Liberal Democrats take Tory stronghold with historic win in Chesham and Amersham by-election shock horror

[sunny james]

Borris boy takes a kicking in Chesham and Amersham.

Lib Dems win seat of Chesham and Amersham in by-election battle shock-result

Conservative Peter Fleet lost the seat to the Lib Dem candidate Sarah Green after the results were declared shortly before 2am on Friday

www.mirror.co.uk

The Limp Dems will need a bigger mini bus to get to Westminster.

Don't know why they didn't go for the Tory boy, he's obviously sharp as a tack. "Defeated Tory candidate Peter Fleet said: "It's clear that that on this occasion the constituents here in Chesham and Amersham have chosen a different candidate to represent them, to serve as their Member of Parliament."

 

[Mr_Fingerz]

It appears that Mr Fleet has a talent for stating the stunningly obvious. That, and turning a 16,223 vote majority into a resounding loss.

 

[giatttt]

Labour only just beat one of the weird candidates with 1.6% of the vote, I would suggest that is the end for Starmer.

 

[Red Hander]

HS2 is apparently a big issue, allied with a generally anti Brexit mood, though the latter may be overstated in the commentariat reporting today. Stay at home Tory voters also key, you'd imagine.
That said, the swing to the Liberals is huge. It will be interesting to see what happens in the area at the next GE.

 

[Listy]

Turnout was seriously down (38,000 Vs 55,000 in 2019. And It looks like the majority of labour supporters switched to the Lib Dems.

Chesham and Amersham (UK Parliament constituency) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Labour got 622 votes overall.

 

[slipperman]

Unsurprising- the Lib Dems threw the kitchen sink at this By Election. Ed Davey is still a turd.
Most of the MSM will use this as proof that Boris is a busted flush and on his way out. Funny enough, he’s been rather busy of late, whilst Davey has had all the time in the World to concentrate his efforts in Chesham - he’s been there 16 times recently, by his own admission this morning!
Meanwhile, the other story that Labour almost lost their deposit here will be lost in the noise.
Go back to your Constituencies and prepare for Government.

 

[Clio1326]

HS2 is apparently a big issue, allied with a generally anti Brexit mood, though the latter may be overstated in the commentariat reporting today. Stay at home Tory voters also key, you'd imagine.
That said, the swing to the Liberals is huge. It will be interesting to see what happens in the area at the next GE.

good old-fashioned protest vote. Fortunately monghead davey and wack-job Moran gracing their tv screens will serve as a reminder to the voters as to just what they have done, rather in the manner of two ghastly woke momento mori

 

[Edwardian Fred]

Now we know where the HS2 sidings and effluent emptying tank farm will be built

 

[Boumer]

Now we know where the HS2 sidings and effluent emptying tank farm will be built

They might want to be a bit careful about "punishment contracts" being awarded.

I think the "you are to thank us for our largesse" message has been received, but it woudn't do to alienate people after one mid-term by-election?

The majority of towns benefitting from new £1bn funding are Conservative constituencies

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been accused of bias after it emerged that 40 out of 45 constituencies to benefit from the new so-called 'towns fund' are Conservative-held.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

 

[Wee Hawken]

Unsurprising- the Lib Dems threw the kitchen sink at this By Election.

They often do. If the Conservatives were complacent they can't really blame the horrid opposition for Trying Too Hard.

 

[Toastie]

HS2 is apparently a big issue, allied with a generally anti Brexit mood, though the latter may be overstated in the commentariat reporting today. Stay at home Tory voters also key, you'd imagine.
That said, the swing to the Liberals is huge. It will be interesting to see what happens in the area at the next GE.

Not so sure about the Brexit aspect either, most still that are twittering on about it would blame the birth of a two headed calf in (insert constituency currently in the news here) on Brexit. It was only 55% Remain and the Rejoin candidate polled just 101 votes coming in a solid last.

 

[Clio1326]

Labour only just beat one of the weird candidates with 1.6% of the vote, I would suggest that is the end for Starmer.

Labour never prospers in this seat. starmer's future depends more what happens at Batley and Spen. There is also the question as to who would succeed starmer. The front bench all seem equally repellant. starmer was always going to be a caretaker leader. Corbynistas appear to hate Burnham, so selecting a new leader would be via commissariat box ticking.

 

[Listy]

Meanwhile, the other story that Labour almost lost their deposit here will be lost in the noise.

