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

[DeRigueurMortis]

Labour hold Middlesbrough

[Deadsouls]

I think I feel....bewildered.

I can't really get my head around the whole 'any change is better than no change' thing, and just, you know, fuck it.

[tobee]

colouring Don't have words to console you.

[ginandtonicformeplease]

DH is from a northern town. Ten years ago an elderly uncle of his gave me a lecture about how any working class man who didn't vote labour is a traitor. For the first time in his 80-odd years he did not vote Labour - I suspect many of the rest of DH's family are the same. The reason given is that Corbyn is for London, not the rest of the country.

We live in a Conservative stronghold. Almost full employment but below national average wage. We'll be one of the last to declare but I suspect that it'll be an even stronger stronghold, and this time because of Brexit.

[tabulahrasa]

“What I really don't get is the massive overwhelming sentiment of "Labour lost because Corbyn is inept and prejudiced".... but then voted in Boris Johnson. Probably the only politician in the country that you could argue is MORE inept and prejudiced. Makes no sense to me.”

Exactly... so it’s not about that IMO anyway... it’s about stuff like tax, sadly.

[bellinisurge]

"The only reason people mentioned Corbyn on the doorsteps is that they have been bombarded with negative coverage. If you sling enough mud etc. "

I hope that after a good night's rest people stop kidding themselves about this.

[tobee]

I understand that gin. About Corbyn being for London. Except... the jump to vote for Boris Johnson and the Tories....

[ColonelCathcart]

But Jeremy Corbyn has handed a lot of it to people on a plate.

Would agree with this. For all the “he’s wearing the wrong coat” bollocks there was a lot of “he was present but not active at a ceremony commemorating terrorists” and all that kind of thing. Never mind the anti-Semitism.

[tobee]

Hey bellini! How are you?

[CendrillonSings]

chomalungma

Looks like you were 100% right to warn us that there was no way the Tories would get 43% of the vote...

46% looks more likely at the moment!

[RedToothBrush]

a lot of north south divide plays into this.

The reason given is that Corbyn is for London, not the rest of the country.

London is percieved as rich. there is also the issue of things like investment in infrustructure like transport. And this sense of unfairness.

[BigChocFrenzy]

"Tax is a big answer to this question
Inheritence and Income."

So, money

If people have just become much more selfish about hanging onto their money, Labour can't really compete:
"we'll chuck your sick kids on hospital floors too"

not really Labour principles, even if it is Tory ones.

By the next GE, Brexit should either be a non-issue, if BJ has fudged a deal,
or will have caused sufficient economic damage that a bog-standard Labour leader would walk it

[BigChocFrenzy]

There seems great resentment of those who actually produce the nation's wealth,
by many of those it subsidises

[MarshaBradyo]

It’s spending too. Labour’s promises were over done.

[Apileofballyhoo]

Tax is a big answer to this question

Inheritence and Income.

I find it hard to believe that people are so selfish and short sighted.

[BigChocFrenzy]

"I find it hard to believe that people are so selfish and short sighted."

They believe they will never need to receive those services for which they don't want to pay

[CendrillonSings]

In its box until Brexit sends the economy over the cliff - so next GE

If the exit poll is correct, then Labour will need to gain 135 seats in one go next time for an overall majority.

If Scotland leaves, you can increase the projected Conservative majority by about 70...

[RedToothBrush]

Corbyn himself is percieved as rich and 'not like me, but pretends to be'.

Johnson doesnt pretend.

Also see local politics and how money has been allocated to Northern Labour councils by national government and places where mps have been labour forever.

There is a sense that Labour failed at this level to represent the interests of trad labour supports.

[lonelyplanetmum]

So if the Torys now depend on the working class vote, will they have to marginalise ERG priorities and adapt to retain their new fan base?

[Hazardexhausted]

Birmingham Northfield just nooooo. The Tories think your in Wales!!!

[Dusty01]

Tory's won't adapt to anything. They don't give a shit about their voters. Once they're in they'll do what they like. That's what I think, anyway.

[borntobequiet]

Probably more true than we would like
www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/voters-surrender-to-their-inner-bastard-2-20191212191767

[prettybird]

Hadn't picked up that the new thread had started so I'll re-post what I'd commented towards the end of that thread...

I could try to see the positive (which I'd mentioned in previous threads) that whatever the result, it was/would be a Win:Win for the SNP/pro Indy supporters (who are more than just the SNP ).

But I can't, because I can see how damaging this is going to be for the poorest and most vulnerable even if they were conned into voting for it across the whole of the UK

[ginandtonicformeplease]

tobee I don't really understand it either. They're not Brexit fanatics either.

In our area we have had no serious investment for decades - we're in the Midlands so nowhere near the 'northern powerhouse'. We don't even have public transport on Sundays FFS. There is the definite sense of being abandoned by the rest of the country.

My first choice would be emigration, but when you have a chronic long term health condition nobody wants to take you, even if you (and DH) both meet skilled migration conditions.

[FoldyRoll]

In 2010 everyone said that whoever won then would afterwards spend a generation out of power because of the degree of austerity that would inevitably be imposed. We saw how that worked out. Where is the breaking point where people say "no more"?