Do Labour Have Any Chance At All Of Winning The Election

[emmie]

could they sway things their way with a Lab/Lib Dems pact perhaps, or
do they stand no chance at all.

[Jackdaw33]

Given the size of the Lib Dems I would say they have about as much chance as I have of getting off with Theresa.

[mushroom25]

TM is just slipping into something more comfortable, JD..... :)

actually, this is an interesting read on the subject...
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/20/tactical-voting-to-beat-the-tories-does-the-maths-equal-a-coalition

[ichkeria]

There is not going to be an electoral pact between Labour and the Lib Dems.
There is likely to be some tactical voting, or voting along the lines of the EU referendum. I cannot see how that would help Labour, though: the opposite in fact.
It is hard to see how Labour could win the general election. Never say never, but ....

[emmie]

so tactical voting could be the answer, very interesting.

[Jackdaw33]

Tactical voting is only effective in a microcosm and is usually based on personalities rather than policies. It is 100% negative. I have a Labour MP but would not dream of switching from Tory to Lib Dem to unseat him, even if it were feasible.

[mushroom25]

Labour aren't exactly helping themselves - there's loads of ammunition out there on social media (assuming it's not fake - it can't all be fake, can it?) that they are currently ignoring. JC was in Swindon today, and it's from Swindon that a letter that's gone viral this week emanated, concerning the "privatization" of all paediatric care from the GW Hospitals Trust to Virgin Care. (I can't link to it because of the log in credential requirement, but if you have Facebook or Twitter it's easy to find). I hold no brief for Labour (or anyone else) but even if only half of it is true, why wasn't Mr Corbyn waving a copy of that letter today?

[Jackdaw33]

Regarding a Lib/Lab pact, I remember such a one in 1977 when the Liberals decided to shore up the Labour minority government in the face of a vote of no confidence. I remember Michael Heseltine's quote in the House at the time, " I've often heard of rats deserting a sinking ship but I've never heard of mice joining one".

[Old_Geezer]

Zero chance IMO. But there is no guarantee May will benefit from this election anyway. A gamble which costs the taxpayer and simply wasn't needed.

I can see the danger of Remainers trying to cripple the Brexit process by trying to insist on getting the Single Market access at the cost of the return of sovereignty that Brexit was always about, but I think she should have had the confidence that there were enough sane people in parliament, who haven't pinned their political career colours to the wreckers' mast, to ensure that doesn't occur anyway.

[Baldric]

None whatsoever imho.

[emmie]

so it won't benefit them in the long run to allay themselves with the Lib Dems, Greens, SNP...

[Old_Geezer]

Only if desperate. Once they are on board you get bigger splits that you started with. It tends to cramp your ability to govern.

[Old_Geezer]

*THAN* !!!

[Jackdaw33]

Rather like:

Are you the Judaean Peoples' Front?

Eff off! We're the Peoples' Front of Judaea

[emmie]

so in truth Mrs May should sweep the board?

[Old_Geezer]

None can tell, but I'd hazard a guess that, no, her party will end up with a small number of seats more than she has now.

[emmie]

a smaller number of seats still will win the vote surely.

[sp1814]

Huge gains for the Tories, moderate gains for the Liberals (they should soak up quite a few anti-Brexit votes), wipe-out for Labour and UKIP.

After the election, I expect to see Corbyn go, which will be good for Labour in the long run.

[emmie]

OG
sorry i misread that..

[emmie]

sp
if Corbyn does go, who on earth is there to replace him, because i can't see anyone who has put their head over the parapet to say they are a potential leader of the Labour party

[Old_Geezer]

Which vote ? Parliament has little options once an agreement has been made at the Brexit negotiation table by the teams there. It's take it, or leave rejecting it. As for the GE, the Tories already have a majority.