Wythenshawe by-election: LD now stands for Lost Deposit
![Desperation stations: Liberal Democrats scramble to keep their deposit at the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election. [Image: LabourList]](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/140214lostdeposit.jpg)
Desperation stations: Liberal Democrats scramble to keep their deposit at the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election. [Image: LabourList]
The poll, necessitated by the untimely death of the previous Labour MP, Paul Goggins, clarified several developments in UK electoral habits:
UKIP is now a major force, coming in second place and knocking the Conservatives into third.
The Liberal Democrats may as well change their name to ‘Lost Deposit’, after they failed to collect even five per cent of the vote (in 2010 they managed 22 per cent). It is the eighth time they have lost their deposit since 2010.
This is what happens when a British political party sells its soul for five years of (extremely) limited influence.
LabourList reported scenes of “desperation” at the count, with Liberal Democrats demanding a recount in a desperate bid to save their £500. But Mark Ferguson, reporting with his eyes held open by matchsticks, had it right when he wrote: “If they have a recount and still lose their deposit, their crushing embarrassment and humiliation will be doubled.”
Mr Kane, in his victory speech, touched on several of the themes that have dominated the current Parliamentary term, and they are worth repeating here.
He said the result “emphatically demonstrates that people here know the NHS is not safe in David Cameron’s hands, and that we’ve had enough of his utterly out-of-touch government”.
He said: “I will be an MP speaking out on the issues that matter to you:
“Fighting for a fair deal for Wythenshawe A&E.
“Exposing the cost-of-living crisis felt by families and pensioners across our area and beyond.
“And on the unfair and disproportionate cuts to local services, Wythenshawe and Sale has said tonight: Enough is enough.”
And he told listeners: “Almost 200 years ago Benjamin Disraeli stood on a spot across the road from here and spoke of One Nation – and he said ‘What Manchester does today, the world does tomorrow’.
“Well, Manchester has rejected David Cameron today – and the rest of Britain will tomorrow.”
Let’s hope so.
But if David Cameron was “rejected”, Nick Clegg was utterly humiliated.
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Reblogged this on The Greater Fool.
Labour are still laughable Mike.
“I will be an MP speaking out on the issues that matter to you”
Going to push to scrap ATOS, workfare, and defend employment rights? Against the party lines?
“Fighting for a fair deal for Wythenshawe A&E”
Reversing the PFI Labour continued and the unnecessary meddling (Agenda for change, NHS computer etc..?)
“Exposing the cost-of-living crisis felt by families and pensioners across our area and beyond”
Will they continue giving the likes of Vodafone, Amazon and Starbucks etc.. a free ride?
Reverse benefit changes?
“And on the unfair and disproportionate cuts to local services, Wythenshawe and Sale has said tonight: Enough is enough.”
So they’re not going to stick to Tory spending plans then? (as they did in 1997 for two years)
The real problem here is the turnout (28%)
Not a great confidence builder.
If Labour are laughable after such a resounding victory, what does that make the Conservatives? What does it make the Liberal Democrats?
You don’t know what Labour is going to do, should it be elected back into office in 2015. For all you know, all the choices you listed are in Labour’s plans.
This is not a resounding victory. 28% of the electorate turned out. UKIP are not a force in this country they are merely the dregs of far right wing tories who think they are still important. Labour are shallow and offer no distinct policies from the tories – they are commited to plan the economy on tory figures – they will not repel all welfare law – they will not repel the WCA and will not sack ATOs – so it’s business as usual for Labour. labour have betrayed working people and are in no position to change that – front bench full of new labour wannabees – NO THANK YOU
Sacking Atos is a Labour commitment, unless I’m misinformed. Whether Labour sticks to Tory spending plans is an interesting question – did the Tories keep their promise to follow Labour spending for a year? (No, they didn’t.)
There is a lot of false information flying around – especially about Labour policies. Check before you post, people – and tell us all where you found the information you’re posting.
It makes them ALL laughable Mike, I have not seen or heard ANY reason to vote Labour, Conservative, Lib’s or Monster Raving Loony. I could fill two pages with the reasons I despise the party system and how it only works for the few.
Most MP’s I have spoken to are on no more than a personal ego trip.
As I commented yesterday, Milliband going on about Thatcher, (just like Blair used to) hardly gives confidence.
Where are Labour on workers rights (they want to loosen ties with unions), I could go on.
I asked my local AM/MP about youth unemployment, wasn’t interested, there’s a fine attitude for you.
I watched PMQ’s the other day, where is Labour’s backbone, it was just a playground slanging match.
There are REAL issues in he UK, some of which you have made excellent comment on MIke.
But as for my above comments, I have checked Labour’s ideas and they seem little more than Tory lite (again)
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/22/ed-balls-labour-spending-obr
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/12/balls-reaffirms-labours-commitment-cuts-2015
For a start
Osborne was committed to keeping Labour’s spending plans for a year… right up to his ’emergency budget’ of June 2010, when he threw them all away.
So… what’s your point?
My point is Mike that Labour will just be a lighter shade of blue if they get elected, and if they do, 12-18 months into their term I will be more than happy to discuss if there is any difference.
As for discussing local politics Mike, you should do it more often and show how bad the Welsh Assembly and Welsh Labour are.
And my point is that you can’t support yours.
Just looking in detail at the Blair/Brown governments shows how Labour think.
There is, and it is unlikely there ever will be, plans to re-nationalise things such as the railways, water and energy etc….
No plans to end the centralised local government funding, again, I could go on.
Labour are still scared of the like of The Sun (remember Murdoch visiting Blair) and The Daily Mail,
the latters readership are the ones most likely to vote.
