BBC: This was another disappointing election night for the Conservatives, with two by-election defeats and two gains for Labour.
Not only did they lose Kingswood, where Labour needed a relatively modest 11-point swing. They also lost Wellingborough, where an 18-point swing was required for the seat to change hands. » | Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University | Friday, February 16, 2024
Alhamdulillah! Somebody give them some poison to finish them off! Take pity on them! Put them out of their misery! Once and for all. They’ve had fourteen years in office and not only have they given us that ridiculous Brexit — which I will never forgive them for, especially depriving me and my compatriots of our European citizenship — but they have heaped misery and poverty on so many Brits and heaped millions and billions on the one percenters. The economy is in an appalling mess. Chaos abounds. A new Victorian Era beckons, to boot. And the best Sunak can come up with is tax cuts for the rich, a perpetual smoking ban for young adults, lies and delusion. He cares not a jot for the working poor who have to go to food banks to feed their children, or for the homeless who are destitute and who have to sleep rough on our streets. Sunak was raised in a bubble, was educated in a bubble, and lives in a bubble. The man is shameless. How on earth can he sleep at night?
I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool Tory voter. After this mess and after robbing me of my European citizenship, I shall never vote for them again.
I dislike Labour; but I despise the Tories.
As a Welshman, I am beginning to think that the best thing that could happen for Wales is to become an independent country in Europe, just as the Republic of Ireland is. Being independent in the EU has brought prosperity to Southern Ireland. It could do the same for my country: Wales. – © Mark Alexander
Showing posts with label by-elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label by-elections. Show all posts
Friday, February 16, 2024
Friday, October 20, 2023
‘Political Earthquake’ as Tories Lose Two Major Seats in By-elections
THE TELEGRAPH: The results mean that the Conservatives have surrendered seven constituencies in the last three years
Labour inflicted two of the heaviest ever by-election losses on the Tories on Friday morning, in what the party claimed was a “political earthquake”.
Sir Keir Starmer said his party was “redrawing the political map” after overturning enormous Conservative majorities in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire.
Rishi Sunak was warned the Tories faced being ousted following the dismal results in Nadine Dorries and Chris Pincher’s former seats.
It means that the Conservatives have surrendered seven constituencies in the last three years, a run of losses not seen since Sir John Major was in power. » | Nick Gutteridge, Whitehall Correspondent | Friday, October 20, 2023
Labour inflicted two of the heaviest ever by-election losses on the Tories on Friday morning, in what the party claimed was a “political earthquake”.
Sir Keir Starmer said his party was “redrawing the political map” after overturning enormous Conservative majorities in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire.
Rishi Sunak was warned the Tories faced being ousted following the dismal results in Nadine Dorries and Chris Pincher’s former seats.
It means that the Conservatives have surrendered seven constituencies in the last three years, a run of losses not seen since Sir John Major was in power. » | Nick Gutteridge, Whitehall Correspondent | Friday, October 20, 2023
Friday, October 06, 2023
‘Seismic Night in Scotland’: Labour Crushes SNP in Rutherglen and Hamilton West Byelection
GUARDIAN EUROPE: Michael Shanks wins contest Labour considered a crucial test of apparent turnaround of its fortunes in Scotland
Scottish Labour’s Michael Shanks has won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West byelection in an overwhelming victory over the SNP that his party leadership declared “seismic”, and a clear demonstration that Scotland could lead the way in delivering a Labour government at Westminster at the coming general election.
In a result that exceeded Scottish Labour expectation, Shanks beat his closest rival, the SNP’s Katy Loudon, by 17,845 votes to 8,399 – a majority of 9,446 and a resounding swing of more than 20 percentage points.
The result marked a “seismic night in Scotland”, and proved that “Scottish politics has fundamentally changed”, said the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar. Voters were sending “a very clear message that they are sick of two tired, failing, incompetent governments”, he added. (with video) » | Libby Brooks and Severin Carrell | Friday, October 6, 2023
What Labour’s Rutherglen victory means for SNP and UK politics: Party’s victory may point to a change in Scottish political alignments that spells danger for Humza Yousaf »
Scottish Labour’s Michael Shanks has won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West byelection in an overwhelming victory over the SNP that his party leadership declared “seismic”, and a clear demonstration that Scotland could lead the way in delivering a Labour government at Westminster at the coming general election.
In a result that exceeded Scottish Labour expectation, Shanks beat his closest rival, the SNP’s Katy Loudon, by 17,845 votes to 8,399 – a majority of 9,446 and a resounding swing of more than 20 percentage points.
