Steve P 🔶️
@hammerdoc.bsky.social
Chemicals regulatory professional. Pro-EU. Finally made the leap from the Musk hellhole!
#FBPE
#FBPE
Already addressed the second assertion way upthread. I agree that it's a moot point without prior electoral reform.
December 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Already addressed the second assertion way upthread. I agree that it's a moot point without prior electoral reform.
...in fact, I know a number of ex-Labour members who left because the Labour leadership continues to insist on keeping the ToReFUK red lines.
December 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
...in fact, I know a number of ex-Labour members who left because the Labour leadership continues to insist on keeping the ToReFUK red lines.
That still shows a solid majority in favour of rejoining the EU, which flies in the face of your assertion.
And that's the view of the electorate as a whole. I've yet to find a member of the Labour rank & file who agrees with it...
And that's the view of the electorate as a whole. I've yet to find a member of the Labour rank & file who agrees with it...
December 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
That still shows a solid majority in favour of rejoining the EU, which flies in the face of your assertion.
And that's the view of the electorate as a whole. I've yet to find a member of the Labour rank & file who agrees with it...
And that's the view of the electorate as a whole. I've yet to find a member of the Labour rank & file who agrees with it...
Pink Boxing Gloves
Tate got himself pummelled by some
Pink Boxing Gloves
Pink Boxing Gloves
Tate got himself pummelled by some
Pink Boxing Gloves
Pink Boxing Gloves
December 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Pink Boxing Gloves
Tate got himself pummelled by some
Pink Boxing Gloves
Pink Boxing Gloves
Tate got himself pummelled by some
Pink Boxing Gloves
Pink Boxing Gloves
So did I.
The "People's Vote" would have been a different question because the terms would have been clear. Even so, I don't think there would have been a definitive result either way.
The "People's Vote" would have been a different question because the terms would have been clear. Even so, I don't think there would have been a definitive result either way.
December 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
So did I.
The "People's Vote" would have been a different question because the terms would have been clear. Even so, I don't think there would have been a definitive result either way.
The "People's Vote" would have been a different question because the terms would have been clear. Even so, I don't think there would have been a definitive result either way.
He'll have 2 choices:
Drop McSweeney (and his red lines)
OR
Get out of the way & let someone else do it.
And it's a case of when - not if - he's forced to decide.
Drop McSweeney (and his red lines)
OR
Get out of the way & let someone else do it.
And it's a case of when - not if - he's forced to decide.
December 21, 2025 at 12:35 PM
He'll have 2 choices:
Drop McSweeney (and his red lines)
OR
Get out of the way & let someone else do it.
And it's a case of when - not if - he's forced to decide.
Drop McSweeney (and his red lines)
OR
Get out of the way & let someone else do it.
And it's a case of when - not if - he's forced to decide.
Labour leadership does. The rank & file members don't, and they're getting restless.
December 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Labour leadership does. The rank & file members don't, and they're getting restless.
...in an area with a Labour MP.
December 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
...in an area with a Labour MP.
I'm not entirely convinced by this. Yes, Reform won at lot of seats from Labour at the locals, but it's more down to their success in getting out their vote while Labour voters stayed home.
I saw this on the ground campaigning in Staffordshire (for a Lib Dem who finished second to Reform)...
I saw this on the ground campaigning in Staffordshire (for a Lib Dem who finished second to Reform)...
December 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
I'm not entirely convinced by this. Yes, Reform won at lot of seats from Labour at the locals, but it's more down to their success in getting out their vote while Labour voters stayed home.
I saw this on the ground campaigning in Staffordshire (for a Lib Dem who finished second to Reform)...
I saw this on the ground campaigning in Staffordshire (for a Lib Dem who finished second to Reform)...
Throw in a Labour party leadership that's defying its own membership and things get even worse.
I do, however, have a feeling that electoral reform will be on the agenda at the next GE. We just have to persuade enough people to vote for it...
I do, however, have a feeling that electoral reform will be on the agenda at the next GE. We just have to persuade enough people to vote for it...
December 21, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Throw in a Labour party leadership that's defying its own membership and things get even worse.
I do, however, have a feeling that electoral reform will be on the agenda at the next GE. We just have to persuade enough people to vote for it...
I do, however, have a feeling that electoral reform will be on the agenda at the next GE. We just have to persuade enough people to vote for it...
The problem under FPTP is that many constituencies have a sizeable enough minority to defeat a divided opposition. In the current 5+ Party environment it's woefully inadequate.
December 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
The problem under FPTP is that many constituencies have a sizeable enough minority to defeat a divided opposition. In the current 5+ Party environment it's woefully inadequate.
Oh, we certainly gained Labour votes in those previous Tory seats as you say.
The evidence suggests that Labour aren't losing too many voters to Farage - they're mostly flocking to the Greens & LDs (or "Don't Know").
The evidence suggests that Labour aren't losing too many voters to Farage - they're mostly flocking to the Greens & LDs (or "Don't Know").
December 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Oh, we certainly gained Labour votes in those previous Tory seats as you say.
The evidence suggests that Labour aren't losing too many voters to Farage - they're mostly flocking to the Greens & LDs (or "Don't Know").
The evidence suggests that Labour aren't losing too many voters to Farage - they're mostly flocking to the Greens & LDs (or "Don't Know").
