Displaying items by tag: Election

Sir Keir Starmer has declared a historic Labour victory in Britain’s general election, achieving a majority of at least 172 seats. Rishi Sunak acknowledged the Conservative party’s devastating defeat, which saw its worst-ever result. Despite Labour’s historic win, its public support remains shallow, securing power with about 34% of the national vote. Starmer, addressing activists, emphasised hope and progress. Labour’s victory mirrors Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide, but with a lower vote share. Its success was partly due to the rightwing vote being split by Nigel Farage’s Reform party. One pollster commented that it seemed more a Conservative loss than a Labour win. The Liberal Democrats won 71 seats (compared with only eight in 2019), and the other big losers were the Scottish National Party, which lost 38 seats in the Labour ‘tsunami’. Overall turnout was only 60%, almost the lowest-ever proportion in a general election.

Published in British Isles

The scale of the swing to Labour means that a significant number of prominent Conservatives have lost their seats. These include former prime minister Liz Truss, defence secretary Grant Shapps, justice secretary Alex Chalk, education secretary Gillian Keegan, leader of the house Penny Mordaunt, and influential back-bencher Jacob Rees-Mogg. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt held on to his seat by just 891 votes. The Tories also lost the seats formerly held by prime ministers David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Teresa May. By contrast, nearly 50% of all MPs will be entering the House of Commons for the first time.

Published in British Isles

Joe Biden, who is 81, has attributed his poor performance in his first presidential debate with Donald Trump to travel exhaustion, joking that he ‘nearly fell asleep’ on stage. He has admitted he wasn't very smart for travelling extensively, going ‘around the world a couple of times’ and crossing numerous time zones, not long before the debate in Atlanta. He acknowledged he didn't have his best night, despite spending six days at Camp David preparing. In contrast,Trump, 78, appeared vigorous, although he repeated a number of what critics have said are false claims. Some prominent Democrats, alarmed at Biden’s showing, are urging him to withdraw from the 2024 race in order to prevent a Trump victory. Although he has said, ‘I’m not leaving’, speculation is mounting that this is a possibility: see

Published in Worldwide

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer engaged in a heated final debate before the general election on 4 July, clashing over tax, immigration, gender, and Brexit. Sunak accused Starmer of planning tax hikes and lacking a strategy for illegal immigration. Starmer countered by criticising Sunak's unfunded tax promises and alleged detachment from voters. Both faced tough questions from the audience, including doubts about their suitability as leaders. Starmer also accused Sunak of being 'bullied' into addressing the scandal involving a number of Tory candidates betting on the election date. Sunak defended his actions as necessary due to the seriousness of the matter. See This scandal has hit the Conservatives at a critical moment, potentially jeopardising their already shaky election prospects. Keir Starmer has called for accountability, emphasising that such actions are unacceptable.

Published in British Isles

A University of California study highlights the long-term damage caused by Brexit and austerity measures on the UK’s economic growth and social cohesion. The report calls for urgent action from the incoming government to address setbacks since the 2008 financial crisis. Political scandals, such as rule-breaking during the pandemic, have intensified public discontent and eroded trust in UK institutions. The study warns of interlocking crises for the next government, including signs of stagnation, particularly in addressing social and economic challenges. The report predicts a potential historic defeat for the Conservatives in the election and a challenging path for Labour to restore public trust and economic stability. Labour’s pledges include fiscal discipline, housing and infrastructure reforms, and clean energy investments. The study concludes that austerity and Brexit have left lasting scars on the UK economy, urging the government to prioritise regional planning and recovery.

Published in British Isles

YouGov's latest election model projects the Conservative Party winning just 108 seats, marking the lowest total in its history, and a 32-seat drop from just two weeks ago. Labour is set to gain 425 seats, a significant increase of 125 from the 2019 election, positioning them for a substantial majority. The model predicts that the SNP will become the second-largest Scottish party with 42 seats, and the Liberal Democrats will achieve their best-ever result with 67 seats. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, is projected to secure five seats, while the Greens are set to win two seats. Labour's projected success extends across both urban and rural areas, notably becoming the largest party in traditionally Conservative regions such as the South East and South West. This dramatic shift potentially indicates a significant realignment in the political landscape, with the Conservatives facing unprecedented losses and Labour poised for a commanding parliamentary presence.

Published in British Isles
Thursday, 20 June 2024 21:53

90,000 new social homes a year needed

Over fifty charities and housing bodies have urged Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, and Sir Ed Davey to prioritise ending homelessness by committing to building 90,000 social homes annually. With rough sleeping up 27% as of autumn 2023, these groups also demand housing benefits aligned with rising private rents. Signatories like Shelter and Crisis call for cross-party collaboration and long-term service funding. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn condemned the absence of homelessness in party manifestos, questioning how 250,000 people can be homeless in a wealthy nation. Government data shows over 100,000 households in temporary accommodation, two-thirds being families with children. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Helen Morgan called the situation a national scandal, promising to end rough sleeping, increase social housing, and abolish no-fault evictions.

Published in British Isles
Friday, 14 June 2024 12:58

Voter confidence at record low, says report

Trust and confidence in the UK’s political system have reached an all-time low, according to a report for the National Centre for Social Research. It reveals that a record number of voters almost never trust the Government to prioritise the country's interests over party politics or believe politicians to be truthful in challenging situations. Disillusionment, particularly among Brexit supporters, is cited as a significant factor, with Brexit not delivering the anticipated outcomes. Other contributors to this distrust include political scandals and the cost-of-living crisis, with those struggling financially expressing significant discontent. The report, entitled 'Damaged Politics’, shows that 45% of voters do not trust the Government to prioritise the country, 58% doubt politicians' honesty, and 79% believe the governance system requires substantial improvement. Additionally, 53% of respondents support a fairer voting system for smaller parties, highlighting dissatisfaction with the current first-past-the-post system. Public comments reflect a strong desire for truthful politicians and systemic reforms to restore trust and accountability.

Published in British Isles

Emmanuel Macron has said he intends to win the snap legislative election he called after his allies' significant defeat to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) in the European Parliament elections. He has dismissed claims that dissolving parliament was reckless, potentially empowering the far right and hindering his domestic policy agenda. He stated that his decision was in France's best interests, and urged citizens to vote. The RN secured about 32% of the vote, compared to the 15% garnered by Macron's allies (almost the same percentage as the Socialists). However, he expressed confidence that a national election would be very different, pointing out that politics is dynamic and opinion polls are unreliable. He stated that the president's role is crucial for the republic, institutions,and Europe, and his position is secure regardless of the election outcome - even though the RN would probably call for his resignation if it won.

Published in Europe

The Liberal Democrats have proposed free personal care for older or disabled individuals at home, alongside increased pay for care workers, aiming to alleviate the hospital crisis and enable people to remain in their homes. This plan, funded by reversing tax cuts for big banks, seeks to address the estimated £2.7bn cost by 2028-29. Independent experts suggest potential costs may exceed initial estimates. The party also aims to tackle the care worker shortage by introducing a carer's minimum wage and establishing a Royal College of Care Workers. Leader Sir Ed Davey, drawing from personal experience as a carer, emphasised the importance of this issue. The policy aims to support independence and dignity for individuals in need of care, echoing the system in Scotland. While welcomed by industry bodies, concerns remain about funding sufficiency and staffing shortages. Labour and the Conservatives have also proposed reforms to address healthcare and social care challenges.

Published in British Isles