Westminstenders: From Uxbridge to...?

[RedToothBrush]

Speaker Bercow is gone.

Speculation that Johnson is parachuting into Rutland.

Rumours that the Brexit Party won't contest the election.

A new speaker to be elected on Monday.

Parliament to dissolve next week.

Brexit? Oh we've forgotten that until Friday 13th...

Another good Christmas present is the whimsical / subversive Irish border book,
"I Am the Border, So I Am" by @IrishBorder

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Am-Border-So-ebook/dp/B07NQ325NC/ref=sr11_1?keywords=border+irish&qid=1572600232&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

General election 2019: Leaders banned from lavishing their star power on local seats

I assume that volunteers who turn up from other places and pay their own way will not be affected.

My worry though Queens is that Leave voters in the North/Midlands will vote for anyone but Labour which could be the Conseratives or other parties/independents which then lets the Conservatives through. This could work the other way like in Peterborough where Labour won as the Leave vote was split, hopefully. I wish this election was over with. I am from a working class background so part of me feels sad that many of a similar background feel that Labour the party that was set up to represent them feel that it no longer speaks for them because they are ignoring their vote.

peregrina Sadly can't happen, as 3 Dec summit is before the GE and BJ will remain caretaker PM until at least 13 December,
until a new PM has visited HMQ - may take a few days btw if it is a hung Parliament

My fears are now being discussed on Sky News.

"I assume that volunteers who turn up from other places and pay their own way will not be affected."

They'll have to be careful not to accept any central funding, even hotel costs
Hopefully Remainers will be watching out for the sloppy accounting that landed some Tory MPs in court last GE

PMK. I'll miss John Bercow

Bother yes, getting my months muddled there!

Re Labour not supporting working class people - there looked to be a lot in their manifesto to say that they did. I haven't seen anything from Boris Johnson to suggest that the Tories even have an idea that working class people exist.

I have turned up to support neighbouring constituencies when they need a helping hand and no one has paid me a penny to do so. The best you get is free coffee and biscuits, cake if you are lucky. You regard the cost of getting there as your contribution to the cause, as well as your time.

Important announcement from Farage Company shortly: Farage's ego vs his wish to Brexit

It would hit the Tory vote more, if Faragists stand in their existing or target seats

I posted how some Tory Brexiter MPs have texted panic pleas to Richard Tice not to stand candidates in their seats.
We'll see if he listened / cared:

Steven Swinford@Steven_Swinford

Nigel Farage's is expected to announce the Brexit Party will target hundreds of seats today

There are concerns a more focused 20-seat strategy would see Farage and the Brexit Party effectively 'no platformed' during election
- no party political broadcasts, no leadership debates

Beth Rigby@BethRigby

This doesn’t surprise me in the least.
After the storming performance in the EU elections in May, Farage will want max impact for #GE2019

They could just stand in all Labour / Remain party seats

I don't live too far from Rutland, if BoJo changes seat, I'd be happy to offer my free time for any other party!

I agree Peregrina that Labour does represent working class people.

Don't know whether it's a good or a bad thing if the Farage Party stands in a large number of seats.

For god's sake people of Bromsgrove South do some detailed research over the next 5 weeks. Look beneath the surface. Look at what at the national politicians DO -and not what they say. Look at voting records.

Re the Worcestershire Local Council Result - Con gain from Lab.

Jenni Russell@jennirsl

Why are so many decent moderate MPs leaving Parliament?
They’re under pressure as never before:

abused by the public,
and driven out by a Tory party under Johnson that’s become a narrow Brexit cult.

Brexit bearpit leaves no room for decent MPs

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hatred-is-too-much-to-bear-for-principled-mps-l5zvms559

Principled politicians are being driven out by the intolerance of their parties and the public

Not since the referendum have I been so distressed by British politics.

The list of politicians quitting either the Commons or their parties at this election, driven out by relentless abuse, vicious partisan faction-fighting,
or because the mainstream parties have become so extreme that they will not tolerate the principled moderates who used to have a home in them,
includes many of the most talented and honourable people in the House.

Our politics no longer has a place for them.
That should scare all of us.

The merciless hostility routinely directed at MPs has become too much for some to bear.
Heidi Allen, the former Conservative MP turned Lib Dem, yesterday quit politics, exhausted by the “nastiness and intimidation that has become commonplace”.

Though heard reports this morning that Farage said Boris's deal was rubbish and Trump couldn't do trade deals on it so maybe it's a good thing if he is on the airwaves harming the Tory vote. As the saying goes in politics 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' and all that.

Bigchoc just seen your post about Farage possibly standing in only Labour/Remain seats, that could let the Tories through in some seats. When is it going to be announced ?

They'll have to be careful not to accept any central funding, even hotel costs

Fluffy's (David Mundell, ex cravenly loyal Scottish Secretary for State and for long enough the lonely Scottish Tory MP) 2015 election expenses were somewhat suspect

....he won by 800 votes

https://zelo-street.blogspot.com/2016/05/tory-expenses-mundell-miracle.html?m=1

Idly musing if there's a way to combine "banks" for Aaron and food ?

Also idly musing if the Labour strategy should simply swerve Brexit (that's the Tory boys toy) and just pump out the message if you want to keep the NHS, it's Labour all the way ?

I recommend you all watch this:

www.channel4.com/programmes/how-europe-stole-my-mum/on-demand/69330-001

Review here by Lucy Mangan

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/01/how-europe-stole-my-mum-review-brexit-miracle

Also idly musing if the Labour strategy should simply swerve Brexit (that's the Tory boys toy) and just pump out the message if you want to keep the NHS, it's Labour all the way ?

Yes yes, totally agree with this.

The NHS is the Labour trump card and Trump himself has given them the gift of clearly aligning the Conservative Party with himself and the US desire to feast on the NHS.

And an autumn/winter GE should help to keep the NHS in the public consciousness

Farage will stand down against MPs who will be prepare to renounce on Johnson’s deal.

Interesting choice for ERGers.

Farage is targeting Labour leave seats the most however judging by the chat.

Open to a Leave pact until 14th November.

Says WA is not leave.

I thought Farage had been very, very quiet, here we go...