Oh I think they did loose it. You require 5% of the vote to retain, not 1.6%

 

[Emcon Ecomcon]

Borris boy takes a kicking in Chesham and Amersham.

Lib Dems win seat of Chesham and Amersham in by-election battle shock-result

Conservative Peter Fleet lost the seat to the Lib Dem candidate Sarah Green after the results were declared shortly before 2am on Friday

www.mirror.co.uk

The Limp Dems will need a bigger mini bus to get to Westminster.

Don't know why they didn't go for the Tory boy, he's obviously sharp as a tack. "Defeated Tory candidate Peter Fleet said: "It's clear that that on this occasion the constituents here in Chesham and Amersham have chosen a different candidate to represent them, to serve as their Member of Parliament."

The BBC are cock-a-hoop, but doesn't surprise me. The Lib Dem Machine is a formidable one when it can be concentrated on one locale exclusively and has an issue which puts people at odds with the government. I expect post-election, the party will keep the machine running for the next couple of years as lib dems are probably the hardest working bunch of workers in my view and very good at keeping themselves prominent in the local media.

As others said, the data showed a drop in turnout and heavy tactical voting. But I think the tories did lose votes to protest and the lib dems were the vehicle for that protest. Its a warning to the tories that personality alone is not enough and I agree with Ed (lib dem) on his blue wall comment, as remain voting conservatives are in play.

 

[target_stop]

I live in the area and I would love to know how much they spent on this. I have never known anything like it, we were constantly bombarded with leaflets and door knockers. The place is littered with posters and placards too. It has felt like we live in some sort of lovey liberal reeducation camp.

 

[Graculus]

The BBC are cock-a-hoop, but doesn't surprise me. The Lib Dem Machine is a formidable one when it can be concentrated on one locale exclusively and has an issue which puts people at odds with the government. I expect post-election, the party will keep the machine running for the next couple of years as lib dems are probably the hardest working bunch of workers in my view and very good at keeping themselves prominent in the local media.

As others said, the data showed a drop in turnout and heavy tactical voting. But I think the tories did lose votes to protest and the lib dems were the vehicle for that protest. Its a warning to the tories that personality alone is not enough and I agree with Ed (lib dem) on his blue wall comment, as remain voting conservatives are in play.

The BBC is neither happy nor sad about this, as much as you want to believe otherwise. Some BBC employees may feel either of those emotions, the vast majority have to get the kids to school or other mundane stuff and cgaf.

 

[stacker1]

I live in the area and I would love to know how much they spent on this. I have never known anything like it, we were constantly bombarded with leaflets and door knockers. The place is littered with posters and placards too. It has felt like we live in some sort of lovey liberal reeducation camp.

It clearly worked for them

 

[Auld-Yin]

Well this will have soured Boris's porridge this morning! That is a huge turnround and while all sorts of spin will be put on it the Tories will be having a WTF happened meeting sometime soon!

Labour vote almost totally collapsed but this won't bring Sir K down as it would be stupid of Labour to take the media's eye off the Tories. They will be looking to see if this is the start of Labour votes going to Libs, which is a real possibility. Labour voters so pissed off with the Party that their vote will go to Lib Dems - run that over the country and we could see the Party fortunes between the two swapping.

This will have made a great start to the weekend for @wetsmonkey

 

[pimpernel]

It appears that Mr Fleet has a talent for stating the stunningly obvious. That, and turning a 16,223 vote majority into a resounding loss.

Thats quite a reversal in fortunes. And Chesham and Amersham for heavens sake, the Limp Dem style of writing course must have produced some serious works of fiction to scare the blue rinse brigade and 'late' of the City residents!
Sir K will get his marching orders from his punchy left flank, he can't continue in this champagne socialist way.

 

[Boumer]

Well this will have soured Boris's porridge this morning! That is a huge turnround and while all sorts of spin will be put on it the Tories will be having a WTF happened meeting sometime soon!

Labour vote almost totally collapsed but this won't bring Sir K down as it would be stupid of Labour to take the media's eye off the Tories. They will be looking to see if this is the start of Labour votes going to Libs, which is a real possibility. Labour voters so pissed off with the Party that their vote will go to Lib Dems - run that over the country and we could see the Party fortunes between the two swapping.

This will have made a great start to the weekend for @wetsmonkey

Only 53% turnout though.

The usual assessment that "the motivated turn out at by-elections, versus a higher turnout out at general elections" which may well reverse the place for the conservatives.