UK General Election 2024

[sor]

He apparently made it at least as far east as Liskeard (doing a photo op at a local internet provider) - want to say a flying visit but I'm not sure how he got there

 

[Thirteen]

I do wonder when is a good time for a MP to retire. As sad as it was to see Dennis Skinner lose his seat in 2019, I do wonder if actually it was the right time to go, he had health problems and I suspect had he hung on, he would have stepped down in this election.

 

[JamesT]

He apparently made it at least as far east as Liskeard (doing a photo op at a local internet provider) - want to say a flying visit but I'm not sure how he got there

There's another thread around his use of the Sleeper last night.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Whatever your politics are, such a result would be a disaster for democracy in the UK. Turning the country into a virtual one party state with no effective opposition is not a good thing.

That's how it works in Scotland and Wales, at least for now.
There seems no way of getting rid of Labour in Cardiff Bay, the ministers just play musical chairs every so often.
The only half-option is Plaid, who are worse (in my opinion), like the SNP having a one-track mind to independence.

 

[takno]

That's how it works in Scotland and Wales, at least for now.
There seems no way of getting rid of Labour in Cardiff Bay, the ministers just play musical chairs every so often.
The only half-option is Plaid, who are worse (in my opinion), like the SNP having a one-track mind to independence.

The SNP government has only just been in power longer than the Tories in the UK, and they've been a minority government for most of that. We'll see what happens at the next election, but I wouldn't say it's that similar to the situation in Wales.

 

[nw1]

Rather a large difference between a majority of 80 odd and a majority of 450 odd.

Arguably very little in practice though. A majority of 80 is enough for the government to win any vote.

Look at the way the Tories have steamrollered their agenda on everyone since Dec 2019, unencumbered by opposition.

The 450 majority is of course silly and unrepresentative, just to make that clear, and shows precisely why FPTP is a ridiculous system. You could say such a result would be karma for the Tories, but I'd prefer to look at the threat of such a result and use it as a reason to reform the voting system.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Labour accused the Stoke on Trent North MP, Jonathan Gullis, of hypocrisy and betraying victims of drugs crimes after a string of photos emerged of him alongside a notorious drugs kingpin.

Former trainee solicitor, Yasser Hussain, was jailed for eight years in 2006 after being found guilty of masterminding a drug gang in Stoke-on-Trent and beyond.

Cops seized 4kg of heroin with an estimated street value of £400,000 – and several others were jailed alongside him.

Detective Inspector Mark Abbotts, who led the investigation, said at the time: "Hussain was the head of a gang involved in the large-scale supply of heroin in Stoke-on-Trent and further afield. It's only fitting that he received this substantial sentence.”
Photos show former teacher Mr Gullis, 34, who was made one of the deputy chairmen of the Tory Party after Lee Anderson defected to Reform earlier this year, celebrating a local council win with Mr Hussein in 2021, and attending events with other locals in the area.

He was also snapped celebrating Mr Gullis' win in 2019 when he was first elected as a Red Wall MP in Stoke.

Mr Gullis previously described drug dealers and those committing anti-social behaviour in his area as "savages", "scroats" and "scumbags" in a video filmed in his constituency.
A Labour source told LBC: “The gross hypocrisy of Sunak’s Party has once again been exposed, this time betraying the victims of these dangerous drug gangs.

“Whilst Labour has pledged to toughen up and extend closure powers for drug dens, Rishi Sunak’s own Deputy Chairman is welcoming a heroin dealer into his inner circle.”

Tory insiders said he’d been invited to various events by local Tories but stressed that he wasn’t a member of the party.

A spokesman for Mr Gullis told LBC: “Jonathan has attended many events with the local Muslim community in Stoke-on-Trent. It was while engaging with the local Muslim population that Jonathan met Mr Hussain.”

LBC has reached out to Mr Hussain for comment.

Tory party Deputy Chairman Jonathan Gullis pictured campaigning with convicted heroin dealer

A Deputy Chairman of the Tory party has been pictured campaigning with a convicted heroin dealer.

www.lbc.co.uk

As if there wasn't a reason to not vote out Gullis, voters in North Stoke & Kidsgrove have been given another reason.

 

[brad465]

I do wonder when is a good time for a MP to retire. As sad as it was to see Dennis Skinner lose his seat in 2019, I do wonder if actually it was the right time to go, he had health problems and I suspect had he hung on, he would have stepped down in this election.

He's reported to gave been suffering dementia in recent years and has been out of public sight since. Had he stayed on I suspect he'd have been forced to resign before this election, so yes he was better off going in 2019.

