[Tubby Isaacs]

Labour have distanced themselves from an earlier quote from a party source that we reported here. The source linked an expected defeat in the West Midlands mayoral race to the war in Gaza.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party has strongly condemned this racist quote which has not come from anyone who is speaking on behalf of the party or whose values are welcome in the party."

Good. Can the source be stopped from speaking ever again?

[Watchman]

A question re regional mayors; I get ones for individual cities e.g. Leicester because the mayor is also leader of the council, and as such can "get things done", and has responsibility for local infrastructure. Whereas regional mayors e.g. West Midlands, who are his "staff", how can he use his influence to get pot-holes filled in etc

[Tubby Isaacs]

As I understand it, which may be wrong, the councils do that. The regional mayor is more strategic investment. Quite a nice job to pop up saying "I'm extending the trams" or "doing up the harbour" or whatever. Heavily favours the incumbent. What are opponents supposed to say? "I'll make the tram go another 10 miles?"

[Tubby Isaacs]

Jamie Driscoll lost by 13%, Surprised it was that large. Unnecessary risk Labour took there though, and unfair on Driscoll.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Labour has gained Adur, West Sussex. No wonder Tim Loughton gave up as an MP.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The Tories wiped out by independents in Castle Point. Of course, they won't lose the Westminster seat, but Reform might be taking note.

[Yug]

The Tories wiped out by independents in Castle Point. Of course, they won't lose the Westminster seat, but Reform might be taking note.

Are they Independents? Or are they what I call 'Central Bedfordshire Independents'? Councillors who were Tories until fairly recently who will be Tory again in the fullness of time, while independently siding with the Tories in the interim.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Canvey Island Independents are genuine independents. Apparently they started in opposition to Canvey Island being disadvantaged with the borough of Castle Point. Been around 20 years now.

Then there's the Peoples Indpendent Party, who are mainly against housebuilding on the Green Belt, plus other standard localist stuff.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The Tories have now held more seats than they've lost. That's progress.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Police elections are a catalogue of narrow Tory wins saved by changing the voting system.

[Bones McCoy]

Canvey Island Independents are genuine independents. Apparently they started in opposition to Canvey Island being disadvantaged with the borough of Castle Point. Been around 20 years now.

Then there's the Peoples Indpendent Party, who are mainly against housebuilding on the Green Belt, plus other standard localist stuff.

Splitters!!

[Tubby Isaacs]

Tories hold my PCC. 13% CON-LAB swing though. I reckon they'd probably have held it with the old system though, seing Greens and English Democrats balance out, and Lib Dems will go both ways.

[Killer Whale]

Good win for Plaid in Dyfed-Powys, given that the change to FPTP was designed to keep scoundrels like us out.

[satnav]

Labour won the East Midland's Mayoral election so Ben Bradley will just have to make do with the salary from just 2 jobs.
Tory MPs in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will be starting to panic.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I don't wish to worry anybody, but...

[Tubby Isaacs]

This is absurd. The same nonsense was put out last year. Labour keep winning Tory seats in by-elections apparently counts for nothing.

The seat projection is even better. The SNP hold all their seats, and "Other" somehow pick up 7 seats on top of that, from presumably places like Castle Point deciding they'll vote for the potholes local guy rather than for a party that might form a government.

[Oboogie]

Labour gain Somerset and Avon PCC (our only vote), quite an astonishing result for round here.

[Crabcakes]

I don't wish to worry anybody, but...

I sincerely hope London isn’t about to play a particularly regrettable round of FAFO…

[Tubby Isaacs]

[mattomac]

I don't wish to worry anybody, but...

Bus has been very rarely right and has been pushing this for some time and got really tetchy when I questioned him about sources.