Yes to all of the above. Electoral reform is the necessary first step of many.
December 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Yes to all of the above. Electoral reform is the necessary first step of many.
Yes, because we've still not regained the trust of Labour voters elsewhere after the coalition disaster. However, that is starting to change.
December 21, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Yes, because we've still not regained the trust of Labour voters elsewhere after the coalition disaster. However, that is starting to change.
I think we can agree that Starmer is currently committing electoral suicide with his Brexit red lines. Labour only won in 2024 because the electorate decided they couldn't be any worse than the Tories.
December 21, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I think we can agree that Starmer is currently committing electoral suicide with his Brexit red lines. Labour only won in 2024 because the electorate decided they couldn't be any worse than the Tories.
...all of which would drive positive voter engagement and increase turnout (which was abysmal for EP elections).
December 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
...all of which would drive positive voter engagement and increase turnout (which was abysmal for EP elections).
That's easier said than done under FPTP, where a united minority almost always wins against a split majority.
The UK needs constitutional & electoral reform. We also desperately need to make critical thinking a core component of our educational curriculum...
The UK needs constitutional & electoral reform. We also desperately need to make critical thinking a core component of our educational curriculum...
December 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
That's easier said than done under FPTP, where a united minority almost always wins against a split majority.
The UK needs constitutional & electoral reform. We also desperately need to make critical thinking a core component of our educational curriculum...
The UK needs constitutional & electoral reform. We also desperately need to make critical thinking a core component of our educational curriculum...
I think the Lib Dems finally hit on a strategy to maximise their returns under FPTP. They ruthlessly focused on winnable seats, and minimised campaigning elsewhere.
December 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I think the Lib Dems finally hit on a strategy to maximise their returns under FPTP. They ruthlessly focused on winnable seats, and minimised campaigning elsewhere.
Agreed. Labour could have easily dropped the red lines and still won a comfortable majority.
December 21, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Agreed. Labour could have easily dropped the red lines and still won a comfortable majority.
This just popped up...
bsky.app/profile/reut...
bsky.app/profile/reut...
Swedish customs says it has boarded Russian ship in Swedish waters to conduct inspection reut.rs/4p9AfMe
Swedish customs says it has boarded Russian ship in Swedish waters to conduct inspection
Sweden's customs service said on Sunday that authorities had boarded a Russian freighter that anchored in Swedish waters on Friday after developing engine problems, and was conducting an inspection of the cargo.
reut.rs
December 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
This just popped up...
bsky.app/profile/reut...
bsky.app/profile/reut...
Context matters.
2019 was a Brexit election. The most viable opposition was clearly untrustworthy, leading to a hopelessly split vote in many constituencies.
2024 was all about getting rid of the Tories.
2019 was a Brexit election. The most viable opposition was clearly untrustworthy, leading to a hopelessly split vote in many constituencies.
2024 was all about getting rid of the Tories.
December 21, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Context matters.
2019 was a Brexit election. The most viable opposition was clearly untrustworthy, leading to a hopelessly split vote in many constituencies.
2024 was all about getting rid of the Tories.
2019 was a Brexit election. The most viable opposition was clearly untrustworthy, leading to a hopelessly split vote in many constituencies.
2024 was all about getting rid of the Tories.
I'm not disputing the fact that Brexit was in accordance with the UK's constitutional arrangements. I'm merely pointing out that the electorate didn't choose the Johnson government in 2019. FPTP did.
December 21, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I'm not disputing the fact that Brexit was in accordance with the UK's constitutional arrangements. I'm merely pointing out that the electorate didn't choose the Johnson government in 2019. FPTP did.
Electoral/constitutional reform should be our number 1 priority.
December 21, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Electoral/constitutional reform should be our number 1 priority.
Fully agree. I'm a Lib Dem, but I voted Labour last year to get rid of the Tory. I'm sure plenty of Labour supporters reciprocated in Tory/LD marginals.
It'd be nice to have an electoral system that allowed us to vote *for* something, rather than being forced to go for the "least worst" option.
It'd be nice to have an electoral system that allowed us to vote *for* something, rather than being forced to go for the "least worst" option.
December 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Fully agree. I'm a Lib Dem, but I voted Labour last year to get rid of the Tory. I'm sure plenty of Labour supporters reciprocated in Tory/LD marginals.
It'd be nice to have an electoral system that allowed us to vote *for* something, rather than being forced to go for the "least worst" option.
It'd be nice to have an electoral system that allowed us to vote *for* something, rather than being forced to go for the "least worst" option.
It doesn't explicitly say that, but it's obvious.
If you were the EU, would you put in huge amounts of time & effort bringing the UK back into the fold, knowing that in a couple of years we could end up with Farage as PM with 30% of the vote?
If you were the EU, would you put in huge amounts of time & effort bringing the UK back into the fold, knowing that in a couple of years we could end up with Farage as PM with 30% of the vote?
December 21, 2025 at 9:10 AM
It doesn't explicitly say that, but it's obvious.
If you were the EU, would you put in huge amounts of time & effort bringing the UK back into the fold, knowing that in a couple of years we could end up with Farage as PM with 30% of the vote?
If you were the EU, would you put in huge amounts of time & effort bringing the UK back into the fold, knowing that in a couple of years we could end up with Farage as PM with 30% of the vote?