Graham Evans

Which one is more English?

There's a good exhibition at the National Army Museum in Chelsea about the "forgotten" armies that served in Burma. The exhibition focuses on the remarkable mix of British, Indian, Burmese and African troops who served there.

Given the collapse in support for the Danish Social Democrats according to the latest opinion polls, I wonder if Starmer’s behind the curve on this issue.

This is a Brexit benefit - to asylum seekers if not to the UK govt..

The latest opinion polls suggest this strategy is coming unstuck, as the Social Democrats lose support and the Socialists gain support. The Liberal Alliance (libertarian) is also on the up.

Denmark’s migration policy – an example to follow? - UK in a changing Europe Kristina Bakkær Simonsen explains why countries feel they have something to learn from Denmark's strict migration policy, but argues that there are many key pitfalls.

'drawing lessons should be done with caution and involves pitfalls for British politicians'. We hear a lot about how the Social Democrats succeeded on immigration in Denmark?
But is it a model we should emulate? @kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social explains. ukandeu.ac.uk/denmarks-mig...

The big losers were Venstre, economically centre right, socially moderately conservative, losing 10pp. The big winners were the Liberal Alliance (libertarian) up 5.7pp, and the Moderates, a new centrist party that scored 9.3%. 2/

Let's get the so-called success of the Danish Social Democtrats into perspective.Their vote in 2022 was 27.5%, so they only put on 1.9pp compared to the previous election. Populist, anti-immigration parties between them also put on 1.9pp. 1/

We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott

🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts

Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott

www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...

Something for BBC shitweasel Mason to write about. No? Is not Fagash? I thought so.

Nigel Farage used to believe in reforming the voting system, now he's rowed back because it no longer benefits him.

We will keep fighting for a fair votes, not because it benefits us but because it's right for the country.

In terms of proportionality the Dáil can be considered "Moderately High", the Scottish Parliament "High", and the London Assembly "Very High". 3/

Moreover for STV to be a reasonable proxy for PR you need constituencies returning at least 5 members, whereas in the RoI there are 13 3-member constituencies, 15 4-member and 15 5-member. 2/

I think the RoI is a poor model for what might happen in the UK with STV, because for decades the two main parties, FF and FG, were distinguished not by economics, but on historic differences surrounding the establishment of the RoI. 1/

Nevertheless, in West Germany the AfD still polls in the mid to high teens depending on the state. 2/

After unification East Germans spread their votes among the reformed SED party, the NPD (now banned), the SPD and the CDU. The culture had little to do with the Stasis, but rather the big state concept of govt, with a significant degree of ethnonationalism thrown in. 1/

You talked about Dublin, so I presume you were talking about the RoI. SF has 39 seats in the Dáil, making it the second largest party. They are kept out govt by the FF/FG coalition, so I suspect they mop up most of the protest votes, leaving little room for a Reform type party, even with STV.

It's very seldom a party can will an overall majority with STV, no matter how broad its support. STV promotes coalition govt, sometimes good, sometimes not so good as the Finish example demonstrates.

That probably suits Reform. PC will then be blamed for tough decisions voters don't like. /2

Scotland doesn't use STV for its parliamentary elections. It uses FPTP for single member constituencies with a regional list system as a top up. It only uses STV for local elections.

However next May Wales will use a regional STV system. This will probably result in a PC/Lab coalition. /1

I know nothing about the Irish Reform/AfD but I suspect that SF currently occupies the position of "outsider" in Irish politics, particularly given the coalition of FF and FG. Farage is a charismatic leader in his own right; without him Reform would be far less of a threat to the Lab/Con.

Thanks

Thanks

THE Tories are down to their core vote, and Reform are riding high based on vibes. STV wouldn't change that. Moreover in the RoI the parties play the system by not putting up a full slate of candidates in every constituency, so the party gets to choose successful candidates, not the voters.

What council was that?

The AfD in Germany was only kept out of govt by parties with 29% and 16% of the vote forming an unhappy coalition, so some in the CDU/CSU are now talking of working with the AfD. PR has many benefits, but thinking it will keep Reform out of govt is a delusion. Reform+Con = 43%-49%.

Polanski's support for breaking up the United Kingdom represents a distinct policy change from the stance of the Green Party (E&W). Previously it was neutral on the issue, saying it was matter for the Scottish people. If Scexit happens, like Brexit, it will be the result of vibes, not logic.

If Chris Mason thinks he's being manipulated by his bosses he should say so.

The Tories cut the Police Force by 10,000 officers.
They cut the Criminal Justice System by a massive 25%.
Privatised the Probation Service which was such a disaster that they had to bring it back into public ownership.
Remind me again why this is all Lammy’s fault? #r4today

Reform MPs care so much about the Huntingdon attack that not one of them could be arsed to turn up for the Home Secretary’s statement about the incident yesterday.