Chris Riddell

#ByElections #Tories #Tamworth #MidBeds

"In a sign of the effort to be positive, one parliamentarian chipped in to say what an “enjoyable” campaign it was. “I prefer campaigns where we win,” an unimpressed MP quipped to me." Katy Balls

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/20/tory-turnaround-disaster-rishi-sunak-byelections-tamworth-mid-bedfordshire

#Sunak #Tories #Byelections #Tamworth #MidBeds

I am very pleased to see the #Tory collapse in #Tamworth and #MidBeds. But I'm still not sure I can bring myself to vote #Labour at the next General Election.

Let's set aside that Starmer's Labour is to LGBT+ people what Corbyn's was to Jews, for the moment.

The Labour and Conservative parties enjoy a duopoly on power. They each know that our system ensures they will have their turn again. If we don't overthrow that system then in another generation, another cycling of that system, we'll be back where we are now.

Labour is the weaker link.

With the damage they've done, and persist in doing, there is a definite sense of urgency in getting the Tories out of power. But, is that so urgent that it outweighs the importance of challenging how they got into power? That system, which all but ensures them this power, is one that Labour is equally invested in: there's a reason why the Labour leadership refuse to stand on electoral reform.

Mid Beds Turnout 40,720 (43.98%, -29.73%)

Labour got fewer votes than they did in the GE, but the LibDems got more.

Tamworth Turnout 25,586 (35.87%, -28.47%)

It looks like lots of Tory voters stayed at home. That's less likely to happen at a GE.

I think shy Tories might scupper the predicted Labour landslide and a hung parliament is still as likely an outcome.

#UKpol #midBeds #tamworth

Only 13 sleeps to the Mid Beds and Tamworth by-elections 😃

#ByElection #ByElections #ByElections2023 #MidBeds #Tamworth #GTTO