Julie Cooper MP to stand down .... ?

[NottsClaret]

The DUP say different, they despise him.

A good indicator you're on the right track.

[martin_p]

The DUP say different, they despise him.

Ever heard the phrase ‘my enemy’s enemies are my friends’?

[tiger76]

They’ve refused to do a manifesto. Even the Monster Raving Looney Party used to produce a manifesto.

Well yeah but to produce a manifesto you have to have policies.

[Clarets4me]

They’ve refused to do a manifesto. Even the Monster Raving Looney Party used to produce a manifesto.

Indeed they did .... In the 1960's, their manifesto included proposals to ..

Reduce the voting age from 21 to 18
Introduce passports for pets
Pedestrianize Carnaby Street in London
Legalize 24 hour drinking
Stop the ban on Commercial Radio
Abolish dog licenses
Get rid of the 11+ examination

Hmm !

[ClaretMoffitt]

So what are you voting for exactly?

I'll give you 3 guesses,

big clue, the names in the title.

[Lowbankclaret]

Is this not the NHS policy?

Not that I have seen.

Photo shop is great these days.

[Devils_Advocate]

Not that I have seen.

Photo shop is great these days.

[martin_p]

I'll give you 3 guesses,

big clue, the names in the title.

But they can’t deliver Brexit. The Tories can.

[aggi]

Not that I have seen.

Photo shop is great these days.

It's even more impressive the way they controlled his mind to make him say those words

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -companies" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[The Sofa Shifter]

Knock knock..... hi, I’m from the Brexit party. You know that when we said leaving Europe would give £350m a week to the NHS, well how would you like to move to an American style insurance system instead, probably run by the US after we sell the whole lot to them.... our other policies? sorry all I have for you is leave Europe and a removal of the free health service, but please vote for us.

I’d probably save the wear and tear on the soles of your shoes.

Has Nige refunded those candidates no longer running yet? It’s quite amusing to see people who imagined their money was being stolen by imaginary unelected politicians, actually having their money stolen by a real life unelected politician.

[AndyClaret]

It's even more impressive the way they controlled his mind to make him say those words

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... -companies" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The left often tell us that it's pointless having a mind if you never change it, that is unless you are on the right, then they will find 5 year old quotes and nail you for it.

[ClaretMoffitt]

But they can’t deliver Brexit. The Tories can.

Tories won't win in burnley, brexit party can

[martin_p]

The left often tell us that it's pointless having a mind if you never change it, that is unless you are on the right, then they will find 5 year old quotes and nail you for it.

This might hold some weight if you hadn’t spent the last couple of days scouring the internet for stories about questionable comments Labour candidates have made in the past. As it is it makes you look a bit of a hypocrite.

[AndyClaret]

This might hold some weight if you hadn’t spent the last couple of days scouring the internet for stories about questionable comments Labour candidates have made in the past. As it is it makes you look a bit of a hypocrite.

I don't "scour the internet", i pass on information gathered by journalists.

[martin_p]

Tories won't win in burnley, brexit party can

If the Brexit Party win Burnley and Brexit happens in January you’ll have a Tory MP in the next 12 months anyway. Nigel will fold the Brexit Party, it’s reason for existing having vanished (and him having proved beyond doubt they have no more policies). The BP MEPs will have lost their jobs and any MPs will be left homeless. In that situation joining the Conservative Party will be the logical next step and Burnley will have a Tory MP.

[martin_p]

I don't "scour the internet", i pass on information gathered by journalists.

And how did you find those stories pray tell (noticing you’re trying to deflect from your hypocrisy).

[Lancasterclaret]

I'll give you 3 guesses,

big clue, the names in the title.

I'm just glad I live somewhere where the protest vote is Lib Dem to be perfectly honest!

[Lancasterclaret]

The left often tell us that it's pointless having a mind if you never change it, that is unless you are on the right, then they will find 5 year old quotes and nail you for it.

What evidence is there that he's changed his mind?

[tiger76]

Tories won't win in burnley, brexit party can

I'm genuinely curious what gives you confidence that the BP can win in Burnley,if they are going to come ahead of Labour they'll need to get tories to switch to them,not impossible but this is a GE not a EE,it's much harder for smaller parties to breakthrough under the FPTP system,plus the Conservatives are the closest challengers in this seat,and the obvious alternative to Labour.

What benefits the BP i'll grant you,is the winner in Burnley will have a relatively low %,due to the plethora of candidates standing and the vote splitting,i still wouldn't put money on Burnley electing a BP MP in December though.

[martin_p]

I'm genuinely curious what gives you confidence that the BP can win in Burnley,if they are going to come ahead of Labour they'll need to get tories to switch to them,not impossible but this is a GE not a EE,it's much harder for smaller parties to breakthrough under the FPTP system,plus the Conservatives are the closest challengers in this seat,and the obvious alternative to Labour.