Where was the REAL defence of Labour’s spending, and why they did it, I have only read mostly apologies for a lot of things Labour did in office (immigration being one)
As I said Mike, the best thing to do here is revist this in the first 18 months of a Labour government and see what happens
You can’t look at the past and say it is an indication of the future. For example, in the mid-1970s, when Labour were in office, do you think it would have been accurate to look back at the previous (Heath) Conservative government and say, “Just looking in detail at Heath shows how Conservatives think”? Thatcher’s administration was a radical (and I use the term according to its dictionary definition) departure from that, because she had read Hayek and was more firmly wedded to neoliberal stupidity than she was to Dennis.
That’s how it is with Labour at the moment.
Reblogged this on kickingthecat.
Oh how delighted I was to see the Conservatives come 3rd :) I was even more delighted when the Lib/Dems lost their deposit :)
But then my delight turned to such anger that I nearly blew my top!!!
Those idle, uncaring stay at home voters disgusted me! Did they think that by staying home and not voting that they were protesting about the way the voting system is? Did they think that they had shown the politicians that they had no confidence in any of them? Well whatever the excuse I find their excuses pathetic!
How did this unelected coalition get in? By the likes of idiots like those who stayed at home and wasted their votes. I have never forgiven them and I will never forgive those who just can’t be bothered and sit on their arses and complain about everything yet cannot go to their local polling station and put an X in a box. They don’t even have to do that, they can do a postal vote.
I’m happy that Labour won, I’m happy that the two parties of this dreadful coalition where shown up – but I’m not happy with the turnout.
We’ll see just how the country cares at the next election, or if they are going to sit doing nothing AGAIN!!!
Jim Round just made a similar point about the turnout and, while I disagree with his attempt to make it seem like Labour’s victory didn’t mean anything, I’m also angered by the apathy that this indicates.
To all those of you – and I know you’re reading this – who say it is better to stay away from the polls because voting won’t change anything, consider this: 72 per cent of voters stayed away from the polling stations yesterday – but we still have a new MP today.
Abstaining from voting achieves nothing.
All that happens when you choose not to vote is you throw away your democratic right to influence the government of this country.
In my opinion, you also lose your right to comment on the result. You don’t play this game; stop interfering with those who do.
Reblogged this on Jay's Journal and commented:
So much for getting out and voting…
Well done to him, and an interesting sign of the times, with UKIP in second place. Perhaps it is good advice for a prospective MP, to concentrate on local issues, rather than national policies.
Regards, Pete.
Reblogged this on Political Pip Spit or Swallow its up to You and commented:
UKIP done good. Goggins get around and then they die… LibDems do as they’re told – and then they die.
Well done to Labour of course but, and it’s a big but, UKIP coming second is a disaster.
In the even of another coalition government the Tories doing a deal with UKIP instead of the LIbDems would be the most nightmarish scenario one could ever imagine. If we think the Tories are right wing then UKIP make them look like primary shool learners with their ideas to abolish welfare completely, exit Europe, abolish Human Rights and scrap all workers rights.
Whilst I am aware some of this is Tory policy also having a governing partner with the same idea would make it oh so easy for them.
Labour are not ideal, not by a long way but the alternative is much more frightening for the working class and by “working class” I mean anyone with an income less than £150k a year.
Very pleased with the result, I almost didn’t make it to the Polling Station last night! Due to the bloody trams in Manchester. Great shame about Paul Goggins, he genuinely cared about his constituents & was in Politics for the right reason unlike the majority that are in it to make money for themselves, their friends & families. I emailed him on 22/12 to ask him whether he would accept the proposed pay rise announced by IPSA. He replied by letter on 24/12 to say that he wouldn’t accept it. One of the old guard that will be greatly missed.
Hi Mike- I live in Llandrindod Wells and have just started following your blog ; I want to say how much I am appreciating it. I have watched this town and community sink under the weight of small town corruption, apathy, milked dry by the rest of the county, only 2 councillors on the Cabinet from Radnor. No wonder the Rock Park and its wonderful facilities are falling down, rubbish sports centre , run down hospital, out of town fire and police station ( did you know people have to travel to Brecon to have their fingerprints taken )? Small shops dying the death, no jobs for young people, students faced with no transport funding for attending Brecon and Newtown colleges now Coleg Powys here has closed…..well you know the rest.Brecon? New hospital wing, Library, 2 1/2 million to renovate museum etc etc Jenny Hambidge
I don’t write often about local politics because it’s too fragmented, up and down the country – but Jenny’s comments present a pretty good summary of what’s going on here in Llandod (as it’s known). I’m told the hospital is getting some investment in the near future, though! (And I’ll believe it when I see it.)
Reblogged this on Beastrabban’s Weblog.
[…] Congratulations to Mike Kane, the new Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, who gained around 55 per cent of the vote in yesterday's by-election. The poll, necessitated by the untimely death of … […]
[…] Desperation stations: Liberal Democrats scramble to keep their deposit at the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election. […]
[…] Wythenshawe by-election: LD now stands for Lost Deposit. […]
LOL at the Lib Dems, may they end up as a withered remnant of a party in 2015. Ukip might get at most 5 seats in 2015 due to the unfair voting system that keeps out all the small parties both good and bad.
I can only hope you are right Mike.
It is what’s needed, a break away from the same policies, albeit under different names.
As for not voting, at the last election, there was no MP/AM I thought worthy of
my vote, where do I put my X then, we need a “none of the above” box.
We absolutely do need a ‘none of the above’ box.
I may disagree with you about some other things, but on that you have my full and utter support.
Doubt it will ever happen though Mike, and again, when/if Labour win in 2015, I look forward to some good discussion and comment with you.