Richmond By-Election

[gthedog]

Zac loses
Limp Dums in
Apparently this is a vote against Brexit in a pro-remain constituency with less than 50% voting for the Lib Dem candidate on a turnout of about 25%
Labour incidentally managed to get less votes than it has members in the constituency. Right on Jezza!

[fivepointer]

Turnout was 53%

LibDems put huge resources in to the contest and successfully made Brexit the deciding factor. The constituency voted heavily for remain so the basis for a LibDem win was there. Its a good result for the remain side.

What its probably done is remove any prospect of a GE next year.

Labour were never going to be a factor such is their muddle over brexit and a very unpopular leader. Pity as they had a very good candidate.

[gthedog]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rn3vuKEgTbs

[Mellsblue]

I thought the Lib Dem candidate/new MP's statement that this is a vote against Conservative Brexit Britain hilarious. Richmond is as much a sign of the country suddenly being anti-Brexit as Oldham West was an endorsement of Corbyn. To be fair, most Lib Dems I've spoken to realise this.

[Digby]

I can't say I especially like the Lib Dems trying to make so much of Bremain. I suppose they'd counter that they weren't the first party to go with what's a rather divisive message on this subject, but still

[BBD]

I thought the Lib Dem candidate/new MP's statement that this is a vote against Conservative Brexit Britain hilarious. Richmond is as much a sign of the country suddenly being anti-Brexit as Oldham West was an endorsement of Corbyn. To be fair, most Lib Dems I've spoken to realise this.

Agreed, it' smacks of desperation, similarly some of the condolences messages about Andrew Sachs referring to him being an immigrant were crass

[Eugene Wrayburn]

the Lib Dems have overturned a 20k majority for a sitting MP. That happens extremely rarely. The obvious explanation is that people were voting against previous party loyalty to support the position of a second referendum. I think it might concentrate a few minds around westminster and worry the hell out of Labour.

[Digby]

the Lib Dems have overturned a 20k majority for a sitting MP. That happens extremely rarely. The obvious explanation is that people were voting against previous party loyalty to support the position of a second referendum. I think it might concentrate a few minds around westminster and worry the hell out of Labour.

Goldsmith I imagine took the seat of a Lib Dem, so previous party loyalty is perhaps on the right of the Lib Dems party.

There can't be that many seats though where the Lib Dems are sat with a chance to make similar progressions and where Remain took so many votes

[fivepointer]

Good insight here http://election-data.co.uk/richmond-park

[Eugene Wrayburn]

the Lib Dems have overturned a 20k majority for a sitting MP. That happens extremely rarely. The obvious explanation is that people were voting against previous party loyalty to support the position of a second referendum. I think it might concentrate a few minds around westminster and worry the hell out of Labour.

Goldsmith I imagine took the seat of a Lib Dem, so previous party loyalty is perhaps on the right of the Lib Dems party.

There can't be that many seats though where the Lib Dems are sat with a chance to make similar progressions and where Remain took so many votes

Even if there are only 50 that's a very significant block.

[Digby]

the Lib Dems have overturned a 20k majority for a sitting MP. That happens extremely rarely. The obvious explanation is that people were voting against previous party loyalty to support the position of a second referendum. I think it might concentrate a few minds around westminster and worry the hell out of Labour.

Goldsmith I imagine took the seat of a Lib Dem, so previous party loyalty is perhaps on the right of the Lib Dems party.

There can't be that many seats though where the Lib Dems are sat with a chance to make similar progressions and where Remain took so many votes

Even if there are only 50 that's a very significant block.

I'll be surprised if it's that many, though I'd like it if there were

[Which Tyler]

For the Lib Dem.s even if it's a dozen then it's a good return

[Eugene Wrayburn]

For the Lib Dem.s even if it's a dozen then it's a good return

It's also the size of the government's majority

[Digby]

Which potentially leaves May hoping UKIP takes seats off Labour, and Farage in a similar position to May as was Paisley to Major. FPP could deliver some very odd returns next time around, though here's hoping it's not a government with 25% or so of the vote.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Which potentially leaves May hoping UKIP takes seats off Labour, and Farage in a similar position to May as was Paisley to Major. FPP could deliver some very odd returns next time around, though here's hoping it's not a government with 25% or so of the vote.

UKIP are definitely going to take votes off Labour and possibly the Tories on its Brexit flank whilst I think the Lib Dems could definitely take votes from Labour and the Tories on the Remain flank. I'm really not sure what the result of that would be as it's a matter of degree of collpase in the Labour vote. The important thing is that suddenly the Lib Dems look like a viable option for anyone looking to move away from Labour because of Corbyn or the Tories because of Brexit and generally being a bunch of useless assholes.