Result
Not the meltdown some were predicting
At the time of writing, just after breakfast, Labour have only lost 255 council seats. Could have been worse, they're saying. This is true. It could have been 256. But having lost most of these to the Tories, that's pretty bad isn't it? Ah, no, you see, it's not the meltdown some were predicting. This "meltdown" was 300 seats, as I understand it. And no, technically, it's not that. But the result still puts the Tories at a projected 40% of the national vote, with the Lib Dems at 27% and Labour - hmmmmm - third with 26%. The paradigm shift in voter intention that happened in 1997 does seem to be reversing, with those who switched their allegiance from an embattled Major cabinet to a revitalised, de-claused, de-Kinnocked Labour oppostion (greatly influenced by Murdoch's crossing of the floor), switching back. As scary-faced Margaret Beckett insisted on Question Time last night, before a practically baying audience, this government has a mandate, as does Tony Blair, as the electorate voted them back in last year, but it seems clear that this very mandate, slimmer than Lindsey Lohan side-on, has been greatly harmed by the Prime Minister's refusal to set a date for his departure. So keen is he to see through his legacy (a ruined education system, and a ruined NHS), he will not budge, and this is putting his allies into a flap. They're being barracked and mocked and undermined, and it seems clear that he's lost the confidence of the country. Whether you're one of Polly Toynbee's "clothes peg" brigade or not, he really needs to put himself into the rapid-reaction reshuffle. There is talk that Prescott will be stripped of his bloated portfolio (he's busy enough as it is in the office), and that Ruth Kelly will finally be removed from education because people keep mistaking her for a schoolboy, and that can only mean one thing: further Apprentice style hot-shots moved up the ladder. Good news for the Greens, albeit - in true Greens style - modest. They have gained 14 seats so far. Good news also for the BNP (they're not racist), who took 11 seats in Barking and Dagenham, despite Billy Bragg's vocal efforts, and whose London spokesman Richard Barnbrook (he's not racist), thanked Labour's Margaret Hodge for the free publicity.
More news as we get it. For full details, where better?
posted by Andrew Collins @ 10:06 AM
9 Comments
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9 Comments:
Would have liked to have seen a public, Alan Sugar style 'you're fired' from Tony Blair to Charles Clarke...
The BNP getting those seats is depressing. Unfortunately as much as I like Billy Bragg, I don't think he would have had much impact on the voters, now if it had been Girls Aloud or Robbie "smug-git" Williams saying don't vote for the cretins, more voters would have taken notice.
A theory based on me mentioning Billy Bragg to some of my work colleagues and most of them saying who?
I know that in the grand scheme of things they don't have many seats, and thus no real power, but I am utterly depressed by the BNP's progress. 7 councillors in Burnley, up from last time, and more coming in in Bradford as we speak. How are people taken in? Or are that many people really racist?
And anyway, even if you did want to get rid of "immigrants" (most of whom, in Bradford and Burnley, have been there at least 30 years), what then? What do they propose the BNP do next? It's all so absolutely, utterly, horribly depressing!!
Andrew - the Greens got some people in in Camden (though not unfortunately in my ward.)
No kitten news?
My life is now empty.
*sniff*
Kitten is here, and sleeping. He's called Paddy, is almost eight weeks old, a grey tabby, and as soon as I feel it's not intrusive to take his picture, he will be introduced to polite society. Ssssshhhhhhhh.
Oh sweet. Our cat, Sid, is a grey tabby. He's 14 now and weighs 17 pounds. Huge cat but not fat at all - just pure muscle.....
I was up working last night with the TV on half listening to music half the TV. Anyone who was watching between 3 and half three was around for the best bit with the power out, (not really somethin' to shout about) and the joy of a results programme with nothing much happenning. Hoon and Blunkett's "I can't hear you" technical difficulties just about sum the current government. Was good to see Nick Griffin get a new one torn out (It's on the BBC's website still).
Congratulations on the kitten.
Holy Moly!
This, is the reason plastic was invented! "I don't like liars, and i don't like cheats, but i like 4 AA batteries"
http://www.amstrad.com/amsface/
The "rapid-reaction reshuffle" had clearly been prepared at least a few days ago (otherwise it would have happened on Monday). Labour rightly figured that sacking Clarke earlier would have no impact on the vote, therefore it was held back until afterwards so as to be presented as "Labour is listening." Presumably this is supposed to be New New Labour.
The paradigm shift in voter intention didn't really happen in 1997; that was just when it was able to manifest itself. It was surely already starting under John Smith and really kicked into action when he died - remember how everyone was surprised by the impact that had? I think John Smith's death was a bigger turning point than the election of Blair, the removal of Clause IV, or Murdoch's endorsement. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, Blair doesn't see it that way. Even so the Tories had nights at least as bad as this and went on to win general elections.
It's hard to know whether to be pleased or not that the old scare tactic of raising the spectre of the BNP (some of their best friends are Asian) backfired so spectacularly this time. Probably not pleased.
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