The one and only UK 2024 election thread - July 4

[tabascoboy]

We absolutely need lots and lots more housing. I am not sure how anyone could think otherwise.

Wr need more social housing, proper social housing and not just stuff that gets gobbled up by buy to let, institutional investors and money launderers.

Yes indeed affordable, but quality and sustainable housing. Better informed people seem to consider that the quality of modern build housing is amongst the worst in Europe. Cheap build and highest profits win out.

housebuilders don’t have strong incentives to compete on quality and consumers have unclear routes of redress. Analysis also suggests that a growing number of homeowners are reporting a higher number of snagging issues (at least 16). The CMA’s consumer research and other evidence revealed that a substantial minority also experienced particularly serious problems with their new homes, such as collapsing staircases and ceilings.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma- ... ing-market

[I like neeps]

We absolutely need lots and lots more housing. I am not sure how anyone could think otherwise.

Wr need more social housing, proper social housing and not just stuff that gets gobbled up by buy to let, institutional investors and money launderers.

Will this government be brave enough to do that?

No, because that would cost a lot of monies.

If they reformed planning to the point that developers and institutional investors could get developments live quicker. As well as the national grid, power developers etc. That's a good win.

[David in Gwent]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

[petej]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Is this the last last straw. There has been a lot of last straws. Worth remembering that they used nerve agent on uk soil ages ago. Good to know the shit being spread online by putin's trolls/lickspittles.

[Paddington Bear]

Politicians in the outer boroughs don't understand that trying to reduce density on a development will generally mean encroachment on the Green Belt

So many places where the argument is about height when really it makes no difference to the neighbourhood whether a development is 18 stories or 21 high.

Yep. Round me people kick off about tower blocks being built in central Watford. Building hundreds of units in the centre of Watford is good for maintaining my town as it is, and they still oppose it!

To my mind though, if you shortened the planning process and narrowed the grounds for appeal a lot of these complaints would turn into ‘ah well, can’t be helped’ very quickly, and everyone would get on with their lives. I don’t think NIMBYs are the towering political force they are believed to be

John Burn-Murdoch is great on this for the FT. Talks a lot about it. Argues that the housing crisis is primarily caused by a broken planning system. Also the scope for densification of cities

At a time when homelessness and people in temporary accommodation is exploding in this country, it really can't be ignored for much longer. This is one recent thread that starts comparing SF and Houston, but arrives back in London.

https://x.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1760995132034130335

Yeah I read a lot of his stuff ( FT is very good value).

I totally agree - our system is comically slow, allows vetoes at nearly every stage (even where the scheme meets public policy), and has become a fact of life for too many in public office. It doesn’t have to be this way and I genuinely believe root and branch reform of it, from statute up, is the key to unlocking growth in Britain.
Given that what gets through the planning process is often ugly, of poor environmental value and low quality anyway, not sure what we have to lose by loosening the taps and seeing if proper growth comes out the other side

[I like neeps]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Is this the last last straw. There has been a lot of last straws. Worth remembering that they used nerve agent on uk soil ages ago. Good to know the shit being spread online by putin's trolls/lickspittles.

Also Putin would, eh, declare this war.

Say what you want about Vlad but he's not backwards in coming forwards.

Also "wartime leader" if you're going full loon I'd say in California safe from the blast zone.

[robmatic]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Interesting as in doesn't explain the timing at all?

Storm Shadows have been hitting high value Russian targets in Ukraine since May last year.

[sefton]

Just watched the Science minister bare faced lying on Sky News, Sophie Ridge looked incredulous at how blatant the lies are.

[Simian]

Just watched the Science minister bare faced lying on Sky News, Sophie Ridge looked incredulous at how blatant the lies are.

What did the science minister say?

[sefton]

Just watched the Science minister bare faced lying on Sky News, Sophie Ridge looked incredulous at how blatant the lies are.

What did the science minister say?

That Labour were going to have open borders. To be fair she didn’t allow him to get away with it.

