Westminstenders: Election Special 3

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Also I think it worth pointing out that this same pattern of metropolitan cities versus small towns is one replicated in the US and in Europe.

To date Europe has been more resilient to small town trends being dominant. This is probably a lot due to greater equality. But the pattern of domestic migration is still in progress there. No one has really managed to reverse this growing political polarisation and change. And this trend is based a lot on a generational shift and balance of power.

It's manifested a lot more extremely in the UK because of Brexit, because of inequality and demographics.

Ireland has escaped it more because of a younger population for example but the trend is still there.

I do think it will manifest in different ways throughout Europe but will also have the same underlying trends.

It wasn't a vote for Boris though.

I really don't beleive it was.

It was a vote for an end to this. I know, I know. But his Get Brexit Done message hit home

Broadly agree.

I've heard it said by very ardent Remainers.

I’m sad not overjoyed because Labour have done this to themselves. With Momentum. By refusing to listen.

Sonia Poulton @soniapoulton
Not for a second do I believe Con victory is because we are overwhelmingly a nation of greedy racists who don't care for the NHS, disabled or poor. Liberal Left demonise without seeking deeper meaning why something has occurred. Introspection needed. Big time.

There were factions of the Lib Dems and Labour who told natural allies to fuck off and they were not welcome in their respective parties because they 'had the wrong views' or were not politically pure enough whilst they also failed to recognise their own weaknesses such as antisemitism. This militancy alienated.

As mentioned before I’m in Scotland so don’t come across many Tory voters on social media tbh. (I’m aware that it skews what I see btw)

But someone has just posted on a friend’s status that they voted Tory because they couldn’t afford labours tax rises... or to have to wait for their benefits again if universal credits changes.

I’m genuinely doing some sort of goldfish impression...

And on that note...

John Mann @lordjohnmann
I can this morning announce that as government advisor on antisemitism that I will be instigating an investigation this January into the role of the Canary and other websites in the growth of antisemitism in the United Kingdom.

But Islamophobia also needs addressing...

I do wonder how all those Labour-turned-Conservative voters in the north are feeling today as they hear repeatedly about 'biggest Cons majority since the 80s'. Most will remember the 80s and what it meant for them and their families. Some may today be wondering what on earth they have done.

DH has joined the Tory party since the referendum. He was Labour but feels the party left him under Corbyn and has since drifted right.

He grew up in an area hit very, very hard by the Thatcher years. To my surprise he didn't seem cock-a-hoop this morning. But then again maybe he was just being considerate of my feelings.

I asked him if he was pleased and he asked me about what. Quote: 'About seeing Corbyn annihilated?' I suggested he must be happy about his party's victory. His reply was that politics no longer really exists in this country.

Interesting.

Hopefully all the people who are new blue voters will actually hold him to account.

He is responsible for Brexit now.

Yep - I'm very much looking forward to the media pressing the government hard about the racism in the Conservative party. Oh no wait...

Ed Davey and Sal Brinton (LD president) are interim LD leaders.

My suspicion is that the leadership contest will go a lot like Vince Cable's annontment for a purely practical reason: the party can't afford another internal party election at present. And he's the only one with a degree of experience and public profile left bar Farron whose already done the job.

I'm a Brit (and also Irish since 2017) in Spain. I'm gutted but not surprised to be honest. I will be at the immigration office on 2 Jan to change the nationality on my residency card to Irish and when (eventually) my application is processed, I will be taking Spanish citizenship.
I think this election was about Brexit and I agree that it's a city/rural divide. We see the same here in Spain with huge swathes of empty inland rural areas feeling left behind in every respect and voting PP or Vox (fascists). It's a culture war.
So, it's time Britain got Brexit done because this will never end. Maybe it will be crap enough that it will force change somehow. But I think there are some bad years ahead.

Gloating is never a good look particularly when people have genuine concerns about the direction of the country. People also had the democratic right to speak out about brexit.

"Some may today be wondering what on earth they have done. "

And still you patronise and wonder how we are where we are. Stop.

Christ, you’d think the bloody gloaters would have the decency to leave us to lick our wounds for five minutes but no, they can’t even manage to be gracious in victory.

Anyone got insight into, or can direct me to analysis of, what the outcome of the GE is going to be for NI?

Will Stormont have to get back to work now that Arlene's Brexit influence is gone?

That DUP are not longer needed is good news

And still you patronise and wonder how we are where we are. Stop.

My grandfather lived in Germany during the rise of Nazism in the 30s. He used to ask people what they were thinking. ‘We’re not stupid, don’t patronise us, we know what we’re voting for’.

Entwined cats to mark my place

Slow start to the day as I only went to bed at 6

Next Labour Leader?

Nandy, Phillips and Cooper all have to be in the running.

Thornberry needs to do the decent thing and rule herself out. Another Leader from Islington who is a close Corbyn ally won't work.

I think Starmer is also in the running but I also think he suffers from the same problem as Thornberry in being from London but he is at least regarded as more of a centrist and not as close to Corbyn.

Long Bailey is the other contender. She's Northern and female BUT she's also from a very metropolitan constituency and too close to Corbyn. Also see Angela Rayner though she's slightly more working class and in a constituency less metropolitain in character.

Long Bailey will probably get it because of the party membership seeing the Northern female bit but not identifying the significance and importance of the metropolitan versus small town Labour Problem.

Nandy I think is too small town for Labour Party Membership tastes and she's almost viewed as 'backwards' for being a 'leave sympathiser' and calls to try and go for a deal.

Cooper and Phillips both are regarded as centrists which might be both a help or a hindrance. It depends on if there are others who stand. Cooper I think is too associated with Blair and Brown years and Phillips too goby for some tastes.

Not sure who else would put name in the ring.

Back to the conversation about Scotland random : I thought you might be an ex pat. I am surprised you don't think the general mass of Scots have a different groupthink, as it were. I know we are not The Borg but PP would have to accept that a Remain voting Tory is at the very least unusual : unless in the Borders. Which used ot be liberal back in the day.

Even Scots farmers vote differently!

NI more republican and centrist.

More ignored.

Politically irrelevant to Johnson.

Well the feeling here in NI is that it almost certainly is going to result in a border in the Irish Sea for goods
Which is
A. Separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.
B. Likely to have huge economic impact to our transport industry in NI. The cost of the checks and time delays for drivers who are already hard pushed to stay within their driver hours.