UK election 2019

[Roses]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49607907

Here is the list so far of MPs who say they are stepping down, there may be more who will do so too.

[Nearly Sane]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49607907

Here is the list so far of MPs who say they are stepping down, there may be more who will do so too.

Quite a low number in one sense, it's been a bruising parliament and we are not that far from Jo Cox but a large number given the shortness of the parliament. If he stands and is elected will it make Dennis Skinner, Father of the House?

[ProfessorDavey]

Quite a low number in one sense, it's been a bruising parliament and we are not that far from Jo Cox but a large number given the shortness of the parliament. If he stands and is elected will it make Dennis Skinner, Father of the House?

I guess it isn't surprising that there will be a relatively low number stepping down at this election, given that they were voted in only in 2017 and would perhaps have expected a full 5 year term before having to make a decision about whether to stand, or not to stand again.

[Roses]

I would be pleased if Boris, Leadsom and Gove stepped down.

[Gordon]

I suspect that this election might end up confirming a broken and probably irreparable UK in the face of the insanity that is Brexit: in NI it may be about the strength or weakness of unionism vs eventual reunification, in Scotland it will be about independence and the rejection of Brexit, and in England & Wales it will be about local variations in enthusiasm for Brexit - so, different agendas all round.

Any notion of 'bringing the country (as in the UK) together' is a joke, and it seems to me that the 'precious union' is now fatally wounded thanks to Brexit - good! 

[Spud]

I'm hoping for a new parliament that still can't decide, (if labour or lib Dems don't get in) so forcing a further extension to hold an in/out Brexit referendum some time next year

[Anchorman]

I suspect that this election might end up confirming a broken and probably irreparable UK in the face of the insanity that is Brexit: in NI it may be about the strength or weakness of unionism vs eventual reunification, in Scotland it will be about independence and the rejection of Brexit, and in England & Wales it will be about local variations in enthusiasm for Brexit - so, different agendas all round.

Any notion of 'bringing the country (as in the UK) together' is a joke, and it seems to me that the 'precious union' is now fatally wounded thanks to Brexit - good! 

   



No argument from me!

[Gordon]

I'm hoping for a new parliament that still can't decide, (if labour or lib Dems don't get in) so forcing a further extension to hold an in/out Brexit referendum some time next year

We might be past that now: if the only choice left for Brexit is between Johnson's flawed 'deal' and 'no deal', and the EU say no more negotiations, then revoke is the only sensible and credible alternative.

Moreover the result of the forthcoming GE might show that there is no general support for Brexit outwith England, so it may be that whatever mix of government emerges on Dec 13th, they would have to recognise that the most recent information (from the GE results) shows too much fragmentation on a UK-wide basis to conclude that there is a sufficient pro-Brexit consensus that is apparent in each of the 4 nations that comprise the UK, leading to the conclusion that either Brexit or the UK must be binned in that they are mutually exclusive positions.

[ProfessorDavey]

Where is Farage - normally he is all over the media, but has been conspicuously absent over the last two days as the election has been agreed.

Not sure what this means regarding the Brexit Party, but something is surely afoot.

[Nearly Sane]

Watching David Lidington talking about threats to families of MPs - why would anyone do the job?

[Nearly Sane]

Westminster voting intention: CON: 34% (+2) LAB: 26% (+2) LDEM: 19% (-2) BREX: 12% (-1) GRN: 1% (-1) via

@Survation

, 29 - 30 Oct Chgs. w/ 18 Oct

[Nearly Sane]

Where is Farage - normally he is all over the media, but has been conspicuously absent over the last two days as the election has been agreed.

Not sure what this means regarding the Brexit Party, but something is surely afoot.

Electoral pact with the Tories, I suspect.

[Roses]

Where is Farage - normally he is all over the media, but has been conspicuously absent over the last two days as the election has been agreed.

Not sure what this means regarding the Brexit Party, but something is surely afoot.

I was also wondering why that ghastly excuse for a human being  hadn't been making his presence felt now there is going to be another general election.

[Udayana]

I was also wondering why that ghastly excuse for a human being  hadn't been making his presence felt now there is going to be another general election.

In Washington apparently.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/30/brexit-party-divided-over-election-tactics

[Nearly Sane]

In Washington apparently.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/30/brexit-party-divided-over-election-tactics

I've just written this on the Brexit thread but it seems worth putting here. The Mod team did discuss whether to merge the threads but felt that it was ok to have the two.

'I was talking about 'efficient tactical voting'. If as I suspect Farage makes an arrangement with Johnson, the leave vote will be fairly solid. The differing stances on Remain, or indeed whatever we can call Labour's position, will make this harder unless there is a clear lead from the parties themselves, I don't think that is going to happen.