[fishfoodie]

A bunch more Tory MPs now deciding they aren't going to stand in the GE is going to put a lot of pressure on HQ to get candidates in these constituencies, & further points to the chaotic way the decision was made.

Still, I suppose there're a lot of Tory Councillors kicked out a couple of weeks ago who might fancy a new gig, but there's valuable campaigning time being wasted just getting a candidate named & posters etc, & all the odds & sods associated with running for office.

[Simian]

Just watched the Science minister bare faced lying on Sky News, Sophie Ridge looked incredulous at how blatant the lies are.

What did the science minister say?

That Labour were going to have open borders. To be fair she didn’t allow him to get away with it.

Jesus!

[Biffer]

Becoming more and more obvious that Sunak called the election because more letters were already going in to Graham Brady to get rid of him. He’s just turned round and said ‘fuck you, if you’re going to stab me in the back, let’s see if you keep your jobs’. Cue outrage internally in the party and lots of unprepared MPs talking of stupidity and betrayal without seeing the irony. It’s objectively quite funny, but obviously it’s all entirely self serving on both sides within the Tories and as usual is only about their infighting. And has nothing to do with the good of the country, that’s the least of their concerns.

[Sandstorm]

Becoming more and more obvious that Sunak called the election because more letters were already going in to Graham Brady to get rid of him. He’s just turned round and said ‘fuck you, if you’re going to stab me in the back, let’s see if you keep your jobs’. Cue outrage internally in the party and lots of unprepared MPs talking of stupidity and betrayal without seeing the irony. It’s objectively quite funny, but obviously it’s all entirely self serving on both sides within the Tories and as usual is only about their infighting. And has nothing to do with the good of the country, that’s the least of their concerns.

100%

[Waudbee]

Becoming more and more obvious that Sunak called the election because more letters were already going in to Graham Brady to get rid of him. He’s just turned round and said ‘fuck you, if you’re going to stab me in the back, let’s see if you keep your jobs’. Cue outrage internally in the party and lots of unprepared MPs talking of stupidity and betrayal without seeing the irony. It’s objectively quite funny, but obviously it’s all entirely self serving on both sides within the Tories and as usual is only about their infighting. And has nothing to do with the good of the country, that’s the least of their concerns.

100%

Well said and sums up Tory people's thinking. Nothing at all about what is good for the people and the country just about power and control which Tories believe they are entitled to.

[David in Gwent]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Interesting as in doesn't explain the timing at all?

Storm Shadows have been hitting high value Russian targets in Ukraine since May last year.

Yes, and the training for those is apparently quite extensive - so extensive it's wasn't Ukrainians firing them.

[Hal Jordan]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Interesting as in doesn't explain the timing at all?

Storm Shadows have been hitting high value Russian targets in Ukraine since May last year.

Storm Shadow missiles...

No way someone wasn't a fan of a cool Cobra ninja as a kid.

[robmatic]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Interesting as in doesn't explain the timing at all?

Storm Shadows have been hitting high value Russian targets in Ukraine since May last year.

Yes, and the training for those is apparently quite extensive - so extensive it's wasn't Ukrainians firing them.

You do realise these are air-launched from Su-24 planes, right?

Also still not a particularly compelling explanation for Sunak calling the general election that he had to call at some point in the next 6 months in any case.

Maybe try being a bit more critical when consuming 'alternative' media sources.

[Margin__Walker]

Probably too much internet for one day DAC

Edit - His source for what it's worth. Andrew Bridgen heard it from the Russian ambassador. I personally find the idea that the Ukrainians after two years of holding their own against a superpower, aren't capable of being trained to fire a missile fairly amusing.

[tabascoboy]

A bunch more Tory MPs now deciding they aren't going to stand in the GE is going to put a lot of pressure on HQ to get candidates in these constituencies, & further points to the chaotic way the decision was made.

Still, I suppose there're a lot of Tory Councillors kicked out a couple of weeks ago who might fancy a new gig, but there's valuable campaigning time being wasted just getting a candidate named & posters etc, & all the odds & sods associated with running for office.

