I thought this polling data issued at lunchtime today was interesting:
The Tories are ahead in everything you would not want to win in, whilst Labour is ahead on everything that might matter.
The obvious inference is that there has been a considerable shift in the political mood.
The problem is that this does not consider 'neither of the above'.
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Perhaps this explains why the Tories want to “attack”?
I’ve just come across this.
Photo leak outside No 10 reveals Rishi Sunak’s election planning
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/londoners-diary-photo-leak-outside-no-10-reveals-rishi-sunak-election-planning-b1072115.html
It does feel like a general election is on the way. The Conservatives are not talking about Ukraine, climate change; but issues to stir up their voting base. Also I would like to point out that the fixed-term parliament act was appealed in 2022. Everyone is expected next year. It could be sooner.
It could be….but not before the autumn when boundary changes take place
I think it is known that the boundary changes will favor the Tories. Mind you, I think the blatant attempt by the Tories to stop young people voting with the photo ID that will be needed from now on at elections is low even for the Tories. It is clear that the acceptable form of ID favors older people, who, surprise, surprise, just happen to more likely vote Tory. Young people are more likely to vote Labour, Green or Liberal.
The example of the Oyster 60+ card being acceptable, but an Oyster 18+ not, is totally unacceptable. The Tories also voted down an amendment that would have allowed student card ID. I’ve got one word to describe them. Fascist.
https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/voter-id-list-gives-few-options-for-younger-voters/
Polls increasingly show the dislike that younger people have for the Tories now. I do hope that as they get older they will remember what the Tories did to them to deny their democratic rights.
My advice to young people is get yourself a postal vote. You do not need photo ID to vote that way and you do not have to give any reason for wanting a postal vote. Everyone has a right to a postal vote. (until the Tories take that away as well) I’ve done it myself as I told my local election office that I was not prepared to carry photo ID just to have my right to vote. I got the postal vote confirmed a couple of weeks ago.
The first four points in the poll: will promise anything to win votes, divided, out of date, different to other parties,
suggests that people doe not see much difference between the tories and liebore.
The last point: keeps its promises, is a bit of a laugh since Liebore at the moment is in no position to confirm this since it ain’t in government.
Other polls suggest that people are fed up with both parties.
Apologies broken record: Tressel’s “Ragged Trousered Philathropists” profiles an election in 1904 (or thereabouts) Liberals vs Tories – and shows that there was then nothing to chose between the two parties. The socialists were too small to get much traction. The UK is in the same situation now: the two main parties (supported +/- by the mainstream press (then as now) have close to identical policies – separated by nuance.
Bolt on to this out-dated (fossilised?) economics supported by both parties and one has a developing disaster. Neither party is functionally (or indeed intellectually) capable of sorting out the UK’s very obvious & growing problems. This will inexorably lead to social discontent.
Well Richard, I certainly have issues with labour, as do you, although some of my anger with them is the stupidity of labourism (preventing them from reforming the rotten FPTP system, and working with other parties to overcome it through a progressive alliance) rather than appalling policies or people which is the case with the tories.
But I have to say, the public don’t exactly trust either of them much do they? “Keeps its promises at 11% and 21%”, not much of an endorsement for Westminster politics.
I suppose I’m slightly cheered that 30% finally recognise the tories as extreme. Though again, why only 30%?
/
I think tactical voting is in order.
1. Vote Labour on
2. Get Starmer out.
Today’s Guardian editorial had a pithy summary of Labour and Keir Starmer:
‘His policies are distinguished by their lack of ambition and are dwarfed by the problems they seek to solve’
Can only hope they are keeping their cards close to their chests
🙂
David Byrne says:
Because we in the UK live under an ‘elective dictatorship’ (Hailsham), nothing will change even if the colour of government migrates from blue to red in 2024. The future of our democracy depends in part upon proportional representation.
To achieve this end, we must vote out most of the present 650 incumbents, voting in moderation, honesty and integrity.
There is only one poll that matters and you don’t need me to tell you what it is.
In between all that, there is still plenty of time for the Tories to rally. But I do hope that the scales are falling from people’s eyes.
I would add only one other thing to those used by the Roman senate to control the plebs, bread and circusses – and fear, always used effectively by the Nasty party at every election I can remember.
Interesting poll here on Labour strength in London.
Labour now 40 points ahead of the Conservatives in London.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/04/06/labour-now-40-points-ahead-conservatives-london
Really good article by the Mirror on photo ID and Tory attempts to rig elections.
Tories accused of ‘rigging rules’ amid fears voters could be turned away over new ID checks
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-accused-rigging-rules-amid-29641466
Amazing gap