Forum Topic

Golly, that was a staggering result

So Rupa Huq is re-elected with 60% of the vote and a majority up from under 300 to nearly 14,000.I sort of thought she would hang on but am amazed by the scale of her victory.Is it being Remain in a remain patch?The Labour London effect?Or something else?

Sara Nathan ● 3429d44 Comments

Was on the streets today canvassing and it was all Labour.Remain & the NHS. Also the tory candidate made a complete arse of herself.

Alex Powrie ● 3429d

Teresa Mays no-show at debates and dementia tax were a disaster , but I have to congratulate Corbyn on his campaign and the increasing momentum that developed.

Dennis Brogan ● 3429d

Find myself agreeing with Dennis. That's weird.Theresa ran a disastrous negative campaign on the back of an empty manifesto. Jeremy Corbyn had integrity and consistency and even...stability. He was never negative. He inspired the youth vote who turned out.

Kim Rugg ● 3429d

Agree, Remain and local Hospital were definitely the prevailing points with the labour voters I met.

James Feth ● 3429d

I wondered if police cuts and Human Rights legislation as a last minute response to terrorism was important - or whether that just demonstrated Conservative manifesto flakiness and lack of consistency.You may not agree with Jeremy Corbyn on many issues but he is consistent and he seems to stick to what he has always believed. Which is maybe refreshing.Collapse of UKIP vote not key here presumably, and the LibDem vote here didn't change much.

Sara Nathan ● 3429d

It looks very much as if it was Remain, Sara. Labour took seats that voted to remain and didn't take the ones they targeted which voted leave.It remains (NPI) to see what difference a coalition will make to the Brexit negotiations.

Susan Kelly ● 3429d

Well done Rupa and all who helped it happen - mostly the young who were so enthusiastic and inspiring.Interesting times ahead. Very proud of Jeremy Corbyn and his campaign. Hope will always win over fear.

Chris Hurley ● 3429d

It's good to have a hard-working MP who you can see asks questions in Parliament and doesn't just toe the party-line.

Philippa Bond ● 3429d

I have to admit, as a Labour voter (back in the fold after those awful Blair years) I was unimpressed with Corbyn's performance up until now and not a fan (so was always bemused when branded a "Corbynista" by Dennis, simply for disagreeing).  Luckily, he had May to sink lower, faster, and it's supremely gratifying to see that backfire on her, despite the appalling smears by the Mail and the Sun. Congratulations to Dr Huq, as well, who seems to have absolutely romped back with nearly twice as many votes as her Tory opponent.  Let's just hope she pays a little more attention to us here in Acton, and can kick some serious butt when it comes to our cinema/arts centre/mouldering ex-library.  I collared one of her campaign people and bent their ear about that - they promised they'd raise it with her, but I'm hardly holding my breath.  Still....stranger things have happened.

Adam Kimmel ● 3429d

Hi DennisJust want to say I think your comment is commendably graciousYou've never made a secret of your strong political opinions on this website  - and there have been some fairly ferocious fights  over the years - but I think today your comment helps set the standard for how we can all argue - and at the same time treat each other with respect as fellow Actonites.

Richard Grange ● 3429d

It's the right result for Acton as Rupa was clearly the best candidate but I think it would be wrong to overstate Theresa May's ineptitude or Jeremy Corbyn's brilliance.The Conservative's clearly thought they had sufficient leeway to put some unpopular policies in their manifesto. At some point a government is going to have to remove the triple lock and put a limit on the cost of social care for an ailing population. The Tories knew these things would go down like a bowl of sick with their core support i.e. the elderly but something clearly needs to be done about the massive transfer of wealth and opportunity from the young to the old especially if you are going to limit immigration and therefore have fewer young people.From this perspective this was quite an altruistic manifesto from the Tories - recognising the huge fiscal challenges ahead and trying to get some of the difficult decisions out of the way when there was an opportunity.On the other hand the Labour manifesto was never really meant to be the blueprint for Government because they never expected to win (which let's not forget they didn't). The policy that appears to have been decisive for Labour is the promise to abolish tuition fees. At a cost of £11bn this was clearly unaffordable given their other commitments and even students I've chatted to recognise that most of the money that will be saved by the taxpayer will end up going to the middle class. However, no young person with any prospect of being in further education is going to turn their nose up at this significant financial incentive.Whether by strategic brilliance or by accident this promise also cut the legs from the Lib Dems who were only going to make an impact if they could win over students and young graduates for whom there was still a legacy of distrust over fees in the first place. The Lib Dems could have won a significant amount of seats in university towns but for this.The problem we all have now is that when the next election comes, and it is likely to be before the end of the year, the circumstances will be very different. The Tories will not have the confidence to put forward policies that will alienate their core vote and Labour's manifesto will be judged as the possible legislative programme of a government rather than a fanciful wishlist. The economy is likely to be in a weaker condition when we go to the polls again and there will be much more focus on our fiscal position next time around. Alot of people voted Labour because they liked and admired their local MP, alot voted Labour because they thought Jeremy Corbyn had a useful role to play as a thorn in the side of an uncaring and ineffective government but very few voted Labour because they thought Jeremy Corbyn would make a good Prime Minister. Next time out there will be no pretending that isn't a possible scenario. In those 'awful Blair years' Labour convinced people beyond their core vote that they would be more competent managers of the economy than the Tories. To win the next election they will have to do that again - there is no way around that reality.

