Boris Marches On.

[local]

A London-based bourgeoisie, with the support of brigades of woke social media warriors, has effectively captured the party.

“They mean well, of course, but their politics – obsessed with identity, division and even tech utopianism – have more in common with those of Californian high society than the kind of people who voted in Hartlepool yesterday


Yep he sums it up well.

London Labour long ago abandoned its core taking their vote for granted, the core are now realising they have been had for mugs and are deserting in droves as they wake up.

I have been saying this for years.

At some point the usual suspects will give us a dose of whataboutery on Boris telling about his faults (we know)

Instead they should be asking how the dysfunctional one is hoovering up the votes in England when in normal electoral cycles he would be losing them.

[Hamble]

Welsh Labour only need one more seat for a majority.

If only Starmer could cut it in the language.

[sandGroundZero]

For Times readers, former Conservative MP turned political commentator Matthew Parris offers curative advice for both Labour and Conservative activists, and other supporters. He divides England into two unequal parts.

• regarding Labour, Parris observes: "This 20^th-century relic of a party, in hoch to folk memories and hulks of trade unionism, is bed-blocking that space in Britain where something new should grow; and until this sour and obsolete political beast dies, the new cannot be born. So don't tell Lagour how to adapt. It can't. Tell it to go away."
  
  
• as for "The populist Tory party has a lie at its heart", Parris scourges the currently almost exclusively dominant populist Tory sect has achieved political success (such as in momentarily is) by 'selling a pig in a poke'. He maintains that the country cannot afford to deliver the PM's 'leveling-up' promises.

For Parris:
"In politics there is a market in optimism and a market in anxiety. The market in anxiety is the easiest to capture and this week the Conservatives consolidated their hold on the disappointed, the nostalgic and the fearful."

[Hamble]

For Times readers, former Conservative MP turned political commentator Matthew Parris offers curative advice for both Labour and Conservative activists, and other supporters.

• regarding Labour, Parris observes: "This 20^th-century relic of a party, in hoch to folk memories and hulks of trade unionism, is bed-blocking that space in Britain where something new should grow; and until this sour and obsolete political beast dies, the new cannot be born. So don't tell Lagour how to adapt. It can't. Tell it to go away."
  
  
• as for "The populist Tory party has a lie at its heart", Parris scourges the currently almost exclusively dominant populist Tory sect has achieved political success (such as in momentarily is) by 'selling a pig in a poke'. He maintains that the country cannot afford to deliver the PM's 'leveling-up' promises.

For Parris, "In politics there is a market in optimism and a market in anxiety. The market in anxiety is the easiest to capture and this week the Conservatives consolidated their hold on the disappointed, the nostalgic and the fearful."

It is only an opinion from a media man.

Of course Labour will survive.
The party is a legend struggling to adapt to the times.
It will find its place with politicians eventually just as the Tory party has done.

[Alikado]

It is only an opinion from a media man.

Of course Labour will survive.
The party is a legend struggling to adapt to the times.
It will find its place with politicians eventually just as the Tory party has done.

Media man and former Tory MP.
Political Parties have been and gone some have morphed, we used to have Whigs and Liberals ruling, the Tories / Conservatives seem to keep swopping between labels as one gets toxic they rebrand. All the main parties are suffering from the same malaise - Career Politicians, Politicians used to end up in Politics nowadays they start in Politics and have never seen the real world, none of them understand what The People want it is all what they think they should have or should want.

That blimp that appeared yesterday, am I the only only one who think it looks more like his brother Jo and even more like Boris Becker.

[Grassroots.]

He does march on and he will.

Labour has lost the plot. Meanwhile the Tories have morphed into being acceptable by the majority who feel threatened by minorities and have no interest in a greater good.

I can't blame them. Who can?

Absolutely. Best post for weeks .

[sandGroundZero]

…All the main parties are suffering from the same malaise - Career Politicians, Politicians used to end up in Politics nowadays they start in Politics and have never seen the real world, none of them understand what The People want it is all what they think they should have or should want. …

A recurring complaint: politicians "…have never seen the real world, none of them understand what The People want …" as if 'The People ' want more-or-less the same things!


In UK politics, representatives have been recruited from an Old Boys network for the Tories and from Labour's affiliated Trade Unions' hierarchies (or influential affiliated groups like the Fabian Society). In terms of democratic legitimacy, our politics are only minimally democratic; that is, to the extent that periodically voters can change one clique for another.

