The 2024 UK General Election - news, speculation and updates

[Kid_Eternity]

Yeah, had the same thought. Had just assumed that she had been purged. Just in case she managed to cross over somehow from the parallel universe where she was party leader.

Really threw me, I’d totally forgotten about her!

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Not quite Gordon Brown doing his preacher thing but still…

 

[PR1Berske]

Not quite Gordon Brown doing his preacher thing but still…

Was just here to paste the article covering this speech and an article he's written in the Observer

Keir Starmer pledges to “relight the fire” of optimism and hope among the British people – and rekindle their faith in politicians as public servants - if they come out in sufficient numbers and vote for a Labour government in Thursday’s general election.

Labour needs a clear mandate. If you want change, vote for it
Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer
Read more
Writing exclusively for the Observer with just days to go until polling day, the Labour leader says that after 14 years of the Tories “serving themselves”, restoring the “bond of respect between people and politics” will be the precondition for a Labour government’s success.

Striking a serious note and avoiding any hint of triumphalism, he writes: “I am sure some people would prefer a less sober message. But the Tories have kicked the hope out of people so thoroughly, to expect a chorus of optimism would be like scattering seeds on stony ground.


“I believe in hope, and believe we can inspire it again. Showing that it is a privilege to serve is a precondition for it.”

Starmer insists that if people choose him as their prime minister, then Labour will embark on a “national mission” to create wealth in every community and repair public services “with an immediate cash injection” alongside “urgent reforms”.

In what is one of his more personal campaign interventions, he says that working-class families such as the one he grew up in took for granted the idea that politics was about service and that Britain would offer them the hope of a better future.

“It is hard to argue that this hope burns brightly in Britain at the moment,” he says. “But be in no doubt – a vote for Labour this week is a vote to relight the fire.”

His aides said the piece was “very much Keir” and reflected his true belief that faith in public service had to be restored as an essential part of the process of putting the country back on track.

On Saturday, as all the main parties fanned out across the UK on a last weekend of campaigning before polling day, the final Opinium poll for the Observer shows Labour has retained a 20-point lead over the Conservatives – the same as a week ago and enough to deliver a large House of Commons majority if replicated on Thursday.

Labour is on 40% (unchanged compared with a week ago), while the Conservatives are on 20% (also unchanged). Reform UK is up 1 point on 17%, the Liberal Democrats up 1 point on 13% and the Greens down 3 points on 6%.

Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, warned against a sense of presumption among party supporters, saying millions of people had not made up their minds or could change them. “So we will maintain our discipline until 10pm on Thursday. Change will only come if people vote Labour.”

 

[SpookyFrank]

Not quite Gordon Brown doing his preacher thing but still…

Trouble is, we don't forget the laundry list of shit he's pulled either. And he's not even in government yet.

 

[Serge Forward]

Eh? What you talking about? I thought RLB wasn’t an MP let along running again…View attachment 431189

Okay. Fair enough. Looks like I got the wrong end of the stick.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Just had the postie deliver flyers for both the Tories and Reform, score so far -

Labour - 4 flyers + a canvasser
Tories - 2 flyers + a 4-page tabloid size 'newspaper' produced by their HQ, no mention of Peter Bottomley or anything local, I've never had one of those before.
Reform - 1 flyer - a national one with a photo of Farage and Tice, with just a white panel where they inserted the name of the constituency and candidate.

Nowt from the LDs, Greens, nor the mystery independent candidate.

Just over a week on, and clearly Labour is throwing the kitchen sink at winning the Worthing West seat -

Labour - 7 flyers (including 2 addressed to me personally - one each from the candidate and Starmer) + a canvasser
Tories - 2 flyers + a 4-page tabloid size 'newspaper' produced by their HQ, no mention of Peter Bottomley or anything local, I've never had one of those before.
Reform - 1 flyer - a national one with a photo of Farage and Tice, with just a white panel where they inserted the name of the constituency and candidate.
LibDem - 1 flyer
Green - 1 flyer.

I've never experienced anything like this, nor felt more wanted.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Labour are laying it on pretty thick here. Lost count of the number of things posted to me. They're predicted to hold this seat comfortably by every single poll and model so I'm not sure why they bother, but I guess they have to spend all those bungs from private healthcare and asset management companies somehow.

 

[PR1Berske]

The Independent backs Labour..... again, with caveats

This newspaper has a proud tradition of rarely backing any one party at an election. But these are extraordinary times. 14 years of Conservative rule has destroyed our trust in politics. Which is why, with conditions, we lend support to Keir Starmer's Labour.

