Westminstenders: Christmas Cold, Campaigning, Canvassing and Cancelled Carols

[RedToothBrush]

It looks like a December General Election is on.

The EU have officially extended A50 until 31st January. We have to name an EU Commissioner though.

All that seems left to do is decide between the 9th and 12th December.

The difference between the two is about whether there is any possibility that the WAB can be passed before Parliament dissolves.

A pre-brexit GE is thought to favour the LDs at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives. What the Brexit Party decide to do and where they decide to stand will also be crucial.

I think the party that wins the election will be the one who can convey the idea that they are about 'change' best.

In a sense that makes it harder for Johnson to maintain his poll lead rather than to gain on it, as he still is part of the current government.

This is also why he wanted Philip Hammond out of the party so much. It's an electoral ploy to distance himself from May's government and Cameron's government.

Remember: It was Osborne who was most toxic to the Remain campaign. That's why Hammond had to go for Johnson.

Plenty of potential for Johnson to get tripped up here.

BCF. I'm quite upset about the way the Conservatives are heading.

"Corbyn scares me."

The dozy twat exasperates me, but doesn't scare me

People dying when their benefits are cut - that scares me
Teachers paying their own money to feed hungry children - that scares me too

The economy being permanently damaged by Brexit, so there is less money for everything - that scares me most of all

Can’t find it now I but Aron Banks put out a Tweet saying that the Conservative Party had been infiltrated to such a level by Leave they had taken over the party.

Initially I just thought it was him giving it the big ‘un but looking at all
these resignations of one nation tories it is apparent the Tory party is now in a very different place to the one elected in 2017. Worrying.

*However, with a GE coming up, I'm putting my "if onlys" in a parking space for the duration

• t's not like we can demand Labour hit him over the head and bury the body somewhere.*

I've already said I'd be perfectly happy with a Corbyn minority government. Heck, I'd be happy with a Corbyn majority government if the alternative was a government with the Fatberg and Priti Patel in it.

I just don't understand the lack of realism in the Labour ranks. People are acting as if a Labour majority is a likely outcome, rather than working to minimise the risk of a Tory majority (which is not baked in, but is objectively far more likely).

Treating leavers as 'stupid' is an error. These are people who are experts in their own lives and experiences. Trying to 'culturally appropriate' that badly, won't go down well. Well said.

the Tory party is now in a very different place to the one elected in 2017. Worrying.

So many people will probably still just vote Conservative because they always have without realising the party has mutated into something very different and extremely dangerous:-(.

I will stay up all night for the election results for the first time ever because I truly fear that this election has the potential to be a final tipping point into this country falling into a dark and dangerous place.

(And I'm normally an extreme optimist!!)

That should be Corbyn scares me
He says something, then says no you got that wrong I mean X. Then a day later no, I meant Y
Then if someone leans on him ,Z

I thought you were describing Johnson there.

I know of 5 people lagging it as Disabled.

Well done you. Here's your

.

I've just looked at Mundell's voting history for the constituency I moved into last year, and am absolutely disgusted.

www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11970/david_mundell/dumfriesshire%2C_clydesdale_and_tweeddale/votes

From flogging off national forests, to reducing disability benefit, reducing funds for local government, ending financial support for 16-19s in training, increased privatisation of the NHS, more restrictions on trade unions, not increasing tax for over £150,000 income, reduced welfare spending, reduced housing benefit, reduced spending on jobs for long-term young unemployed...

What a disgusting excuse of a 'representative' for his constituents. I'm speechless.

However, his majority was only around 800 last time apparently, closely chased by SNP. I will be busting a gut to try and influence that locally.

Here you go

twitter.com/i/status/1189848235034185728

He says something, then says no you got that wrong I mean X. Then a day later no, I meant Y. Then if someone leans on him ,Z He can't control his party, and you can't get him out.

Says Mummy2017 about Boris Johnson.

David C v Ed M
Came down to trust.
Shy Tory voters came out in force to block ED.
I think you may find the same happens this time.
Leave v remain.
Plus who do you trust more.
Corbyn had his moment, and he fluffed it.
He will never get that loving feeling back.
Boris is an idiot, but he is our idiot, and we will back him.

red That's why I was thinking that on reflection Corbyn might do better than some centrist Labour leader,
who was regarded as part of the Establishment offering more of the same.

The Tory Brexiters who want lower taxes and to pull up the ladder will never vote Labour anyway,
but some who voted in anger at austerity might do so

Treating leavers as 'stupid' is an error. These are people who are experts in their own lives and experiences.

Plainly some voters are stupid, and gullible, and expert in very little.

But they are still entitled to a vote.

There is significant political mileage in campaigning for those votes, and one of the curious things about Brexit is how successful it has been in concentrating low-information voters into a single voting group.

Anyone who felt frightened of Miliband is never going to seriously consider voting Labour

However, his majority was only around 800 last time apparently

Excellent, I see that the Greens have stood down from DC&Tdale to give SNP a clearer run.

Anyone who felt frightened of Miliband is never going to seriously consider voting Labour

On social media there are a lot of bad faith posts about not voting for Corbyn, from people who if you dig a little deeper turn out to have thought Miliband was a raving communist.

In much the same way that "leaver nows" on social media almost always turn out to be big fat liars.

Excellent news for Grieve - it gives him a chance

Rob Castell@_robcastell

You will have seen Dominic Grieve doing the rounds this morning saying that the Lib Dems are standing aside in support of him.

I am said Lib Dem PPC and it's true.

These are unprecedented times - we've been talking for ages.

Great endorsement of Johnson there Mummmy

I'm in a similar type of area to bellini. Strong labour leave seat. If we had a form of PR then I'd probably vote Lib Dem to make clear my desire to remain, even though I strongly disapprove of their position on the GRA/ erosion of the Equality Act. However I'd far rather have Labour than risk any chance of the Brexshitters getting a seat here so am probably edging towards Labour. No one ever comes canvassing here so I may have to hunt down the candidates to ask some questions before I make my final decision.

My parents are in the Workington constituency and I was teasing them about dad being a Workington man. Safe to say that's two votes definitely not going to the Tories

However, his majority was only around 800 last time apparently

You're quite right, derxa and that will teach me to listen to a Tory.

Looking online, it appears his majority is nearer 10,000, but on the gumpf posted through my door the other day, he said there were only 800 votes in it.

It was a plea to let him know if people were going to vote for him so he didn't have to visit them, but could concentrate on other houses.

Perhaps I was in such a hurry to bin it I misread, but I'm SURE he said it was down to just 800.

Athelstane - iirc, the cravenly loyal Fluffy's majority went back up to 9,000 in 2017 (on the back of an anti-Indyref2 campaign from wee Ruthie) - his 800 narrow squeak was in 2015.

Here's hoping that he'll be back in dirty underpants time this election - even though this time (unlike 2017), the SNP will be campaigning explicitly on an Indyref2 platform (as well as its pro-EU principles). Maybe the farmers will finally have realised that the Conservative Party under BJ is not the saviour that they think it is - but I'm not holding my breath I think it's the one safe seat they have left