The result marked a “seismic night in Scotland”, and proved that “Scottish politics has fundamentally changed”, said the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar. Voters were sending “a very clear message that they are sick of two tired, failing, incompetent governments”, he added. (with video) » | Libby Brooks and Severin Carrell | Friday, October 6, 2023
What Labour’s Rutherglen victory means for SNP and UK politics: Party’s victory may point to a change in Scottish political alignments that spells danger for Humza Yousaf »
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Ed Davey: ‘Tactical Voting Can Lock Tories Out of Power for a Generation’
THE OBSERVER: Lib Dem leader says people lending their votes to rival parties could shut the door on Conservatives at Westminster for years to come
Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with party leader Ed Davey in Frome, Somerset, on Friday. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA
The Tories could be locked out of power for a generation if supporters of other parties vote tactically at the next general election, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, says on Sunday, after his party chalked up another stunning West Country byelection victory.
A massive 29% swing to the Lib Dems saw Sarah Dyke take the Somerton and Frome seat, overturning a Conservative majority of more than 19,200. Davey’s party now has a comfortable 11,000 majority of its own, the largest it has ever had over the Tories in the constituency. » | Toby Helm, Political editor | Sunday, July 23, 2023
As an Arab might say, inshallah! Send this régime packing: this band of corrupt, incompetent, greedy fools! Clowns! Rapacious clowns!
This country needs a business-friendly party to lead it. The Tories used to be that party. Alas, no longer. No business-friendly party would turn its back on the biggest, most-successful single market in the world: The Single Market – a market of 500m or so consumers. Only an idiot would turn its back on such a market.
It is to be hoped that we will soon witness the demise of the Conservatives. We Brits deserve better than this. – © Mark Alexander
The Tories could be locked out of power for a generation if supporters of other parties vote tactically at the next general election, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, says on Sunday, after his party chalked up another stunning West Country byelection victory.
A massive 29% swing to the Lib Dems saw Sarah Dyke take the Somerton and Frome seat, overturning a Conservative majority of more than 19,200. Davey’s party now has a comfortable 11,000 majority of its own, the largest it has ever had over the Tories in the constituency. » | Toby Helm, Political editor | Sunday, July 23, 2023
As an Arab might say, inshallah! Send this régime packing: this band of corrupt, incompetent, greedy fools! Clowns! Rapacious clowns!
This country needs a business-friendly party to lead it. The Tories used to be that party. Alas, no longer. No business-friendly party would turn its back on the biggest, most-successful single market in the world: The Single Market – a market of 500m or so consumers. Only an idiot would turn its back on such a market.
It is to be hoped that we will soon witness the demise of the Conservatives. We Brits deserve better than this. – © Mark Alexander
Friday, July 21, 2023
U.K. Voters Hand Sunak’s Party Two Defeats and a Win in By-elections
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The governing Conservatives retained Boris Johnson’s former Parliament seat in northwest London, but lost in two districts, including a sobering defeat in northern England.
Britain’s Conservative Party suffered crushing defeats in the race for what had previously been two safe seats in Parliament, but narrowly avoided losing a third contest, in election results Friday that sent an ominous signal about the political future of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The main opposition Labour Party won its biggest by-election victory since 1945 in Selby and Ainsty, in Yorkshire in the north of England — a dramatic shift in fortunes and a worrisome defeat for the Tories in a region that had undergirded their sweeping national victory three years ago.
The centrist Liberal Democrats scored a thumping win in another former Conservative stronghold, Somerton and Frome, in England’s southwest, revealing further cracks in what had long been a heartland of Tory voters.
But the Conservatives avoided a sweep by narrowly holding on to Uxbridge and South Ruislip, in the northwestern fringes of London, a district that had been represented by the former prime minister, Boris Johnson. » | Mark Landler and Stephen Castle, Reporting from London | Thursday, July 20, 2023
With all his plans in tatters, Rishi eyes some reshuffle lolz: After nine months of failure, PM casts around for something to pass the time before his summer hols »
Britain’s Conservative Party suffered crushing defeats in the race for what had previously been two safe seats in Parliament, but narrowly avoided losing a third contest, in election results Friday that sent an ominous signal about the political future of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The main opposition Labour Party won its biggest by-election victory since 1945 in Selby and Ainsty, in Yorkshire in the north of England — a dramatic shift in fortunes and a worrisome defeat for the Tories in a region that had undergirded their sweeping national victory three years ago.
The centrist Liberal Democrats scored a thumping win in another former Conservative stronghold, Somerton and Frome, in England’s southwest, revealing further cracks in what had long been a heartland of Tory voters.
But the Conservatives avoided a sweep by narrowly holding on to Uxbridge and South Ruislip, in the northwestern fringes of London, a district that had been represented by the former prime minister, Boris Johnson. » | Mark Landler and Stephen Castle, Reporting from London | Thursday, July 20, 2023
With all his plans in tatters, Rishi eyes some reshuffle lolz: After nine months of failure, PM casts around for something to pass the time before his summer hols »
Friday, June 24, 2022
‘The Country Would Be Better Off’: Senior Tories Urge Boris Johnson to Quit
THE GUARDIAN: Ex-leader Michael Howard among Conservatives to call for resignation after byelection catastrophes
Boris Johnson: ‘I genuinely, genuinely don’t think the way forward in British politics is to focus on issues of personalities.’ Photograph: Reuters
Conservative grandees are urging Boris Johnson to quit after a historic double byelection defeat, as rebellious MPs began plotting new ways to oust him.