Mark Evans ● 3428d

Do agree with you Richard, such a waste of time and effort to argue, sensible debates are good. Think TM lost the elderly voters which must have help JC, he never holds my attention though.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

She certainly underestimate the power of the elderly voters, after all they can pick and choose and won't put up with being hit financially when already on such a low income.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

'when already on such a low income'. The assumption that all elderly voters are on a low income is part of the problem, Janice. Many aren't and don't need the expensive freebies.Just heard a working class woman on The World at One saying, 'Jeremy Corbyn couldn't run a bath', which made me laugh.

Susan Kelly ● 3428d

Agree Susan, then give them the choice ask them if they are happy to receive or would prefer it goes towards something else, many are on a low income and having to pay for so many extras that they really need.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

Also Susan a lot that don't need it don't actually apply for it and that is never taken into account.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

That was a funny comment about Jeremy, he has done well though, it's just that when he talks it like listening to someone's Grandad, to me anyway.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

But clearly he appeals to the young who came out in droves and took places like Canterbury - mainly due to the Kent students. No-one else was saying they would do anything about the issues they face, like tuition fees and student debt - so his message really resonated with them. The interesting thing now is what happens next - can a coalition of chaos between the Tories and the lovely (!) DUP really create stability ? My best guess is another election in the autumn with a Labour overall win.

Chris Hurley ● 3428d

Could happen Chris.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

I think that with the young having seen that their vote matters and will make a difference, all political parties will have to create policies and manifestos that include them rather than favour the segments of society that are "more likely to vote" in order to win elections. This can only be a good thing.

Kim Rugg ● 3428d

This does seem like a turning point for the youth vote, who got a wake-up call at the referendum.

Susan Kelly ● 3428d

I'm not sure the referendum was the main driving force behind the youth vote.  The tuition fees/maintenance grant policy was masssive.Labour essentially offered every student or potential student £15-£20k a year.  Regardless of any political views this would make me want to vote Labour if I was a student.

Richard Foster ● 3428d

Yes but would they have ever got it.

Janice Evans ● 3428d

Don't spoil the fantasy Janice!

Richard Foster ● 3427d

I'm not talking about HOW the young voted but the fact that they voted at all, having seen their own apathy take this country out of the EU.

Susan Kelly ● 3427d

I understood what you meant Susan - and agree. I am just commenting that I believe Labour's policies (and Corbyn's successful rallying) had more of an impact on the youth vote than the referendum.

Richard Foster ● 3427d

I agree Susan, I think the Brexit vote and the dreadful youth turnout then was a real wake-up call. Also the Labour campaign was very youth-focused in policy but even more in delivery....use of social media was exceptional and apparently Corbyn mentioned the young in every speech.The results in university towns seem to show that was rather effective.

Sara Nathan ● 3427d

I can see why the young have finally voted, and I get to speak to many young people. They feel with the Brexit vote has potentially robbed them of opportunities to study/work/live in other European countries when their parents had the choice.They feel ripped off by the current and proposed uni fees, loss of grants and the likes. They think the country is following the US blindly, making them pay, pay, pay. They say that this country needs doctors, lawyers, teachers and so on. People should not be punished financially for deciding to better themselves, especially as many of he chosen professions do not come with a fat salary.They do look at who voted for Brexit in the first place and are puzzled that the older and less educated masses voted leave. It scares them that people who (mostly), let's face it, will not be there to experience the consequences, robbed them of opportunities, presuming they know better, and are continuing to do so by voting Con once again in the recent election.

Urs Esser ● 3427d

Conservatives were looking at a landslide , then start talking about Dementia tax , fox hunting and decide that Theresa May would not face Corbyn in a debate ? I have to respect Jeremy Corbyn for his excellent campaign , but I do think the Tories lost this election through their own mistakes .

Dennis Brogan ● 3427d

Well one thing you can say for sure is that "Game of thrones" has nothing on British politics. And although what we need is for government to get on with governing, the clock is ticking on Brexit, I fear we are in for a few more cliffhangers. Personally I'm with 'Brenda from Bristol' and hope we don't have another election. But I see some vultures circling Downing street.

