8491/21410
Today's by election result makes me hopeful that the 75% of the UK that isn't insane/racist and is regretting Brexit will do all they can to keep Reform out.
I hope also we might finally get some electoral reform (not elected Reform) to reflect the fact that we haven't had a two-party system since the 19th Century. If 25% of people want to vote for Reform then they should get representation in parliament, but it will also mean a party that is supported by 30% of the populace can not get a massive majority in parliament.
The amazing news that is slightly lost within all the other stuff going on is that the Tories had their worst by election result of all time, lost their deposit and only got 547 more votes than the Monster Raving Loony Party.
As predicted before the last general election the destruction of the Conservative party isn't necessarily cause for celebration, given the party that is taking their place, but I am hopeful that politics can move into the 21st Century and be more fit for purpose.
Will Keir Starmer finally realise the absolutely bleeding obvious that trying to copy Reform policies only legitimises Reform's policies and none of their voters are going to shift to Labour? Or will he conclude that he needs to be more Reform than he's been already? Or more Green? Or both? That would be interesting to see!
I didn't have high hopes for Starmer, but I thought that having a grown up at the helm might make things a bit better. He couldn't be worse than what came before. It was a very low bar and the bar is really wobbling from Starmer's attempt to get over it. And he stepped backwards when he nudged it so he isn't even over it yet.
Will this electoral set back make him realise he's been doing entirely the wrong thing and is currently on course to be one of those nameless, faceless blokes in history whose weakness, self-interest or stupidity led to the rise of some awful dictator and madman? I would have thought that is the worst fate for any politician. To be half-remembered as a grey figure whose name you have to look up and then immediately forget, but you know fucked everything up. At least Liz Truss and Boris Johnson can claim they were characters.
It'll be interesting to look back on all this from the distance of 2050 (we're closer to that year than the year 2000), if any of us make it that far.
I am doubtful I can make it that far, so if time travel has been invented could one of you come back and let me know what happened? I promise not to tell anyone. Also wouldn't hurt to have all the lottery results for the next 24 years too. Also tell me how I die so I can avoid dying and still be alive so you don't need to come back.
