The independent home for discussions on the English Chess scene.
https://www.ecforum.org.uk/
The new parliament will still have to approve the boundary changes - and the DUP genuinely *loathes* the proposed changes in NI.Alex Holowczak wrote:It's not anything like that. It's people who were pro-Brexit voting for the Conservatives instead of UKIP. This area was one of the strongest pro-Brexit areas of the country. I expect that once Brexit is completed, Labour will resume their dominance of these constituencies.Christopher Kreuzer wrote:When you get change like that, is it part of a long-term demographic change, or is it a single-election protest that reverses at the next election? It can be hard to tell. There are boundary changes coming at some point (not sure exactly where), though probably another election before then...
The boundary changes come in next year. The number of MPs will reduce from 650 to 600, and the expectation is that the changes are worth 15-25 seats to the Conservatives. This was another good reason against an election in 2017. It is a good reason for the Conservative-DUP alliance to hang on until next year.
True. And much more as well. A CON-DUP 'confidence and supply' arrangement may not even survive the ridicule of this weekend's Press. It's a political absurdity even if commonsense hasn't already deemed it nonsense-on-stilts. The arrangement means the British Government is dependent on the wit, ethics and judgement of the equivalent of a handful of Fenland farmhands. Beyond absurdMatt Mackenzie wrote:The new parliament will have to approve the boundary changes - and the DUP genuinely *loathes* the(m). One reason why many are speculating they are now dead
Oh - I thought the whole point of the Boundary Commission was that it was independent of Parliamentary approval.Matt Mackenzie wrote:The new parliament will still have to approve the boundary changes
Your disdain for the Irish and East Anglians will no doubt find support in many places, but isn't this just a return to the old, and very longstanding, Conservative & Unionist Party?David Robertson wrote: It's a political absurdity even if commonsense hasn't already deemed it nonsense-on-stilts. The arrangement means the British Government is dependent on the wit, ethics and judgement of the equivalent of a handful of Fenland farmhands. Beyond absurd
Not in the least. The 'official' Unionists were the UUP, generally urban, professional etc. But Paisley's DUP was a radical outflanking of the UUP establishment, drawing on primitive religious tribalism among largely rural voters - backwoodsmen, hillbillies, whatever; hence, my equation with the English Fens (by reputation).NickFaulks wrote:...isn't this just a return to the old, and very longstanding, Conservative & Unionist Party?
I think that says more about how deeply you think than about how deeply he does.David Robertson wrote: And there I was, thinking he was just another thick fascist.
But not good enough despite Sean's win :-Neil Graham wrote:Good news for Leicestershire - Sean Sheahan will be available for the Minor Counties Championship match tomorrow!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/cons ... /E14000858
Yes, I spent a little bit of time thinking 'well that's normal enough' then having to realise which unionist party we're talking about here. Eeek.David Robertson wrote:Not in the least. The 'official' Unionists were the UUP, generally urban, professional etc. But Paisley's DUP was a radical outflanking of the UUP establishment, drawing on primitive religious tribalism among largely rural voters - backwoodsmen, hillbillies, whatever; hence, my equation with the English Fens (by reputation).NickFaulks wrote:...isn't this just a return to the old, and very longstanding, Conservative & Unionist Party?
For avoidance of doubt: I very much like the Irish generally; and adore their writers and poets. I'd probably say the same about East Anglians, but I never come across any!
Third time lucky for the pollsters?Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Apparently the polls show that Labour would win a majority if a new election was called.
A poll showsChristopher Kreuzer wrote:the polls show...