This is why The Independent is backing Labour in the 2024 election

Editorial: This newspaper is prepared to give our support to Sir Keir Starmer’s party and back Labour on 4 July – but with this warning: Labour must turn its promises into policies that benefit the hardworking and hopeful people of this country

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Lord Camomile]

Just over a week on, and clearly Labour is throwing the kitchen sink at winning the Worthing West seat -

Labour - 7 flyers (including 2 addressed to me personally - one each from the candidate and Starmer) + a canvasser
Tories - 2 flyers + a 4-page tabloid size 'newspaper' produced by their HQ, no mention of Peter Bottomley or anything local, I've never had one of those before.
Reform - 1 flyer - a national one with a photo of Farage and Tice, with just a white panel where they inserted the name of the constituency and candidate.
LibDem - 1 flyer
Green - 1 flyer.

I've never experienced anything like this, nor felt more wanted.

Having had nought since the election was called, I had one from Labour, directly addressed, and one from the Workers Party.

It remains quite unlikely I'll vote for Labour, and a fucking certainty I won't vote for the Workers Party.

 

[Balbi]

Interesting that both the Indie and the Guardian have couched their Labour backing with "yeah well if they actually do anything it might be good" while the Economist has been a lot more full throated in backing them.

I'm sure that's nothing to worry about.

 

[Larry O'Hara]

Just at my mam's when this came through her letter box:

View attachment 431142
I think it's the only election communication she's had.

Much as I despise Labour, I get the impression Long Bailey is one of the better ones... while my MP is the nefarious Liz Kendall.

Still, with her dementia, I doubt poor old mam will have the wherewith to be casting her vote.

She is one of the better ones

 

[Larry O'Hara]

Having had nought since the election was called, I had one from Labour, directly addressed, and one from the Workers Party.

It remains quite unlikely I'll vote for Labour, and a fucking certainty I won't vote for the Workers Party.

Being a Lord an all probably makes sense

 

[Larry O'Hara]

Trouble is, we don't forget the laundry list of shit he's pulled either. And he's not even in government yet.

Yes: neither forget or forgive Starmer. He needs to be ground into the political dust with no mercy when the opportunity arises. To paraphrase the genocide-enabler, we have that right…

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Okay. Fair enough. Looks like I got the wrong end of the stick.

No worries

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Trouble is, we don't forget the laundry list of shit he's pulled either. And he's not even in government yet.

Yes indeed…

 

[Lord Camomile]

Being a Lord an all probably makes sense

Touché.

(I really do need to change this bloody username )

 

[PR1Berske]

Touché.

(I really do need to change this bloody username )

You can downgrade to a baronet and be "Camomile, bt"

 

[The39thStep]

Interesting that both the Indie and the Guardian have couched their Labour backing with "yeah well if they actually do anything it might be good" while the Economist has been a lot more full throated in backing them.

I'm sure that's nothing to worry about.

They’ve been pushing/ promoting Labour for the last two years .

 

[Kid_Eternity]

 

[Wilf]

Fuck me, I'm voting Tory.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Not quite Gordon Brown doing his preacher thing but still…

He sounds like a recently promoted deputy head admonishing a class for being mean to an ineffectual supply teacher.

 

[Dystopiary]

I was half-expecting to see a tweet from Luke Akehurst, proving - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that Corbyn supporters hate puppies.

 

[PR1Berske]

 

[Elpenor]

So the school summer holidays in Scotland started end of last week. My sister and BIL set off this morning on holiday -- Glasgow schools finished on Wednesday. Their postal votes haven't arrived so that's them not able to vote.

(A couple of councils have just set up emergency centres to deal with this but Glasgow's not one of them.) Wonder how many people are in a similar position.

Postal votes sent out round here on 21st June. It’s been reported locally that folk are in the same boat - have gone on holiday late this week or this weekend but no postal vote arrived before they left

 

[Elpenor]

Just on hustings, the only one that’s been held locally has been at a school in front of pupils who funnily enough can’t vote!

Feels wrong to me

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

 

[planetgeli]

He sounds like a recently promoted deputy head admonishing a class for being mean to an ineffectual supply teacher.

Welcome to your leader.

and yeah, you're right

 

[planetgeli]

Phew. At least he won't leave the country,

PS Has Phil Collins pissed off yet? Lloyd Webber?

 

[Elpenor]

Sadly, much like Elton, Starmer is still standing

 

[CH1]

Has this been upped before

Looks like Farage is in trouble - but as with Trump the trouble boosts his "base"