Batley and Spen by election

[maras2]

Labour hold.

@B0G0F

The community is divided, and pretending it isn't is not going to help anyone. There is a lot of work to do to rebuild trust with Labour, and I think it is wrong for Labour to pretend the results were a resounding success.

The Labour party needs to rebuild trust within the ranks.

Why did Labour lose trust in Batley & Spen?

"Why did Labour lose trust in Batley & Spen...."

Because a large number of the electorate believe Keir Starmer has been too decisive in dealing with the problem of anti-semitism that was hanging over the Labour Party.

Really? That's terrible.

And they trust the lot that's in now?

Question should be why they only won by 300 votes - that’s not a fantastic victory, it’s a knife edge.

No major political party would condemn the fact that a local teacher was still in hiding fearing for his life for teaching the curriculum.

George Galloway took a lot of the votes.

George Galloway took a lot of the votes…

over 20% - allegedly with the support of certain Labour elements looking for a reason to oust Starmer. “By their friends shall ye know them”

People don't feel represented, they are disillusioned with Labour and feel our votes are taken for granted. Not happy to see the mud-slinging that we are apparently all anti-Semitic here...for goodness sake, what a sweeping generalisation.

It doesn't help that Labour pretend everything is just fine and dandy here, and that division doesn't exist. Tracy Brabin was very unpopular, and I'm disappointed she was voted mayor of West Yorkshire.

Why was Tracy Brabin unpopular in the constituency? I assume Jo Cox was well-liked.

I don't live in the constituency but I didn't take to Tracy Brabin because she was a familiar face on telly a few decades ago, so think of her as an actor.
I also disapproved of that dress.

I think my main reason was she got to the Shadow Cabinet when she hadn't been an MP for long, and I thought she was making a big deal out of having been pals with Jo Cox.

Sorry if that seems a bit shallow.

I appreciate that Kim Leadbeater will have had votes because of who her sister was, and that her standing as a candidate might have been driven by the tragic circumstances, but I hope that she will be a good constituenc MP. It can't be easy for her.

@HermioneWeasley

Question should be why they only won by 300 votes - that’s not a fantastic victory, it’s a knife edge.

No major political party would condemn the fact that a local teacher was still in hiding fearing for his life for teaching the curriculum.

Spot on