UK By-elections thread, 2021-

[Estrella]

I want to have some of what Ladbrokes punters are smoking.

https://mobile.twitter.com/LadPolitics/status/1372098638281895939

[Estrella]

Two most recent by-elections caused by an MP being kicked upstairs to the Lords were Ribble Valley in 1991 and before that Penrith and the Border in 1983. The former took place in the middle of the poll tax battle and Tories obviously lost. The latter happened just weeks after the 1983 landslide and Tories still nearly managed to lose it, only holding on by 600 votes. Apparently it made Thatcher swear to never elevate another MP again.

All of this doesn't necessarily mean anything, of course, but there's a good reason why we haven't seen this type of by-election for a long time. Boris knows the history of his party well; he knows what he's doing.

[Estrella]

Apparently, the writ will be moved for two by-elections tomorrow - so they should be up in the next four weeks. But Dorries hasn’t formally resigned yet?
https://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1668669720604684316

(And regarding the previous comment - I hear the weather in Mongolia is lovely at this time of year)*

_{* If it’s not him, then I’ve officially lost track of MP scandals - there’s just too many right now.}

Boris probably doesn’t want to give up being Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds.

Makes me wonder how much the profit in 'office of profit under the Crown' is.

[Estrella]

A reminder of why we've gotten here, from a year less a week ago:

https://mobile.twitter.com/RespectIsVital/status/1510338799288688644
Well, he looks rather impatient awaiting his fate.

[Estrella]

Labour has one attacking Lib Dem drug policy

I realize this isn’t necessarily the best example, but still, genuine question: is there any “social issue” on which a Starmer government would be different from the current one?

[Estrella]

It would appear that Rochdale's divine punishment for its electoral past is to have not one but two extremely obnoxious former Labour MPs running in the by-election there, as Simon Danczuk has been announced as the Reform candidate...

Given the reason why he is a former Labour MP, is this a wise choice?

Originally elected as a member of the Labour Party, he was suspended from the party in 2015 after it emerged he had exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl. He has co-written two books, Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith and Scandal at Dolphin Square.

Hm.