POLITICS CORNER

[PanBiker]

The postal vote system has been upgraded somewhat over recent years. It is no longer lawful for any party member to handle any other electors postal ballot as it used to be which was how the system could be abused.

Canvassers can organise a postal ballot for an elector but that is as far as it goes. The elector has to return the ballot themselves one way or the other. In the sealed addressed envelope provided. This includes returning it to their local polling station if they think they may have missed the last post for getting it back to the council, (can be a problem at the moment). If the elector cannot return the ballot themselves they can get a close family member to return it to the polling station but said person has to prove who they are and fill a form in to record that fact. Registered carers can also return ballots for folk in their care such as sheltered and supported housing establishments where many residents are housebound.

Gone are the days when political parties could "help" electors to fill in and return their ballots en mass. Anyone caught contravening the rules can face a prison sentence.

[PanBiker]

Oh David, I should have added that you are not required to give your elector number. but you already know that I am sure. Doing so can be advantageous for the reasons already stated. Having done the job many times over the years I can say that probably 95% or more of the electorate see the benefit and comply when asked politely. Tellers also, when courteous expect the same from the electorate. It's quite jolly on the door as most tellers share info if someone needs a toilet break or you get a large bunch through at the same time.

[Stanley]

I am just grateful that this is the last day of campaigning. I'll guess that the activists like Ian will also be pleased!
David, I used to get pissed off by the tellers from the different parties wanting to know who I was until I got the explanation of why they are doing it. Since then it has not been a concern.
Roll on tomorrow.....

[PanBiker]

Last day of campaigning but it doesn't stop for me until 10pm tomorrow night. For my sins I am in charge of the West Craven (Barlick, Earby and Coates) Campaign Centre and all the tech that goes with it. Tomorrow will be very busy.

[Tripps]

I used to get pissed off by the tellers from the different parties wanting to know who I was until I got the explanation of why they are doing it. Since then it has not been a concern.

I shall still remain polite, but mildly hostile to any self appointed anonymous person, who gets between me and the ballot box on election day. My voting is no one's business but mine. If I choose 'none of the above' by abstaining - I most certainly don't want to be pestered at home by such a person.

[PanBiker]

My voting is no one's business but mine. If I choose 'none of the above' by abstaining - I most certainly don't want to be pestered at home by such a person.

Give your polling number to the tellers then, simple.

[Tripps]

You have missed my point. I thought I had made my view plain.

I will not give my details to any person outside the polling station.

How do I know that a so called teller is bona fide. They have no identification as I recall.

Any interaction at all with me I would see as "impeding" me as I enter the polling station which is not allowed. If they stood aside with a sign saying words to the effect "Please tell me your electoral details" , and did not approach me, then that would be a different matter.

Rules for tellers. Electoral Commission

I have said all I wish to on this subject. I shall now go QRT.

[Stanley]

Please, what is QRT?
I believe that today is going to be a historic day in that the Tory defeat is going to be far worse than anyone is forecasting. My reason for saying this is because I believe that Reform is going to be an important factor, Farage is going to rob the Tories of some of the vital votes they need to cling on in many seats.
A joyful day.....

[Tripps]

Please, what is QRT?

That was for Ian - he knows.

QRT Shall I stop sending? Stop sending.

You can find them all here Q Codes

I used to use just a few of them in ordinary conversation every day a while ago.
Especially QTE (Bearing) , QRM (Interference) , QRN (Noise). Helpful when telex messaging in real time, to a foreign monitoring station that had limited English.

[Tizer]

I find it strange to read the discussion about tellers in the above posts. We just walk past everybody into the polling station and cast our vote. Then out again and away. I can't remember anyone outside asking me questions for...ooh, about 30 years. I thought all that was in the past. Perhaps we're more laid back in Somerset!

We've had election leaflets through our door from about 6 or 7 parties in recent weeks - but not a single one from Labour. I know they get little support traditionally in Somerset but you'd think they'd at least make an effort to show interest in us. The most impressive leaflet was from the Communist Party candidate - all red text and images on a white background. The artwork was just like the old USSR posters put up by students with a man wielding a sledgehammer.

Our Taunton area used to have a LibDem MP but he was was pushed out by Rebecca Pow (yes her, today Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DEFRA - but perhaps no longer so tomorrow). Most ordinary folk here traditionally lean towards LibDem and they'll be pleased to see the back of her. But the constituency boundaries have been changing and so we can't be sure until the votes are in.

[Tripps]

In a Polling Station somewhere in Midsomer Mel. Just four ahead of me in the queue. They are swiftly dealt with.

"Can I have your address please"?

