Local and mayoral elections 2016

Many of us will be going to the polls in less than a week’s time. There are local and mayoral elections up for grabs across the whole country, the first widespread test of the post 2015 setup. We’ve had a couple of by-elections, but nothing national, and little apart from percentage swings in single locations to assess much on.

Next week, we should get a better idea. Even before yesterday’s drama, Labour weren’t seen by the pollsters as sweeping the boards. The constant refrain in the media is that they could wind up third in Scotland, behind both the SNP and the Conservatives.

Are your representatives up for election? Any predictions on outcome?

The Ruling Government always does Less Well in mid term Local Elections so I predict Tory Fail

1 Like

We only have the police commissioner election where we are, however why on earth didn’t they tie in the referendum to happen on the same day. But no, we have to have two polling days at twice the cost.

Have to say being beaten by the Tories in Scotland would be a bitter pill to swallow for Labour.

I honestly don’t know how it’s going to go. Polls in general have been unreliable, especially when it comes to stuff at a national level. I know that these are mostly local elections, but they’re happening all over the country.

The contest in Scotland looks interesting.

The hope is that Labour do alright, but the SNP have been a big factor up there for years.

I’m looking forward to voting in the London Mayoral elections. I know sad.

I find the “sponsored by the mayor of london” which I see on many buildings etc a bit annoying. Did BoJo get some money out of his pocket and pay? Nope. It’s all of us paying our taxes that provide the money surely? I suppose he helps big business get the contracts.

See who does any better or worse after the 5th May. Polls are suggesting Khan is ahead especially in inner London whilst the leafy suburbs suggest that Goldsmith is ahead there.

1 Like

The contest in Scotland is very interesting - on a regional level SNP will win an absolute landslide but the real change has been with the opposition. Scottish Labour have been an absolute farce for years and that’s reflected in the polls, with Ruth Davidson’s Tories overtaking them recently. Scottish Greens are showing well, overtaking the Lib Dems to take 4th, though I think they will actually get more of the vote than the 10% they’re currently polling at regionally due to some strong showings in the debates.

I think Scottish Labour are making some very canny policy decisions, if not for this election, then definitely for the next. Here’s an interview with Kezia Dugdale. She reckons that the SNP’s fight the Tories rhetoric is bluster because they’ve no way to pay for it.

Labour’s policy is to raise income tax, including for those in the 20K - 26K bracket. Historically, tax raises in an election are a bad idea, so it’s a brave move, and may not get voters this election, but if she’s right, and the SNP’s plans are financially unsound, then Scottish Labour can say that they came up with policies that would have avoided the shite.

Heard of Tory election fraud on the BBC? Not many have. Word is that they’re trying to suppress it until after the elections.

Wasn’t really sure where to plonk this, but seriously how does Gideon manage to look so spaced out and creepy at the same time, so frequently.

It’s disturbing

https://vine.co/u/937092468413968384

https://vine.co/v/ixj5tO3H1zp

EDIT: Didn’t vines used to work on here?

2nd Edit: I have no idea what is going on now. It’s all borking out.

1 Like

Is that where the football is, yeah? YEAH?

3 Likes

Scottish Labour want to introduce a 1p tax rise across the board which isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but it’s hardly radical. The SNP are treading water in terms of any actual progressive tax policies and are so mired in the centre-left. SL is preferable to the SNP plan in my eyes, but I genuinely think that the Green’s policies are the most progressive of the lot (no surprise there!).

Scrapping Council Tax and bringing in a tax based on the value of your property is also a far fairer system imo, and could easily be rolled out across the UK.

I don’t neccessarily oppose the idea, but seeing a 60% tax rate (even for those that are earning plenty enought to be able to absorb it) does make me wince a wee bit.

1 Like

It does seem high, but when you consider that the Netherlands, France and Germany all have a top rate of around 60% it’s not that controversial.

I am not voting for any of the bastards.

1 Like

Today’s London Evening Standard has a headline about Zac being the greenest candidate.

london-evening-standard-tory-mouthpiece-zac-goldsmith?CMP=share_btn_fb

Which is one of the tamer headlines from them but they’re talking about their favourite candidate.

And Boris’ present to the poor on his way out. Naf all. A new development knocking down a listed building and with zero affordable housing (whatever that means in London).

/may/03/luxury-flat-developers-reuben-linked-to-46000-of-donations-to-zac-goldsmith

It is a strange one really. I think there is a north/south divide in the UK for sure. The general feel up here in Carlisle is that they have had enough of the Tories and because I am up here I think this is the sweeping view of the country, but when down in London, south east and Southampton, there seems a general conclusion the ‘everything is going alright’ attitude, so why change.

Im not sure what campaigning has been going on in the north, but this is an area that labour need to be focused on winning back. Easy targets with all the steelworks that are being closed down, the ‘lack of funds’ for the flooded areas and the marketing of tourism in the lakes and the general unrest that the Tory government money ends up in the south, rather than in the north.

There is a huge hole that labour have to fill in Scotland for sure, as this is where they will lose out in the next election if work is not done in the north and Scotland.

“Super Thursday”? Seriously? what a load of seppo bullshit

What is this obsession inthe UK to copy these americanisms.

3 Likes

Once again I’ll be voting in the local election, but god knows who for - I struggle to see anyone I like or trust on the ballot paper.

3 Likes

Once again I will not be voting as the people in charge will not let me.

Yes you can vote if your last address in the UK was the last address that you used whilst on the electoral register if not fuck off.

The way this has been billed and setup, all Labour really have to do to confound expectations is hold their vote. I personally cannot remember a dirtier run-up to an election, and going by what I see in the mainstream media, I wouldn’t have a lot of hope.

Going by what I see on social media, Labour have got slightly better chances.

These elections aren’t just a test of those contesting them. They’re a test of how effective the major news outlets are in trying to influence the outcome. Anyone with a lick of sense can see the context, and just how ridiculous accusations of racism are when levelled at the party that has done most to combat discrimination.

The Tories are done, ideologically speaking. They’ve no new ideas, and are just iterating on their best strategy at the moment, smearing opponents and hoping the lies hold. That is not a plan for government. That is a distraction for not doing much effective governing.