Elsewhere Starmer now saying Abbott hasn't been barred from standing. Sounds like Labour have got their comms handling all wrong (again), and/or someone on the far left of the party has been deliberately leaking/sowing lies (again). That said, it would have been a miracle for either Labour or any other party to go through a campaign without running into trouble, they just need to learn from it.

 

[birchesgreen]

He's reported to gave been suffering dementia in recent years and has been out of public sight since. Had he stayed on I suspect he'd have been forced to resign before this election, so yes he was better off going in 2019.

Elsewhere Starmer now saying Abbott hasn't been barred from standing. Sounds like Labour have got their comms handling all wrong (again), and/or someone on the far left of the party has been deliberately leaking/sowing lies (again). That said, it would have been a miracle for either Labour or any other party to go through a campaign without running into trouble, they just need to learn from it.

Labour's troubles have been so far nothing compared to the Tories.

Today's shame is the Deputy chairman who was out campaigning with a convicted heroin dealer.

 

[sor]

There's another thread around his use of the Sleeper last night.

my post isn't about the sleeper, it's about how fast he's moving around the country (now somewhere in Devon). I can't imagine he's doing a lot of actual campaigning at this speed.

 

[TheSmiths82]

Not sure if this will do any damage to the Torie's in Stoke but hanging around with a convicted drug dealer is not a good look. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/jonathan-gullis-pictured-on-campaign-trail-convicted-heroin-dealer/

 

[SuspectUsual]

Today's shame is the Deputy chairman who was out campaigning with a convicted heroin dealer.

Nice! Is there a link to the details please?

 

[Darandio]

Nice! Is there a link to the details please?

The post right above yours. ^^

 

[SuspectUsual]

The post right above yours. ^^

Ah right. Sorry. I blame being stood up in the vestibule of a boiling hot Northern rattler for my inability to read

So. Gullis. How on earth did we get to the stage where people like him are MPs?

 

[AlterEgo]

Rather a large difference between a majority of 80 odd and a majority of 450 odd.

There isn’t, really. There aren’t too many important issues where 80 people could rebel in any party and defeat the government.

 

[jfollows]

There isn’t, really. There aren’t too many important issues where 80 people could rebel in any party and defeat the government.

41 rebels only required with a majority of 80, surely?

 

[WesternLancer]

41 rebels only required with a majority of 80, surely?

But if it’s for a left wing rebellion say it needs the tories to whip in support of the same left wing cause to defeat the govt. that’s not so likely.

 

[Busaholic]

Don't worry pensioners - the Tories think your vote is worth £14.60 a year. You aren't going to fall for that are you?

Triple lock plus would only save many OAPs £14.60 a year by 2028, analysis shows

Rishi Sunak outlined plans to increase the tax-free allowance for pensioners in line with the existing 'triple lock' to ensure it rises each year

inews.co.uk

Three polls released that were taken over the weekend. The one with the largest sample showed that, for the first time, each age category put Labour over Tory, so a good proportion of my fellow geriatrics have still got a working brain.

 

[3141]

I do wonder when is a good time for a MP to retire. As sad as it was to see Dennis Skinner lose his seat in 2019, I do wonder if actually it was the right time to go, he had health problems and I suspect had he hung on, he would have stepped down in this election.

Enoch Powell said "All political careers end in failure", so before that is a good time to retire. But nobody wants to recognise that it may be just round the next corner.

 

[birchesgreen]

I was giving this National Service policy some thought (well someone has to, not sure the Tory party has). There are over 700,000 18 year olds in the UK at the moment. So, an organisation is going to have to be set up to organise, monitor, keep safe and care for over 700,000 people - every year. I don't know about you but that does seem non-trivial.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I was giving this National Service policy some thought (well someone has to, not sure the Tory party has). There are over 700,000 18 year olds in the UK at the moment. So, an organisation is going to have to be set up to organise, monitor, keep safe and care for over 700,000 people - every year. I don't know about you but that does seem non-trivial.

Introducing Mone Monitoring Ltd

 

[birchesgreen]

Introducing Mone Monitoring Ltd

How cynical you are to even contemplate that Tories and their donors will be cashing in over this.

 

[HSTEd]

Do we know when manifestos are likely to be out?

 

[SuspectUsual]

How cynical you are to even contemplate that Tories and their donors will be cashing in over this.

Guilty m’lud

 

[Gloster]

Do we know when manifestos are likely to be out?

I don’t think that there is a fixed date or point in the process, but probably in the next week.