Not sure when he announced it but John Redwood is one to step down ahead of general election. Seems to be reasonably respected in his constituency but good riddance on a national level...

Something like 94 seats now with no Tory PPC

[SaintK]

A bunch more Tory MPs now deciding they aren't going to stand in the GE is going to put a lot of pressure on HQ to get candidates in these constituencies, & further points to the chaotic way the decision was made.

Still, I suppose there're a lot of Tory Councillors kicked out a couple of weeks ago who might fancy a new gig, but there's valuable campaigning time being wasted just getting a candidate named & posters etc, & all the odds & sods associated with running for office.

Not sure when he announced it but John Redwood is one to step down ahead of general election. Seems to be reasonably respected in his constituency but good riddance on a national level...

Something like 94 seats now with no Tory PPC

Lest we forget

[Biffer]

A bunch more Tory MPs now deciding they aren't going to stand in the GE is going to put a lot of pressure on HQ to get candidates in these constituencies, & further points to the chaotic way the decision was made.

Still, I suppose there're a lot of Tory Councillors kicked out a couple of weeks ago who might fancy a new gig, but there's valuable campaigning time being wasted just getting a candidate named & posters etc, & all the odds & sods associated with running for office.

Not sure when he announced it but John Redwood is one to step down ahead of general election. Seems to be reasonably respected in his constituency but good riddance on a national level...

Something like 94 seats now with no Tory PPC

I know people who live in Wokingham who think he's a dick.

[Jock42]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Are you suggesting the RAF are flying combat sorties over Ukraine?

[tabascoboy]

A bunch more Tory MPs now deciding they aren't going to stand in the GE is going to put a lot of pressure on HQ to get candidates in these constituencies, & further points to the chaotic way the decision was made.

Still, I suppose there're a lot of Tory Councillors kicked out a couple of weeks ago who might fancy a new gig, but there's valuable campaigning time being wasted just getting a candidate named & posters etc, & all the odds & sods associated with running for office.

Not sure when he announced it but John Redwood is one to step down ahead of general election. Seems to be reasonably respected in his constituency but good riddance on a national level...

Something like 94 seats now with no Tory PPC

I know people who live in Wokingham who think he's a dick.

To be fair that's true in the constituency of any standing MP! Seems like so many other overtly pro-Brexiteers just want to disappear into the background of a "normal" life - wonder why that is...

[_Os_]

Day Two:

Tory MP Tom Hunt has said Susan Hall’s London Mayoral Campaign “can be a role model for Rishi Sunak”

Hunt says "Hall embodies the 2019 realignment".

Home Office civil servants are already in Rwanda waiting for flights that now may never take off

Both Labour sources and some Tories are saying this is the most jaw-dropping moment of the week: the claim that Sunak misled a grieving mother about introducing legislation in her son’s name. ‘Psychotic’ says a Labour source. ‘Staggering’ says a Tory…

Sunak visits site connected to the Titanic.

[Calculon]

Interesting take on why Sunak called a GE.

Apparently we're already at war with Russia and he doesn't want to be a war time leader.

British "troops" firing the Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine was the last straw for the Russians.

Huge if true

[_Os_]

If the Tories keep this up their 2024 general election campaign will be the most shit out of any party and any election I'm aware of. What on earth is going on, it's a total shit show! It's already 5% of the way through the campaign, this is not a long election, every day they fuck up is very expensive for them.

Starmer just needs to not look like a total dribbling moron to come out on top!

[fishfoodie]

Maybe we've been selling the Head boy short all this time, & he's actually a latter day Machiavelli, & this is all part of his plan to burn the Tory Party & all the, "Bastards", as Major coined them, to the ground ?

He knows he's gone, so why not fuck it up for the Badenochs & Cruellas that never supported him, & have made his leadership the most painful experience they could.

[I like neeps]

Maybe we've been selling the Head boy short all this time, & he's actually a latter day Machiavelli, & this is all part of his plan to burn the Tory Party & all the, "Bastards", as Major coined them, to the ground ?

