Labour lose bye election

[Gromit]

"It is a Bradford Spring" proclaimed George Galloway when he took Bradford West from Labour.

Is this the beginning of the end for Milliband?

[AB Editor]

No, the beginning of the end was when he was elected :)

His brother has been coming across very well in various interviews recently, much more statesmanly. I imagine he'll pick up the reigns after the next election?

[FredPuli43]

By-elections are frequently freakish; often a protest vote against the government, occasionally against both main parties.
Milliband is an unconvincing leader, all the same. A poor result in the general election will be the end of him as leader.

[jackthehat]

If he is unable to press his advantage, now, when the Coalition is so under the cosh......I think it may well be the beginning of the end for him.

It was always my opinion that he would be a 'sacrifice'.

I wonder if the Labour Party will plump straight for Milliband, D. or elect A. N. Other to give a decent break between the brothers?

[sunny-dave]

I'd stake a few quid on Ed not leading the party into the next General Election ... Yvette Cooper looks the most viable alternative and could eat Cameron for breakfast at PMQT.

[Sqad]

Well, I am not sure about the significance of the Ed Milliband factor, but i am more impressed with the effect of the Muslim vote.

We have had many threads in the past on the effect of Islamisation of the West and here I feel, the seed are starting to sprout.

[Quizmonster]

If the notion that "We get the MPs we deserve" holds any truth, one is forced to wonder what on earth the poor voters of Bradford West must have done to deserve this!
In 2010, Labour had some 18,000 votes and Conservatives some 12,000 there. This time, they got 8,000 and under 3,000 respectively, so each lost roughly 10,000 votes. Clearly, it's worse for Labour, given that they lost the seat, but equally clearly the Tories haven't got anything much to shout about.
I myself do not believe Labour have a cat in hell's chance of winning the next election if the two Eds are still in charge when it comes.

[Kromovaracun]

Personally, I don't have a party axe to grind (I find partisan politics and the Great British Public's normally wilfully rigid adherence to it slightly pathetic), but I can't help but hope this might make somebody listen. There seems to be something of a denial on the part of a lot of Labour supporters that there is genuine and very widespread dissatisfaction and even hatred of the party. Not a feeling I'd say I share, but it is a little frustrating to note that the slavish adherence to Blairism has led to its discontents being ignored.

George Galloway is a buffoon though. You'd be hard pressed to find someone more melodramatic, thuggish or stupid in the field of politics. It's a telling shame that he was the best protest vote available to the people of Bradford.

[venator]

Don't think it means much nationally. He's always been good at courting the Muslim vote, and the anti-war platform helps in Bradford.

Milliband is one of the worst of a load of bad labour Party leaders, even after Brown and Bliar. Mister Bean could do a better job.

Ab Editor - was "pick up the reigns" an intentional pun?

[naomi24]

I agree with Ed - Ab Editor that is. The beginning of the end was when he was elected.

[Ric.ror]

The ego has landed
Just walked across the new city park in Bradford and its full of tv vans and reporters
I'm sorry for the people of Bradford West and grateful I live in Leeds

[jrtv]

Mr. Galloway is nothing more than a muslim puppet. Its a sad day when a politician has to appeal to the muslim vote instead of the British vote to get elected, the "respect" party are the left wing equivelant of the BNP. For some reason I can't imagine everyone being so thrilled with a BNP victory. Ahh modern Britain

[jno]

so he wants to pull out of Afghanistan and create jobs? Er, how many ABers actually disagree with this platform?

As far as Muslims go, they're probably voting against Blair rather than Miliband; Blair was the one who liked invading Islamic countries.

[Sqad]

jno


\\\\\so he wants to pull out of Afghanistan and create jobs? Er, how many ABers actually disagree with this platform?\\\

So do Labour......so do the Coalition.......so do UKIP...........nothing special there.

The problem is one of logisitics, how doe you do it ? That is the difference.

[jno]

the logistics of getting into a war never seem to cause politicians any problems, so I suppose they could try doing the same thing in reverse. Put soldiers on planes and fly them out rather than in.

[andrew1707]

I saw Harriet Harman being interviewed a couple of weeks ago. I have never really liked her but she actually came over as confident, professional, intelligent and with leadership potential.
Lets face it she couldn't be any worse than the Millibands and there isn't a lot to choose from in the Labour party.

[Gromit]

I am not a fan of Ed and I do not think it will get as far as losing the next General Election for him to be got rid of. Parties in opposition are supposed to gain seats not lose them. Galloway has pulled off this trick before, but then Labour were in Government had had just invaded two muslim countries.

Unless we see a great improvement (and I am not holding my breath) then I cannot see Ed leading Labour into a General Election.

I was of the opinion at the last election that winning was a poisioned chalis. And sitting out the next 5 years in opposition might not be a bad move. However, Labour still need to appear electable, and this result shows that for a lot of people, they are not.

[jno]

Labour could be led by the love child of Superman and Mother Teresa, they still wouldn't in the next election. You just don't get one-term governments these days; voters tend to wait about 10 years before deciding they've had enough and someone else deserves a turn. Ed was always destined to follow the path of Michael Howard, Ian Duncan Smith, Michael Foot and so on.

[andy-hughes]

There is the expression 'making the best of a bad lot', but Milliband isn't even that!

No hope for Labour now - or for him as leader.

[DTCwordfan]

First thing that Galloway is doing is changing the name Bradford West to Bradford-by-Iraq.

[anotheoldgit]

Sqad

/// We have had many threads in the past on the effect of Islamisation of the West and here I feel, the seed are starting to sprout. ///

Perhaps that's what he meant when he said "It is a Bradford Spring" I wonder how long it will be before we "reap the harvest"?