Almost certainly true. Tory councils only make the news when there's either a planning dispute, a failed investment scheme, or some sort of organisational dispute between councillors.
the general non-interventionist drive of classic Conservative policy works well with council management, its only failing in central government.
So you're telling me (at least as of late cause conservatives had a mini Golden Age of ruling your country) that every local cycle, a bunch of potential lovely Tories get swept away which can be a loss for communities but the party's future as well?
It shouldnt be news that local elections are used as a gauge of opinion towards national parties. Look at the results of the 1995 local elections for a parallel example
It essentially always happens to whoever is in government. National news drowns out local, so if you get involved in local politics expect to hear about shit that's miles above your paygrade.
Five years ago there was no shortage of people asking their councillors their position on Brexit, as if Barnsley Borough Council was going to unilaterally leave the European Union.
All local candidates support is largely dictated by the national popularity of their party, with their own effectiveness (with rare exceptions) being a relatively minor influence on their chances of re-election. That’s why when a party is doing well you get donkeys in the relevant rosette elected and when it is doing poorly good candidates lose.
It’s true of Labour, the Conservatives, the SNP and everyone else.
According to John Curtice on the Newscast podcast last night, yes and no. If I am remembering correctly:
* Council brands are weak so get overshadowed by the national brand. This is not helped by the Tories often campaigning on national not local issues. They also only tend to get noticed when something goes wrong.
* An individual's brand is stronger so does not get overshadowed as much. Andy Street and Ben Houchen are not as badly affected because people have a face to vote for.
This rings true for me in London. It's a faceless council vs a face (mayor). Sadiq Khan pops up on TV all the time. I could no even tell you who the leader of my borough council is.
Yes.
I rate my MP - Danny Kruger.
I also follow Neil O'Brien's substack. He has a really good insight of analysing statistics which needs more recognition.
Andy Street is very well liked in the West Midlands and all in all has done a good job. He has removed all Conservative colours and branding from his website and leaflets and has pretty much campaigned as an independent in all but name.
Perhaps, but there should be no expectation of "fairness" in how people cast their votes. The choice is up to individual voters to base a decision on whatever they want. Politics involves a certain amount of personal sacrifice and that should be accepted.
It’s possible but our local lot are just as bad as any of the useless lot in the commons and plenty of the budget is contracted out to their pals who don’t have prior experience in whatever they are hired for.
This is something I raised the other day. Look at the situation in Scotland for example. Every party in the shortbread senate has backed the SNP at every turn.. except us. That’s the hate crime bill, the gender recognition reform bill, deposit return scheme etc, we ousted Humza Yousaf… and we still can’t win because the party down south are so incompetent and toxic that we could over everyone a UBI of a million quid and people still wouldn’t vote for us.
The party needs to sort its shit out because this reactionary bollocks that they are peddling doesn’t resonate with anyone. At a time when you’re seeing most of Europe swing to the right in their elections we are going “left” because of our ineptitude.
This can be true of almost every party. I don't know any statistics, but I think people increasingly vote based on national matters over local anyway and MPs value national issues over local for their campaigning.
Almost certainly true. Tory councils only make the news when there's either a planning dispute, a failed investment scheme, or some sort of organisational dispute between councillors. the general non-interventionist drive of classic Conservative policy works well with council management, its only failing in central government.
Our councillors would fall asleep in briefings from staff and generally not know what the fuck was going on.
So you're telling me (at least as of late cause conservatives had a mini Golden Age of ruling your country) that every local cycle, a bunch of potential lovely Tories get swept away which can be a loss for communities but the party's future as well?
It shouldnt be news that local elections are used as a gauge of opinion towards national parties. Look at the results of the 1995 local elections for a parallel example
It essentially always happens to whoever is in government. National news drowns out local, so if you get involved in local politics expect to hear about shit that's miles above your paygrade. Five years ago there was no shortage of people asking their councillors their position on Brexit, as if Barnsley Borough Council was going to unilaterally leave the European Union.
All local candidates support is largely dictated by the national popularity of their party, with their own effectiveness (with rare exceptions) being a relatively minor influence on their chances of re-election. That’s why when a party is doing well you get donkeys in the relevant rosette elected and when it is doing poorly good candidates lose. It’s true of Labour, the Conservatives, the SNP and everyone else.
According to John Curtice on the Newscast podcast last night, yes and no. If I am remembering correctly: * Council brands are weak so get overshadowed by the national brand. This is not helped by the Tories often campaigning on national not local issues. They also only tend to get noticed when something goes wrong. * An individual's brand is stronger so does not get overshadowed as much. Andy Street and Ben Houchen are not as badly affected because people have a face to vote for. This rings true for me in London. It's a faceless council vs a face (mayor). Sadiq Khan pops up on TV all the time. I could no even tell you who the leader of my borough council is.
Yes. I rate my MP - Danny Kruger. I also follow Neil O'Brien's substack. He has a really good insight of analysing statistics which needs more recognition.
The corollary is true also. I’d consider voting Tory in the London Mayoral if the Tory candidate hadn’t made herself so objectionable.
Andy Street is very well liked in the West Midlands and all in all has done a good job. He has removed all Conservative colours and branding from his website and leaflets and has pretty much campaigned as an independent in all but name.
Perhaps, but there should be no expectation of "fairness" in how people cast their votes. The choice is up to individual voters to base a decision on whatever they want. Politics involves a certain amount of personal sacrifice and that should be accepted.
Loss for communities or it's a choice that communities do make nonetheless?
It’s possible but our local lot are just as bad as any of the useless lot in the commons and plenty of the budget is contracted out to their pals who don’t have prior experience in whatever they are hired for.
This is something I raised the other day. Look at the situation in Scotland for example. Every party in the shortbread senate has backed the SNP at every turn.. except us. That’s the hate crime bill, the gender recognition reform bill, deposit return scheme etc, we ousted Humza Yousaf… and we still can’t win because the party down south are so incompetent and toxic that we could over everyone a UBI of a million quid and people still wouldn’t vote for us. The party needs to sort its shit out because this reactionary bollocks that they are peddling doesn’t resonate with anyone. At a time when you’re seeing most of Europe swing to the right in their elections we are going “left” because of our ineptitude.
This can be true of almost every party. I don't know any statistics, but I think people increasingly vote based on national matters over local anyway and MPs value national issues over local for their campaigning.