What benefits the BP i'll grant you,is the winner in Burnley will have a relatively low %,due to the plethora of candidates standing and the vote splitting,i still wouldn't put money on Burnley electing a BP MP in December though.

Precisely. Why would the 12,500 that voted Tory at the last election switch to the Brexit Party now that Farage has implicitly endorsed Johnson’s deal? And clearly the 6,000 or so Lib Dem voters won’t be switching. So that leaves the 2,500 UKIP voters which the Brexit Party would expect to pick up most of but then it needs 10,000+ Labour voters to switch to the Brexit Party just to catch the Tories.

[AndyClaret]

What evidence is there that he's changed his mind?

His actual words since then, like the Marr interview a while ago.

[tiger76]

Precisely. Why would the 12,500 that voted Tory at the last election switch to the Brexit Party now that Farage has implicitly endorsed Johnson’s deal? And clearly the 6,000 or so Lib Dem voters won’t be switching. So that leaves the 2,500 UKIP voters which the Brexit Party would expect to pick up most of but then it needs 10,000+ Labour voters to switch to the Brexit Party just to catch the Tories.

The result of the Brexit Party standing in places like Burnley and Hartlepool,will probably be Labour holding seats which could have been lost otherwise,UKIP got nearly 7,000 votes in 2015 at their peak,but this was pre-referendum when the Conservatives weren't a contender,and before the details of brexit were known,if Labour are savvy they'll target those 6,000 Lib Dem voters and play their 2nd referendum card,the danger with that strategy is they push some leave voters towards the Conservatives,but on balance it's worth the gamble.

If the BP poll strongly in Burnley say 20%+,it becomes very difficult for the Conservatives to win,i can't see the Labour total falling below 35%,and the Lib Dems,Charlie Briggs and the Greens will snaffle some votes between them.

There was many areas that UKIP carried handsomely in the 2014 EE,that come a national election in 2015,saw them shredding votes and struggling to reach 20%,the Greens suffered the same problems but targetted their resources better.

It's one thing to cast a protest vote in a EE,under a PR system,it's quite another to replicate that with the government of the country at stake.

[TVC15]

Precisely. Why would the 12,500 that voted Tory at the last election switch to the Brexit Party now that Farage has implicitly endorsed Johnson’s deal? And clearly the 6,000 or so Lib Dem voters won’t be switching. So that leaves the 2,500 UKIP voters which the Brexit Party would expect to pick up most of but then it needs 10,000+ Labour voters to switch to the Brexit Party just to catch the Tories.

Sounds pretty logical but you are missing one key point - this is Burnley....and recent times show some pretty unpredictable results in this area.
There is a proportion of the town who unfortunately will vote for whatever the furthest right option available. At various points in the last 20 years this has been in significant numbers.
These people are just as likely to vote for the Brexit Party as they are the Tory Party - and there is no point trying to work out why as it’s unlikely to be for any strategic reasons or specific policies.

[Clarets4me]

Precisely. Why would the 12,500 that voted Tory at the last election switch to the Brexit Party now that Farage has implicitly endorsed Johnson’s deal? And clearly the 6,000 or so Lib Dem voters won’t be switching. So that leaves the 2,500 UKIP voters which the Brexit Party would expect to pick up most of but then it needs 10,000+ Labour voters to switch to the Brexit Party just to catch the Tories.

Whilst I disagree politically with you, " martin_p ", I agree with your analysis of the Brexit Party's chances ....

I've posted before that for Burnley Labour to drop to it's historically low level of 31.3% ( 2010 ), one in three who voted Labour in 2017, would have to abstain or vote elsewhere. The Conservatives polled 31% in 2017, which was over double their vote over 2015. You have to go back to 1987 to find a higher Tory vote in Burnley,( 33.8% ) and then it was only the 3 major parties standing ....

I suspect that the only slim chance of Mrs Cooper being ousted, is that there is a general feeling that " Let's vote Conservative & just get this bloody Brexit over with " , and then the Country can just get on with things. The Brexit Party will poll higher than UKIP did last time round, and I can see both Charlie Briggs and the Greens gathering between 800 - 1200 votes apiece ....

If I had to put money on it, Labour to win by 1,500 to 2,500 ....

[Clarets4me]

Further to the above, apart from Labour's 1983 debacle, when Peter Pike was first elected with a majority of just 787, the highest Conservative vote share for over 60 years was 35.4% in 1979 ..... their Candidate ? Step forward, the fragrant Anne Widdecombe ......

[Lord Rothbury]

I suspect the only thing that will see Julie Cooper elected is the fact that she will secure the vast majority of the Asian vote. The latest local gov elections would indicate the other wards in the town have had enough of her and the Labour Party.

[aggi]

I suspect the only thing that will see Julie Cooper elected is the fact that she will secure the vast majority of the Asian vote. The latest local gov elections would indicate the other wards in the town have had enough of her and the Labour Party.