"Here's my voting card".

"Thank you".

"What is your name?".

Goes into 'helpful mode' after a lifetime of spelling out his name. "It's the name on the voting card".

"Yes- but I need you to say it to me. You may have found the card in the street, or it may belong to another person in your family".

"I see. - but if I had found it - since the name is on the card, I could read it, then say the name to you".

I'm sorry I need you to say your name".

"Wouldn't it be a bit of a miracle if this other person had the same face as me (poor chap), which you can see here, on my current driving licence, which is also in the same name as on the voting card? ".

"I'm sorry it's procedure - I need you to say your name".

Surrenders and says name.

Votes - bravely using the erasable pencil provided.

Leaves with a cheery "Good night, and thank you for your patience, to the staff".

[Whyperion]

So the first two (presumably Sunderlands - BBC site isnt clear on a first look) results in . turnout to 2019 DOWN 5percent (why , there is more choice than ever - maybe holidays/voterID/postalvote errors changes ?) Lab up 4percent, tories down 18, lib down 1.5 green up 1.5 reform (vs Brexit) up 15percent. Still a clear Lab 48percent of votes cast. There are ways to deal with populalist parties, but it means , essentially, affordable housing for everyone that needs housing and a worthwhile job for everyone, lower queues for medical treatments and ideally a little less overall burden of taxation on the individual.

[Whyperion]

There was an end of parliament honurs list handed out, The Knighthoods for services to tory party predictable. The elevations of Tories/Lab/Lib and xBench all look reasonable actually an should help with the Lords work of reviewing the law in the UK with some experienced people involved.

[Whyperion]

South Swindon continues trend of effectively Lab electorate majority, (poss Lib tactical vote swap to Lab a bit too) Con Down , and Reform (less) up. Turnout down 6percent which may well be a trend of down 5percent accross UK, we shall see.

[Stanley]

I am up two hours earlier than usual because I don't want to miss any of this historic night. The forecast at the moment is 410 seats to Labour and 131 to the Tories but I think it will end up far worse than that. We shall see.
I am brewed and have R4 playing, send in the clowns!

[Stanley]

I'm just popping back in to say that Labour have taken Rochdale. George Galloway didn't even bother to turn up at the count for the verdict.
All is going to plan, I might even go back to bed!

[Stanley]

I went back to bed for two hours and have woken up to the news that Labour have now passed the finishing line and have 329 Seats and so are definitely the next government.
General jubilation all round but it is worth remembering that the car-crash interview that Kier Starmer gave on LBC which alienated so many supporters of the Palestinians in Gaza has cost the party dearly and will continue to be a thorn in his side during the next Parliament.
PS. A thought for you all..... Nobody is talking about it but don't forget that the biggest factor that has brought about this changed landscape is the fact that the Tories were so awful. They were the architects of their own downfall.
Another PS. I have just heard that Jacob Rees Mogg has lost his seat.....
Another PS.... Labour have ousted Moon Face. Welcome Mr Hinder!

[Tizer]

Votes - bravely using the erasable pencil provided.

If you're concerned about that, why not take in your own pen. It's allowed! You're allowed to take in your pet dog but you are not allowed to let it mark your vote for you.

The LibDems have kicked out the Tory Party's Rebecca Pow here in Taunton. A lot of smiling faces about today!

[Stanley]

What happens to Stephenson House now?

[Whyperion]

Some of the gone tories will remain as talking heads in the media, others promise they will work locally.

Ed Davey now leads a party with a record number of MPs, even though its vote share (around 12%) has barely changed since 2019. It was almost twice as high as that (23%) when party went into coalition government in 2010. The LibDems getting 71 seats with 3.5million votes (pity they missed a couple of the other Surrey seats) Reform have got the eastern coastal towns - and polled 4million votes for their 4 seats giving Farage and Tice a significant voice- how does Labour cope with that - if they fund those areas Reform will take the credit , if they dont Reform will ensure Labour will take the blame - perhaps stuffing the areas with 3000 allowed asylum settlers each and allowing the following natural increase in economic activity might help.

What will keep Lib Dems unique - approach to Europe, planning , and probably more cautious on Israel/Gaza.

Corbyn wins his seat ( and seemed almost regretful - his heart is in what Labour should be ). Wes Streeting appears to have seen off a challenge and Finklestien ate into - but did not consume - Starmers vote lead. Starmer still got labour 1million LESS votes than Corbyn did in 2019. I dont trust Starmer he and others worked not to back Corbyn and Labour and led us to brexit and reform.

