Batley and Spen by-election

It's a good day. People who are criticising Kim Leadbeater for her lack of experience in politics has a very narrow understanding of what politics is.

Dinahmo

Excellent news. Perhaps people will lay off KS for a bit.

I don't think they will. I've already seen them on twitter this morning blaming him for loss of votes.

The votes weren’t lost to the Tories though, their vote share dropped. This result is exactly what the left of Labour didn’t want.

I was surprised how by how many votes Mr.Galloway garnered?

So no leadership challenge by Angela Rayner - perish the thought!

Cobham and Downside (Elmbridge) result:

LDEM: 49.8% (+18.4)
CON: 43.5% (-3.9)
GRN: 3.0% (+3.0)
LAB: 2.6% (-6.1)
REFUK: 1.1% (+1.1)

Liberal Democrat GAIN Conservative

Sad day for Len McCluskey, he was so hopeful- ‘if Labour lose
Starmer is dead in the water ‘.

George Galloway, gracious in defeat and throwing his toys out of the pram is going to court to have the result set aside. Now who else made a fuss about election results recently? Oh yes, another odious idiot, Donald Trump. What a pair!

I dont think he will do that it's just hot air. He is a vike man.

Vile even.

I did wonder who in their right mind would vote for Galloway. But then I realised if all you knew of him was him turning up and saying the "right" things, then you might. Not that I think he doesn't believe these things, mind you, he's nothing if not consistent. Prof Curtice on the radio this morning saying he probably took votes from the Conservatives and the Hancock affair could have cost them the seat.

Surely the Lib Dem win in Cobham and Downside is a bigger story though? In the real world?

Well done Kim Leadbetter. Great news.

A very close contest in the end, 300 ish votes I think.A good result for Starmer, which means he’s safe for now.He should have removed Raynor when he had the chance last time though.Apparently only half of eligible voters in Batley and Spen bothered to vote! Galloway should crawl back under his rock now hopefully.Brendon Cox praised the Conservative candidate for running a clean campaign and calls him a good man, nice to see.
The left of the LP were hoping for a Labour defeat.....says it all really!

Isn’t Batley the real world Aleg ? The residents there may be surprised.

Well a 3000+ majority reduced to 325. Half way through the worst conservative government for a century. And that's a victory?
As far as the votes for Galloway goes I have been thinking what would I do if I were a young Muslim looking at the LP and Galloway and much as I think he's a self aggrandising prat I think I might have voted for him becuse of his stance on Palestine
Starmer needs to look at who voted for him and why and rethink some of his choices (although personally I'd rather he went, he's such a nonentity) He can't continue to ignore Palestine and appoint Israeli ex-agents to his staff.

Why so combative Lemo? Oh, hang on, I remember.

Anyway.

Of course Batley and Spen is in the real world. As is Cobham and Downside. In the latter constituency, which I admit to knowing little about, the Lib Dems apparently won a seat from the Tory party, although I can find nothing about it online. I thought it would be interesting to understand whether the impact of a change of party for a seat was important at this point in the Parliament. I guess not

Well a 3000+ majority reduced to 325. Half way through the worst conservative government for a century. And that's a victory?

So many ways to spin this result.

I'm just relieved that Batley and Spen haven't handed Johnson a stick to beat the LP with.

It isn’t much of a victory I agree trisher but not a defeat either.
As you say, after 12 years of Conservative government, it is a surprise that the LP did so poorly, but if Galloway hadn’t been standing and stirring up racial/cultural division, then the LP candidate would have done better.

A happy result for Kim, Keir and Labour. So pleased. The shine is wearing off Boris. I think some of his own party know that. Once he is perceived as 'losing' and not 'winning' he's a goner. The Tory Party is 'red in tooth and claw' on these matters.
I am not too worried about it being a small majority. In a general election there are plenty of seats that just get across the line. We also live in 'interesting and unusual' political times. Angela Rayner was never going to challenge Keir at this stage. She has too much sense. It is ambitious people in her camp who are fuelling this. One wonders why - eye on leadership themselves?

Combatative? How?

I was merely asking you why Batley was not considered the
‘Real world’ Aleg...it’s a fair enough question.

Alegrias1

Why so combative Lemo? Oh, hang on, I remember.

Anyway.

Of course Batley and Spen is in the real world. As is Cobham and Downside. In the latter constituency, which I admit to knowing little about, the Lib Dems apparently won a seat from the Tory party, although I can find nothing about it online. I thought it would be interesting to understand whether the impact of a change of party for a seat was important at this point in the Parliament. I guess not

Was it a Council election, Alegrias?

They're reported quite frequently in the same format as aGE.

Alegrias1

I did wonder who in their right mind would vote for Galloway. But then I realised if all you knew of him was him turning up and saying the "right" things, then you might. Not that I think he doesn't believe these things, mind you, he's nothing if not consistent. Prof Curtice on the radio this morning saying he probably took votes from the Conservatives and the Hancock affair could have cost them the seat.

Surely the Lib Dem win in Cobham and Downside is a bigger story though? In the real world?

Your last sentence....

Quite possibly MaizieD. I hadn't heard anything about it before.

Council by election for one seat

Thanks GG13