Local Elections 2018

[Dogsauce]

I don't think low turnout would have any effect on opinion polling would it?

I'm not arguing the swing hasn't happened, or that Corbyn & Abbott aren't widely loathed by much of the trad Labour base: I'm just wondering why this swing has happened since January - what's made all those people jump now instead of last June?

I reckon the skripal/Syria stuff will have had an effect - very easy to paint Corbyn as a dithering pinko who’s soft on ‘our enemies’, he’s just come across as a bit muddled on both these events, ‘waiting for evidence’ isn’t a strong populist line. I just hope we don’t get any ratcheting up of bellicose rhetoric by the tories to exploit this.

 

[killer b]

Why would they not exploit it?

 

[MickiQ]

I reckon the skripal/Syria stuff will have had an effect - very easy to paint Corbyn as a dithering pinko who’s soft on ‘our enemies’, he’s just come across as a bit muddled on both these events, ‘waiting for evidence’ isn’t a strong populist line. I just hope we don’t get any ratcheting up of bellicose rhetoric by the tories to exploit this.

I'm sure they would love to exploit it but there is nothing to exploit, there is pretty much zero appetite in the UK for any involvement in Syria and the Tories know that, Corbyn did come across as dithering on the chemical weapons issue (indeed he comes across poorly on most foreign affairs) but coming across as dithering on something most people don't care much about doesn't matter, when he comes across fairly well on domestic issues where the Tories come across as uncaring penny pinchers.

 

[Dogsauce]

Why would they not exploit it?

I mean for the sake of anyone on the end of their acting tough. Plus there’s more than enough nationalist strongmen ratcheting up tensions to improve their electability in the world without some Tory prune joining in, not that I’m sure they have anyone that could convincingly play the part.

 

[killer b]

Right, but why wouldn't they? It seems to be working for them, after a fashion.

 

[krink]

Late, as usual but here in Labour Sunderland the council have lost seats to the Tories and Libs. Still a healthy majority but somewhere like this, they shouldn't be losing any seats. This shows how absolutely shite the council are at PR and the low turnout reflects not apathy but a depressing resignation to the fact that these elections are all a load of bollocks.
My not even half arsed drawing on my voting slip hopefully reflects this bollocks

 

[Slo-mo]

Derby has ended up with a rather interesting coalition of Lib Dems, Tories and UKIP.....

 

[redsquirrel]

Official coalition?

 

[Slo-mo]

Official coalition?

Tories aim to run city council with help of Lib Dems and UKIP

Make of it what you will.

 

[redsquirrel]

Tories aim to run city council with help of Lib Dems and UKIP

Make of it what you will.

Not much, besides that the won't be a majority government. It's some way from your claim.

 

[Slo-mo]

Not much, besides that the won't be a majority government. It's some way from your claim.

I'm not sure I've actually *claimed* anything as such. If you've read that article you pretty much know as much as me to be fair.

The three parties combined will have a majority on the council. Whether you call that a coalition or what is up to you...

 

[redsquirrel]

There's absolutely no evidence in that article that any coalition will be formed. For christ sake

Earlier this week, the city's Labour group, which had also been in talks with Lib Dems and UKIP, criticised any plan that would result in a minority administration, either Labour or Conservative, unless it was through a formal coalition.

so by your "logic" Labour, UKIP and LDs must be in a coalition.

It has now been announced that the Tories intend to run the council as a minority administration...

That is not a coalition.

 

[Slo-mo]

Whatever.

 

[elbows]

I know hardly anyone actually gives a shit about Nuneaton & Bedworth borough council and the media only go on about Nuneaton at elections because it ended up with a bellweather reputation and gets its results out before everyone has gone to bed.

But anyway, despite the large number of tory gains here and the council moving to NOC, Labour managed to get all of its people into the leadership positions in the council, thanks in large part to casting vote of outgoing mayor. First female leader here.

First female leader elected at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

I also note that the green councillor, who only got elected in the first place some years back due to NIMBY house-building issues in tory estates that are on the posh side of the tracks here, abstained on the leader vote and voted for the tory for the deputy leader position.

 

[belboid]

bellweather

bellwether - it's about sheep not sunniness [/pedant]

 

[Teaboy]

I also note that the green councillor, who only got elected in the first place some years back due to NIMBY house-building issues in tory estates that are on the posh side of the tracks here, abstained on the leader vote and voted for the tory for the deputy leader position.

That's not in the slightest bit surprising. I met a couple of the Green candidates in my ward as they were doing their rounds. Basically tories with an allotment.

 

[Slo-mo]

That's not in the slightest bit surprising. I met a couple of the Green candidates in my ward as they were doing their rounds. Basically tories with an allotment.

Have most of the more radical Greens gone off to join Jeremy Corbyns Labour party I wonder?

 

[cupid_stunt]

That's not in the slightest bit surprising. I met a couple of the Green candidates in my ward as they were doing their rounds. Basically tories with an allotment.

They vary a lot. The only Green we had on our council deflected from the LibDems, because of the coalition government, and the one where I used to live was elected for & deflected from Labour, because of Blair, called himself a 'Independent Socialist', before standing for re-election on the Green ticket.