UK Politics Thread II: Gladstone's Revenge

[The Archregimancy]

What does the election of Corbyn mean to the future of the Labour Party?

Does Stormont have a future?

Does David Cameron really decide on the timing of policy announcements based on Samantha's love of Radio 6 Music?

Why does the SNP keep electing leaders whose surnames remind us of fish?

Is Leanne Wood's Welsh improving?

Is the last hope of the Liberal Democrats to disinter William Gladstone, raise him from the dead, and have him denounce Ottoman atrocities in Bulgaria?

Do you farage in public, or do you only think it's appropriate to farage in private?

Is the Green Party deciduous?

These and other leading questions of the day will no doubt engage debate here in the second version of the UK politics megathread.

[Pesda]

I suspect Labour will surge over the next few weeks.

[Val Halla]

Why are wealthy cities so often not blue?

[Imperial Valaran]

You gave me quite a shock on that last thread, Arch; first time I post on a UK politics thread in months and a mod lock moments later

We really should resurrect Gladstone, and make him a real eternal leader.

[St Wilhelm]

Why are wealthy cities so often not blue?

Hey, Bath and Salisbury, two of the nicest cities in the country are both Conservative.

But, sadly, it's typical that in not just Britain, but most of the western world, that left leaning parties do better in urban areas.

[Pesda]

Is Leanne Williams' Welsh improving?

The real question is, has she married Hywel Williams?

[St Wilhelm]

You gave me quite a shock on that last thread, Arch; first time I post on a UK politics thread in months and a mod lock moments later

We really should resurrect Gladstone, and make him a real eternal leader.

If we're resurrecting Gladstone, I move to simultaneously resurrect Disraeli too.

[Imperial Valaran]

Why are wealthy cities so often not blue?

Hey, Bath and Salisbury, two of the nicest cities in the country are both Conservative.

But, sadly, it's typical that in not just Britain, but most of the western world, that left leaning parties do better in urban areas.

And that would generally be in poor or rich urban areas (though there is a possible tendency for the left to do better in poorer ones than richer ones).

[Imperial Valaran]

You gave me quite a shock on that last thread, Arch; first time I post on a UK politics thread in months and a mod lock moments later

We really should resurrect Gladstone, and make him a real eternal leader.

If we're resurrecting Gladstone, I move to simultaneously resurrect Disraeli too.

Heartily seconded.

[Apollinis]

To answer the OP's questions, in order:
- Dunno
- Probably not
- God knows, but I wouldn't put it past him
- To show support for the brave fishermen and fisherwomen of Scotland, maybe, probably
- Pwy a wyr?
- Definitely
- It's a citizen's choice whether or not they Farage, but to do so they must be over 18 years of age, must not do so in enclosed spaces such as pubs (the horror) or shops and should not do so around children.
- It's actually one enormous moss. Treenormative ideas of "evergreen" and "deciduous" don't apply.

[Val Halla]

Hey, Bath and Salisbury, two of the nicest cities in the country are both Conservative.

But, sadly, it's typical that in not just Britain, but most of the western world, that left leaning parties do better in urban areas.

And that would generally be in poor or rich urban areas (though there is a possible tendency for the left to do better in poorer ones than richer ones).

York is Labour, that's wealthy, right?

Pretty sure Lincoln is Tory though.

[St Wilhelm]

So, Jeremy Corbyn will be sharing out his responsibilities at PMQ's to other MPs - https://twitter.com/Gregstweet/status/6 ... wsrc%5Etfw

[Imperializt Russia]

Why are wealthy cities so often not blue?

Because no matter how "wealthy" a city is, it will be filled with low and middle income families and persons who will vastly outnumber the wealthy.

[The Archregimancy]

Is Leanne Williams' Welsh improving?

The real question is, has she married Hywel Williams?

Gack; sorry about that - will go and change the OP.

[Imperial Valaran]

And that would generally be in poor or rich urban areas (though there is a possible tendency for the left to do better in poorer ones than richer ones).

