Westminstenders: From Uxbridge to...? Part deux GE 2019 special.

[placemats]

New thread.

General election 12th December 2019. Results out on Friday 13th. Unlucky day for some.

So this election is unusual in that it will focus primarily on Brexit and referendums with domestic issues tagged alongside, for some parties.

As above

God, losing another intelligent Tory who put nation above party. What a shame. And four years ago, I wouldn't have believed that I'd be writing that about Philip Hammond, but these are the dark days we're living through.

Oh Phillip, another of the few grown ups gone.

Placemats 💐

I'm not sure what Jo Swinson is playing at

@tobee - silly buggers?

Btw who is still a Tigger? I forget!

You have to wonder why some people are celebrating Hammond not standing dont you.

Guto Bebb is not standing again either in Aberconwy - he was a relatively decent "One Nation" Conservative according to my friend who is in his constituency (which will be why he is now a rebel/independent )

He only had a majority of 635 over Labour (LibDems and Plaid Cymru miles behind). Methinks the constituency will turn red

I'm not sure what Jo Swinson is playing at

Being a frustrated Tory, given her voting record and rather dim setting of red lines. Has anyone ever seen her and Theresa May in the same room ?

If people think the LibDems got it in the neck over tuition fees, they'll be history if they let the Tories in.

Pretty certain my votes going Labour, so it's less of an issue here. But she's certainly not winning back anyone who defected from LibDems to Labour in 2015/2017 ....

I suspect Swinson is using the BJ tactic - IF you say it loud enough, with enough conviction and repeated enough (as it will be in the coming weeks) it may well become true. Tinkerbell Lessons.

placemats

Sorry to hear Phillip Hammond standing down, but not surprised.

I think Swinson's an idiot, and I won't be voting for LDs therefore. Our seat has been strongly Tory for decades; a neighbouring seat has a fantastic independent candidate - I so wish she were standing here. My choice is really LD or Labour to get Tories out, and, sadly, LDs were more likely to do it. I think I'll be voting Labour anyway, it's where my heart lies, and the LDs are delusional atm, imo.

What have we all done in a past life that we ended up with three such utter muppets as the leaders of the national parties.

I admit I'd not realised quite how hatstand Jo Swinson was in advance of her win.

I almost wish for a huge surge of Green Party votes so that Johnson, Corbyn and Swinson all have to fall on their swords afterwards.

The Brexit Company is not a membership organisation so I ignore them

I admit I'd not realised quite how hatstand Jo Swinson was in advance of her win.

There were a few warnings on these threads, as I recall. Pretty certain I posted a piece summing up her more-Tory-than-Tory voting record.

I guess she thinks (and I really am stretching some definitions here) that by playing the Corbyn red-line card, she'll win over any wavering Tories. Which suggests she doesn't really know much about Labour, Tory, or LibDem supporters and voters. I don't think there are many wavering previously Tory voters in a Tory/LibDem marginal that are going to suddenly go "I'll now vote LibDem because it won't let Corbyn in". And even if there are they'll be swamped by the Labour waverers who now won't vote LibDem.

What have we all done in a past life that we ended up with three such utter muppets as the leaders of the national parties.

Serious answer ? Won WW2. We never had to rebuild our politics from the ground up. Instead, we carried on as before, only with the bravest and brightest of a generation put six feet under .

I asked ages ago if there wasn't something about the rhythm of WW1/WW2 that is only now starting to emerge. Like a picture on an old Polaroid ....

So what do we think the RMT is playing at? 27 day strike in December on South Western Rail (for those of you out of area, a major line into London, will affect commuters, Xmas shopping and treats - and those going in for other reasons like hospital appointments.

Allegedly they are still bleating about guards on trains. SWR has made clear they are not removing guards from trains during this franchise.

So is the RMR trying to undermine Labour? Do they want Boris to win? Why do this around election time (they're not striking election day). Are they actually pro-Brexit but if so why, given the bonfire of employment rights that is likely after a Boris Brexit?

I think wavering Lib Dem voters really depends where in the country you are.
I only know ones wavering from the Tory side who would be much more likely to vote for her after she stated this anti Corbyn stuff.
I'm sure in other areas the opposite would be true.
Although looking through history I would have thought it made more sense for LD to appeal more to soft Tories.
Although this maybe doesn't take account of Urban remainer areas.

So what do we think the RMT is playing at? 27 day strike in December on South Western Rail

Winter of discontent ? After all, we're riding a crest of nostalgia at the moment. I've even heard kids looking forward to the Christmas Morecambe and Wise special before the Bond movie.

Been out canvassing today in a marginal constituency. It is all very messy and complicated out there. No one said they would vote Labour or Tory. Everyone seemed very angry. Many suggested they would vote Lib Dem because they want to remain but refused to vote for Corbyn. Many just won't vote. They all (bar a few old fanatics) hated BJ - but suggested they would vote for him just so that we leave and get on with it - even though they want to remain! I feel depressed after that - and much less hopeful than I do when reading mumsnet strangely.

You have to wonder why some people are celebrating Hammond not standing dont you.

Because - and you will have to excuse my language - they are stupid partisan fuckwits who can't see beyond the end of their noses.

Hammond isn't a political hero like Grieve, but he is a competent pragmatic politician (lots of my colleagues know him from his time as transport minister and speak highly of him and his ability to handle detail). And even the tories are going to need competent pragmatic politicians if they are going to deliver policy and get elected again.

Shame about Guto Bebb too. I know less about him but he seemed a decent sort. All of us should want a few more decent sorts on both the front and back benches on both sides of the house.

Shame about Guto Bebb too.

Quite a few years ago Guto Bebb was involved in a small business mentoring scheme in my area, teaching people the basics of business, I did nothing but argue with him but he was a very genuine and sincere guy allthough I did quote Nye Bevan at him, and a fair amount of Marx and Keynes but it was before he was an MP so it doesnt count

Seeing as we are all in party political broadcast mode, I'll vote for anyone who keeps Corbyn out.

I honestly find it chilling watching the Conservative Party take-over - knowing that a lot of people will stick their heads in the sand and vote for this new Party, bearing the Conservative Party name, anyway.

It's beyond grim.