GE 2024

I’m far from being a Tory, but that’s crap, mate. We do not have a presidential system (thank God - can you imagine President Lettuce Liz?). You do not cast your vote for Sunak, Starmer or any leader (unless you happen to live in their constituency, of course); you cast it for a party in the hope that they will form a government.

When party leader changes mid-stream, I agree that a GE ought to follow on most occasions, though that isn’t the system & both main parties have made the same arguments when changing from Blair to Brown, May to Johnson to Truss to Sunak, or whatever. But in the (incredibly unlikely) scenario set out where a Sunak loses his seat but the Tories win, for once there would not be a lack of mandate.

I’ve booked the following day off. We already have a bottle in the fridge for the fall of Rees-Mogg. Fingers crossed

I’ve not actually checked but I figure the timing of results will be perfect for daytime viewing on Aussietime. I have the 5th off to enjoy the popcorn.

No idea what's going to happen in Bozza. I get the impression that people have gone off the Tory incumbent Mark Fletcher but it's hard to say whether they're going to return to Labour (Natalie Fleet) or swerve to Reform (no idea of the candidate's name and couldn't care less). I've a funny feeling that Labour might have done better with a male candidate. There's still a lot of - how can I put it? - patriarchal ex-mining families round here.
I've had sponsored FB posts pop up on my feed from both Fletcher and Fleet which have mainly had replies saying 'hah! Not voting for you!' but not actually saying who they would vote for. No Reform sponsored post has appeared (SOCIAL MEDIA BIAS!). What did amuse me in the replies - assuming they were from real people and not the FB equivalent of Twitter-bots - was an obsession to 'stop the boats'. In a town 228 miles from Dover. That is 97.4% white (Wiki validation needed).
Priorities...

The Reform candidate for Mansfield is apparently known as Captain Mansfield and he runs a business called Captain Mansfield and the Stars and Stripes Centre.

Anyway, as hilarious as that may be he’s a useful idiot as I think he’ll pull just enough votes away from the Tories for the Steve Yemm to topple Ben Bradley.

Potholes. I forgot to mention potholes. I think Bozzidents rate that as more important than boat-stopping. Thankfully I have yet to see any suggestions of using immigrants to fill the potholes.

Mine just arrived about 1 hour ago, hopefully you have late post today.

To be fair anyone in Bolsover worried about a nautical invasion should be sectioned.

El Capitan has done a lot for charidee and has a decent profile so is a threat.
Quite funny seeing Bradders and Camilleri just negative campaigning, warning people a vote for Reform puts the pesky socialists in who will put up your taxes. No reasons to vote Tory, just reasons not to vote for others
(Bradders did start by going on about his record and political experience and how being county leader is great for Mansfield until people started questioning how loyal he really was given he spent most of this year on the campaign trail trying to be EM mayor, rather than Doing either of his ft jobs).

I've had leaflets from Labour, Reform and the Tories, not that you'd know it was from the Tories as it doesn't mention a party anywhere and the colours are some pinkish type colour.

Anyone else hearing Ric from the Young Ones?

Anyway: postal voting papers arrived just now. Have filled in and sent off.
Can now relax on my flight to Namibia.

They’re running scared. Calimari in particular is showing his true colours ie: piss up your back and tell you it’s raining. Double down on lie after lie.

Oh well, just a few weeks left. The only thing that gives me doubt is Steve Yemm as a candidate. Seems a decent enough sort but all the charisma of a wet napkin and looks like he fell into the used laundry. Bradley has always been good at campaigning round here, is a good talker and he might still limp over the line. I think Yemm takes it, but it’s no done thing. Reform splitting the vote should be enough tho.

No Reform candidate for me, but the “non-political” village forum is full of posts asking for one and then people saying they’re going to write Reform on their ballot paper because “that will show them”. No explanation of who “them” is.
(Village businesswoman took over the forum after her hospitality business got some bad reviews on it. She heavily censors the posts).