The former Conservative leader Michael Howard was among those who demanded the prime minister stand down after the losses in Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield which prompted the immediate resignation of the party’s co-chair, Oliver Dowden.
In his pointed resignation letter, widely regarded as a call to others to act, Dowden told the prime minister: “We cannot carry on with business as usual. Someone must take responsibility.”
Johnson’s critics are hoping to secure a majority on the executive of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, in the hope they can change the party’s rules to allow a fresh confidence vote without waiting for a year.
As the scale of the twin defeats sunk in – both with worse-than-expected swings against the Conservatives – a string of senior Tories added their voices to those calling for Johnson to go. Asked whether the prime minister should quit, Howard said: “I do”. » | Heather Stewart, Rowena Mason and Rajeev Syal | Friday, June 24, 2022
Conservative grandees are urging Boris Johnson to quit after a historic double byelection defeat, as rebellious MPs began plotting new ways to oust him.
The former Conservative leader Michael Howard was among those who demanded the prime minister stand down after the losses in Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield which prompted the immediate resignation of the party’s co-chair, Oliver Dowden.
In his pointed resignation letter, widely regarded as a call to others to act, Dowden told the prime minister: “We cannot carry on with business as usual. Someone must take responsibility.”
Johnson’s critics are hoping to secure a majority on the executive of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, in the hope they can change the party’s rules to allow a fresh confidence vote without waiting for a year.
As the scale of the twin defeats sunk in – both with worse-than-expected swings against the Conservatives – a string of senior Tories added their voices to those calling for Johnson to go. Asked whether the prime minister should quit, Howard said: “I do”. » | Heather Stewart, Rowena Mason and Rajeev Syal | Friday, June 24, 2022
Conservative Co-chairman Oliver Dowden Quits after By-election Losses
BBC: Conservative co-chair Oliver Dowden has resigned following two by-election losses for the party to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems overturned a huge Tory majority in Tiverton and Honiton, Devon, their third by-election victory over Boris Johnson's party in a year.
And Labour retook the seat of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which it lost at the 2019 general election.
The prime minister said he would "keep going" and address people's concerns.
In a letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Dowden said Tory supporters were "distressed and disappointed".
He wrote: "We cannot carry on with business as usual. Somebody must take responsibility and I have concluded that, in these circumstances, it would not be right for me to remain in office."
Mr Dowden also called his resignation "a deeply personal decision that I have taken alone" following a "run of very poor results for our party". With video » | Justin Parkinson, Political reporter, BBC News | Friday, June 24, 2022
A kick up the arse is what you needed and a kick up the arse is what you’ve been given. And deserved! Now it’s time to dust down the bike in your shed and get on it!
Just to get you into Number 10, I, and millions of others, have had to relinquish all our rights as a European citizens. And what a mess you’re making of the job!
You have written about Churchill a lot and you have identified with him; but I can assure you of one thing: you are no Winnie!
In these election results, you have got what you deserve: defeat. – © Mark Alexander
Lib Dem byelection win was spectacular – but Labour’s may hurt Tories most »
What do the byelection results mean for the Conservatives? Our panel’s verdict »
Royaume-Uni : le président du Parti conservateur de Boris Johnson démissionne après de «très mauvais résultats» électoraux : Le premier ministre britannique Boris Johnson et son Parti conservateur ont subi vendredi deux importantes défaites lors d'élections parlementaires partielles. »
Doppelte Niederlage für Johnsons Tories: Boris Johnsons Tories haben bei Nachwahlen zwei Sitze und damit den Stimmungstest verloren. Der Premierminister will auf die Wähler hören. »
Conservatives Lose 2 Races in U.K., Adding to Pressure on Boris Johnson: The double defeat exposed the party’s vulnerabilities and was likely to revive talk of another no-confidence vote against the prime minister. »
Doppelte Ohrfeige für Boris Johnson – Tories verlieren zwei wichtige Nachwahlen an Labour und die Liberaldemokraten: Die britischen Konservativen haben bei zwei Unterhausnachwahlen im postindustriellen Norden sowie in ihren Stammlanden im Südwesten Englands krachende Niederlagen erlitten. Der Parteivorsitzende Oliver Dowden tritt zurück, doch das Fiasko ist vor allem ein weiterer Schlag für Boris Johnsons Autorität. »
The Guardian view on the byelections: PM’s end draws nigh: Boris Johnson should resign and take responsibility for failing his party – and the country »
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