British Local Elections, May 2024

[warandwar]

Some more on the far left parties
Workers Party (not exactly a left wing party) is also running one candidate in Peterborough

TUSC are running the most - 290 candidates, including a full slate in Plymouth. I think they basically get every cadre SPEW member to run, though i know some other miniscule groups have joined as well, including the British Spartacists.

CPB are running 1 candidate in Cambridge.

In Gloucester there are a group of 6 camdidates running as "Socialist Labour." Unclear if this is Scargills group or something else.

Haven't seen it mentioned here that Jaime Driscoll got RMT's endorsement - i don't think theyre endorsing any TUSC candidate this time.

[warandwar]

I think the SDP's reincarnation shows that if another far-right party like Reform or a far-leff party tried pouring all their resources and volunteers all into one area they could probably win. Realistically speaking if you just concentrated like 100 volunteers in one ward with decently favorable demographics you could win. I dont get the sense these are terribly professional operations. But i think most of these candidates are running to sit on a stage once and yell at people.

[warandwar]

https://twitter.com/BritainElects/status/1786188880204451989?t=HFadaLlt62MxUBKJQ...

https://twitter.com/BritainElects/status/1786185456079487361?t=scw6IWdhOItrTRy2P...

Seemingly dueling results,  but not really.  The Lib-Dems gain is a repeat of 2023, whereas the localist loss is new. And Notably the localists supported the independent candidate for mayor of the northeast.

Looking like South Tyneside is the binmen's revenge.
If you haven't seen any of Amber Films's work on South Shields, I highly recommend. This is a good place to start: https://www.amber-online.com/collection/shields-stories-1988/

[warandwar]

https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/24266733.galloway-rolls-town-back-independents-blackburn-rally/

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24297560.pictures-independents-jubilant-taking-labour-seats/

Some articles on the Blackburn independents. Blackburn had a small history of Asian activism - here's a photo of their Asian Youth Organization from the early 80s. Great hair cuts.

[warandwar]

How is Galloway’s outfit doing?

Only won 2 seats in Rochdale - Labour maintain their majority there.

I get the sense these folks do better as Community Independents vs being tied to a Party

[warandwar]

The far right SDP remnant won the final seat in middleton park in leeds, now they hold all three. Havent seen much other minor party wins.

[warandwar]

I'm worried about potential Cavaney Island radicalization. Cavaney Island terrorist cells car bombing People's Independence Party members. Barbed wire barricades, states of seige and so on.