Westminster Politics

Solihull suggests West Midlands too close to call

In the West Midlands mayoral race, results in Solihull have been declared.

They show a 5% swing from Conservative to Labour. Labour need a 4.5% swing to win the mayoralty.

The early intelligence that this contest is too close to call is, on this evidence, correct.
 
What the increase of rape and knife crime?

Crime is up pretty much everywhere, no? Same as a lot of other major cities in other countries I believe. Probably a mix of things like policing cuts, social services cuts, living standards erosions (things getting more expensive, stagnating wages) all making crime more attractive
 
Why was the decision made to switch from PR to FPTP in London? I'm guessing it's above the Mayor's authority for obvious reasons, but seems a very backwards step in general?
 
Why was the decision made to switch from PR to FPTP in London? I'm guessing it's above the Mayor's authority for obvious reasons, but seems a very backwards step in general?

The Tories did this in mayoral elections because FPTP gives them a better chance of winning. That's literally the only reason.
 
Yes, they changed it under the Elections Act 2022, along with photo ID. They know any variant of PR will lead to them losing.
Thanks; sounds like something a sensible Labour government would prioritise putting right as soon as they made it back into power, but...
 
Susan can now feck off back into the abyss.
 
Thankfully what these elections show is I can safely vote for greens in the general and it won't have any effect on the goal of getting the Tories out.
 
Thankfully what these elections show is I can safely vote for greens in the general and it won't have any effect on the goal of getting the Tories out.
No, I have no choice but vote Labour though. It's a wasted vote because Tories will win my seat but the only opposition is Labour, and if it's comes down to 1 or 2 votes me voting for anybody but Labour will get me a Tory mp.
 
I don't think anyone authorised to speak for Labour has said anything like that?
:lol:

No I think that the BBC should have named and shamed the person who said that if it was true. I don't trust the BBC.
He's the Reg Holdsworth lookalike on the party's NEC. Same fella who compared the councillors leaving the party to Labour 'shaking off the fleas'.

The fact they're not telling you who it is, is so you can't find out that they're still representing the party tomorrow, next week, next month and next year.
 
No I think that the BBC should have named and shamed the person who said that if it was true. I don't trust the BBC.

Fair enough, don't you think there is an issue with journalists giving up sources if those sources say something that is objectionable? When do you think it's ok for a journalist to reveal a source, and wouldn't that have an overall impact on a liberal society?
 
Fair enough, don't you think there is an issue with journalists giving up sources if those sources say something that is objectionable? When do you think it's ok for a journalist to reveal a source, and wouldn't that have an overall impact on a liberal society?
Who do the BBC need to give up the source? The Starmer Party clearly know who said it.

They could name them now, but then we'd quickly find out the idea that they're not welcome in the party is a complete pile of horseshit.
 
:lol:


He's the Reg Holdsworth lookalike on the party's NEC. Same fella who compared the councillors leaving the party to Labour 'shaking off the fleas'.

The fact they're not telling you who it is, is so you can't find out that they're still representing the party tomorrow, next week, next month and next year.
That's okay for Labour, but the BBC should be outing him. Yes, the shaking the fleas was abhorrent. He should be gone already.
 
Fair enough, don't you think there is an issue with journalists giving up sources if those sources say something that is objectionable? When do you think it's ok for a journalist to reveal a source, and wouldn't that have an overall impact on a liberal society?
If a political figure says something that objectional they should be saying who it is. Protecting a racist just because they are a source is not acceptable.
 
I find stuff like this fascinating. It's so open to corruption. My "senior labour source" said x racist thing. Can't tell you who it was sorry.

For the record I am not saying that's what has happened here or that people should have to give up sources, but its so open to just completely making stuff like this up.
 
I find stuff like this fascinating. It's so open to corruption. My "senior labour source" said x racist thing. Can't tell you who it was sorry.

For the record I am not saying that's what has happened here or that people should have to give up sources, but its so open to just completely making stuff like this up.
Even the Starmer Party isn't pretending it's a made up quote. Why are you?

It was said. The guy who said it sits on the party's NEC and faced no punishment when he compared councillors leaving the party over the leader being a war crimes apologist to fleas.
 
I find stuff like this fascinating. It's so open to corruption. My "senior labour source" said x racist thing. Can't tell you who it was sorry.

For the record I am not saying that's what has happened here or that people should have to give up sources, but its so open to just completely making stuff like this up.
I agree. Name and shame or it's BS.
For the record I'm not a big Starmer fan.
 
It would have been nice for Keir Starmer to come out and issue a public statement denouncing the Labour spokesman, pledging to remove them from the party, and to make clear these views are unacceptable in the party.

You know, like he has done when someone said something anti-Semitic.
 
Has anyone got anything to indicate it is someone who was speaking on behalf of Labour with the approval of upper echelons of the party?
 
It would have been nice for Keir Starmer to come out and issue a public statement denouncing the Labour spokesman, pledging to remove them from the party, and to make clear these views are unacceptable in the party.

You know, like he has done when someone said something anti-Semitic.

What was the official Labour line on what was said?
 
Even the Starmer Party isn't pretending it's a made up quote. Why are you?

It was said. The guy who said it sits on the party's NEC and faced no punishment when he compared councillors leaving the party over the leader being a war crimes apologist to fleas.

Did you just get half way through my post and give up or can you just not read.