Tories lose both by elections.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Candidates for all the main political parties are now vetted at central office level, so voting for them is pretty pointless.

[JamesWales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Bad night for the Tories, but I don't think they will be tremendously surprised. Wakefield totally expected but the Tiverton loss is worse than expected though and will raise alarm bells in Conservative HQ.. Labour will probably be a little wary too, as their vote collapsed - no doubt they don't mind on this occasion, but a resurgent Lib Dems would pose concerns elsewhere. As with all by-elections mind, it's probably not worth over-analysing it.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Bad night for the Tories, but I don't think they will be tremendously surprised. Wakefield totally expected but the Tiverton loss is worse than expected though and will raise alarm bells in Conservative HQ.. Labour will probably be a little wary too, as their vote collapsed - no doubt they don't mind on this occasion, but a resurgent Lib Dems would pose concerns elsewhere. As with all by-elections mind, it's probably not worth over-analysing it.

It didn't collapse, the voting was coordinated to defeat the Tories.

[JamesWales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

It didn't collapse, the voting was coordinated to defeat the Tories.

Yes, but you are missing my point - it went in favour of the Lib Dems (which on this occasion I know Labour are happy with) but it does give wind in their sails, which may not be positive long term for them. The loser here is the Tories, I'm just saying, the best night was had by the Lib Dems overall.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Yes, but you are missing my point - it went in favour of the Lib Dems (which on this occasion I know Labour are happy with) but it does give wind in their sails, which may not be positive long term for them. The loser here is the Tories, I'm just saying, the best night was had by the Lib Dems overall.

There were massive campaigns to vote Labour in Wakefield and Lib Dem in Tiverton. All these results tell us is the people are sick of the Tories.

[Elwood Blues]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Dowden's going so quickly and his resignation letter which expresses no loyalty to the PM makes me wonder if he was one of the 148 in in the confidence vote.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Dowden's going so quickly and his resignation letter which expresses no loyalty to the PM makes me wonder if he was one of the 148 in in the confidence vote.

The only problem is all the favourites to take over from Boris are clones of Boris, so it would just be more of the same. Ditto if Starmer became PM.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

The Lib Dems hoovered up wholesale what were previously Labour voters too though.

Well, I’d say that was because the Lib Dems were the choice of the tactical voters as they were held to be the party more likely to beat the Conservatives. What I would say though is that the Lib Dems were very effective in getting the notion that they were the only alternatives to the Tories out there very quickly.

[Dorcus]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

I don't think Labour will be overly unhappy at the Tiverton result. They will be cock a hoop that this is another mail in the Tory coffin. We are getting to the point where tactical voting doesn't need to be hugely coordinated for Tory deselection to happen.

I'm sure both Labour and the Lib Dems realise that at the present time tactical voting is the only way to unseat the Tories given the structure of the First Past The Post System. For both parties and the country as a whole to benefit they understand the priority is to remove the Tory government first.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Well, I’d say that was because the Lib Dems were the choice of the tactical voters as they were held to be the party more likely to beat the Conservatives. What I would say though is that the Lib Dems were very effective in getting the notion that they were the only alternatives to the Tories out there very quickly.

It could be argued that tactical votes should have gone to the opposition party that were second last time out and not to a party that was given little chance of winning the seat a while ago. Yes, it's clearly not 'Labour' country down here but I think the party still suffers from a major malaise away from its core areas of support.

[JamesWales]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

It could be argued that tactical votes should have gone to the opposition party that were second last time out and not to a party that was given little chance of winning the seat a while ago. Yes, it's clearly not 'Labour' country down here but I think the party still suffers from a major malaise away from its core areas of support.

I agree. I am actually surprised that Labour had done so well in the last 2 elections there, as it really isn't known as Labour territory. I do think despite that, and as has been proved, the Lib Dems did have the better chance of winning it, but like you say, it is curious.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiverton_and_Honiton_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

[life on mars]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Labour has to strike an awkward balance on a number of issues and somehow shake away from that Metropolitan big inner city look, if they don't more results like like Tiverton and North Shropshire will move to the Liberals ..

Its worth bearing in mind you can get these types of protest votes , what voters do in By Elections , Council , Regionals , Mayor , Brexit elections can be very different in an General Elections , Liberals have been here before ...

I'm sure during the Blair run up Labour were very much far ahead of the Tories around this time of the election cycle ??

What each party lacks is an election campaigner like Johnson , lover or hate him he does have that knack for some reason he appeals and turns head either in anger or support , if he was walking down your high street for some bizarre reason folk would come out point , shout , cheer , have a selfie , can't see many doing that for Ed Davey or Kier ?? ...

[lardy]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Labour has to strike an awkward balance on a number of issues and somehow shake away from that Metropolitan big inner city look, if they don't more results like like Tiverton and North Shropshire will move to the Liberals ..

Its worth bearing in mind you can get these types of protest votes , what voters do in By Elections , Council , Regionals , Mayor , Brexit elections can be very different in an General Elections , Liberals have been here before ...

I'm sure during the Blair run up Labour were very much far ahead of the Tories around this time of the election cycle ??

What each party lacks is an election campaigner like Johnson , lover or hate him he does have that knack for some reason he appeals and turns head either in anger or support , if he was walking down your high street for some bizarre reason folk would come out point , shout , cheer , have a selfie , can't see many doing that for Ed Davey or Kier ?? ...

Johnson was booed in public a few weeks ago, as he walked in to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee ceremony.

I can't see him getting cheered in the high street at the moment, if he can't even make 10 seconds there.

[Packerman]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

Labour has to strike an awkward balance on a number of issues and somehow shake away from that Metropolitan big inner city look, if they don't more results like like Tiverton and North Shropshire will move to the Liberals ..

Its worth bearing in mind you can get these types of protest votes , what voters do in By Elections , Council , Regionals , Mayor , Brexit elections can be very different in an General Elections , Liberals have been here before ...

I'm sure during the Blair run up Labour were very much far ahead of the Tories around this time of the election cycle ??

What each party lacks is an election campaigner like Johnson , lover or hate him he does have that knack for some reason he appeals and turns head either in anger or support , if he was walking down your high street for some bizarre reason folk would come out point , shout , cheer , have a selfie , can't see many doing that for Ed Davey or Kier ?? ...

Think most people in the majority of high streets would tell him he's a fat lying chancing charatan with no morals, shame or scruples tbh

[Eric Cartman]

Re: Tories lose both by elections.

There were massive campaigns to vote Labour in Wakefield and Lib Dem in Tiverton. All these results tell us is the people are sick of the Tories.

Exactly, there is some desperate reaching going on in this thread.