[The Weeping Angel]

That MRP poll is a lot of fun to look at, but it is pure fantasy land stuff IMO. Sunak won’t be losing his seat in any circumstances, and if Labour somehow end up with nearly 500 MPs then we’d be looking at many more splashes of red on the Scottish part of that map.

Yeah I know that what I don't understand is where has this Labour are down to single digit lead come from?

[Arrowhead]

I think the Labour organisation is based up the top of the county in Leominster, whereas we're based down the south (though still in the North Herefordshire constituency) near Ledbury. Obviously Wiggin has a very handy vote share (63%) but there's also the problem that LD, LAB and GN all get about the same (14, 13, 9). Who do you back of those tactically? LAB on polls generally? LD on ability to take Tory votes? Or GN as the wildcard?

When it comes to big rural constituencies such as this one, I always think the Lib Dems are the ones most likely to prevail - as we saw a year ago in North Shropshire, they are generally in a much better position to peel away habitual Tory voters in such areas rather than Labour.

[Tubby Isaacs]

They are when, as Ian put it, people remember Ed Davey exists. Say what you like about Ed, but he puts in the local hard yards in a by-election, and residents seem to appreciate it. That can't really happen in a general election, so I'm not sure they wouldn't fall to fourth, with disgruntled Tories staying at home.

[Abernathy]

Here’s a bit of good news. We’ve now seen the back of a particularly hateful Trot.

[Tubby Isaacs]

More time to stand with David Miller and Chris Williamson.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

[Samanfur]

That's a thorough drubbing for the Lib Dems.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

That's a thorough drubbing for the Lib Dems.

Unless they stood aside.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Unless Ed Davey and Tim Farron show up in person several times, they basically have no presence.

[Arrowhead]

Local party members have selected their candidate to take on Boris Johnson in Uxbridge & South Ruislip. Fingers crossed this guy delivers the ultimate "Portillo Moment" at the next GE:

[Abernathy]

Danny the Johnson slayer. Go, Dan !

[Oboogie]

I don't know anything about Danny, but I hope he humiliates Johnson.

[The Weeping Angel]

[Arrowhead]

A fuckup of intergalactic proportions by Bolsover Labour, who failed to spot that their choice of candidate to fight the next GE had previously been found guilty of "professional misconduct" regarding the handling of miners' compensation claims in 2010.

Also bear in mind that Bolsover is a former mining community. Hague ended up being their candidate for fifteen whole days

[Abernathy]

Dennis must be turning in his grave.

[The Weeping Angel]

Dennis must be turning in his grave.

He's still alive.

[Abernathy]

Dennis must be turning in his grave.

He's still alive.

[Arrowhead]

An interesting article on speculation that a number of former Labour "big beasts" such as David Miliband and Ed Balls could be poised for political comebacks.

Two things I hadn't realised before reading this article:

i) the Miliband brothers are still not on speaking terms, which hardly seems ideal if David decides to stand once again, and
ii) Starmer hasn't found room in his shadow cabinet for either Rosena Allin-Khan nor Stella Creasy, which seems extraordinary to me - maybe Starmer is nervous about promoting too many MPs so closely associated with Remain?

Could big beasts from Labour’s past walk into Keir Starmer’s cabinet?
With the party eyeing election victory, figures such as Ed Balls or David Miliband have been the subject of speculation
by Jessica Elgot Wed 21 Dec 2022

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... rs-cabinet

[Tubby Isaacs]

I was amazed to hear that about the Millibands. Ed was probably the wrong choice as leader, but he's firmly established at the top table now, and would be in government. Why bother with bringing the David soap opera back?

He can swap Dr Rosena for Streeting any time he likes. There's literally nobody at this stage thinking "What I really want to know about is whether Labour will take on the BMA". Streeting has been sharp enough on the current disputes, but isn't that enough for now?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Douglas Alexander might be good, but I see he had an expenses scandal. Not really helpful when the contrast with Bozo-Sunak corruption is going to be a big part of the election, we hope.