SNP implodes generally but has time to regroup for the Scottish Elections.
Green increases vote and get another seat - hopefully 4 next time round. (oh , its 4 seats already - Gaining North Herefordshire from the Tories , i didnt spot that one - nor Waveney Valle - so maybe 5 or 6 with more Bristols and Brightons and South Coast England with a push )
So the election the Conservatives lost - to Reform (see Pendle as an example), to Libs ,to Labour, but mainly to themselves. It was said the tories were not "Conservative Enough" whatever that means IDS presumably was and wins thanks to a Labour split vote. Conservatives did win a Leicester vote with an Indian businessman (split left wing again to some extent)- maybe this is what the urban conservatives will have to be for 2029.

So What (apart from Planning and Housebuilding ) will Labour do ? Health Service funding to address excessive queues seems to be one and hopefully sorting out GP vacancies and qualified persons seems one obvious. Bringing back full HS2 presumably funded under the national infrastructure bank. Transfering more suburban and commuter rail lines in London to TfL/Mayors control. Beyond that I have no idea - net zero seems impossible given the state of our (terraced and semi-detached) houses

Just formalising that three seats left to declare (unusual at one time NI was often not till saturday), two Scottish seats and one in Essex.

[PostmanPete]

What happens to Stephenson House now?

Maybe it could go in the "forgotten corners" topic..?

[Stanley]

What a good Idea!

[PanBiker]

Been AWOL from the site yesterday, my computer was put to good use in running our Campaign Centre which I was in charge of. Crunched a lot of numbers yesterday. The vote was up in West Craven but still not breaking records for a General Election, just over 50% says to me that we need change one way or the other but I have held that view for a long while. With Jonathan Hinder we now have Labour MP as part of a Labour Government with a massive majority and the job has to start now.

Glad to see a lot of the leading lights in the Tory party lose their seats, (over 20 former ministers). Lord Snooty gone so we don't have to see him slouching on the opposition benches. Pity that Cruella Braverman held on to hers. Too many to mention here and they are now history so lets get on with the job in hand.

We ran our Campaign Centre until 9.45pm last night when I logged the last three teams back in from knocking almost the whole of our potential voters in Earby. Throughout the day they covered most of our defined Road Groups in West Craven, including Salterforth and Kelbrook villages as well as Barlick and Earby. In the main we were the only party telling at the Polling Stations with one exception. Stevenson's shop lady put an odd hour in at The Rainhall Centre. Nothing at all from the Lib Dems. It should be noted here that scaremongering tactics from that party based on local election data, (Labour cant win here) ad infinitum on their leaflets does not work in a General Election. Jonathan polled eight times the number of votes that the Lib Dem did. The Labour Party have taken all of the Ribble Valley and Lancaster, Morecambe and the vast majority of seats in the North West.

Jonathan has a 902 majority, not massive but he now has to earn expansion of that with his actions. We will now be regarded as a marginal next time round and will attract even more support than we got this time from the National Party.

Glad to see Jeremy Corbyn retain his seat in Islington and Galoway blown away again. Need to deal with Farage now.

[Tripps]

Well it's all over. I'm as relieved as anyone else that we have got rid of this bunch of comedians. However what will we get in their place? I noted last night that within minutes of the polls closing there was a double appearance on Sky news of David Lammy and Angela Rayner. Like Rochester's mad wife, they had both been kept strictly out of public view for the last six weeks. Mrs Starmer is front and centre now, having been invisible. Which Labour party have we actually elected?

Pendle was in electoral terms, a 'damned close run thing' - less than a thousand votes id it. Ian's telephone nanvassing must had carried the day. and the Tory leaflet saying that a vote for Reform would be a vote for Labour seems to have been true.

The reception in Downing street is close to hysteria - no doubt well orchestrated, with much American whooping. I don't approve, and hope they will still be whooping in say a year's time. I doubt it.

Galloway went to the well once too often and must surely be finished now. Some lost Tory seats are giving me a great deal of quiet enjoyment, not least Truss and Rees Mogg.

May you live in interesting times. . . .


PS - My reference to the erasable pencil was suppsed to be mildy ironic. Not strong on irony this site.

[Stanley]

I agree with all that Ian and would only add that Diane Abbott is set to take up 'Mother of the House' role in Parliament but Jeremy Corbyn misses out on the job of ‘Father of the House’.
Diane Abbott is set to take up one of the most esteemed positions in the House of Commons after retaking her seat of Hackney North and Stoke Newington. Ms Abbott will become Mother of the House in the new parliament, a role given to the longest continuously serving female member of parliament. The previous holder was Harriet Harman, who stepped down at this election. (Nice to see that she got a majority of 15,000.)