I'll sort of be staying up to see the results come in but watching a movie and switching over to take a looksie now and then.
Tamworth not looking as hopeful as was thought as Labour/ Libdems both saying they may have split the vote enough to let the Tories win...
If that is the case it shows a lack of big picture planning from both the opposition parties AND that tactical voting might not be the silver bullet I and many others wish it to be.
Let's see.
I have faith that voters can see what they need to do now. Still to close to call. Neither will be announced 'till tomorrow though, will they? Not fast counting seats.
Let's wait for the results but...if a split opposition vote in Tamworth has given a winning path to that loathsome cock of a tory candidate it should be the incentive for Lab & LDs to re-think their electioneering and campaigning strategies.
Anyone for tactical voting?
If that is the case it shows a lack of big picture planning from both the opposition parties AND that tactical voting might not be the silver bullet I and many others wish it to be.
Tactical voting can best work if the opposition parties agree to be tactical too. It should be the first priority of both Labour and LibDem to get this Tory shower out. They know how this can be achieved (i.e. a "pre-election coalition") but do they have the political will?
ive been really enjoying this podcast on Dories & the mid beds byelection, some proper lol moments with my headphones on
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g8s2y3?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
my predictions
Tamworth
- labour 40
tories 25
rfm + ukip 17
lib dem 7
Mid beds
-
<li style="text-align: left;">
Tories 35
Labour 30
lib dem 25
grn 3
ukip/rfm 7
There's less than 18 months to the next general election so it's not critical. I don't have any party affiliation other than a very strong "never conservative" ethos, but if there's a split vote and they get the seats back, it's almost a cautionary tale for the other parties to stop being morons and work smart.
Based on the polls, the GE should be a labour landslide, but there are still the "shy tories" to contend with.
Also, it would be nice for all of the opposition parties to get a bit of a kick to remind them not to take our votes for granted.
hmmm
https://twitter.com/willglloyd/status/1715125330619326763?t=fUQxLZavB0GLC47f7uF5qw&s=19
postal votes apparently looking good for Labour in Tamworth
the tamworth candidate who said "some out-of-work parents who cannot afford to feed their children should 'f*** off'? and subsequently said "sorry if I've offended somebody".... hmmm
Followed by:
'Obviously it is not something I would share now in today's world.
'We obviously mature and have different opinions than we do three years ago.'
🙂
And still a front runner in the election...
Tamworth not looking as hopeful as was thought as Labour/ Libdems both saying they may have split the vote enough to let the Tories win…
If that is the case it shows a lack of big picture planning from both the opposition parties AND that tactical voting might not be the silver bullet I and many others wish it to be.<br /><br />
tactical voting is good, if people do it. Splitting the vote and allowing Tory to win is an example of why you need tactical voting, not an argument against it.
I think they mean that tactical voting is needed, but if the electorate and parties don't get behind it... then we could be in big trouble come the general election.
I'm hopeful that voters know what to do now, even if those planning election strategy for the opposition parties seem not to.
As a voter... FPTP can force you to vote for your second, third or even fourth preference in order to stop yet another Tory MP being returned, and helping the numbers add up to allow yet another five years of Tory *BLANK*.
Don't split the vote. Kick them out.
Neither will be announced ’till tomorrow though, will they
Damn,I think you're are right.
Ah well, I'll still be up watching a film as my insomnia is off the scale these days.
‘We obviously mature and have different opinions than we do three years ago.’
🙂
And still a front runner in the election…
Echoing what you guys said above, if the any Tory vote is split, better to learn that lesson now than in the GE.
Unbelievable and terrifying in equal measure that he could still easily win this.
130 for Tamworth
330 for mid beds
(or maybe the other way around)
A LibDem MP at the Mid Beds count suggested that Labour had won - let's hope she's right.
Both announcements expected in the next half hour. 🤞🏻
Do note the turnout though, 65% in general election in 2019 and about 23% yesterday. It's always low in by-elections but in absolute terms it may be that the non-Conservative voters turned up and the Conservative voters abstained, rather than voters switching. Tamworth does have a history of big swings but the number of people actually switching is probably quite low and mostly people are just put off.
Indeed. But in the 57th safest Tory seat in the country, many of their past voters stayed at home unprepared to turn out to "stop Labour". This seat could well slip back to a small majority for the Tories at the general election... but many much less safe seats are now up for grabs. Even ones as "safe" as this one might be as well. Tactical voting will be needed though.
Mid Beds. soon to declare.
Two for two, the sooner an election is called the better.
It does make the current PM look like a squatter... so few people in the UK want him there. He really should call a general election. He has no mandate of his own, and very little public support, even amongst past Tory voters.
LibDems performed very well in this seat. There's an opportunity for the Tories to take this seat back if at the general election if it becomes a three way campaign. I hope they don't win it back. And I hope the LibDems can take many other seats off the Tories as well. Parties need to be careful where they focus their efforts.
I can't believe that. I'm thinking Dorres will gladly see this result as a headache for Sunak, and a catylist for the Government's already imminent demise, laying the ground for the Johnston/Rees Mogg/Anderson etc. post-truth bullshit brigade to take over the Party.
Tamworth was a drubbing, pure and simple, horrendous result for Sunak.
Mid Beds was more complex with the involvement of the Lib Dems, I was worried that they'd split the vote and that the Tories would cling onto this previously rock solid safe seat by a gnats pube.
As it was, the actual result suggests that the LD campaign managed to peel enough Tory voters off to let Labour through.
As has been the case for sometime, if Starmer wants a solid basis to govern for more than one term, a Lib Dem revival in the leafy shires is almost essential.
what did the Racist-Bigot-Reclaim, etc. parties get in each? Quick count suggests 5-10% in total
Not great for the country, great for the country if they're taking share from the tories
That's lovely to wake up to!
Sunak must be thinking, why am I going to waste another year or more of my life doing this shit and making no difference when I could be off in California?
Lots of Tory MPs in 'safe seats' are going to be causing him trouble as they see the gravy train disappearing over the horizon.
Still worried that Reform are going to pull their candidates from Labour target seats in some grubby deal, though.
Over 10,000 folk voted Tory in Tamworth yesterday.
It's described as economically "average for the UK", what is it that they're seeing that I'm not?
Or is it as simple as this is the old folks voting and they got their winter heating allowance payments (up to £600) this week and the Mail & the Express haven't yet told them they're not getting the full Triple-Lock next year?
i was shocked at the numbers that voted Tory in Tamworth
from the vox pops i saw immigration was a big issue for some
And yet they still voted for the Party that's been in Govt for 13 years which has 'created' the issue that bothers them...
Vox pops you say? Meet the good people of Tamworth:
