UK - December 2019 General Election

[The Don]

The horrible thing is I'd say it's much worse this time around. God only knows what kind of twilight zone, upside down nonsense world we live in where I'm wistful for a thatcher victory but can I come back to the real world where things make sense now please?

Perhaps it's a reflection of how far to the right the Overton window has moved in many respects. In this case we're talking about the UK but the same holds for the US.

On some social aspects such as acceptance of some minorities there has been progress, but these days Margaret Thatcher would be considered unacceptably "wet" on her attitudes towards Europe, the welfare state and the NHS (among others). Clark and Heseltine would now be considered CINO.

By the standards of today's Tory party, Tony Blair is a dangerous, socialist extremist rather than the "Red Tory" he's considered to be by Labour activists.

 

[Explorer]

"A merry Christmas to you Mr Johnson. Can we rely on you to make a contribution to the poor and homeless this year?" .

"Are there no food banks and hostelries? Let's get Brexit done!"

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Well, I've just voted. Not for my first choice but tactically for the best, slim, chance of getting rid of the Tory incumbent. Not much chance but.. I was home earlier than expected so I tried to call the local party to see if they had a list of people who needed lifts to the polling booth or anything since we're fairly rural. But the number given online is for a different constituency office, and they don't have a number for my constituency party either!

 

[The Don]

"A merry Christmas to you Mr Johnson. Can we rely on you to make a contribution to the poor and homeless this year?" .

"Are there no food banks and hostelries? Let's get Brexit done!"

Well to be fair, he's trying to make as many poor and homeless as he can - that's his contribution

 

[Rolfe]

I've done my only lift to polling station request. When I got to my voter's polling station our A-board wasn't with the others by the entrance. Went home and collared the guy who said he'd put that board out. Long and complicated story about someone else offering to do it for him and being a bit mixed up about where the boards should go. Collared guy no 2 who assured me he put the board out about 10 am. Went back to the polling station and the board was exactly where it should have been, exactly where it hadn't been about two hours earlier. Mysteries of life.

I think turnout is quite brisk, so far as it's possible to tell in a string of wee country hamlet polling stations where voter numbers are often in the low three-figures and the polling clerks spend most of the day crocheting. Might be people getting it done in daylight. It was quite a nice day after the snow melted from the roads, but of course it's pitch black now and it may be icing up again.

 

[Elaedith]

I'll be voting this evening on my way home from work and I hope there won't be queues as I'll be cold and hungry.

We have an extremely marginal Labour/Tory seat so I'm also voting tactically hoping the Tories won't take it back.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

I'm in a safe Tory seat whereby the exiting incumbent moron is estimated to suppress the Tory vote by about 15-20k. Estimated by the local Labour party that is. With him gone (finally) I expect it will be true blue until the people in my parents generation and older all die. Then it will probably go back to being a marginal.

 

[Mr Clingford]

You lucky people. I live in the safest of all Tory seats.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

You lucky people. I live in the safest of all Tory seats.

Mine's pretty bloody safe. The best estimates by groups against the Tories say that if loads of people vote tactically Labour will have 20% of the vote compared to the Tories getting more than 60%.

Still worth voting, though: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/five-reasons-to-vote-in-a-safe-seat/

 

[Ambrosia]

I voted at 10ish this morning. In and out in 3 mins.

My seat isn't safe either, so I voted orange for the best chance to unseat the blue people.

 

[Darat]

Just been and voted.

Tory majority here last election was just over 24,000. But our MP was Dominic Grieves, he is standing as an independent, should be interesting to see what the majority is this time. He has been relentless in his campaigning, we've had 5 lots of printed material , two lots of people calling at the door, and tonight his supporters are out and about getting his voters out. Had a measly single leaflet from Labour and the same from the Tories.

And I've voted tactically, in the end I've voted for him. Now if Labour loses the seat by a single vote you'll hear my screams wherever you are!

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Just been and voted.

Tory majority here last election was just over 24,000. But our MP was Dominic Grieves, he is standing as an independent, should be interesting to see what the majority is this time. He has been relentless in his campaigning, we've had 5 lots of printed material , two lots of people calling at the door, and tonight his supporters are out and about getting his voters out. Had a measly single leaflet from Labour and the same from the Tories.

And I've voted tactically, in the end I've voted for him. Now if Labour loses the seat by a single vote you'll hear my screams wherever you are!

If I was still in Wooburn Green I would would be in EXACTLY the same boat.

ETA: But I'll listen out for you screaming. You're pretty close so try not to disturb the dog.

 

[ThatGuy11200]

Just been and voted.

Tory majority here last election was just over 24,000. But our MP was Dominic Grieves, he is standing as an independent, should be interesting to see what the majority is this time. He has been relentless in his campaigning, we've had 5 lots of printed material , two lots of people calling at the door, and tonight his supporters are out and about getting his voters out. Had a measly single leaflet from Labour and the same from the Tories.

And I've voted tactically, in the end I've voted for him. Now if Labour loses the seat by a single vote you'll hear my screams wherever you are!

The only thing my family got in terms of campaigning, were Christmas cards from our local BNP candidate. He didn't even spell my dad's name correctly.

 

[Worm]

Obviously too early to be sure of anything, but seen a couple of rumours flying about that Boris might be in for a very close fight in Uxbridge.

 

[Darat]

Obviously too early to be sure of anything, but seen a couple of rumours flying about that Boris might be in for a very close fight in Uxbridge.

Oh that would be the most ironic of outcomes.

It would beat my favourite election night victory: when Portillo lost his seat.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

The only thing my family got in terms of campaigning, were Christmas cards from our local BNP candidate. He didn't even spell my dad's name correctly.

He's the BNP candidate, I'm surprised he spelt his own name correctly.


"BNP" probably took two attempts.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Oh that would be the most ironic of outcomes.

It would beat my favourite election night victory: when Portillo lost his seat.

Portillo, now there's someone I never imagined I'd thinking "Well he'd be better than these lying bastards" about.I

Farage put in a postal vote, wonder what that was about? It's not like him to miss a chance to preen in front of cameras.

 

[KDLarsen]

Right, here comes the exit poll. Hold on to your posteriors.

Edit: Ooof. Tories 368, Labour 191, SNP 55, Lib Dems 13, 1 Green, 0 Brexit, 22 Other parties.

 

[Garrison]

I voted Labour, Local Tory MP stood down and its a fairly marginal seat so who knows?

 

[Darat]

Oh well.

Couldn't be worse for the country.