This was a bittersweet election. We rejoice at the fact the Conservatives have been pegged back and the landslide they presumed was theirs by right has been denied them. We are delighted that an alternative to austerity and nearly 40 years of free-market fundamentalism has secured 40% of the vote. We celebrate the exuberance and scale of the youth vote and both feel an incredible duty to repay their faith in us and our colleagues. And we are proud that in some key marginals cooperation not to split the progressive vote resulted in the Tories losing.
But equally we felt a profound sense of frustration and dismay when Tories won by narrow margins in places such as St Ives, Richmond Park and Hastings – it really could have been so different. In seat after seat, progressive votes were wasted, because of our broken electoral system. If every progressive voter had placed their X tactically to defeat the Tories then Jeremy Corbyn would now be prime minister with a majority of over 100.
Electoral alliances, which in this instance saw people across parties cooperate on tickets that included support for proportional representation and the common goal of preventing Conservative candidates winning, were pulled together quickly for the snap election. There wasn’t time to build deep relationships at either the top of the parties or more importantly on the ground. They were not perfect nor, in many instances, were they more than loose arrangements around tactical voting. However, more than 40 local alliances were formed, where almost exclusively Greens put the national interest before their party. It had a huge impact on the vote – more than doubling the average swing away from the Tories.
But just as important as the vote was the cultural effect of people from different parties working together to a common aim. This was about doing politics differently and it’s not just election results that are the measure of success. It’s the numbers of people who knocked on doors for the party most likely to beat the Tories, who came out and got involved in an election campaign for the first time ever, and it’s the sense that politics has become something hopeful and positive again. People in Britain have embraced a more plural and open politics and it’s critical that what happens next continues to build that vision and listen to their voices. To do otherwise would be both a massive disservice to democracy and to misunderstand that the Corbyn effect is just one wave in the tide of change.
less than 25% of uk voted for this commie. he did as badly as Brown, kinnock and foot. he lost by any definition!
Never forget this, the ruler of Britannia is the upper class, period.
The house of Lords.
The city of London.
The royalty.
And the Church, just read what the Archbishop of Canterbury have done of lying to the uISISa to start wars.
When the Bleariest ruled the land.
I simply dont know what Labor we have to day when their track record isnt much to hurray about, not at all.
Anyone whom is and will try to rock the boat will have everything they can muster against them, incl the MSM witch we watch do it to day, where the top of the scam chain does what I can to keep the Sith Lord May/be at the helm to continue their imperialism, rape and plundering other mans land, and whine when the effect of it, aka wars is hitting home, aka Britain.
In some areas, Corbyn is good, others, downright scary.
The Brexit scare mongering is pimped hard this days, even when it in reality didnt make much difference, but still dooms day senarious is the debate level, witch makes it just stupid, I dont even bother to read, when I know its ignorant shitheads whom is only capable to throw ignorant consensuses at each others.
The Blame Game.
I hate that from the bottom of my hart, their best tool, invented to drown any sensible debate in manure, running round in circles, creates nothing, solves nothing, aka nothing happens and the status quo is where They want it.
peace
Yes, first-past-the-post voting is obsolete and protects the establishment.
Just one of many reforms needed is a new ballot with ordered preferences.
You know, David Cameron ruled and made big ugly decisions with the support of only about 35% of the people.
Some democracy.
But it is even worse in the US where it is a bit of a sick joke to speak of democracy.
It is a complete plutocracy which puts on a big circus show every four years and calls it an election.
Money dominates both parties and all major policies.