ZigZag Politics

One way of telling the political story of the last ten years is of three wasted overall majorities.

A substantive majority in the Commons for a full term is the greatest prize the UK constitution can bestow on a PM, and three times in a row, it has been wasted by those prize-winners.

Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report The conclusions and recommendations of the independent review of the curriculum, assessment and qualifications system in England.

Congratulations to @beckyfrancis.bsky.social and team for producing a curriculum and assessment review that's evolutionary rather than throwing all the achievements of the last few years overboard. Lots of sensible recommendations.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Starmer’s dilemma – Electoral reform or Farage in No.10? Spotify video

Spotify link: open.spotify.com/episode/37ZJ...

This episode is superb as a survey of the pros and cons of electoral reform in the UK and the systems in use.

Loved the quiz question: which Prime Minister won a Commons seat under the single transferable vote system?

Then add in an election in Wales which could see one two party system of a century’s standing (Lab vs Con) replaced with another (PC vs Ref) & Scottish Parl election which could see extinction of Scot Cons & rise of a new force on Scottish right - Reform - it’s a hugely consequential day everywhere

Could be four or more different two party systems by next GE in England plus different jams in Scotland and Wales:

LD vs Ref - S Eng excl London
Lab vs Ref - North & Midlands towns
Con vs Ref - East coast, East Anglia
Lab vs Grn - most of London, other big cities, uni towns

Imagine going back and telling the Aug 2024 Tories "In 14 months you'll be level with Labour"

Or the 2019 Tories "In 2025, Labour will be polling 17%"

Then showing them this.

Another way to frame this is that the poor vote for 'populists'.

Counterpoint:

Interesting thoughts on codified constitutions:

This is great on Labour's mispositioning and who their support base really is. Deeply rooted in our deep-seated views that mingle social and economic class, and assumptions about what kind of voter supports which party.

Otherwise, I can't see how a Tory leader would let in a such a strong competitor.

And contrary to some doomsayers, I don't think that Reform can get above their ~30% ceiling on their own without taking out the Conservatives and absorbing their establishment vote share.

Interestingly, this scenario actually reveals to me the mechanism where Farage could become leader of the Conservatives, and route to PM. If they had a real flood of defections (to Reform and/or the LDs), that's a scenario where Conservatives could merge with Reform in order to form the opposition.

"The Opposition, formally known as HM Official Opposition, refers to the largest political party in the House of Commons that is not in government. The leader of this party takes the title Leader of the Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of the Government. More generally, any party that is not a part of the government is described as an opposition party."

According to Parliament's own website, yes. www.parliament.uk/site-informa...

The interesting Q re: Polanski taking over the Greens is whether they can keep their strategic ambiguity that has allowed them to win in both progressive and nimby/Tory/conservationist areas.

Green Party of England & Wales Leadership Election Result:

Zack Polanski: 84.6% ✅
E. Chowns & A. Ramsay: 15.4%

Turnout: 24,265 (37.6%)

👀👀👀

My great great niece studied A Level Politics and after her gap year is to study Politics at University. She'll learn much more than I'll ever know!

Best A Level choice! ❤️

The twins both want to do politics A-level. I'm so happy.

In Parliament last week I hosted two very different groups! I welcomed Stroud GPs for a roundtable on GP training, and students from Thomas Keble for a tour. Both were excited to watch debates from the galleries — always a privilege to share how the legislative process works.

... nor the ability of the governing party to oust its leader

"anarcho-communist? oh, no, you misheard me.
I'm an arachno-communist. I believe we shouldn't have private property, and also the only legitimate form of government is THE SPIDER"

Without the urgency of political crisis...

Welcome back to the June 2019 European elections

It's like the electorate of a proportional system trying to dig its way out

Greywashing?

🚨 NEW 🚨 Updated list of all the UK MPs on Bluesky 👇

Labour – 248
Liberal Democrats – 40
Conservative – 4
Green – 4
Independent – 3
SNP – 2
Alliance, Plaid Cymru, SDLP – 1 each

And Commons Speaker @commonsspeaker.parliament.uk

Just updated the starter pack with @sarrajenkins.bsky.social and @politicsastar.bsky.social

Teachers and professors of politics, journalists and pundits for A Level Politics

Let me know if there's anyone missing or if you'd like to be added!
go.bsky.app/UH3ZB49

Added @stephenclark.bsky.social