UK By-elections thread, 2021-

[Property Representative of the Harold Holt Swimming Centre]

Here's the last time Galloway was 'sworn in' to Parliament:

A few things to note about it are:

- His sponsors are the late Sir Peter Tapsell (the then-Father of the House and the last MP who was a successful candidate in the 1959 election) and...I'm drawing a blank on the other MP, someone will probably fill me in.

- Galloway is made to say his affirmation (affirmation being an interesting choice for a believer in God, I suppose it has something to do with his Republicanism?) so that the 'House can hear'.

- Michael Gove can be seen and heard giving Galloway his congratulations.

- Alan Duncan (who I think shares some of Galloway's views) seems quite jovial towards Galloway as he heads towards the Speaker's Chair.

- There is quite a loud chant of 'hear hear' as Galloway walks towards the Chair, not something usually heard on these kinds of occasions, or at least not to that extent.

- Galloway and Bercow have a seemingly nice conversation, it would have been interesting to know what they chatted about. Do I notice a very slight grimace on Bercow's face just after the conversation ends?

12 years on and Gove once again congratulated Galloway, at least in a nodding form. However, Galloway swore rather than affirmed this time. Hoyle seemed to want the conversation over quickly (the video below cuts before it is shown). Galloway is without his now-trademark hat, presumably because it goes against Parliamentary dress code. Oh, and Sir Peter Bottomley is wearing a tie in Ukraine flag colours. I think Stephen Flynn is the other sponsor.

[Torrain]

I think Stephen Flynn is the other sponsor.

Different bald Scotsman, it’s Alba’s Neale Hanvey.

[JimJamUK]

I think Stephen Flynn is the other sponsor.

Different bald Scotsman, it’s Alba’s Neale Hanvey.

So another Scot who’s famously not a fan of Israel or transgender people.

[Torrain]

So another Scot who’s famously not a fan of Israel or transgender people.

Aye - on those issues they're strikingly similar. In another world, they could be members of the same economically-left, socially-populist and conspiratorial party. If Galloway had tried to take over the Scottish Socialist Party, and remake it in his own image, rather than moving to England and setting up Respect, I could see them as MSPs under the same banner.

The other thought that occurs - in the 2021 Holyrood elections, Galloway was trying to make himself the new face of unionism, in his usual bellicose manner. To now be standing side-by-side with a member of the most fundamentalist forces in mainstream Scottish nationalism is a reminder of how loosely he can hold his convictions when it suits him.

[YL]

Ah but then what would they have called the other seat?

Since when have such considerations been an issue to the Boundary Commission?

It would have been the areas proposed to be in the other seat that a fuss would have come from, though; indeed, one did, but it was about the splitting of Middleton rather than the inclusion of more of Rochdale, and the Commission's sop was to add "Middleton North" to the originally proposed name, which was simply "Heywood". I don't know what they'd have come up with if they'd felt they had to acknowledge Heywood, bits of Middleton and bits of Rochdale, but if they had added "Rochdale West" to that name I suspect the main Rochdale seat might indeed have become "Rochdale East & Littleborough".

How much of a fuss was there in Littleborough about the 1997 changes?

[CumbrianLefty]

How much of a fuss was there in Littleborough about the 1997 changes?

I don't think there was that much - it shouldn't be forgotten that Littleborough and Saddleworth was itself a somewhat artificial creation.

[EastAnglianLefty]

There's continuous development right the way from Littleborough to Bamford with no sign of countryside between them, whereas it'll take you half an hour to drive from Saddleworth to Littleborough, mostly via B-roads.

[Blair]

Scott Benton has quit and thus we will have a by election- he was already facing getting chucked out after a report by the standards commissioner.

How many times will we hear ‘Blackpool once a place of….’

[Torrain]

Benton has already been appointed to the Manor of Northstead, with the writ to be moved tomorrow. Based on the tone of his resignation letter, it sounds like he’s played ball with the party, and they’ve moved to arrange a May 2nd by-election.

Which makes sense, if you’re concerned about a one-two punch against Sunak, with the locals followed by the Blackpool result in the following weeks. That *does*, however, rely on Sunak surviving the first punch.

[CumbrianLefty]

Given the staggered declaration times this time around (some contests will not be counting until the Saturday or even later) Blackpool South is likely to be one of the earlier results - and might set the tone of media coverage in the way Hartlepool did in similar circumstances back in 2021.

[Property Representative of the Harold Holt Swimming Centre]

Try this burger, if you dare:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186332-d6479548-r851948815-Higgitt_s_Las_Vegas_Amusements-Blackpool_Lancashire_England.html

[Duke of York]

I assume the Blackpool by election will be held with the local elections?

[YL]

I assume the Blackpool by election will be held with the local elections?

Yes, and the writ has already been moved. The idea is probably that the news impact of losing it will be less with it being at the same time as the locals.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

There is an outside chance that there could be a by-election at Plymouth Moor View caused by surreal and hilarious circumstances. It may all be in the hands of Mr Mercer. We shall see.

[CumbrianLefty]

Its probably too late for even his ultimate total disgrace to result in a *byelection*, sadly.

But its still quite bizarre stuff.

[Torrain]

Hazel Grove?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Hazel Grove?

How bad is... it... exactly?

[Oryxslayer]

Well it would be a free Lib-Dem incumbent, if there is actually enough time for a By-Election before the GE.

[MaxQue]

Hazel Grove?

How bad is... it... exactly?

12 phone numbers (of current and former MPs) leaked apparently, 2 of them sending their own nudes, according to the BBC.

[oldtimer]

Hazel Grove?

How bad is... it... exactly?

By-election bad:

https://www.politico.eu/article/westminster-honey-trap-scandal-uk-tory-mp-admits-sharing-numbers/

A quick summary from what I can understand:
He was forced out of fear to share info about his colleagues to a guy that had compromising things on him.

The Conservative Party reply (what can they say? ) :

https://twitter.com/Conservatives/status/1775882749921911191

[Cassius]

Hazel Grove?

How bad is... it... exactly?

By-election bad:

https://www.politico.eu/article/westminster-honey-trap-scandal-uk-tory-mp-admits-sharing-numbers/

A quick summary from what I can understand:
He was forced out of fear to share info about his colleagues to a guy that had compromising things on him.

The Conservative Party reply (what can they say? ) :

https://twitter.com/Conservatives/status/1775882749921911191

Balkan tier propaganda.

[Torrain]

Hazel Grove?

How bad is... it... exactly?

Ever see that photo of Wragg looking mildly terrified at a bonfire night event, with a flaming firework in each hand? It’s become something of a visual metaphor.

[YL]

Nine candidates for Blackpool South:

Stephen Black (Independent) [1]
Mark Butcher (Reform UK)
Andrew Cregan (Lib Dem)
Howling Laud Hope (OMRLP)
David Jones (Con)
Kim Knight (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom) [2]
Damon Sharp (New Open Non-Political Organised Leadership) [3]
Ben Thomas (Green)
Chris Webb (Lab)

[1] Someone of this name posts on TikTok as @friendsofblackpool
[2] Essentially a UKIP splinter, led by a former Tory councillor in Leicestershire who defected to UKIP
[3] This lot. Hmmm...

[Torrain]

Surely Fylde has to be at least considered, after this evening’s Back to Basics carnival?

[Joe Republic]

We need a complete and total shutdown of coastal Lancashire until we can figure out what is going on.