Great Britain 2009 European Election result maps

[minionofmidas]

Yeah, losing Redcar would be pretty disastrous. Especially since Labour ought to be helped by the split opposition - LDs overtook Tories in 2005 here.
The neighboring seat of Middlesbrough S & E Cleveland though... that's the kind of territory where the Tories did badly (compared to historically - not by contemporary northeastern standards) in the 90s and where they ought to rebound and which they ought to pick up.

[minionofmidas]

The Western Isles always surprise me for their relatively strong support for Labour. I can't understand why one of the last remaining enclaves of Gaelic aren't uber-solid SNP areas.

A They're poor and working class. Lots of people still employed in cottage industrial occupations  - ever heard the phrase "Harris Tweed"?
B The southern end of the island chain is Catholic. Reformation never reached this part of the UK. The area went Labour as soon as the Tories ceased to be Jacobites and never looked back.

[minionofmidas]

The Western Isles always surprise me for their relatively strong support for Labour. I can't understand why one of the last remaining enclaves of Gaelic aren't uber-solid SNP areas.

(...)B The southern end of the island chain is Catholic. Reformation never reached this part of the UK. The area went Labour as soon as the Tories ceased to be Jacobites and never looked back.

Nobody corrects me when I spout bullsh!t.

Of course, the Jacobites in the Southern Hebrides still vote Jacobite Scottish Nationalist, not Labour.

[minionofmidas]

Brandwood being the easternmost of that four-ward tier at the south end, the other three being the only UKIP wins? Just making sure I read your color scheme right.
The tie is clearly the triangle-shaped northwestern purple one.

[minionofmidas]

The similarities between the BNP and UKIP are very interesting.

So are the differences - UKIP also doing well in the "we don't want to be part of Birmingham!" middle class suburblands of the far north.
Tieing in well with the overall differences of the two parties' bases, of course.

[minionofmidas]

Slutton Four Jokes is the richest ward in Birmingham and one of the richest in the West Midlands. Vile place.

I think Hash meant Edgbaston.