Interesting. London media had been telling us all week they were haemorrhagic votes and could even lose the seat. Wonder what its like in their alternate universe where they make up thinks Corbyn has said and doesn't have support because of what a handful of the PLP says.
They voted for a Labour candidate who mostly disagrees with Corbyns stance on everything, the only way this shambles is going to end is when the Labour party breaks into 2 and the electable Parliamentary candidates can get on with rebuilding the reputation and being a credible alternative to the Tory government. As someone said to me recently, "the Socialist Workers had their own party which gave them a 'voice', why did they have to hijack my party?"
It's a difficult one which no-one can really call. At the general election Michael Meacher got 23,000 votes out of 42,000 At a by election the new MP got 17000 votes out 28,000 - a 33% reduction in people bothering to turn out. Being neutral it's correct that absoloutely Labour haemoraged votes - 25% of the support disappeared. However overall the very safe labour seat returns a labour MP is not a headline. The weak turn out at a time when war is on the cards is scary. Even as a Corbyn fan I'm not sure anyone can draw any conclusions from this other than voters don't bother to turn up in safe seat by elections whent here's really nothing at stake. But you're bang on with the papers' they're living in a London / Westiminster village cacoon that doesnt' get what real people actually think
Just tell your friend it always has been a socialist party.sounds like your friends been in the wrong party. Corbyn gaining ground and the Tory blairite right wingers and their media puppies running around like lost dogs with excuse after excuse. Real change at last looks like the O Ixbridge elite may have to find a job other than the supply route into parliament.
they were just trying to make a bit of interest. Local labour lad, in safe labour seat likely to win doesn't really do it does it?. Fact is they were never going to vote the Tories in, the Lib Dems are in well god knows where , and UKIP despite what some media guy would have had us believe are totally discredited. Unless there was some totally brilliant independent candidate it really was a foregone conclusion
Real change you're not that naive are you? In 5 years time all the students that voted Corbyn in will be in jobs, paying taxes, looking back asking themselves really what was I thinking..
Its a reference to the new 'members' not the ones who voted for him as a protest never thinking it would actually happen, who no doubt are now full of regret. Unelectable parties do not influence legislation, they are a side show largely ignored. FACT.
The Blair legacy bit like the Davey legacy, only when you get a real shocking incumbent do you realise actually what we/you had...
UKIP never realistically stood a chance of winning that seat, regardless of what the press and political commentators said.
That's by elections though. Always have a lower turn out, particularly in winter, and usually a kick against the incumbent and/or party in power. Bet Farage is regretting building it up as a referendum on Corbyn.
i Where does he state that? He mentions the socialist worker's hijacking the party not Corbyn. Whilst the Labour Party is a broad church, if Corbyn is a socialist worker, then he should be in that party. I recall this statement from the days of my youth, "The workers flag is really pink, it's not as red as most folk think".