamed, as they should be, when Jo Swinson gets the lib dem job and they end up as the only major part never to have had a female leader. I'd like Kier Starmer to lead on that basis. I think he'd have the Tories running scared. I even quite like John McDonnel, although he may have too much baggage to win.

Labour's only chance is getting a genuine Remainer in.

I don't think this is right any more. The right-wing vote is going to be spilt because of the Farage. Without any increase in their own support Labour will now pick up a lot of seats in Tory/Labour marginals just because the Tory vote will fall.

Unless the disenchanted go to the Lib Dems not labour.

No leaver is going to vote Libdem but a lot of erstwhile Labour remainers will. It seems that the division is leave/remain rather than left/right now.

Does anyone else think thay maybe the people backing Botis are being tactical, so that they can vote no confidence later?
(Clutching at straws?)

Rowennaravenclaw, no, I think you might have a point. One should never underestimate how low a politician will go.

It would require there to be tory MPs that would rather see a labour government than Boris. Doesn’t seem allll that likely I wish the defectors hadn’t left, the tory party desperately needs centrists