Brexit

[barney]

So, what did the local elections prove ?

I reckon that both Labour & Tories will do pretty much anything to avoid the humiliation that would ensure if the EU elections take place.

One poll has put the Brexit Party on 40%
The LibDems, Greens and ChangeUK also fancy their chances now.
The two big boys could get almost wiped out.

I expect a whipped 'fudge' of a Tory/Labour deal to be put to Parliament next week to negate the need.

Will the MPs go for it ?

My guess is not, but you never know !

[Kendhni]

So, what did the local elections prove ?

That is a very interesting question - was it disgruntled brexiteers showing their disapproval or disgruntled remainers showing their disapproval?
The shift seemed to be to LibDem and Green, both remain parties ... away from Conservatives, Labour and a decimation of UKIP?
Independents also did very well - they often stand on much more local issues, but who knows what sort of brexit/remain breakdown they might relate to.
I suppose some brexiteers may have felt they had noone to vote for.

The only thing that I think has been proven is just how ineffective a Corbyn/Momentum led Labour party is. They have totally failed to make mid-term gains against what appears to be a very unpopular government.

[david63]

So, what did the local elections prove ?

They proved that many of the electorate were not voting for the "candidate" and what they could offer to benefit the community but for a "party" and for reasons that are totally outside the control of the local council councillors.

[Manoverboard]

39,000> spoiled voting papers with ' Brexit ' written on them tells the House to get on with it.

It needs the Tories to unite, the DUP to support them and for Labour MPs to have a free vote re yet another vote on TM's deal next week.

Back to the real World ....

[screwy]

Well I for one voted with local issues in mind,Brexit never came into it.

[CaroleF]

I may be wrong but I suspect that some/many who voted for Lib Dems did so because there was no other option apart from Conservative or Labour. Many times over the years have Lib Dems done really well at Local elections only to lose spectacularly at a General Election. There weren't any elections in our Borough.

[Manoverboard]

Tory Dorset has very recently been re-organised, the previous 9 divisions are now only two and this bold step will save millions of pounds year on year for the rural parts of the County. The rural part has unsurprisingly remained Tory but Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ( the other part ) finished up without an overall majority.

[barney]

We switched from NOC to Libdems winning control. Personally, I voted for two independents, both of whom were elected.

[oldbluefox]

We voted for the independent candidates based purely on what they could offer locally and the fact they were also local people. We realised that, as usual, it would be a wasted vote since in these parts they are religiously Labour and have been ever since Methuselah was a lad.
Can you imagine my surprise to find that that both independent candidates had been elected at the expense of Labour. As a consequence no party in Allerdale has overall control. There is a lot of anger in these parts from those who feel betrayed by the Labour party in a strongly Brexit constituency.

[anniec]

What a difference two years makes:

Do you approve or disapprove of the way in which the Government is handling the Brexit negotiations?

7th May 2017:
Approve: 55%
Disapprove: 45%

6th May 2019:
Approve: 8% (-47)
Disapprove: 92% (+47)

ElectionMapsUK

[Onelife]

Perhaps a fairer poll would have asked...Do you approve or disapprove of the way rremainers have sabotaged the whole Brexit process?

[CaroleF]

Had our postal voting forms through yesterday - what a long list!

[barney]

I cannot imagine anybody, no matter which side of the debate you are on, could think that this government has handled it well.

All the clap trap about TM being handed a poison chalice is just that.

she wanted the job !
she picked the negotiating team !
she had 100% influence on which way the talks were to go !
she cocked it up !

Channel four has a fly on the wall tonight about the discussions from an EU perspective.
It might be interesting and show what real contempt they have not only for her and her team, but for the UK people overall.

My take has always been that we have been tolerated as a bit of an outsider because they so desperately need our financial contributions.

I wonder if this docu will confirm or refute my suspicion.

I note that just today, Guy Verhofstadt was berating the Turkish government for insisting on a re-vote because their guy lost in the mayor elections.
A dictatorship he called it, because they didn't like the original result.
But, ironically, calling for another Brexit vote because you didn't like the original is for 'democracy'

Their shear hypocrisy seems lost on them.

[barney]

Had our postal voting forms through yesterday - what a long list!

If you Google how the seats are allocated Carole, you'll be even more baffled

Take the largest vote - allocate one seat - divide by two- then the next largest vote - then divide by two again - then the next .....zzzzzzzzzzz

I believe that Hampshire comes under the South East, so you get Farridge on your list.

We get Gibraltar ?????

Quite interestingly, there are twelve official parties standing in the upcoming EU elections and an exact 50/50 split of their stance.
Six pro leave
Six pro remain

Could be a bit like another referendum (advisory only)

[Ray Scully]

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[barney]

It appears that you are suggesting Farridge is a fascist Ray. That's a bit extreme, even for an anti democrat.

[Ray Scully]

It appears that you are suggesting Farridge is a fascist Ray. That's a bit extreme, even for an anti democrat.

Don't shoot the messenger Barney old chap..... anyway he is not someone I would wish to be associated with.

[barney]

It appears that you are suggesting Farridge is a fascist Ray. That's a bit extreme, even for an anti democrat.

Don't shoot the messenger Barney old chap..... anyway he is not someone I would wish to be associated with.

As this board's resident lefty, I'm very happy to vote for his party on this one single issue. The forecast is that many others will feel the same.

[Manoverboard]

Such-a-body who stands for The Brexit Party in the forthcoming Euro Elections will deffo get my, and Mobietta's, vote

[barney]

The current prediction is that they will take 30 out of 73 seats. So by far the largest party. What could change in the next few weeks is the classic foot in mouth syndrome. I wouldn't rule that out.
Nationalists could well be the largest group of members.
I include Scottish Nationalists in that.

[Manoverboard]

As an aside … we have our Polling Cards, albeit probably not required, but no leaflets etc regarding the candidates.

Any idea who will be standing for the Brexit Party in rural Darzet ?

[barney]

Easy to find out Moby. The areas are huge. Dorset would more likely to be under the south west. You've got dozens to choose from under this system.
The lead Brexit is Ann Widdecombe
The lead Change UK is Rachel Johnson
The lead labour is Lord Adonis
And so in.......
It's not first past the post

[Ray Scully]

The current prediction is that they will take 30 out of 73 seats. So by far the largest party. What could change in the next few weeks is the classic foot in mouth syndrome. I wouldn't rule that out.
Nationalists could well be the largest group of members.
I include Scottish Nationalists in that.

and once elected I don't think they will be busting a gut for us to leave. It will be a nice little earner, particularly considering the appalling attendance rates of Farage's last party.

[Quizzical Bob]

Such-a-body who stands for The Brexit Party in the forthcoming Euro Elections will deffo get my, and Mobietta's, vote

It isn’t an actual political party like any other. It is a limited company with no party members. It’s ‘leader’ is not elected. Anybody who signs up with a donation is merely lining Farage’s pockets, not that he’s got any room left in them.

[barney]

You guys continue to live in your world of denial. Anyone who has given money to the Brexit party know exactly what they are doing. They are contributing to a major market disruptor.
That is exactly what this country needs at the moment, irrespective of your views on the biggest democratic decision in British history.
They need a serious shake up.
Farridge is the guy to do it.
He's never aspiring to be the PM.
Love him or loathe him, he is without doubt the most influential politician of his generation.
TM would kill for 10,% of his influence.