I'm sure most Lib Dems would agree that the [party need to get back in the media. However, they cannot force papers to publish their press releases and they can't force broadcasters to report what the party is saying (although that changes a little in an election period). Farage, on the other hand, seems to have his every utterance reported uncritically, even when he uses inflammatory language about "putting the fear of God" into politicians at a time when many of them are receiving death threats.

 

Labour's ambiguity means that both sides will try and insist that the party's vote should be added to their side. Their current MEPs are overwhelmingly Remainers and they will be at the top of the party list. Therefore, most of those standing again will be re-elected. That should mean that the majority of UK MEPs will be Remainers.

 

The decision of the ChUKas to contest the elections may prove to be a mistake. At least the Greens can claim that they are a distinct party with their own policies and use that to justify standing against the Lib Dems. As they have almost no policies, the ChUKas can't claim that. I suspect there will be several areas where the Lib Dems and ChUKas both win no seats but where they would have won one if all the votes had gone to one of the parties.

What concerns me is that the Leave vote has a clear channel to be funnelled towards: the newly created Farage.. er, I mean, BREXIT party.

 

The Remain camp OTOH is likely to be split amongst the more progressive smaller parties, with ChUK helping to split that vote further rather than unite it. Ultimately they may end up undoing all of the momentum from the People's Vote movement and take the (currently unlikely) prospect of a 2nd referendum beyond all hope.

What concerns me is that the Leave vote has a clear channel to be funnelled towards: the newly created Farage.. er, I mean, BREXIT party.

 

The Remain camp OTOH is likely to be split amongst the more progressive smaller parties, with ChUK helping to split that vote further rather than unite it. Ultimately they may end up undoing all of the momentum from the People's Vote movement and take the (currently unlikely) prospect of a 2nd referendum beyond all hope.

 

We can only hope... :P

Some good news for Remainers is that The SDP, which currently has one MEP, has decided not to put forward any candidates for the European Elections. I think it's madness that despite their pro-Brexit stance that they would look a gift horse in the mouth and turn down an opportunity to re-build their profile on a national level, but hey ho, that's their prerogative.

Farage and his career reminds me of Oswald Mosley a bit albeit he was never in government!

Some good news for Remainers is that The SDP, which currently has one MEP, has decided not to put forward any candidates for the European Elections. I think it's madness that despite their pro-Brexit stance that they would look a gift horse in the mouth and turn down an opportunity to re-build their profile on a national level, but hey ho, that's their prerogative.

 

Or maybe they're afraid of another MRLP style humiliation?

I'm sure most Lib Dems would agree that the [party need to get back in the media. However, they cannot force papers to publish their press releases and they can't force broadcasters to report what the party is saying (although that changes a little in an election period). Farage, on the other hand, seems to have his every utterance reported uncritically, even when he uses inflammatory language about "putting the fear of God" into politicians at a time when many of them are receiving death threats.

 

Labour's ambiguity means that both sides will try and insist that the party's vote should be added to their side. Their current MEPs are overwhelmingly Remainers and they will be at the top of the party list. Therefore, most of those standing again will be re-elected. That should mean that the majority of UK MEPs will be Remainers.

 

The decision of the ChUKas to contest the elections may prove to be a mistake. At least the Greens can claim that they are a distinct party with their own policies and use that to justify standing against the Lib Dems. As they have almost no policies, the ChUKas can't claim that. I suspect there will be several areas where the Lib Dems and ChUKas both win no seats but where they would have won one if all the votes had gone to one of the parties.

 

I reckon that the existence of Labour will detract from the argument that it is a proxy referendum as their votes can't be claimed for either side, that said, if you feel strongly either way about the issue, then it would be a mistake to vote Labour.

 

Unless CUK really get going in the next month with TV appearances, I can see them performing rather dismally. What reason do people have to vote for them that means they wouldn't already be considering voting LDs as a Remain vote? I am not seeing positive messages of support from anywhere. And I certainly see the possibility you mention happening, this tweet from FT (found by simply searching 'Change UK', of course) shows how the potential results (from poll averages) would look with them divided and them united.