York is Labour, that's wealthy, right?

Pretty sure Lincoln is Tory though.

I would suggest doing it by looking at all the urban areas, rather than extrapolating from individual examples.

But a brief glance at a map of the 2015 seats shows a lot of red pinpricks where there are towns and cities.

[Val Halla]

Why are wealthy cities so often not blue?

Because no matter how "wealthy" a city is, it will be filled with low and middle income families and persons who will vastly outnumber the wealthy.

How do poorer towns become Tory then?

[Pesda]

The real question is, has she married Hywel Williams?

Gack; sorry about that - will go and change the OP.

Duw, paid a phoeni.

[Imperial Valaran]

So, Jeremy Corbyn will be sharing out his responsibilities at PMQ's to other MPs - https://twitter.com/Gregstweet/status/6 ... wsrc%5Etfw

huh.

Because no matter how "wealthy" a city is, it will be filled with low and middle income families and persons who will vastly outnumber the wealthy.

How do poorer towns become Tory then?

It is a missconception to assume all lower income people vote Labour/left wing, and that all higher income folks do the opposite. The parties do make periodic appeals to various parts of the spectrum, and people vote on other factors than wealth.

After all, 'one nation'ism was invented by Disraeli (who admittedly was an exception and so on, but even so).

[Dyrrachium]

So, Jeremy Corbyn will be sharing out his responsibilities at PMQ's to other MPs - https://twitter.com/Gregstweet/status/6 ... wsrc%5Etfw

Good, more people to question and hound the Forehead.

[Wolfmanne2]

So, Jeremy Corbyn will be sharing out his responsibilities at PMQ's to other MPs - https://twitter.com/Gregstweet/status/6 ... wsrc%5Etfw

huh.

How do poorer towns become Tory then?

It is a missconception to assume all lower income people vote Labour/left wing, and that all higher income folks do the opposite. The parties do make periodic appeals to various parts of the spectrum, and people vote on other factors than wealth.

After all, 'one nation'ism was invented by Disraeli (who admittedly was an exception and so on, but even so).

Also John Major famously had a working class background.

[Imperializt Russia]

Because no matter how "wealthy" a city is, it will be filled with low and middle income families and persons who will vastly outnumber the wealthy.

How do poorer towns become Tory then?

Rural connections and ageing, low-migrant populations, probably.

[Dyrrachium]

More generally for british politics, I like how it's... relaxed and friendly. Supporters of any party joke with each other and continue to function together, whereas if you look in the American thread it seems like a dysfunctional family tearing itself apart.

[The Archregimancy]

Why are wealthy cities so often not blue?

Hey, Bath and Salisbury, two of the nicest cities in the country are both Conservative.

But, sadly, it's typical that in not just Britain, but most of the western world, that left leaning parties do better in urban areas.

Though Bath was a fairly solid LibDem seat from 1992-2015. Several of the wealthier small urban centres in England (specifically) developed a tradition of voting LibDem in the last two decades; Cheltenham and Harrogate are other examples.

Salisbury, however, has been solidly Tory since the 1920s; Hugh Lawrence Fletcher Moulton (Liberal), was the last non-Tory to win the seat, in the 1923 election.

[Val Halla]

How do poorer towns become Tory then?

Rural connections and ageing, low-migrant populations, probably.

Fair enough.

More generally for british politics, I like how it's... relaxed and friendly. Supporters of any party joke with each other and continue to function together, whereas if you look in the American thread it seems like a dysfunctional family tearing itself apart.

It's a Britain thing

[Imperial Valaran]

More generally for british politics, I like how it's... relaxed and friendly. Supporters of any party joke with each other and continue to function together, whereas if you look in the American thread it seems like a dysfunctional family tearing itself apart.

I used to think so, but there is a fair amount of venom and toxicity present here. I think its primarily seen as friendly when in comparison to the US, rather than by itself.

Though yes, and I'd also add that the main parties are closer here in policy than in the US.