This country is doomed

[HappyFace2025]

While the vote in Gorton and Denton may be described as a 'protest' vote the strength of both the Greens and Reform performance is something to worry all of us not just Labour.

I agree that not all Muslims vote for a pro Gaza candidate but how do you explain the MPs and councillors who only focus on Gaza and not their own British constituents then?
This is the first time in living memory (and I am old) that MPs have won their seats by focus on another country and not Britain.

"Vaguely progressive"

What do you feel the greens are not going far enough on?

If the country has moved right, why would they protest vote in favour of a hard left party? I think the issue is most of the country is split on where to turn and the hard left activists were organized and united.

This. It was all about Gaza. You can't replicate that across the whole UK.

Labour needs to take this as a wake-up call and do a LOT better. It's done some good stuff but its messaging is shit and all the U-turning has made it look weak.

Communism (in disguise) is NOT progressive.

I'm not arguing in favour of the Greens.........but crack is very moreish

Looks like the vote is split like Brexit was
49- 51%

militant Islamic regime

Say what now?
😂😂😂😂

It's not really communism though is it

I’m interested too @Sa11yCinnamonwhat more would you want to see?

Name an Islamic country that cares about minority rights

Too early to mention a Labour/Lib Dems/Green coalition?

Serious question - why is Gaza featuring so heavily in some campaigns, over and above issues that affect this country?

Why did Mothin Ali say his win was 'a victory for the people of Gaza' when he won his seat? HIs first speech -the very first thing he says in reaction to his win- and that's what he focusses on! One situation, in a country far from this one.

Why?

MPs and councillors are elected to represent the people in their constituency. In this country. Foreign affairs can be important, sure, but they should not be more important than all domestic issues put together.

These people are making campaigns all about Gaza as their main campaign point and people are voting for them in sufficient numbers to win elections.

Why?

It's concerning, as it's so detrimental to societal cohesion.

Actually, I agree with you, and I think progressive was the wrong word. What I was trying to say is they should stop with all the populist shite. And focus on supporting inclusive growth.

I didn't vote as I don't think the country is doomed because of one more Green MP. By-elections aren't general elections, they're nearly always a protest vote. But I do think the main political parties need to heed the warning and do better. The problem is, the wrong people go into politics and then end up doing more infighting - or trying to enrich themselves - than actual governing. Labour's mistake is that the party always selects 'yes men' (or women) candidates as MPs then ends up with a weak government and weak leadership.

If people took the time to read up on how Islamists gained power in Iran through left wing parties during the 1979 revolution, they may be a bit more concerned about this result. It seems to me that the Green Party is being used as a Trojan Horse, worrying times.

That was a poor choice of phrase, I just meant they're not as radical as a lot of folk are making out.

So you're worried that politics is becoming more divisive, and people are being pushed towards voting for parties with more extreme policies?

And you're responding to this by coming on a public forum and writing about it in deliberately exaggerated terms ("We're doomed!"), sparking a thread that will inevitably result in people doubling down, entrenching their positions, attacking one another, and taking more extreme positions in an effort to "win the thread"?

It’s a protest vote. Not unheard of. Quite usual.

Out of the two evils, I’m glad greens won over reform. I don’t like the greens either for the record. But it’s not in anyway a sign that they’ll be running the country after the next GE.

Kingmakers? Maybe. Unlikely! And look what happened to the Lib Dem’s when they went into coalition - it’s taken years for them to get close to being taken seriously again.

Why?

I was quoting the votes on my thread not the bielection!

It’s not the first time, it’s been happening for a while. See as an example the MP for Harehills who won in the GE.

Do you think the results would be the same if Andy Burnham had been the Labour candidate?

Also George Galloway.