 

[Magdalia]

I don’t think that there is a fixed date or point in the process, but probably in the next week.

I think that the week after is more likely.

Next week the priority for party organisations will be the slate of candidates with nominations required by 7 June.

 

[baza585]

Don't worry pensioners - the Tories think your vote is worth £14.60 a year. You aren't going to fall for that are you?

Triple lock plus would only save many OAPs £14.60 a year by 2028, analysis shows

Rishi Sunak outlined plans to increase the tax-free allowance for pensioners in line with the existing 'triple lock' to ensure it rises each year

inews.co.uk

Given the admin cost of collecting very small amounts of tax from millions of pensioners, in my view it's one of their more sensible policies.

I don't think many pensioners will be fooled.

 

[Snow1964]

More MPs have decided to stand down, and not stand in the General Election.
List is now 130 long.
Record was 2010 when 149 didn't stand again.

Conservative (77)

– Adam Afriyie, Windsor (MP since 2005; majority 20,079)
– Nickie Aiken, Cities of London & Westminster (MP since 2019; majority 3,953)
– Stuart Andrew, Pudsey (MP since 2010; majority 3,517)
– Richard Bacon, South Norfolk (MP since 2001; majority 21,275)
– John Baron, Basildon & Billericay (MP since 2001; majority 20,412)
– Sir Paul Beresford, Mole Valley (MP since 1997; majority 12,041)
– Sir Graham Brady, Altrincham & Sale West (MP since 1997; majority 6,139)
– Steve Brine, Winchester (MP since 2010; majority 985)
– Lisa Cameron, East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow (elected as SNP MP in 2015; majority 13,322; defected to Conservatives in 2023)
– Andy Carter, Warrington South (MP since 2019; majority 2,010)
– Sir Bill Cash, Stone (previously MP for Stafford 1984-97, then Stone since 1997; majority 19,945)
– Jo Churchill, Bury St Edmunds (MP since 2015; majority 24,988)
– Greg Clark, Tunbridge Wells (MP since 2005; majority 14,645)
– Chris Clarkson, Heywood & Middleton (MP since 2019; majority 663)
– Dame Tracey Crouch, Chatham & Aylesford (MP since 2010; majority 18,540)
– Dehenna Davison, Bishop Auckland (MP since 2019; majority 7,962)
– Jonathan Djanogly, Huntingdon (MP since 2001; majority 19,383)
– Sir James Duddridge, Rochford & Southend East (MP since 2005; majority 12,286)
– Philip Dunne, Ludlow (MP since 2005; majority 23,648)
– Sir Michael Ellis, Northampton North (MP since 2010; majority 5,507)
– George Eustice, Camborne & Redruth (MP since 2010; majority 8,700)
– Sir David Evennett, Bexleyheath & Crayford (MP since 2005; majority 13,103)
– Mike Freer, Finchley & Golders Green (MP since 2010; majority 6,562)
– Nick Gibb, Bognor Regis & Littlehampton (MP since 1997; majority 22,503)
– Jo Gideon, Stoke-on-Trent Central (MP since 2019; majority 670)
– Sir Robert Goodwill, Scarborough & Whitby (MP since 2005; majority 10,270)
– Michael Gove, Surrey Heath (MP since 2005; majority 18,349)
– Chris Grayling, Epsom & Ewell (MP since 2001; majority 17,873)
– James Grundy, Leigh (MP since 2019; majority 1,965)
– Robert Halfon, Harlow (MP since 2010; majority 14,063)
– Stephen Hammond, Wimbledon (MP since 2005; majority 628)