To take an example, a friend of mine lives in Rees-Moggs constituency and was wondering about who to vote for to get him out - now it's problematic because last time Rees-Mogg got 54%, Labour34%, LD 8%, Green 2% - so Mogg just needs to get the same vote - but there is meant to be a Brexit candidate standing so you think on that basis all get behind Labour, except there has actually been an opinion poll done in the constituency (Which won't be the case in all constituencies) and that gives Tories 44%, so in theory beatable, Labour 14% !!!, LDs 28%, Brexit 7%, Green 3%. So if there wasn't an opinion poll, the obvious vote would have been Labour tactically but that isn't the case once you see the poll. Even when you see the poll and decide to vote LD, then is there much chance of Labour voters all going to the LDs without them actually standing down? There are many Labour voters I know who would see the LDs as just yellow Tories after the coalition and will never vote for them.

And all that's not even taking into account that a good number of Labour voters are leave. '

I strongly suspect there will be no Brexit candidate in that constituency

[Udayana]

Brexit and election are two different issues, so imo certainly should be on different threads.

Conservatives of-course will do their best to conflate the GE with brexit though, blaming Labour and/or parliament for forcing us into one. They will do nothing useful on Health, Housing, Education after (assuming) we leave just as they have not since 2010.

Brexit could have, and still can, be handled perfectly reasonably (ie a deal or remain) without effect on dealing with the more important issues.

I think Corbyn is right to de-emphasise brexit, but not sure that the idea will penetrate into the mind of an electorate whipped up into a brexit frenzy - hopefully we are sufficiently sick of it to see through it.

[Udayana]

...

To take an example, a friend of mine lives in Rees-Moggs constituency and was wondering about who to vote for to get him out - now it's problematic because last time Rees-Mogg got 54%, Labour34%, LD 8%, Green 2% - so Mogg just needs to get the same vote - but there is meant to be a Brexit candidate standing so you think on that basis all get behind Labour, except there has actually been an opinion poll done in the constituency (Which won't be the case in all constituencies) and that gives Tories 44%, so in theory beatable, Labour 14% !!!, LDs 28%, Brexit 7%, Green 3%. So if there wasn't an opinion poll, the obvious vote would have been Labour tactically but that isn't the case once you see the poll. Even when you see the poll and decide to vote LD, then is there much chance of Labour voters all going to the LDs without them actually standing down? There are many Labour voters I know who would see the LDs as just yellow Tories after the coalition and will never vote for them.

And all that's not even taking into account that a good number of Labour voters are leave. '

I strongly suspect there will be no Brexit candidate in that constituency

Everyone is going to have to think very hard about best tactics to adopt - so expect many to just vote on "gut" or opt to give it a miss.

[Nearly Sane]

Everyone is going to have to think very hard about best tactics to adopt - so expect many to just vote on "gut" or opt to give it a miss.

Yes, agree, and add to that the confusion between the election and Brexit, it's going to be harder for Remain parties to do anything. The Tories will just run on Brexit, and land of milk and honey promises. I had been thinking yesterday that it would be a majority of 20 -30 but dependent on how it plays out, tactical voting could backfire.

[Nearly Sane]

Brexit and election are two different issues, so imo certainly should be on different threads.

Conservatives of-course will do their best to conflate the GE with brexit though, blaming Labour and/or parliament for forcing us into one. They will do nothing useful on Health, Housing, Education after (assuming) we leave just as they have not since 2010.

Brexit could have, and still can, be handled perfectly reasonably (ie a deal or remain) without effect on dealing with the more important issues.

I think Corbyn is right to de-emphasise brexit, but not sure that the idea will penetrate into the mind of an electorate whipped up into a brexit frenzy - hopefully we are sufficiently sick of it to see through it.

The problem with the de-emphasizing is that it reduces the possibility of any effective tactical voting. It could be the Remain parties, and whatever Labour is, get caught in a middle place where enough people vote tactically about Bexit, and enough people vote on other issues, that it actually increases the seats the Tories take.

[Nearly Sane]

And another opinion poll. Can't see Brexit or the Greens getting these figures. Particularly the Greens as they are definitely not standing in many seats.

CON: 36% (-) LAB: 21% (-2) LDEM: 18% (-) BREX: 13% (+1) GRN: 6% (-) via

@YouGov

Chgs. w/ 25 Oct

[Nearly Sane]

Conservative and Labour to 'sit back' to get Ian Blackford unseated, apparently. Yep, that Remain tactical votestuff getting 'full' support from parties.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/396847da-fb69-11e9-a4b4-b816768ca711

[Roses]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50246969

Some women MPs are complaining that the abuse they are suffering is forcing them to leave politics!

[Nearly Sane]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50246969

Some women MPs are complaining that the abuse they are suffering is forcing them to leave politics!

Not just women - see my comment earlier about David Lidington talking about abuse this morning. That said, he thought that the abuse that women receive is more virulent.

[Roses]

Not just women - see my comment earlier about David Lidington talking about abuse this morning. That said, he thought that the abuse that women receive is more virulent.

All abuse, be it female or male, should be cracked down upon BIG TIME.

[Nearly Sane]

All abuse, be it female or male, should be cracked down upon BIG TIME.

What does 'BIG TIME' mean?