Tories Lost

[vetran]

It's completely tactical voting as @mattster pointed out.

There are seats Labour will never ever win so they swing between Tory and Lib Dem.

Also the Labour candidate didn't get any help from Labour HQ which could be considered deliberate, there as the Lib Dems put all hands to the pump.

So its tactical voting, but Labour HQ didn't help and the Lib Dems played a blinder? yes clear as mud.

[vetran]

I think letters will quietly land on the doormat of the 1922 committee chairman soon.
What this does show is that the Labour party cannot win a general election in their current state and that they probably need to review Starmer before its too late.

Indeed this was Starmer's chance to reboot. Take an historical blue seat or just beat the Tories and lose to lib dems he would have a chance. Reckon he is finished.

[mattster]

Indeed this was Starmer's chance to reboot. Take an historical blue seat or just beat the Tories and lose to lib dems he would have a chance. Reckon he is finished.

If that is your take away from yesterday then - well, I don't know what to say. Probably one of the clearest and most effective examples of tactical voting we'll ever see, in a seat that has been Tory for 200 years. Labour were never in with a chance here, protest votes were always going to coalesce around the Libdems. I'm slightly disappointed that Labour got as many votes as they did.

[mattster]

I think letters will quietly land on the doormat of the 1922 committee chairman soon.
What this does show is that the Labour party cannot win a general election in their current state and that they probably need to review Starmer before its too late.

This result really doesn't tell us anything about Labour.

[SueEllen]

So its tactical voting, but Labour HQ didn't help and the Lib Dems played a blinder? yes clear as mud.

Sorry listening to the radio and lots of voters in the area said they voted Lib Dem instead of their normal Tory and Labour.

Tory voters changed due to (in no particular order):
1. The Christmas parties
2. Owen Paterson being an arse and ignoring them when they have issues
3. The Tory candidate being parachuted in from Brum and not understanding the area

Labour voters changed due to:
1. The Christmas parties
2. The best chance of kicking the Tories out

Labour HQ knows that seat is in a traditional Tory strong hold so if they risked splitting the vote if they campaigned hard and even if they won it they would lose it at the next GE.

[d000hg]

Typical protest vote. THe key thing is whether it switches blue next time.

[AtW]

Same people will voty Tory in the next GE.

NEXT!

[vetran]

Sorry listening to the radio and lots of voters in the area said they voted Lib Dem instead of their normal Tory and Labour.

Tory voters changed due to (in no particular order):
1. The Christmas parties
2. Owen Paterson being an arse and ignoring them when they have issues
3. The Tory candidate being parachuted in from Brum and not understanding the area

Labour voters changed due to:
1. The Christmas parties
2. The best chance of kicking the Tories out

Labour HQ knows that seat is in a traditional Tory strong hold so if they risked splitting the vote if they campaigned hard and even if they won it they would lose it at the next GE.

ta. But I suspect Keir needs a win. Otherwise he & bojo are out.

[SueEllen]

ta. But I suspect Keir needs a win. Otherwise he & bojo are out.

The problem Labour has is all the potential leaders are Mayors......

[vetran]

The problem Labour has is all the potential leaders are Mayors......

too true. Though Khan isn't going to woo the tory faithful!