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Olney defeats Goldsmith in Richmond Park by-election


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I do not know whether to dismiss this as the Liberal Elite or the Cry of the Proletariat.  The former seems more likely, but then reality and labels seem distance acquaintances these days.

 

Assuming that Hard Brexit is being driven by internal Conservative party reasons (there are other valid reasons, but I am guessing what drives Theresa May), then this threat to the Conservatives in their heartlands might counteract this.

"You clearly have never met Bob8 then, he's like a veritable Bryan Ferry of RL." - Johnoco 19 Jul 2014

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I do not know whether to dismiss this as the Liberal Elite or the Cry of the Proletariat.  The former seems more likely, but then reality and labels seem distance acquaintances these days.

 

Assuming that Hard Brexit is being driven by internal Conservative party reasons (there are other valid reasons, but I am guessing what drives Theresa May), then this threat to the Conservatives in their heartlands might counteract this.

I think this will strengthen May's hand/jackboot in quelling the more rabid brexiters.

Another one tripped up by making a 'stand' I'm sure Cameron will let join him on his speaking engagements.

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Hardly the cry of the proletariat in Richmond ;)

 

Interesting that she only joined the party and got interested in politics last year.

 

Labour lost their deposit. I thought that was quite rare, but in fact they lost 3 deposits in the general election (compared to the Conservatives 18.)

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It's an even smaller majority for the Tories in Parliament now. Oh for a competent opposition to make that count...

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Zak had troops on the ground from Ukip and the Tories supporting him plus incumbency advantage (and he himself has fought very good campaigns in the past, not least taking the seat from the Lib Dems in a very bitter fight a few years ago).

 

It doesn't mean the Lib Dems are back but it does mean that he has politically miscalculated and, to an extent, so has May in going along with it thinking she'd end up with an 'independent' essentially taking the Whip on everything but Heathrow.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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Just wait till next week's by election!

Sleaford, one of the safest Conservative seats in the country, can't imagine much of a shock on the cards?

 

The MP whose resignation triggered this election has taken on a paid office of the crown to which both David Cameron & Gerry Adams have been appointed in recent years.

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Theyve just voted for Heathrow expansion.

 

No, they did they when they voted for the Tory government that approved it - the act which triggered this by-election.

 

Do keep up.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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So Farron us wrong when he said" we're back"

Don't read too much into the result from one of the South Easts most affluent constituencies. 70 % remainers. Theyve just voted for Heathrow expansion.

All the candidates were against Heathrow expansion. You're delusional if you think Goldsmith had any more chance than Olney of stopping it.

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I do not know whether to dismiss this as the Liberal Elite or the Cry of the Proletariat. The former seems more likely, but then reality and labels seem distance acquaintances these days.

Assuming that Hard Brexit is being driven by internal Conservative party reasons (there are other valid reasons, but I am guessing what drives Theresa May), then this threat to the Conservatives in their heartlands might counteract this.

We don't have a liberal elite we have a conservative elite in this country and Goldsmith is the very definition of it, inherited millions and is married to a Rothschild. The conservatives so didn't want to upset the they didn't field a candidate.

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The conservatives so didn't want to upset the they didn't field a candidate.

 

And, indeed, Tory MPs and activists were on the ground in Richmond Park supporting the 'independent'.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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So Farron us wrong when he said" we're back"

Don't read too much into the result from one of the South Easts most affluent constituencies. 70 % remainers.

He probably is but it's a step in the right direction. You are correct to highlight the size of the Remain vote in this constituency; but the huge swing in the vote to the Lib Dems highlights how angry those Remain voters are - 16m people aren't a small demographic and I'd suggest the Government and Tory MPs should be wary of ignoring this very large group of people, especially in similar constituencies as Richmond Park. Their majority could disappear very quickly...

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And, indeed, Tory MPs and activists were on the ground in Richmond Park supporting the 'independent'.

 

 

Including Tory MP's (Jacob Rees Mogg) who are very pro Heathrow expansion.

 

I think its hilarious.

With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on!

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He probably is but it's a step in the right direction. You are correct to highlight the size of the Remain vote in this constituency; but the huge swing in the vote to the Lib Dems highlights how angry those Remain voters are - 16m people aren't a small demographic and I'd suggest the Government and Tory MPs should be wary of ignoring this very large group of people, especially in similar constituencies as Richmond Park. Their majority could disappear very quickly...

The best strategy for the Conservatives is to press ahead full steam with Brexit. Losing 20 seats to the Lib Dems would be worth it if they win 50 from Labour
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The best strategy for the Conservatives is to press ahead full steam with Brexit. Losing 20 seats to the Lib Dems would be worth it if they win 50 from Labour

I think the quitters overestimate the gains from the leave vote. The reason they have such a commanding lead isn't because of brexit. It's because the opposition is terrible, but then there's a whole thread on that so I'll leave it there.

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I do not know whether to dismiss this as the Liberal Elite or the Cry of the Proletariat.

It is clearly the Liberal Elite making a mockery of the people's democratic decision to Brexit by voting against it.

I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly.

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The LibDems can't ever "come back" because they've never "been there" in the first place. They're just a party for people who don't want to vote Conservative or Labour.

Well no, with Labour fudging what the party stands for in recent decades I can see why you might think that but British Liberalism is clearly distinct from socialism and Conservatism. The party may often be a repository for protest votes but there is a clear ideology there.
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The outcome didn't surprise me tbh given that the LibDems cleverly decided they would like to rerun the referendum vote, Richmond voted remain in massive numbers and it has been LibDem before.  Goldsmith didn't have a chance once the LibDems went with that policy.  He was a first class idiot to resign in the first place and he's given a kicking to his own party. 

 

I would agree with the LibDem leader when he says the LibDems are back.  They are back as the party of protest, which is all they ever were anyway.

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The outcome didn't surprise me tbh given that the LibDems cleverly decided they would like to rerun the referendum vote, Richmond voted remain in massive numbers and it has been LibDem before. Goldsmith didn't have a chance once the LibDems went with that policy. He was a first class idiot to resign in the first place and he's given a kicking to his own party.

I would agree with the LibDem leader when he says the LibDems are back. They are back as the party of protest, which is all they ever were anyway.

I agree that Goldsmith was an idiot in resigning, couldn't he have quit the Conservative party, voted with them on everything except Heathrow and then quietly rejoined just before the next GE and still have kept his promise?

I disagree that the lib dems are just a party of protest. They're the only party that backs electoral reform, House of Lords reform, and has a socially liberal agenda. You maybe do them a disservice by being so dismissive. That said if the rest of the Conservatives are equally dismissive that could come back to bite at some point

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Goldsmith didn't have a chance once the LibDems went with that policy. .

 

He had a majority of 23,000 and the full support of the Tory party machine on the ground - up to and including several MPs turning out to canvas for him.  Ukip also endorsed him and the Greens, whilst not standing themselves, were split between supporting Labour or the Lib Dems.

 

He had every chance and came very close to winning.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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