Something I feel I should remind people of, is that the last 9 years of small/no majorities is the exception, rather than the rule, historically. Working majorities used to be seen as a *good* thing, as you avoid the kind of stagnation we've seen for the last decade.

 

Just saying...

I don't think the northern towns are gone that badly. We mustn't underestimate them again, but it's not like Scotland. The SNP has rejuvenated politics in Scotland and remained broadly popular for it. That, and the support for nationalism/competing with unionist parties has made it impossible for Labour up there.

 

I know that majorities historically have been effective but I would rather a government that got things right for all people rather than just a few, I would sacrifice efficiency to do so. It's now up to the Conservatives to prove they deserve to be trusted with that majority. And I do think majorities will be more rare moving forward.

At least with a majority there can be no hiding or escaping blame for whatever comes in the next 4 and a half years, the Tories will own this 2020-2024 period- clearly Johnson will still have to keep the ERG on side if he is to keep things on track and that could make things rather interesting later next year when the transition period has to be agreed to be extended (by July) and a new arrangement in place (by 31 December). Furthermore, civil disorder by loyalists in Northern Ireland is a risk given the current arrangements in the WAB and the spectre of Scottish Independence will dominate once the UK leaves on 31st Jan.

That’s what I’m thinking. They’ll try it but there’s no avoiding fault for this period.

 

I do have concerns that the long term effects of Brexit may only be properly felt with the term after this one and therefore, if Labour were to get in, they’ll face the brunt of that and be locked out of Parliament once again, in a similar way how they still have to face the flack of a worldwide recession, assisted by our current Chancellor.

At least with a majority there can be no hiding or escaping blame for whatever comes in the next 4 and a half years, the Tories will own this 2020-2024 period- c

 

 

You can bet if the economy goes tits up with Brexit they'll try to blame Gordon Brown or something. :P

That’s what I’m thinking. They’ll try it but there’s no avoiding fault for this period.

 

I do have concerns that the long term effects of Brexit may only be properly felt with the term after this one and therefore, if Labour were to get in, they’ll face the brunt of that and be locked out of Parliament once again, in a similar way how they still have to face the flack of a worldwide recession, assisted by our current Chancellor.

 

 

Can't see Labour overturning a 78 seat majority in one election. Will take two no matter who's leader imo.

Can't see Labour overturning a 78 seat majority in one election. Will take two no matter who's leader imo.

 

I think we're in a completely new and unprecedented era of politics — anything could happen. The past four years have certainly been anything but predictable.

I think we're in a completely new and unprecedented era of politics — anything could happen. The past four years have certainly been anything but predictable.

 

Well yes. This election was all about Brexit but 2024 won't be. Suppose anything could happen. Boris may even become unpopular.

He's already fairly unpopular Chris - or at least opinion is pretty split with the latest poll giving him a net approval of –14.

He's already fairly unpopular Chris - or at least opinion is pretty split with the latest poll giving him a net approval of –14.

 

 

Well am sure that'll change when we leave the EU on Jan 31st.

Yes, it'll go much lower.

I doubt it. Every news report I've heard on TV and radio today has had people saying why they deserted Labour to vote Tory and it's not so much hatred of Corbyn as "to get Brexit done" and "it must be done and Boris has promised to do it"

I doubt it. Every news report I've heard on TV and radio today has had people saying why they deserted Labour to vote Tory and it's not so much hatred of Corbyn as "to get Brexit done" and "it must be done and Boris has promised to do it"

 

But what happens when the poor get poorer, town centres are even more depeleted and life does not get better because Brexit is still on-going? All the blame is going to Johnson.

Corbyn has written an apology and taken responsibility for the defeat in the Sunday Mirror:

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/jere...saster-21099506

 

The final couple of paragraphs give me some hope in the project:

 

We will learn the lessons of this defeat, above all by listening to those lifelong Labour voters who we’ve lost in working class communities. This party exists to represent them. We will earn their trust back.

 

Make no mistake: Labour is the greatest force for progressive change this country has ever known, and although this wasn’t our moment, our time will come again under new leadership. We will never give up on the commitment and determination to build a fairer and more decent society.

 

Meanwhile I am enjoying this post-mortem by now leadership candidate Jess Philips, calling out the blame game and the buzzwords and some thoughts on how to move forward: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2...r-jess-phillips

 

 

I doubt it. Every news report I've heard on TV and radio today has had people saying why they deserted Labour to vote Tory and it's not so much hatred of Corbyn as "to get Brexit done" and "it must be done and Boris has promised to do it"

 

Really? My impression is that it's been roughly 50/50.

 

But what happens when the poor get poorer, town centres are even more depeleted and life does not get better because Brexit is still on-going? All the blame is going to Johnson.

 

If that's the case, then so it should - it's the PM's job to carry the can. The main difference this time is that he was still in his honeymoon period.

 

McDonnell on Marr still not having it that it was Corbyn's fault. Was all the media's fault for how they portrayed him. Yes but if he wasn't leader in the first place they couldn't have done that could they.

 

 

Edited December 15, 20195 yr by Crazy Chris-tmas

The media will find ways to smear literally every Labour leader. It's fair to say Corbyn has more baggage than most and a different leader would likely have done better (by being able to resist plunging to the dismal approval rating Corbyn had) but it's still important to call out the media bias.

You can bet if the economy goes tits up with Brexit they'll try to blame Gordon Brown or something. :P

 

😂 So true, we are on the period now we're people will have finally forgotten the labour era of brown (well by the end of this parliament) so anything will be possible. As I've said already in another topic there will be another global recession soon, it's been threatened for the past 18 months or so.

McDonnell on Marr still not having it that it was Corbyn's fault. Was all the media's fault for how they portrayed him. Yes but if he wasn't leader in the first place they couldn't have done that could they.

 

Eh? So let's start with no1, is he a Czech Spy?

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Edited December 15, 20195 yr by Crazy Chris-tmas