It would be pretty impressive if she got in with about 10% of the vote.

[nil_desperandum]

It would be pretty impressive if she got in with about 10% of the vote.

Less than 10%, because a disproportionately high percentage of the Asian population are under 18, and so can't vote.
Additionally, of course, a large number of Asians voted leave because they believe that once outside the EU it will lead to a higher proportion of immigrants being allowed to come into the UK from outside the EU, so they may well be reluctant Labour supporters.

[Lord Rothbury]

It would be pretty impressive if she got in with about 10% of the vote.

Nowhere did I say that the sum total of the Labour vote would come from Stoneyholme,Bank Hall and Queensgate.It does give her a nice start over the other parties however.

[Lancasterclaret]

His actual words since then, like the Marr interview a while ago.

Ah, so you are relying on what he says now?

That would be really silly if he had a track record of lying through his teeth........oh

[AndyClaret]

Ah, so you are relying on what he says now?

That would be really silly if he had a track record of lying through his teeth........oh

You believe him when he says things that suit your agenda.

[Lancasterclaret]

You believe him when he says things that suit your agenda.

And you believe absolutely anything and anybody who wants Brexit.

That isn't even remotely sensible as this election should be about more than Brexit.

[AndyClaret]

And you believe absolutely anything and anybody who wants Brexit.

That isn't even remotely sensible as this election should be about more than Brexit.

The election was called because MP's blocked brexit, like it or not it's going to be about brexit.

[Devils_Advocate]

The election was called because MP's blocked brexit, like it or not it's going to be about brexit.

I thought the MPs supported Johnsons latest Withdrawal agreement and he blocked it and called for an election because he wasnt prepared to give Parliament proper time to review and debate it before passing it into law

[martin_p]

I thought the MPs supported Johnsons latest Withdrawal agreement and he blocked it and called for an election because he wasnt prepared to give Parliament proper time to review and debate it before passing it into law

Stop letting facts get in the way!!

[tiger76]

I thought the MPs supported Johnsons latest Withdrawal agreement and he blocked it and called for an election because he wasnt prepared to give Parliament proper time to review and debate it before passing it into law

OH! you mean parliament doing it's duty in scrutinising legislation,and Johnson throwing his toys out of the pram because he didn't get his own way,yep that sounds accurate.

[AndyClaret]

I thought the MPs supported Johnsons latest Withdrawal agreement and he blocked it and called for an election because he wasnt prepared to give Parliament proper time to review and debate it before passing it into law

By review and debate it i think you mean pass wreaking amendments. Like i said, blocking brexit.

[If it be your will]

Tories won't win in burnley, brexit party can

20/1

Stick your money on!

https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/br ... es/burnley" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lancasterclaret]

He can't even keep a story straight for 48 hours.

Nigel Farage

https://twitter.com/adampayne26/status/ ... 29/photo/3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lancasterclaret]

25 councillors and ex-councillors suspended from the Tory Party for anti-semitism......oh hang on, no, just the simpler crime of blatant racism.

Not seen anything in Andys tweets on that?

Strange that

[tiger76]

25 councillors and ex-councillors suspended from the Tory Party for anti-semitism......oh hang on, no, just the simpler crime of blatant racism.

Not seen anything in Andys tweets on that?

Strange that

I did mention this on the GE thread earlier but it got ignored,it's that both major parties can't deal with anti-semitism and Islamophobia respectively,it's the 21st century FGS not the dark ages.

[aggi]

I did mention this on the GE thread earlier but it got ignored,it's that both major parties can't deal with anti-semitism and Islamophobia respectively,it's the 21st century FGS not the dark ages.

The problem is for a lot of people it's just points scoring rather than an issue they actually care about. So long as you can point at the other party and go "what about ..." you don't have to get your own house in order.

[Lowbankclaret]

Knock knock..... hi, I’m from the Brexit party. You know that when we said leaving Europe would give £350m a week to the NHS, well how would you like to move to an American style insurance system instead, probably run by the US after we sell the whole lot to them.... our other policies? sorry all I have for you is leave Europe and a removal of the free health service, but please vote for us.

I’d probably save the wear and tear on the soles of your shoes.

Has Nige refunded those candidates no longer running yet? It’s quite amusing to see people who imagined their money was being stolen by imaginary unelected politicians, actually having their money stolen by a real life unelected politician.

Many aspects of the NHS are not free any more, prescriptions for example.

Many people pay for dental treatment because you cannot get an NHS dentist, but even if you get one you still pay for treatment. I pay £30 a month for my dental treatment.

If you need to see a specialist you can jump the queue by paying, when I had an issue with my eyes my doctor said I could have an appointment in about 6 months. I agreed to pay and saw the specialise that afternoon.


One point I want to make is, FREE TREATMENT needs to be kept for any citizen that needs it.

But I would be prepared to pay an insurance for my NHS treatment, but I can afford to.