Westministenders: Strong and Stable Theresa Date with Destiny

[RedToothBrush]

WELLLLL

Its just before 2.00am.

So far its the YouGov model all the way. Still a long way to go but, the Cons are not getting the top of their target list and Labour are doing very well in seats they just 'shouldn't be'.

Corbyn is now favourite to take the poison chalice of Brexit, but they may not be the largest party yet.

This is looking right now like 1974 not 1983.

May's potted regardless. I look forward to her resignation speech. Its still entirely possible that our next government is a Tory Minority under another leader.

The LDs are having a rough night so far. They are loosing deposits all over the place as they are squeezed out. But they still might hold the balance of power yet. Though they are pledged not to go into coalition.

Another election in the autumn? Brexit delayed and going soft and squishy?

Oh lord, I'm seeing a lot of 'its Sinn Fein's fault because they won't attend westminster'
They've never attended, they've inadvertently propped up every tricking government ffs. Not that I don't think they should change that, given no republican voice in wm now sldp is gone. But there's only frisking 10 dup, she didn't need to bother really

HuffPost UK‏*@HuffPostUK*

The DUP manifesto has been described as "basically just the bible, with fortnightly bin collections".

Red that is so funny

Weak - it's normal to get on with appointing the new Cabinet asap, never mind when you are due to start talks on the most important issue in a generation in only 10 days...

(There's no way of writing that about Brexit talks without feeling a bit queasy)

I think we will get a very good idea of what May has planned from her reshuffle. I fear we may be squealing. The more squealing, the more those Conservative moderates will be squealing too. Even if we can't hear it. Just keep that in mind.

Then bombard them with letters comparing them to the GOP propping up Trump. Lots. They will be ever more conscious of letters after that bloody awful campaign and the public's reaction to it.

What do you mean, Red?

I meant this: I noted that apparently unionist parties got the minority of votes for the first time ever last night. I can't help feel about what happened to the LDs. How are DUP voters going to react if they are running ads about voting DUP rather than Tory.

So is TM basically claiming that she's still got a mandate from the whole country to deliver hard Brexit, full steam ahead?

OlennasWimple Yes, but...I kind of expected more resignations first . Anyway, last edition of Evening Standard today. George has just posted this on twitter and wished his followers a good night...

Big respect to Diane's constituents for turning out in such huge support.

www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/diane-abbott-claims-labours-general-election-campaign-has-been-vindicated-as-she-gets-huge-hackney-a3560786.html

Big respect to Diane.

I'm very happy for her too howabout. I may not agree with much of her politics or her interview performances but my goodness she's a remarkable person and was treated shamefully.

Gavin Kelly‏*@GavinJKelly1*
May's governing style really not well suited to the new political circumstances. And once in office PM's struggle to change their approach.
PM's future now in the hands of people who don't much like her in her party. DUP will come back again and again and again for more.
Puts huge premium on May governing with agility, patience, charm, deal-making skill (not diktat) + steeliness. Possible? Massive ask.
[RTB: Oh dear, I'm crying with laughter over the very idea]
Say this as someone who in 2010 who had to think - fleetingly - about how another PM's traits might fit (or not) with a big shift in circs.
The idea (that you will hear a lot now) that the PM will suddenly change style & become more collegiate / open etc? Big pinch of salt.
[Hahahahaha]

I think May's tone and approach now could cause even more problems down the line.

She has not won a majority, so there will be a lot that she cannot deliver - she can't change the NHS, or bring back grammar schools (thanks EVEL) or reduce pensions to a double lock but she is carrying on and sounding like she can do whatever she likes.

She can't now deliver any of her national programme - how is she going to be treated when she fails to deliver?

Revenge is a dish best served cold, eh George...

Was this picked up earlier?

@guyverhofstadt
Yet another own goal, after Cameron now May, will make already complex negotiations even more complicated.

I mean that there are a lot of Tories who HATED the way she handled the election and didn't listen to their concerns or what they were passing on from the electorate. It cost a bunch of them their seats because of May's arrogance. Whilst some Tories are called Phillip Shiply, the party needs all Tories now. Keep chipping away at the good ones until they snap at the bullshit.

They will if they think it will loose them their seat.

Those young people who voted Labour, remember them? May's already forgotten them. They won't forgive a liaison with the DUP. There'll be more of them voting next time.

Corbyn needs a much stronger front bench too. I really hope there's an immediate big push from them for cross-party engagement to negotiate Brexit. Get Sir Keir Starmer in there etc.

Feel encouraged but also depressed.

Business as usual from May in this new coalition of chaos is other-worldly (i.e. Guy V's comment that he thought the Belgians invented surrealism). Does the vote say anything clearer about Brexit? Were UKippers who went back to Labour reassured that Corbyn will see Brexit through or simply those who voted leave because of Tory lies?

Small point of order on EVEL. The Conservatives DO have a majority in England - you are all forgetting the 13 Scottish Tory seats get knocked out on EVEL but so do the 46 SNP/LibDem/Lab seats.

England result:
Conservative 297, Labour 226, LibDem 8, Green 1
Vote share of Con 46%, Lab 42%, LibDem 8%, UKIP 2%, Green 2%

Labour haven't won, and very sad that the LibDems didn't improve further though they obviously came so close in a handful of seats. Nick Clegg gave a most statesmanlike speech yesterday. Very sad he's out.

Liam Young‏*@liamyoung*
To be fair Theresa May warned of coalition of chaos propped up by extremist terrorist sympathisers. She just didn't say she'd be leading it.

How will the Fixed Term Parliament Act affect the future ?

Sam Coates Times‏ @SamCoatesTimes
Thread: T May will form a gvt with 318 Tories and 10 DUP - an effective majority of 10.
This is unsustainable in the medium term
Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill may quit voluntarily so that she can stay. This raises questions about how she will function without them.
The DUP has not asked for a specific price to help her. But they will not accept ever support a return to single market membership.
Entirely unclear to me that the Tory party will swallow single market membership. Steve Baker's ERG (70 MPs?) will resist this strongly
If the next leader contestant (Amber Rudd?) puts EEA / single market membership on the table, the Tory party tears itself to shreds
Senior figures think the Tory party will NEVER support EEA / single market membership.
The Tory leadership contenders will have to promise no early election. They cannot deliver it because...
The Fixed Term Parliament Act is still in place. Which MP vote for an election now? No MP wanting to stay will vote for dissolution
I repeat: you almost certainly can't get the votes in Parliament for another election this year
Conclusion: It is entirely unclear what will happen, but it isn’t pretty.

Mick Fealty‏*@mickfealty*
Too few numbers Sam? The DUP are armour plated. Tories will buckle before they do.

^Shit...

Corbyn needs a much stronger front bench too.
YY to that.

We need an opposition, a real one.
One that will put a damper on the strange mix that Tories + DUP will be.

This is doing the rounds on Facebook. Bear in mind (or is that bare? Lack of sleep getting to me now), there's no official coalition at the moment. But:

If you live in a Conservative constituency and are concerned about the dangerous views of the DUP now there is a coalition, Amy has created a template to mail your MP and express how you feel about it.
Regardless of who you voted for, your MP represents you in parliament.
Please share far and wide and encourage your friends and family to do the same. You can also call or arrange to meet your MP face to face if you really want to put the pressure on.

These are the issues:-
The DUP want to make it legal to discriminate against anyone from the LGBT community
The DUP want children to be taught creationism as scientific fact
The DUP want no woman to have access to any type of abortion, and furthermore criminalise anyone offering or seeking that service
The DUP want to bring back the death penalty

Slight problem for me, this describes my current MP 🤦‍♀️