OV9

What i don’t get, is why politicians are able to move parties without triggering a by-election. If i had voted for Robert Jenrick as a Tory for instance (then i’d punch myself in the face), I’d be pretty fucked off with him moving to Reform and effectively taking my vote with him to back a party i hadn’t voted for.

I know we’re supposed to be voting for individuals, but again, party whips make a mockery of this.

The whole system sucks.

Rich B wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 12:34 pm The margin was too big for it being a protest vote, it was a win.

However, i think it has opened the door to future protest voting. All of a sudden there’s an “alternative” option getting a chunk of their own votes, with their own policies and candidates, with a leader that isn’t as bland as Ed Davey or as slimey as Farage.

I think you underestimate the depth of feeling over Starmer not allowing Burnham to stand. The people of Gorton and Denton do not typify your typical Green voter

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:45 pm

Rich B wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 12:34 pm The margin was too big for it being a protest vote, it was a win.

However, i think it has opened the door to future protest voting. All of a sudden there’s an “alternative” option getting a chunk of their own votes, with their own policies and candidates, with a leader that isn’t as bland as Ed Davey or as slimey as Farage.

I think you underestimate the depth of feeling over Starmer not allowing Burnham to stand. The people of Gorton and Denton do not typify your typical Green voter

Fair comment! I still think they’ve all unwittingly unshackled the green party though.

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:45 pm

Rich B wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 12:34 pm The margin was too big for it being a protest vote, it was a win.

However, i think it has opened the door to future protest voting. All of a sudden there’s an “alternative” option getting a chunk of their own votes, with their own policies and candidates, with a leader that isn’t as bland as Ed Davey or as slimey as Farage.

I think you underestimate the depth of feeling over Starmer not allowing Burnham to stand. The people of Gorton and Denton do not typify your typical Green voter

If Burnham had won the seat, Labour may well have lost the election for replacement Manchester mayor.

ZedLeg wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 2:24 pm I think saying “that’s democracy” is a bit glib tbh.

More and more of what’s happening in UK and US politics isn’t tracking with popular opinion. It’s running to an agenda dictated by a group of incredibly rich and powerful people.

I think you're missing my point. I agree to the second bit, and it's the extreme views of those people that I'm keen not to take root in politics because those people have zero respect for anything. Many politicians are cunts, but most of those representing the established parties I think do at least do believe (to varying degrees) in the sanctity of our democracy and its associated institutions/apparatus.

Jobbo wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 4:12 pm

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:45 pm

Rich B wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 12:34 pm The margin was too big for it being a protest vote, it was a win.

However, i think it has opened the door to future protest voting. All of a sudden there’s an “alternative” option getting a chunk of their own votes, with their own policies and candidates, with a leader that isn’t as bland as Ed Davey or as slimey as Farage.

I think you underestimate the depth of feeling over Starmer not allowing Burnham to stand. The people of Gorton and Denton do not typify your typical Green voter

If Burnham had won the seat, Labour may well have lost the election for replacement Manchester mayor.

You're probably right there. They were damned either way as soon as he announced his intentions.

Rich B wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:59 pm

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 3:45 pm

Rich B wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 12:34 pm The margin was too big for it being a protest vote, it was a win.

However, i think it has opened the door to future protest voting. All of a sudden there’s an “alternative” option getting a chunk of their own votes, with their own policies and candidates, with a leader that isn’t as bland as Ed Davey or as slimey as Farage.

I think you underestimate the depth of feeling over Starmer not allowing Burnham to stand. The people of Gorton and Denton do not typify your typical Green voter

Fair comment! I still think they’ve all unwittingly unshackled the green party though.

Hmm. Maybe. I'm not convinced. Polanski is a very divisive character (read: bellend) and I'm not sure there'll suddenly be a wave of people wanting to switch, at least not of those over 35. That said, he's going the right way about attracting a share of the vote.

duncs500 wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 4:49 pm

ZedLeg wrote: Fri Feb 27, 2026 2:24 pm I think saying “that’s democracy” is a bit glib tbh.

More and more of what’s happening in UK and US politics isn’t tracking with popular opinion. It’s running to an agenda dictated by a group of incredibly rich and powerful people.

I think you're missing my point. I agree to the second bit, and it's the extreme views of those people that I'm keen not to take root in politics because those people have zero respect for anything. Many politicians are cunts, but most of those representing the established parties I think do at least do believe (to varying degrees) in the sanctity of our democracy and its associated institutions/apparatus.

I don’t see any evidence of that tbh.

Smashing the criminal gangs is going well...

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-03-05/asy ... ommodation

Yet the Rwanda deal was too expensive, understood.

It's like being given a goody bag if you're caught shoplifting.

"Nice try you little scamp, now take this money and no being a silly goose anymore"

Dave!

As a British citizen I am not entitled to apply for asylum in this country, therefore my application would fail, can I have £40k please?

jamcg wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:53 am As a British citizen I am not entitled to apply for asylum in this country, therefore my application would fail, can I have £40k please?

If you're from somewhere not safe to travel back to then yes.

So are you from Peterborough, Skegness or Hull ?

Dave!

V8Granite wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:57 am

jamcg wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:53 am As a British citizen I am not entitled to apply for asylum in this country, therefore my application would fail, can I have £40k please?

If you're from somewhere not safe to travel back to then yes.

So are you from Peterborough, Skegness or Hull ?

Dave!

Stockton on Tees, just stay away from Hartington road and it’s not too bad

He spent half the election banging on about how he'd 'smash the gangs'. They were elected and what transpires? No plan whatsoever to smash the gangs.

This policy from Mahmood shows they can't get a handle on this issue. They're also tied up in knots by their own extremist back benchers, the ECHR, Zach 'open-borders' Polanski shouting from the sidelines..

Oh, and they think the offer of £10k, per person, to leave when they have no right to be here, won't be a pull factor to the UK.

Madness. Another reason the legacy two party system is dead. It's just relentless political failure.

Alex88 wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2026 12:08 am Smashing the criminal gangs is going well...

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-03-05/asy ... ommodation

And sets a new price for crossings making the gangs richer and nor reducing immigration at all ??

Exactly. And once you've paid your fee to the smuggler, if your asylum claim fails (unlikely) and the UK gov sends you packing, sorry - politely asks you to leave (which you don't have to do) then you're still quids in. You'll leave with a lot more cash than what you started with.

Surely this is objectively a pull factor. You either get asylum or they'll pay you £10k to go. And what's to stop you from just coming back again? They can't forcibly deport you if you play your cards right.

So much for the adults being back in charge.

Fair enough ditching the Rwanda plan, but what was the plan to replace it? One-in, one-out musical chairs?

On the topic of migration - worth noting that the Greens are doing increasingly well in the polls. Reform going backwards, Restore a newcomer to the race, and apparently on 100k+ members already. Rupert Lowe seemingly attempting a hostile takeover of the right-wing space.

He's splitting the vote of people who don't understand the fundamentals of economics, law, or migration and who have massive chips on their shoulder.

Which is, honestly, hilarious. I invite them to continue.

Self quoting from September last year to restate my view on the “smash the gangs” approach

jamcg wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2025 8:03 pm We’ve got levels of cocaine in the north east of England that should be a national Emergancy but you don’t hear anything about that- the police have been trying to bring down the drug gangs for 20/30/40 years and are still failing, so we’ve got zero chance of that approach working

Not looking good for Starmer. At all.

He said he wasn't aware of the extent of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, but it's increasingly looking like that wasn't true..