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Ask yourself why no-one told you that.

(65 Posts)
Doodledog Tue 17-Feb-26 14:40:19

James O'Brien said this morning on LBC that Labour is now Ladbrokes' favourite to win the most seats in the next GE, and is asking why most people would be unaware of that.

I agree with J O'B that it is unlikely to be a widely known fact - it's not even a discussion point. In fact, we are routinely told that a Reform win is inevitable, and even people who would hate to see that happen seem resigned to that inevitability. Why are the media not reporting that Ladbrokes has put Labour at the top, based on opinion polls? Why are they instead telling us that Reform is a shoe-in?

O'Brien acknowledges that Starmer is unpopular, but is asking why we have not been kept in the picture about the polling, and why it is that the LP is currently the most popular one, given the 'optics'.

Anyone interested can catch the clip on YouTube (search for 'ask yourself why no-one told you that'). Most of the clip is about stories that aren't reported by the media, and that is interesting in itself.

Arto1s Wed 18-Feb-26 20:01:01

Looking at the UK from the USA, I cannot believe that Reform would ever get into power. It would be a disaster.

Devorgilla Wed 18-Feb-26 20:03:30

The media seems to be working overtime to get Reform elected. I can only assume they have filed away juicy titbits to drip feed us all with. I think the Labour Government so far has been too boring and tame for them.

Fallingstar Wed 18-Feb-26 20:06:31

Arto1s

Looking at the UK from the USA, I cannot believe that Reform would ever get into power. It would be a disaster.

Do keep saying that and maybe Farage’s followers will take heed, but I won’t hold my breath.

MayBee70 Wed 18-Feb-26 20:07:13

sundowngirl

Graphite

Labour does publicise or at least publish its achievements but with a media dominated by papers owned by right-wing, tax-exile billionaires, where is one going to read about it in the main stream media other than in the Guardian or the Mirror? I don’t believe either covered what is essentially a short-life story about current betting odds. I think it was just something James O’B picked up on social media.

Anyway, I was glad to see the BBC pushing back hard at Reform yesterday evening on Newsnight. Victoria Derbyshire and Caroline Lucas made mincemeat of Zia Yusuf as he tried to claim that young white men can’t get jobs because of the Equality Act 2010. Just another culture war being stoked by this odious party.

I watched Newsnight too and no way did Victoria Derbyshire and Carolin Lucas make ‘mincemeat’ of Zia Yusuf. He spoke very well.
He spoke the truth when saying so many organisations including the Bank of England, are positively discriminating against young white men by advertising for ethnic minorities and females.
You omitted to say that there were four people in this discussion including Jacob Rees-Mogg who agreed with Zia.

Well, he would, wouldn’t he…

Silvergirl Wed 18-Feb-26 20:18:31

I think in lots of ways the media have over inflated egos and do to a certain extent run the country. They’re not happy if they don’t get a juicy and exciting politics story every day. If there is nothing then they make up drivel and elaborate on it (bbc, sky and itv are equally bad).
I agree Labour is not good at countering and putting out positive stories. This may be because they’ve have less funds available to put towards their PR, unlike Tory who have huge income from donors.

WithNobsOnIt Wed 18-Feb-26 21:16:04

Since when have Ladbrokes heen experts on Political opinion and matters.

None of the Bookies got it right on Brexit. Did they.

I think this is dodgy
a big dodgy. Wouldn't put it Labour if they had placed a massive bet on themselves to win.
To try and change their present, poor public opinion as being overwhelmed , incompetent and not fit to govern

Let's see what the Gorton Bi Election brings next week.

As for Ladbrokes they should stock to the gee gees.

Doodledog Wed 18-Feb-26 21:35:18

Nobody has said that Ladbrokes are experts in politics or political opinion. Have you read the thread?

Allira Wed 18-Feb-26 21:53:42

Misquotation: 'A week is a long time in politics'

Attributed to Harold Wilson, and probably first said at a lobby briefing for journalists at the time of the sterling crisis in 1964. Interestingly, as Nigel Rees in Brewer’s Quotations (1994) records, Wilson himself, when asked just after his retirement as Prime Minister in 1977, could not pinpoint the precise occasion on which he first used the words. The Liberal politician Joseph Chamberlain is recorded in 1886 as having said: ‘In politics, there is no use in looking beyond the next fortnight.’

DaisyAnneReturns Wed 18-Feb-26 21:54:26

Flippin2

But who takes part in these opinion polls? I've never been asked ,has anyone on here ?

It may not feel satisfying, but statistically you don’t need to ask everyone. A properly selected random sample can accurately reflect the views of millions of people, as long as it’s large and representative enough.

DaisyAnneReturns Wed 18-Feb-26 21:58:34

Ilovecheese

There was an interesting article in the new Statesman by Andrew MRr, I think it was him, suggesting that it was really only journalists and commentators like himself that were thinking Labour was on course to lose.

He could be right. However, it's still down to a democratic vote.

FranP Wed 18-Feb-26 22:15:57

Fallingstar

I think Starmer’s approach to national defence, his speech in Munich, and alliances forged with the EU and other European countries, whilst remaining on civil terms with the US, could be his saving grace.

He is doing a grand job given the state of the world and the black hole he was dropped into. He cannot fund social improvements with NO MONEY. He could do what the Tories did and win favour by borrowing the country into near bankruptcy.
We have turned into a MeMe society, and until we learn to stop wanting and start caring we are in trouble.

I heard Kemi Badenoch on Desert Island Discs tell migrants to adapt to us, not the other way around. Sadly, while she is shaping up to be a good leader, they will not let her go into the election as leader - you can bet on that

MaizieD Wed 18-Feb-26 23:10:25

He cannot fund social improvements with NO MONEY. He could do what the Tories did and win favour by borrowing the country into near bankruptcy

That’s all one big lie, I’m afraid, FranP

Where do you think a country’s money comes from?

Menopauselbitch Thu 19-Feb-26 17:32:05

MayBee70

Just saw someone on instagram asking Reform supporters if they knew Reform policies and they were shocked when told what their policies actually were.

Knowledge is everything.

MayBee70 Thu 19-Feb-26 17:54:27

My partners neighbour spoke to him this morning. This is someone who has lived in this country for a long time, working for a well known company. He has married quite late in life and has two young children. His wife is from another country but I don’t know where. I chatted to him at a party once and he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever spoken to; we talked about the environment and lots of other things. I think he now does consultancy work. He said that he is genuinely terrified of Reform being in government because he doesn’t know how they would treat his wife. I intend to visit him and tell him that it is the media that is telling us that Reform will win the next election and that the decent people of this country will not let it happen. I feel awful for him. How do people like him feel about the flag flying everywhere? sad