Donald RoyI have finally got hold of the definitive study of the #ukgeneralelection2024 - published towards the end of last year. I am gradually working through nearly eight hundred pages - including numerous references. One particular finding stuck out. More than a quarter of valid votes were cast by post - probably the highest ever in the #uk . Without that shift in voting patterns voter turnout would have been even lower than it was.
It is true that a small number of #labourmps were blocked or deselected as candidates in the run up to #ukgeneralelection2024 but this was far fewer than the number of #conservativemps treated similarly in the run up to #ukgeneralelection2019 . It was claimed also that new candidates were vetted extensively and were drawn largely from a particular faction associated with among others #lukeakehurst . This may have been true but if so they seem to have been 'Vicars of Bray' rather than zealots!
Which is why some of us are waiting rather impatiently for the publication of the #britishelectionstudy covering #ukgeneralelection2024 - currently scheduled for 21st January 2026.
A.StringerOn the 2024 UK General Election | Political Quarterly
https://politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/reflections-on-the-2024-uk-general-election/
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#ukgeneralelection2024
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Specifically the blocking of proposals to tighten the rules about political funding in the run up to #ukgeneralelection2024 was designed to entrench the influence of a small number of rich donors - whether corporate or individual - within the #uk political system and of course keep the door open for future interventions by various bad actors.
This did work for the #conservatives as against #labour in the 2023 elections - although not against the #libdems - although a later study has suggested that the #libdem advantage did not persist into the #ukgeneralelection2024 . Not sure whether there is any evidence as yet about #ReformUk voters !
I would regard a figure of around 750k discouraged voters as much more plausible - still a serious problem which needs to be addressed. I suspect that the most part of the decline in voter turnout between #ukgeneralelection2019 and #ukgeneralelection2024 was due to other factors.
I have been reading 'Taken as Red' by #anushkaasthana . It has dated slightly because of the recent departures of #davidevans - planned - and #suegray - almost certainly unplanned. However it does contain quite a lot of valuable information and perspectives. It goes as far as the riots by the #farright a few weeks after #ukgeneralelection2024 as well as looking at the career of #morganmcsweeney in particular detail.
This was also a problem also in the #ukgeneralelection2024 where a similar system - copied from the #us - was in use. It may have reduced turnout by 750 k - equivalent to several million in the #us - and tilted the balance sufficiently to save a few #conservative seats - not enough to prevent them losing by a landslide however!
Perhaps he - #jonashworth - will explain to them just how he managed to lose #leicestersouth to an independent candidate in #ukgeneralelection2024 - and why #leicester has just one #labour member of parliament now when it elected three in 2019! I am sure his audience will find it all most enlightening and helpful.