Westministenders: Election Special 2

[RedToothBrush]

Exit poll

Con majority of 68.

65 seats regarded technically as still too close to call. But that could mean an even bigger majority.

Blyth Valley has seen a 10% swing to the cons in line with the exit poll. 1st shock of the night

"Increase in number of abstentionist MPs increases size of effective Conservative majority by 1"

It reduces the number of hard right MPs by 1, so a net positive
Enough neo-fascists already on the Tory benches

Reduction in DUP removes any pressure on BJ to try to renege on the NI frontstop - he wouldn't dare anger the irish American lobby anyway

Corbyn has a novelty value to certain extent in 2017.

Anyone know when Jess Phillips' seat is likely to declare? I think I'm going to stay up for that then head to bed.

Had not has

And then think about not reading, watching or hearing any news for the next five years.

Zac Goldsmith loses Richmond Park to Sarah Olney LD

Jo Swinson's East Dunbartonshire vote expected imminently

Goldsmith loses

At least that reduces the (high) number of hard right racists on the Tory benches by one

Jess Phillips Brum Yardley should be before 4am

Jon Lansman on R4 now - says it's all down to Brexit. Well, he would, wouldn't he?

Fuck me this is grim. That said, as a Scot I'm taking solace in the way the SNP seem to be walking it so far. I was always vaguely pro-indy but it's certainly looking to me like independence is the only way to go now.

Thanks to everyone who has posted on these threads over the last couple of years. I'm just a lurker with nothing interesting to say but I've been reading daily and these threads are very valuable to me.

Thanks Red et al

Hm, maybe not then, I'm flagging.

And I was really hoping IDS and Raab would go.

Sigh.

Yes where agree about not watching the news.

Labour hold Wolverhampton SE

key difference 2017 / 2019 GEs

1. Labour goes full-out far left in manifesto.
2. Corbyn loses Leavers, who feel actively betrayed.
3. Shine goes off Corbyn after 4.5 years in leadership made his crapness manifest. Boris as a new PM running against establishment figures such as Blair and Major looks fresh in comparison.
4. Labour's antisemitism became undeniable to anyone with eyes.
5. Boris channels the populism dominating global politics. May was so charisma-free that even her attempts at populism looked fake.
6. Endless months of Labour + LDs blocking Brexit and playing "clever" games stirred up fierce anger in Leave constituencies.
7. Boris does nothing in his manifesto to harm his own supporters.

There's probably much more, but those seem like the main ones.

Raab would have been out (just), as would IDS, if Labour and Libdems had worked together as a proper Remain alliance

Sky forecasting Tory majority of 66-86

@tobee I think the Lib Dem’s problem was two fold. Jo Swinson is just not likeable and secondly even the most ardent Remainer does not believe in revocation of article 50 without a second referendum.

It's a self care / family thing. I've spent three years glued to Twitter and mostly lurking on this thread, and it's been great in the sense that I haven't felt alone in my perspective - that there are sane people out there - but this level of anxiety and focus and attention isn't good for my mental health, so probably having a long-term impact on my physical health, and certainly impacting on my relationship with my children (time/attention). I need to focus on the small things again. And the small joys of life.

One of the advantages of staying up late to watch the results: Christmas tree now decorated

But...but I can't remember if I asked this earlier in this thread...excuse its been a long night.

If the North feel disenfranchised and unheard and are experiencing economic hardships, and it is the Conservatives who have been governing for the past several years, are they not responsible for the aforementioned disenfranchisement?

SNP gain Stirling from Tories

Had a friend absolutely gushing after meeting Swinson yesterday in my neck of the woods. 🤷🏻‍♀️