General Election UK, June 8th...

[Brian Peacock]

They might not, but if other parties want to swing voters back to them they'll have to take notice of what made Labour attractive to them.

May rather arrogantly assumed that her personality and position as PM would see former UKIP voters and Leavers swelling her support towards an unassailable majority and a mother-knows-best excuse for a hard Brexit. The Labour party, via a grass roots upsurged, managed to communicate that politics in the UK isn't just about whatever it is the conservatives decide it is today, that public services and investment in the future are important things to think about and, importantly, something worth paying for.

So they haven't convinced the nation. OK. But what I take from Labours 40% share of the vote compared to the Conservatives 42% is that UK politics is not quite as bound to faux moral OUTRAGE and fear appeals as the propaganda machines of the wealthy have led us to believe. 'Policy' is back on the agenda again, and to a great extent I think we can thank Corbyn, and to some degree Trump, for that.

[pErvinalia]

Yep. (without agreeing with you that Trump put policy back on the agenda).

[Brian Peacock]

I didn't mean that, lust that he's a shining example of rhetoric heavy, policy light politician.

[Strontium Dog]

hahahahahahahaha

that is all

[pErvinalia]

that's the same reaction I had when I learnt that Clegg had lost his seat...

[Alan B]

I'm not surprised that Clegg lost his seat. He had the reins of power in his hands...

If he didn't let Cameron twist him round his little finger I think things could be a lot different now.

Still, that's water under the bridge and Clegg's paying for it.

[PsychoSerenity]

Labour have more of a chance now than at any time since their drubbings in 2010/15. They've attracted a huge number of new, engaged members, focused on policy over personality during the campaign, and made a case that the enrichment if the few shouldn't come before spending on things like essential public services, infrastructure, and house building etc. They've also moved the party back to the centre after years of playing the role of 'the purple tories' - something that turned a lot of people off and towards the dark side of, "They're all the bloody same - so what's the point."

When you look at the turnout as well as vote-share, Labour got the support of significantly more of the electorate than they've had since 1997. I think the main reason the Tories have somewhat held up against that (other than anti-Corbyn tabloid propaganda) is they got support from EU leavers believing in Strong and Stable negotiations. But one wrong move, economic problems, or difficulties with Brexit and the Tories vote-share could collapse. And even with the DUP they are going to be operating with a tiny majority. It's going to be an interesting few years.

[Alan B]

Yeah, but if they are forced to come to their senses (a deceived and lied-to voting public has no mandate... Except to those who did the lying and deceiving) due to intractable negotiations, they could scrap Brexit.

I suspect that if Corbyn had presented scrapping Brexit as an option, he could have got more seats.

[PsychoSerenity]

I suspect that if Corbyn had presented scrapping Brexit as an option, he could have got more seats.

I wouldn't have thought so, it's still too soon after the referendum. Too many of the 52% are still true believers. That may change in time though.

[Rum]

It is pretty hard to see the Conservative/DUP agreement lasting all that long. I would not be surprised to see another election within the year. It is going to be pretty chaotic.

As an aside the N Ireland peace process assures all the Irish parties that the UK government will remain strictly neutral. I wonder what Sinn Fein/IRA will make of this deal..

[PsychoSerenity]

As an aside the N Ireland peace process assures all the Irish parties that the UK government will remain strictly neutral. I wonder what Sinn Fein/IRA will make of this deal..

Yeah this is particularly concerning. Especially while May wants to undermine the Human Rights Act and negotiate any sort of North/South border.

[Strontium Dog]

that's the same reaction I had when I learnt that Clegg had lost his seat...

Nick Clegg is honestly one of the most misunderstood characters in British history.

I think he's better off out of it, and anyway, he could be back when we have another election in nine months time.

[Brian Peacock]

I wouldn't be surprised if we're doing it all again in October.

[pErvinalia]

And then hopefully the Labour Party will actually support it's leader this time. Should make a big difference.

[Brian Peacock]

Indeed: http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 3#p1711553