 

@1118772231251931137

 

I'm actually itching to go campaign right now, and wishing I could. One disadvantage of trying to leave it all behind. I'll have to settle for social media making sure people are registered.

One of the UKIP candidates is called Dick Braine. Just thought I'd mention it.

Pah, Mebyon Kernow have been playing the innuendo game for 22 years.

 

not that ole dick cole or the entire party is even likely standing

After Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister was announced as a Brexit Party candidate, Change Uk have upped the ante by announcing Boris’ sister, the journalist Rachel Johnston, as their candidate (to the surprise of absolutely no one). They’ve also announced former Newsnight host Gavin Esner as a candidate.

Hmmm let me see, someone who is the sister of a right wing Tory MP who is a barking mad liar and clearly in it for their own personal gain, but who sees the Tories as not right-wing enough, and the sister of a less-right-wing Tory MP who is barking mad and clearly in it for their own personal gain, but who sees the Tories as too right-wing and favours a public democratic vote on whatever botch deal that everyone hates but is eventually agreed upon.

 

Now what a dilemma, who on Earth shall I cast my vote for.....

 

The Lying Corrupt-we'll do-anything-to-get-our-way-even-subvert-democracy Farage Fan Club

The Lying Tory Split-for=decades Pink Elephants Fantasy Club

The staring-at-the-ground hoping no-one notices they=really=don't-agree-with-members Brexit-supporting shhh trying to not alienate two opposing sides of voters Labour Party

The Dead-as-a-dodo Nutkippers

 

or the referendum backing ChUK or the referendum-backing Libdems who will probably cancel each other out but we've no way of knowing which one is the lesser wasted vote.

 

Basically British Politics = nobody can agree on anything even when it's for the good of the country. I say let's all vote for Jon Snow (aka Aegon Targaryen)....

Two new opinion polls out today in regards to the European Elections. Both put Brexit Party & Labour Party as the most popular, with the former's support coming at the expense of the Tories & Ukip.

 

@1122177790701445121

 

@1122168861481164800

Two new opinion polls out today in regards to the European Elections. Both put Brexit Party & Labour Party as the most popular, with the former's support coming at the expense of the Tories & Ukip.

 

I don't think I've ever seen an election with such wide variance between the polls! :unsure:

Going off at a bit of a tangent - who has local elections in their area this week?

 

Alas, I do not. :(

 

 

Isn't hindsight wonderful... :rolleyes:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/a...-idea-says-poll

Probably fits better in the general Brexit thread but for myself I have always held that position. It should never have happened and I can point to it as being one of the main reasons I was so disheartened after the 2015 GE.

 

I don't think I've ever seen an election with such wide variance between the polls! :unsure:

 

Yeah, completely unprecedented situation will do that.

 

Going off at a bit of a tangent - who has local elections in their area this week?

 

Alas, I do not. :(

 

There should be a thread for that one, as it’s important. None in my former residence area either so nothing I’ve been following though.

I keep meaning to start a local election thread. I’ll try to do it this morning (unless a Mod gets there before me).

One candidate of note in the European Elections is Crispin Hunt, who is running for Change UK in the South West of England. This slightly excites me, as those members of Buzzjack who share a love of Britpop will immediately recognise him as the lead singer of Longpigs, who were responsible for one of my favourite songs of the era, "She Said". He has no hope of being elected, as he's the last person on ChUK's list in the region, and he is running for Change UK. But any excuse to post this wonderful song:

 

One candidate of note in the European Elections is Crispin Hunt, who is running for Change UK in the South West of England. This slightly excites me, as those members of Buzzjack who share a love of Britpop will immediately recognise him as the lead singer of Longpigs, who were responsible for one of my favourite songs of the era, "She Said". He has no hope of being elected, as he's the last person on ChUK's list in the region, and he is running for Change UK. But any excuse to post this wonderful song:

 

 

I'd vote for him on the basis that he's given me more pleasure than any other candidate on the ballot in the past. A bit like anyone voting Brexit Party without knowing a single policy of what they stand for bar one - but at least he can sing a tune :wub:

She Said has s indeed a glorious song :wub: