Read ’em and weep: Political articles you should read
Here’s a list of political news articles that have come to This Writer in the last 24 hours – but on which I either have nothing constructive to add, or have not had time to consider.
It’s really an aide-memoire for myself, a reminder to give these a second glance when I get the chance. But why deprive you of the chance to consider these pieces, and perhaps discuss them yourselves, in the meantime?
The list is as follows:
Odds Hillary Won Without Widespread Fraud: 1 in 77 Billion
This comedian sums up the final US presidential debate, and he absolutely nails it
Delivery giant Hermes faces HMRC inquiry into low pay allegations
Durham teaching assistants vote overwhelmingly to strike over pay cuts
Jeremy Corbyn to host Brexit summit for EU socialists
UK will get a tough time if May pursues hard Brexit – Hollande
Why are Brexiters trying to shut down debate? Because they’re scared
Labour councillor defects to the Tories and back again in 24 ‘stupid’ hours
Carey Mulligan to join protest calling for end to slaughter of Syria’s innocent children
The Tories’ £18bn Hinkley Point nuclear deal was already a catastrophe – now it’s just got far worse
Enjoy!
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Here’s something that made me feel like weeping: The Liberal Democrats surging ahead of Labour in the Whitney by-election to come second. In 2010 Labour came second with 17.2% of the votes and the Lib Dems forth with just 6.8% of the ballot: yesterday the Liberal Democrats came second with 30% of the vote and Labour third with 15%.
It was admittedly David Cameron’s seat before he resigned and the Tory vote dropped significantly but the worry is: Is this the shape of things to come for the Labour party under Corbyn? A partial Liberal Democrat recovery, hovering up the non-Tory vote of non-Corbyn voters, splitting the anti-Tory demographic and allowing the Conservatives to cross the finishing line in first place time after time. To date Labour has failed to take a seat in a by-election from another party.
This should make every Labour hopeful’s eyes water if only a little.
I’m going to write an article about this so I’ll keep my powder dry.
Its not the Labour prospect under Corbyn, dont forget it is the uncertainty, bickering and tactics of NEC and PLP which are worrying, confusing and putting people off, in fact Cameron’s constituency said they preferred Corbyn to him, so not a Corbyn issue a “Labour Party Can You Please Get Your —- Together and Get Behind Your Leader and the People of this Country Issue”
Ahh the True read:
Tory majority slashed in David Cameron’s former seat
Though Witney voted in favour of remain in the EU referendum on 23 June 2016,[6] Courts is a “Brexiter”.[7]
Tories lost 15% of vote
LibDems gained 23% Well Done May be the person and that she is a businesswoman, appealed to both LibDems and Tory.
Labour lost just 2.2%
Minus 26% turn out.
Swing away from Tories -19% significant shift.
So does not read pure, and many in a Tory held stronghold would not go out and vote Labour even if they wanted as thought wasted vote.
Need to take it apart properly and not guess
I take it this is a reply to Tim, and not me?
Actually, despite what aunty1960 has written, the result in Whitey is actually very bad for Labour when you look at the numbers rather than skewed percentages because of a low turnout (46.8%) and the Tories doing very, very badly indeed. In 2015 some 10,046 persons voted Labour, whereas in the recent by-election only 5,765 (42% reduction) bothered to turn out to vote against the Conservative with Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in David Cameron’s former constituency. If Labour really did have momentum and was gaining enthusiastic support you would expect that the Labour vote would have gone up firstly because there were more Labour voters and second because they would be motivated to make their voice heard by voting Labour in the former Conservative Prime Minister’s very own constituency. This indicates scarce and sparse interest in the area in respect to Labour’s message as well as despondency and lethargy in former Labour support compared to the 2015 general election.
This IS serious and IS indicative of a slump in support for Labour in Whitney, which augurs poorly as far as electoral success is concerned.
If Labour was moving forward it should have enjoyed more support than in 2010 and not come third behind the despised Liberal Democrats.
We would need to know much more about campaigning methods and the prevailing influences on public opinion before forming a conclusion.
It would be far too simplistic to blame Labour’s loss of ground on Jeremy Corbyn, as it seems you are trying to do.
In fact the former Conservative Chair of Witney Conservatives endorsed Labour candidate Duncan Enright Not sure if that is a good endorsement or tactic or not, might put conservatives off, might put Labour off voting for a man endorsed by Tory Chairman
Former chair of Chipping Norton Conservatives endorses Duncan
Duncan said ‘I was delighted to receive the endorsement of Bob Hayward, the former chair of Chipping Norton Conservatives.’
‘I was delighted to receive the endorsement of Bob Hayward, the former chair of Chipping Norton Conservatives. Yesterday, Bob spoke to the Daily Mirror and told them that he left the Tories because he was concerned about the impact their policies were having on the poorest in society.
http://www.duncanenright.com/former_chair_of_chipping_norton_conservatives_endorses_duncan