– Matt Hancock, West Suffolk (MP since 2010; majority 23,194)
– Trudy Harrison, Copeland (MP since 2017; majority 5,842)
– Sir Oliver Heald, North East Hertfordshire (MP since 1992; majority 18,189)
– James Heappey, Wells (MP since 2015; majority 9,991)
– Chris Heaton-Harris, Daventry (MP since 2010; majority 26,080)
– Gordon Henderson, Sittingbourne & Sheppey (MP since 2010; majority 24,479)
– John Howell, Henley (MP since 2008; majority 14,053)
– Alister Jack, Dumfries & Galloway (MP since 2017; majority 1,805)
– Sir Sajid Javid, Bromsgrove (MP since 2010; majority 23,106)
– David Jones, Clwyd West (MP since 2005; majority 6,747)
– Sir Greg Knight, East Yorkshire (previously MP for Derby North 1983-97, then East Yorkshire since 2001; majority 22,787)
– Kwasi Kwarteng, Spelthorne (MP since 2010; majority 18,393)
– Dame Eleanor Laing, Epping Forest (MP since 1997; majority 22,173)
– Pauline Latham, Mid Derbyshire (MP since 2010; majority 15,385)
– Dame Andrea Leadsom, South Northamptonshire (MP since 2010, majority 27,761)
– Sir Brandon Lewis, Great Yarmouth (MP since 2010; majority 17,663)
– Tim Loughton, East Worthing & Shoreham (MP since 1997; majority 7,474)
– Craig Mackinlay, South Thanet (MP since 2015; majority 10,587)
– Theresa May, Maidenhead (MP since 1997; majority 18,846)
– Stephen McPartland, Stevenage (MP since 2010; majority 8,562)
– Huw Merriman, Bexhill & Battle (MP since 2015; majority 26,059)
– Kieran Mullan, Crewe & Nantwich (MP since 2019; majority 8,508)
– Sir Bob Neill, Bromley & Chislehurst (MP since 2006; majority 10,891)
– Matthew Offord, Hendon (MP since 2010; majority 4,230)
– Mark Pawsey, Rugby (MP since 2010; majority 13,447)
– Sir Mike Penning, Hemel Hempstead (MP since 2005; majority 14,563)
– Andrew Percy, Brigg & Goole (MP since 2010; majority 21,941)
– Will Quince, Colchester (MP since 2015; majority 9,423)
– Dominic Raab, Esher & Walton (MP since 2010; majority 2,743)
– Sir John Redwood, Wokingham (MP since 1987; majority 7,383)
– Nicola Richards, West Bromwich East (MP since 2019; majority 1,593)
– Douglas Ross, Moray (MP since 2017; majority 513)
– Paul Scully, Sutton & Cheam (MP since 2015; majority 8,351)
– Sir Alok Sharma, Reading West (MP since 2010; majority 4,117)
– Chloe Smith, Norwich North (MP since 2009; majority 4,738)
– Henry Smith, Crawley (MP since 2010; majority 8,360)
– Royston Smith, Southampton Itchen (MP since 2015; majority 4,498)
– Bob Stewart, Beckenham (MP since 2010; majority 14,258)
– Sir Gary Streeter, Devon South West (previously MP for Plymouth Sutton 1992-97, then Devon South West since 1997; majority 21,430)
– Edward Timpson, Eddisbury (previously MP for Crewe & Nantwich 2008-2017, then Eddisbury since 2019; majority 18,443)
– Sir Charles Walker, Broxbourne (MP since 2005; majority 19,807)
– Robin Walker, Worcester (MP since 2010; majority 6,758)
– Ben Wallace, Wyre & Preston North (previously MP for Lancaster & Wyre 2005-10, then Wyre & Preston North since 2010; majority 16,781)
– Jamie Wallis, Bridgend (MP since 2019; majority 1,157)
– Craig Whittaker, Calder Valley (MP since 2010; majority 5,774)
– Nadhim Zahawi, Stratford-on-Avon (MP since 2010; majority 19,972)