He knows he's gone, so why not fuck it up for the Badenochs & Cruellas that never supported him, & have made his leadership the most painful experience they could.

Sunak thinks far too highly of himself to be doing anything like that.

Ultimately making a few million in the free money era of banks pre crash and the magic money tree post crash is a lot harder than running a country those twenty years has gashed of any resilience and productivity.

[tabascoboy]

Funny that Sunak insists the Tories have done the job of "stabilising the economy", wasn't that his job as Chancellor which PM Truss then blew right out of the water? Dodgy ground to be campaigning on, but then they clearly credit the electorate with very low insight...

[sturginho]

If the Tories keep this up their 2024 general election campaign will be the most shit out of any party and any election I'm aware of. What on earth is going on, it's a total shit show! It's already 5% of the way through the campaign, this is not a long election, every day they fuck up is very expensive for them.

Starmer just needs to not look like a total dribbling moron to come out on top!

I know the received wisdom is that the polling gap will narrow as we get closer to election day, but I have the feeling that the more Sunak is allowed out in public the worse his polling will get

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part

[Sandstorm]

Funny that Sunak insists the Tories have done the job of "stabilising the economy", wasn't that his job as Chancellor which PM Truss then blew right out of the water? Dodgy ground to be campaigning on, but then they clearly credit the electorate with very low insight...

Tory pensioners with good investments are (possibly) the only supporters he has left, may as well try to get them to vote for him.

[I like neeps]

If the Tories keep this up their 2024 general election campaign will be the most shit out of any party and any election I'm aware of. What on earth is going on, it's a total shit show! It's already 5% of the way through the campaign, this is not a long election, every day they fuck up is very expensive for them.

Starmer just needs to not look like a total dribbling moron to come out on top!

I know the received wisdom is that the polling gap will narrow as we get closer to election day, but I have the feeling that the more Sunak is allowed out in public the worse his polling will get

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part

They'll also see more of Starmer, who has a negative public perception though. Not as bad as Sunak's of course.

I think it'll decrease turnout/increase Lib Dem/Green turnout. Without Farage Reform have no teeth.

[tabascoboy]

It's happening so much I can't keep up with whether these were known before now or new... [EDIT] does seem like new announcements today, certainly for Clarke

Two more Kent MPs have announced they will not be standing at the general election in July.

Craig Mackinlay, who has represented South Thanet for the Conservatives since 2015, says seeking reelection would be "impossible" amid his recovery from sepsis.

Meanwhile, fellow Tory Greg Clark Tunbridge Wells says it time to “pass the baton on”.

And now ANOTHER

David Evennett MP for MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford

[geordie_6]

A bunch more Tory MPs now deciding they aren't going to stand in the GE is going to put a lot of pressure on HQ to get candidates in these constituencies, & further points to the chaotic way the decision was made.

Still, I suppose there're a lot of Tory Councillors kicked out a couple of weeks ago who might fancy a new gig, but there's valuable campaigning time being wasted just getting a candidate named & posters etc, & all the odds & sods associated with running for office.

Not sure when he announced it but John Redwood is one to step down ahead of general election. Seems to be reasonably respected in his constituency but good riddance on a national level...

Something like 94 seats now with no Tory PPC

I know people who live in Wokingham who think he's a dick.

The "I have other things I wish to do" comment rather embodies that.

[SaintK]

Gove to stand down and not fight election
Must have had an offer he couldn’t refuse from Murdoch

[Waudbee]

Gove to stand down and not fight election
Must have had an offer he couldn’t refuse from Murdoch

He knows it will be a wipe out. Mr Multi Academy Trusts, some legacy! Disastrous for children's education.

[sefton]

Just waiting for Rishi to announce he won’t be standing.

[sturginho]

Andrea Loathsome gone too

[fishfoodie]

Does this mean that there'll be another bazillion scotes on the next Honors list ?

Labour should push the abolition of the current HoL hard; the electorate are sick to the back teeth of the Tories; the idea of them sponging off the taxpayers for the rest of their lives, after the destruction they've wrought is sickening.