The legislative chambers are relics of an un-democratic age, as are the governing institutions, more generally. England is too centralized and the other nations of the Union, relagated to minor roles.
Thoroughgoing overhaul is urgently required.

[sandGroundZero]

…Meanwhile the Tories have morphed into being acceptable by the majority who feel threatened by minorities and have no interest in a greater good. | I can't blame them. Who can?

"In politics there is a market in optimism and a market in anxiety. The market in anxiety is the easiest to capture and this week the Conservatives consolidated their hold on the disappointed, the nostalgic and the fearful." — Matthew Parris in Saturday's Times

[The PNP]

In UK politics, representatives have been recruited from an Old Boys network for the Tories and from Labour's affiliated Trade Unions' hierarchies (or influential affiliated groups like the Fabian Society). In terms of democratic legitimacy, our politics are only minimally democratic; that is, to the extent that periodically voters can change one clique for another.

There will always be these two large groups, whichever way our political system may eventually be modified/re-arranged.......Having said that, a true system of Proportional Representation would give fair voice to everyone else. PR has the potential to also end the two-clique monopoly on power.

[Hamble]

Media man and former Tory MP.
Political Parties have been and gone some have morphed, we used to have Whigs and Liberals ruling, the Tories / Conservatives seem to keep swopping between labels as one gets toxic they rebrand. All the main parties are suffering from the same malaise - Career Politicians, Politicians used to end up in Politics nowadays they start in Politics and have never seen the real world, none of them understand what The People want it is all what they think they should have or should want.

That blimp that appeared yesterday, am I the only only one who think it looks more like his brother Jo and even more like Boris Becker.

Labour cannot have it both ways.
Politics as a career was good for Blair and Corbyn.
Power still corrupted their soul and they came from diverse backgrounds.

People who have had 'proper jobs' don't always take to the rules and confines of Westminister.


Or Ted Hastings?
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/video/pm...141000114.html


Boris minder had a job and a half there!

[said]

He does march on and he will.

Labour has lost the plot. Meanwhile the Tories have morphed into being acceptable by the majority who feel threatened by minorities and have no interest in a greater good.

I can't blame them. Who can?

A large majority of voters were so keen to keep Labour out, it rebounded. The votes were split between Conservative and Liberal because the events over the past fifteen months has left many people very angry at having restrictions placed upon them and their businesses with a result of businesses closing and thousands losing their jobs. Labour is seen to be totally inept, especially seeing Starmer kneel for BLM?? - leaving only Liberal Democrats. Labour won many of its seats by default and the Greens picked up many protest votes. The turnout was less than 60%, compared to 70% in the general election.

[seivad]

A large majority of voters were so keen to keep Labour out, it rebounded. The votes were split between Conservative and Liberal because the events over the past fifteen months has left many people very angry at having restrictions placed upon them and their businesses with a result of businesses closing and thousands losing their jobs. Labour is seen to be totally inept, especially seeing Starmer kneel for BLM?? - leaving only Liberal Democrats. Labour won many of its seats by default and the Greens picked up many protest votes. The turnout was less than 60%, compared to 70% in the general election.

Bit of a dumb a s s e d move to vote for the party that implemented the restrictions they are so angry about. Plus, at the local level it doesn't matter which party is in power, these decisions come from the central government. This is why I believe that local government should be non partisan. At the local level you should be voting for the person you believe will work for your town, not a political party. National politics muddy the waters and prevent good local people from being elected.

[local]

Unfortunately, local politics is where the national Politicians cut their teeth.

[Tentill4]

At the local level you should be voting for the person you believe will work for your town

Which is why Lynne Thompson was elected in Ainsdale.

[seivad]

Unfortunately, local politics is where the national Politicians cut their teeth.

Or, as in John Pugh's case, where they end up when they're a bit long in the tooth!

To be honest I've never really considered local councillors as politicians. Are there many ex- councillors who progress to the national level? If local governance is viewed as a good apprenticeship for the real thing, is there any reason why non partisanship would preclude them from climbing the political ladder? I've never lived anywhere in Ontario with a partisan council, and I've known some local councillors who have ended up as an MP or MPP for a political party in the federal or provincial government.