Labour (30)

Dame Margaret Beckett, Derby South (previously MP for Lincoln 1974-79, then Derby South since 1983; majority 6,019)
Paul Blomfield, Sheffield Central (MP since 2010; majority 27,273)
Sir Ben Bradshaw, Exeter (MP since 1997; majority 10,403)
Kevin Brennan, Cardiff West (MP since 2001; majority 10,986)
Lyn Brown, West Ham (MP since 2005; majority 32,388)
Karen Buck, Westminster North (previously MP for Regent’s Park & Kensington North 1997-2010, then Westminster North since 2010; majority 10,759)
Jon Cruddas, Dagenham & Rainham (previously MP for Dagenham 2001-10, then Dagenham & Rainham since 2010; majority 293)
John Cryer, Leyton & Wanstead (previously MP for Hornchurch 1997-2005, then Leyton & Wanstead since 2010; majority 20,808)
Alex Cunningham, Stockton North (MP since 2010; majority 1,027)
Wayne David, Caerphilly (MP since 2001; majority 6,833)
Julie Elliott, Sunderland Central (MP since 2010; majority 2,964)
Natalie Elphicke, Dover (elected as Conservative MP in 2019; majority 12,278; defected to Labour in 2024)
Colleen Fletcher, Coventry North East (MP since 2015; majority 7,692)
Yvonne Fovargue, Makerfield (MP since 2010; majority 4,740)
Margaret Greenwood, Wirral West (MP since 2015; majority 3,003)
Harriet Harman, Camberwell & Peckham (previously MP for Peckham 1982-97, then Camberwell & Peckham since 1997; majority 33,780)
Dame Margaret Hodge, Barking (MP since 1994; majority 15,427)
Sir George Howarth, Knowsley (previously MP for Knowsley North 1986-97, then Knowsley North & Sefton East 1997-2010, then Knowsley since 2010; majority 39,942)
Kevan Jones, North Durham (MP since 2001; majority 4,742)
Barbara Keeley, Worsley & Eccles South (previously MP for Worsley 2005-10, then Worsley & Eccles South since 2010; majority 3,219)
Holly Lynch, Halifax (MP since 2015; majority 2,569)
Steve McCabe, Birmingham Selly Oak (MP since 2010; majority 12,414)
Ian Mearns, Gateshead (MP since 2010; majority 7,200)
Dan Poulter, Central Suffolk & North Ipswich (elected as Conservative MP in 2010; majority 23,391; defected to Labour in 2024)
Christina Rees, Neath (MP since 2015; majority 5,637)
Virendra Sharma, Ealing Southall (MP since 2007; majority 16,084)
Barry Sheerman, Huddersfield (previously MP for Huddersfield East 1979-83, then Huddersfield since 1983; majority 9,437)
John Spellar, Warley (previously MP for Warley West 1992-97, then Warley since 1997; majority 11,511)
Alan Whitehead, Southampton Test (MP since 1997; majority 6,213)
Dame Rosie Winterton, Doncaster Central (MP since 1997; majority 2,278)

SNP (9)

Mhairi Black, Paisley & Renfrewshire South (MP since 2015; majority 10,679)
Ian Blackford, Ross, Skye & Lochaber (MP since 2015; majority 9,443)
Douglas Chapman, Dunfermline & West Fife (MP since 2015; majority 10,699)
Angela Crawley, Lanark & Hamilton East (MP since 2015; majority 5,187)
Patrick Grady, Glasgow North (MP since 2015; majority 5,601)
Peter Grant, Glenrothes (MP since 2015; majority 11,757)
Stewart Hosie, Dundee East (MP since 2005; majority 13,375)
John McNally, Falkirk (MP since 2015; majority 14,948)
Philippa Whitford, Central Ayrshire (MP since 2015; majority 5,304)

Others (15)

Sinn Fein (3)
Mickey Brady, Newry & Armagh (MP since 2015; majority 9,287)
Michelle Gildernew, Fermanagh & South Tyrone (MP for seat from 2001-2015 and since 2017; majority 57)
Francie Molloy, Mid Ulster (MP since 2013; majority 9,537)
Green (1)
Caroline Lucas, Brighton Pavilion (MP since 2010; majority 19,940)
Plaid Cymru (1)
Hywel Williams, Arfon (previously MP for Caernarfon 2001-10, then Arfon since 2010; majority 2,781)
non party (10)
Lucy Allan, Telford (MP since 2015; formerly Conservative; majority 10,941)
Crispin Blunt, Reigate (MP since 1997; formerly Conservative; majority 18,310)
Nick Brown, Newcastle upon Tyne East (MP since 1983; formerly Labour; majority 15,463)
Geraint Davies, Swansea West (previously MP for Croydon Central 1997-2005, then Swansea West since 2010; formerly Labour; 2019 majority 8,116)
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Lagan Valley (MP since 1997; formerly DUP; 2019 majority 6,499)
Jonathan Edwards, Carmarthen East & Dinefwr (MP since 2010; formerly Plaid Cymru; 2019 majority 1,809)
Julian Knight, Solihull (MP since 2015; formerly Conservative; majority 21,273)
Conor McGinn, St Helens North (MP since 2015; formerly Labour; majority 12,209)
Mark Menzies, Fylde (MP since 2010; formerly Conservative; majority 16,611)
William Wragg, Hazel Grove (MP since 2015; formerly Conservative; majority 4,423)

 

[Thirteen]

No Lib Dems standing down is a surprise but I guess there are so few of them that standing down wouldn't make sense.

Most of the MPs standing down are either young enough to pursue other careers or old enough to retire.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

More MPs have decided to stand down, and not stand in the General Election.
List is now 130 long.
Record was 2010 when 149 didn't stand again.

Conservative (77)


Labour (30)


SNP (9)


Others (15)

More MPs have decided to stand down, and not stand in the General Election.
List is now 130 long.
Record was 2010 when 149 didn't stand again.

Conservative (77)

Stash of Brexiteers in that lot who now want nothing to do with the mess they've created. Thanks