When, as is universally expected, Labour tops the poll at the European Elections, then Jeremy Corbyn will have achieved something that none of his three most recent predecessors ever did.
Labour never won the European Elections under Tony Blair, Gordon Brown or Ed Miliband. It last did so in 1994, but before Blair became Leader. And even that was by default. In 1994, the Conservative Party could not have won a raffle.
The Brexit Party is also going to do very well. So is the SNP. The Lib Dems might have a good night. But the Conservatives are going to do very, very badly. And the hilariously misnamed Change UK is going to do nothing at all.
One hopes that Luciana Berger is exactly as proud as she ought to be that her new party has attracted John Major's old Health Secretary, Stephen Dorrell, who says that it represents everything for which he has ever stood.
No Change UK, as it ought more appropriately to be known, is in the position of the Pro-Euro Conservative Party 20 years ago. That was consistently treated by the media as if it were a serious party, and the television talking heads were left dumbfounded by its failure to win a single seat. More recently, the same has been true of UKIP at successive General Elections and at numerous by-elections.
Labour will of course top the poll in the North East, but it has not always won a second seat here. The Brexit Party will come second, but that means only one seat when there are only three to fill. The third seat could be anybody's. Might I give it a go? If someone pledged me the five thousand pound deposit by the middle of this week, then yes. So, almost certainly no, then. But if by some miracle that pledge were to be made, then I would do it.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. It has become a local commonplace that I am on 30-30-30 with Labour and the Conservatives here at North West Durham, so that any one of us could be the First Past the Post. I will stand for this seat, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
Labour will of course top the poll in the North East, but it has not always won a second seat here. The Brexit Party will come second, but that means only one seat when there are only three to fill. The third seat could be anybody's. Might I give it a go? If someone pledged me the five thousand pound deposit by the middle of this week, then yes. So, almost certainly no, then. But if by some miracle that pledge were to be made, then I would do it.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. It has become a local commonplace that I am on 30-30-30 with Labour and the Conservatives here at North West Durham, so that any one of us could be the First Past the Post. I will stand for this seat, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment