Rishi has absolutely lost it, hasn't he?

[noblegiraffe]

What with his random shite this week about scrapping a non-existent meat tax and an imaginary 7 bins, actually scrapping his own home insulation workforce that was only set up a few months ago, scrapping any useful bits of HS2 and now scrapping A-levels (which is so far removed from what is actually possible in schools right now that it's not even funny), what the fuck is he on?

He's just flailing around madly scrapping everything in case someone, somewhere might vote Tory over it.

And he was supposed to be the sensible replacement to Liz Truss.

Increase of vote share 5.2% and 2.7% in 2010 and 2017 are considered seismic.

What does that make the Tories 11.2% drop in vote share in 2023?

🤣😘🤣🤣🤣

In his dreams and only if they really, really want to be unelectable.

I think perhaps you are confused.

We are currently living in 2023 not 2010 or 2017.

Some might think that the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election is a further indication of the strength of Labour currently. Particularly when it is combined with other recent by-elections and national polling data of various kinds.

jgw1
What does that make the Tories 11.2% drop in vote share in 2023?

Comparable to Labour's 10.3% drop in Somerton and Frome in the summer.

Did the Tories win there? I could have sworn it was a Libdem landslide.

BIossomtoes
Did the Tories win there? I could have sworn it was a Libdem landslide

I see that the Lib Dems are willing to sacrifice green belt land - (reminds me of ... tuition fees);

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1839155/green-belt-development-not-red-line-us-say-lib-dems

Ah it must be the Lib Dems who have permitted the building on the green belt around the town I live in?

It makes sense really, given the Council, MP and government currently are Tory, that it is the Lib Dems fault.

My partner wants to know what is so amusing.
It is hard to explain to someone who doesn't follow these threads, why this post has me in stitches.

jgw1
My partner wants to know what is so amusing

Which is it?

A Lib Dem source said: “We firmly believe in safeguarding the green belt and protecting natural habitats.”

[Ed] Davey’s strong stance on protecting the green belt...

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lib-dems-will-make-the-green-belt-a-red-line-clean-it-up-d6skrbq7x

Or - (from my earlier link);

The Liberal Democrats have denied reports that plans to build more homes on green belt would be a "red line" for the party if it went into coalition with Labour.

I am pretty sure you are correct that Labour are disappointed that they won a landslide in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, because the Lib Dems might permit development on the green belt around towns, or at least those parts of the greenbelt that haven't already been built on by the Tories.

all ifs and buts Clav... you must do better!

Tories are right now, building all over the Greenbelt and virgin countryside, towns around me all have extended into farm land, 2 new towns for Plymouth and Exeter... on farmland and good farmland too.

Trouble is, because almost all these properties are badly built and for private sale, they have done nothing to help the local housing crisis.

but its all Labour and LDs fault... do you ever read back before posting? its getting ridiculous you trying to defend the indefensible

You'd rather go for more polluted waterways?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66804160

You seem to have forgotten to mention the 29.6% drop in the Conservative vote share in the same by-election. Strange, that.

Alexandra2001
Tories are right now, building all over the Greenbelt and virgin countryside

Will the Lib Dems hang on to constituencies such as Chesham and Amersham? Why people voted Lib Dem -

Tanya Allsop, a retired teacher in her 50s from the consituency village of Ballinger, told The Telegraph: “What we’re talking about is nothing less than the rape of the Chilterns. HS2 and any easing of building on the green belt will devastate the countryside around here.

What is really interesting is that this shows up the extent of their worry about keeping their core vote, to the extent that they are no longer really trying even to retain the people who voted for them for the first time in 2019. It throws a strong light on what their own internal polling is telling them.

That is one person you quoted there, what else did she say?

It's the Blair way. He coined the "mondeo man" phrase. Traditional Tories will mostly always vote Tory, even if they waver mid term. Likewise traditional Labour will mostly always vote Labour. Elections are won or lost on the middle ground of "floating votes", or Mondeo Man. Understanding that enabled Blair to win his General Elections. To some extent, it's what made Nick Clegg popular for the Libdems. Boris tapped into a similar "market" of voters, i.e. the traditional Red Wall and Northern England voters who felt alienated by Corbyn's Labour. Rishi can ignore the traditional left and right and just try to target groups of floating voters, which is what he seems to be doing. I don't think Starmer has the nouse to do the same, likewise Brown couldn't do it either, hence him losing his only GE.

What Sunak has not had is a bounce in the polls. His announcements last week (except smoking) are popular with the core but it's a weak offer. Basically he may be a bit more popular with people who vote Tory already, but that is it.

I assume their internal polling is dire to be taking this approach

Rishi can ignore the traditional left and right and just try to target groups of floating voters, which is what he seems to be doing. I don't think Starmer has the nouse to do the same, likewise Brown couldn't do it either, hence him losing his only GE.

Pmsl at this comment. Every floating voter I know is firmly as far off the conservatives as its possible to be. Those that usually vote conservative regardless are either looking lib democracy or hold their noses for Labour depending on where they live, tactical voting will be key, or, they are planning to abstain.

Mention voting to young people and they roll their eyes and laugh if you ask about conservatives.

Sunak is a self centred idiot, promoted well above his abilities and only about making himself rich. He seems to think he is a king and can make decisions that affect the lives of others on a whim. He appears to have no clue about how our parliamentary democracy works.

Starmer actually seems capable of doing the job.

And it was the Lib Dems who proposed HS2 and are now cutting it back, together with the Lib Dems in government for the past 13 years who have allowed the building on the greenbelt.

If that is what Sunak is doing and Starmer doesn't have political nouse, how come over half of Sun readers in a recent poll suggested they wouldn't vote Tory at the next election?

Does it perhaps also reflect Sunak's despearation to at least survive as PM until an election?
He will have been leader for a year soon, and then he is at risk of a vote of no confidence from his own party at any time, hence the swinging from pandering to one group of loons to the next.

Mention voting to young people and they roll their eyes and laugh if you ask about conservatives

We have quite a lot of interaction with apprentices (due to a terribly misguided HR manager). They seem quite politically motivated (i.e. they aren't scared of voting). For some reason they have very little affection for the party that's been in power since they were in middle school.

The Conservatives are worried their vote stays at home. All that red meat at conference was for that. This is what you get with wedge issues when people actually bigger financial problems. They will just not care.

Even worse will be those Tories that don't stay at home, but can't vote because they don't have the ID.

Although as I predicted, there will be "guidance" to election officials to basically forget that law was ever passed.