Chew On That One, Mikey.

[Jackdaw33]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38258976

Slightly different to Richmond. Autres temps, autres moeurs.

[ichkeria]

In some ways, similar, as I am sure Brexit was a key issue and affected the vote. UKIP and Labour both suffered, the former almost certainly losing votes to the Tories, who must be pleased and relieved, and the latter to the Lib Dems, The problem Labour have now (as if there weren't enough already) is that their commendable attempt to appeal to both Remainers and Brexiters is likely to be ignored. Because most people are one or the other, and anyone wanting to post a protest vote aboutr Brexit is likely to vote Lib Dem.
So a very interesting set of minor placings. ...

[naomi24]

Oh dear.

[Old_Geezer]

Looks as though it may be a safe Tory seat.

[mikey4444]

It was a safe Tory seat, so no surprise that it still is ! Tory since 2001 at least.

This by-Election only came about because of yet-another resignation by the sitting Tory MP. But the Tory majority was half what it was that it was in 2015., and Mrs May should perhaps wonder why ?

[Jackdaw33]

It was half what it was because the turnout was half what it was. Go figure.

[Quizmonster]

Indeed, a drop of 30% of the vote since her predecessor's score last year is very "autre"!

[naomi24]

Mikey, don't you think Labour should be wondering why they've slipped from second place to fourth?

[youngmafbog]

The left simply dont want to admit it, instead they find solace in the fact the winners dropped couple of percent.

Personally I dont think this or the Richmond election shows anything for any party really.

[1ozzy]

Got to love your heading for this thread Jack.

Pointing the bone?

[mikey4444]

YMB....this was effectively an unwinnable for Labour. Even if turn-out had been better, its unlikely that they would have won.

But perhaps all Parties should be thinking about why the turn-out was so low, especially given these politically charged times ?

I also note that nobody has mentioned UKIP's result yesterday. This is in area of quite high immigrant labour, and would seem to be well suited for an anti-immigrant surge, but it failed to materialise.

As regards your last comments.....these last two by-elections were caused by unrest within the Tory Party. When Mrs May has finished giving Boris six-of-the-best, perhaps she should turn her mind to finding out why this discord is happening.

[jim360]

Problem Labour have to face is that, while the Tories are indeed having a bit of internal strife all over the place, they simply aren't in a position at the moment to exploit it.

[mikey4444]

Jim....but is Sleaford and North Hykeham the best place to do that ?

[jim360]

Perhaps not, but then again, where is?

[mikey4444]

Jim......Little has been said this morning about what a good result it was for the Libdems yesterday, the only party to actually increase its result.

Not enough, of course, but still a reasonable result.

[naomi24]

^Swerve....

[ichkeria]

We have to accept, Mikey, that this result is a shocker for Labour.
They should have been vying for second place with UKIP, but even though UKIP's candle fizzled rather, Labour dropped behind the Lib Dems.
I am not sure "catastrophic" doesn't do it justice. Whether this is just a case of being rendered irrelevant in another Brexit by-election is impossible to say.
But the signs are not good.

[Baldric]

Did enjoy this bit

"Labour come in fourth behind UKIP and the Liberal Democrats"

Good start to the day ;o)

[jim360]

Mikey when faced with questions about Labour's performance...

https://media.giphy.com/media/3o6EhFu1B88poBguac/giphy.gif

[ichkeria]

It was a great result for the Lib Dems, odd as it may seem to say so when they only polled 3,000 odd votes. But the EU issue has given them a cause for people to rally round again. .

[Togo]

//......Little has been said this morning about what a good result it was for the Libdems yesterday//


Layboor 4th Limpdidums 3rd UKIP 2nd. Good result?? Haha. Claptrap.