Kim Rugg ● 3427d

'When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.'

Susan Kelly ● 3427d

Hi Urs, it was the promise of more cash being available for the health service if we voted out, obviously the younger ones aren't worried about their health yet, TM still has her Brexit supporters but think people voted for her for security reasons rather than anything else, I could be wrong but that's how I see it.

Janice Evans ● 3426d

How staggering was the result? More staggering than the UK voting to leave the EU? More staggering than Trump beating 'shoo-in' Hillary? I have stopped being surprised, let alone staggered, by anything the public votes for.My brother-in-law reckons it began with Boatie McBoatface where people first thought, 'Hey, let's vote for something stupid!', while blowing a big raspberry.

Susan Kelly ● 3426d

Lol

Janice Evans ● 3426d

The Labour Party lost their third election in a row and against a party that put out the worst campaign that anyone can remember. The tone of Labour support changed with the bribe to youngsters of free tuition fee, remembering of course it was the first Blair govn. that rolled the fees out to everyone in the first place ( I wonder if they know how much this will cost..maybe the shadow home secretary can tell, us!). This type of anti voting is going on everywhere now that voters realise that the politicos an all sides are pretty dire and self serving.I can imagine Corbyn could be a great protest politician, but would be completely lost and over his head in government.AS for his team, more Conference than Premier League.

Keith Iddon ● 3426d

Thanks for providing us with your perspective, Keith.I'm no fan of Corbyn but my vote was for the local Labour candidate, who has been a responsive MP and took a brave decision to stand up for her constituents over a number of issues.I don't wish to speak for the thread starter, but I suspect the 'staggering nature of the result' was based around the massive swing to Labour despite all of Corbyn's shortcomings. The margin seemed genuinely astonishing.The shortcomings of the Conservative campaign and their candidate have been discussed at length on here. There might be something for Ealing's Tories to reflect on as they contemplate how they might try and better represent the views of local people in future.

Sarah Woolmer ● 3426d

Likewise, Sarah. Your insight shines like a beacon in the darkness..

Keith Iddon ● 3426d

Overall I thought the result surprising and almost completely unheralded.But the "staggering" part was this constituency - the fifth most marginal in the country.My maths is rubbish but from 245 to some 13,800 is a huge multiplier. And who would have predicted 60%? It's the local detail which is staggering.

Sara Nathan ● 3426d

Janice - the promise of more cash for the NHS was never linked to Brexit - at least not by the Cons - there were other lunatics who suggested it... Fact is, the NHS needs more cash and is getting some - but no way enough. We desperately need those two hospitals (Ealing and Charing) that are to be downgraded to health centres, and even the young can see that they are not getting the help they need when they fall ill.I had an A-level student waiting to find out whether he had cancer last year - he had appointments cancelled, scans postponed, it was beyond the ridiculous - he is doing ok now after he eventually got treatment, but.......Keith, we paid tuition fees in the '80s well before Blair came in. But they were under a 1,000 quid a year, in fact, closer to the 500 mark and, hence, much more affordable even if you consider inflation. In addition, there were grants available rather than loans with interest rates that make your eyes water considering the rate set by the BOE.Oh, and Labour lost by only 2.4% - which is not reflected in the number of seats they got...

Urs Esser ● 3426d

There was the bus with £350 million a week on it run by the Leave campaign - which is probably the link meant

Sara Nathan ● 3426d

Hi Urs, some promises yet to be fulfilled of course the outcome should be interesting, my friend was receiving treatment for cancer and they seem to choose who gets the best treatment, she was fortunate and got the treatment, unfortunately she lost the fight but its worrying they cannot treat everyone.  As for education it might land you a good job but doesn't guarantee you can do it, think we see evidence of this far to often.

Janice Evans ● 3426d

Yes Urs, I am well aware the Thatcher brought in tuition fees but they were not for all and it  Blair and his ' Education x3' mantra who encouraged kids, many of whom were unsuited to academia, to go to college and uni. and then he rolled the policy out to all, and stopped grants. Even John Major said the Tories would not have dared do what he had done.

Keith Iddon ● 3426d

The use of common sense will always prevail, not to set the goals to high, its impossible to start at the top and do a good job without the experience.Cannot comment on what Tony Blair had done as I don't know but certainly have seen evidence of what you are saying Keith.

Janice Evans ● 3426d

Been rather busy over the last month tilting at political windmills so no had time to enjoy the forum discussions.Thatcher did not introduce tuition fees. They were introduced in 1998 by New Labour. Thatcher's Government replaced student maintenance grants with loans in the 1989.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3420d