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11 tweets,
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With hung Parliaments
“we will face years of paralysis under feeble governments unable to do a great deal unless the British political class becomes much more skilled at building alliances across party lines & much more willing to work towards consensus.” theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
“we will face years of paralysis under feeble governments unable to do a great deal unless the British political class becomes much more skilled at building alliances across party lines & much more willing to work towards consensus.” theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
2/
“The four-way split of the vote in Peterborough means that all of that city is now represented by an MP who won with less than a third of the vote”(a historic low)
“This could be replayed on a national scale. At a general election, there could be scores of Peterboroughs”
“The four-way split of the vote in Peterborough means that all of that city is now represented by an MP who won with less than a third of the vote”(a historic low)
“This could be replayed on a national scale. At a general election, there could be scores of Peterboroughs”
3/. Peterborough represents a agree collapse of the duopoly with the combined Tory / Labour vote share of 95% dropping to 52%.
Two historically unpopular Party leaders. One no longer, waiting for a replacement that will result in Brexit fantasy hitting reality in August.
Two historically unpopular Party leaders. One no longer, waiting for a replacement that will result in Brexit fantasy hitting reality in August.
4/. “The official opposition has no plans to change its leader so Labour has to tell itself that the country is suffering from false consciousness about Jeremy Corbyn and will come round to the idea of him as prime minister in the end.”
5/. “The old two have historically been successful at squeezing the other parties at general elections by contending that choosing anyone else is a “wasted vote”. The argument of the lesser evil – we know you think we’re awful, but the other lot are even worse –“
6/. “The red-blue duopoly has depended on voters being psychological hostages of the idea that the choice at general elections is a binary one. They lose that grip on the minds of the electorate when challenger parties have a credible chance of securing representation. “
7/. @robfordmancs. “Coined a neat name for this phenomenon. He calls it the “Tinkerbell effect”. If people stop believing the old parties are invincible, they become beatable. If people start believing that challenger parties can win, that belief becomes self-fulfilling.”
8/. If the situation described here is not to prevail the rest of us need to fertilise the potential for “the Tinkerbell effect “
I think that means having political conversations in a different way as it means drawing in far more voters who have hitherto voted for the duopoly
I think that means having political conversations in a different way as it means drawing in far more voters who have hitherto voted for the duopoly
9/. Many of these will have felt fierce loyalties for their past political homes.
Many people are worn out by political shouting and feel great fear at deepening divisions amongst the parties they look to save them from an unpalatable fate.
It is a delicate balancing act.
Many people are worn out by political shouting and feel great fear at deepening divisions amongst the parties they look to save them from an unpalatable fate.
It is a delicate balancing act.
This is what we know we could see and we fear. 
That last tweet was 10/!
11/. Whether an unpopular Corbyn led Government of a divided party or a Tory one also divided under a new and dangerous leader
11/. Whether an unpopular Corbyn led Government of a divided party or a Tory one also divided under a new and dangerous leader
