Local elections

[Dave]

Look what [the Tories] have done to Bramhall. They've absolutely wrecked the place in less than 20 years. 

An interesting observation from Simone - tell us more! 

[simonesaffron]

Thanks Wheels, polite reminder accepted.

Wheels is right (AT LEAST IN MARPLE) there is always a Lib Dem presence whereas we only hear of the opposition (all of em') at election time. I'm always seeing or hearing of the LD Councillors but we don't even know the name of any of the opposition candidates until the election comes around and then its often a different name from the previous year.

There is a strong Lib Dem core vote at local elections in Marple (both North and South) and any other party having aspirations will first have to find a way to overcome that  - and it won't be easy. If the Lib Dems put a donkey up it would still attract the core vote. There are also Labour supporters in Marple who wouldn't dream of voting anything other than Labour nationally  but they vote Lib Dem in locals to keep the Tories out. They are as much a part of the core as the Lib Dems themselves

Labour have got no chance in Marple and the only way Conservatives or UKIP have got is if they form an alliance - which they may do next year although it is doubtful with it being a General Election where they will both be keen increase their party share of the vote. What might happen is that UKIP may emerge as second but that's only pushing votes between the two right wing parties. The LD's will still have their core. 

Thinking about it, do we want a bunch of right wing Councillors in Marple ? Look what they've done to Bramhall. They've absolutely wrecked the place in less than 20 years.



No, I think that Marple will remain Lib Dem territory for quite some time yet.
 

   

[wheels]

Whilst the Lib Dem machine and organisation is certainly better than better than the others I think Dave their success is more to do with year round activity. The old adage "They only appear at election time" can certainly be levied at the other parties in Marple. Also people see through the false claims  of the other parties. The claim by the Marple North Tory to have campaigned successfully to achieved a Council Tax freeze springs to mind when no one who makes such decisions had ever heard of her.

[Dave]

I stumbled across an analysis of the Stockport result on the MEN website:   http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/live---local-elections-2014-7149923#comments

It's interesting that Labour got the biggest share of the vote (29%), but the Lib Dems won more seats.  Also that UKIP polled a sizeable 13% of the vote.  My hunch is that they probably got most of those from Labour and the Tories, rather than the Lib Dems.  If so, the Lib Dem success in Stockport, as well as being a just reward for the hard work that their people put in at elections, could also have been helped by Tory and Labour voters defecting to UKIP. 

[Dave]

abell voted in with just 37% of the vote. 63% didn`t vote for him.

ingham voted in with just 38% of the vote, 62% didn`t vote for her.

By Local Election standards those figures are not bad - indeed, they are both greater than the overall Tory vote at the 2010 General Election (36.1%)! 

[Dave]

I can't help but remind Dave and Simone of their forcaste of a LD defeat in Manor.

I can't help but point out to wheels that I forecast no such thing! 

[wheels]

Of course all the none voters could have voted but the percentages could well have remained the same. So Geoff Abell could still have won with a minority 37% such is the nature of the system. As Howard says a real opportunity was thrown away a couple of years ago to get rid of this system.

[Melancholyflower]

Welcome to the first past the post system. We had our chance to make the first steps towards proportional representation in the referendum and the country chose not to endorse it.

Perhaps you'll get more satisfaction from the Euro elections which do use the PR system.

Hear hear, Howard. A huge opportunity missed, predictably the scaremongers won the day.

It would have been the biggest shake up in electoral politics since 1918 which was, not coincidentally, the first election where Labour became a big force in Britain.

[Mr Marple]

abell voted in with just 37% of the vote. 63% didn`t vote for him.

ingham voted in with just 38% of the vote, 62% didn`t vote for her.

Just over 8000 people bothered to vote combined in Marple north and south, what about the 15000 who couldn`t be bothered to get off their lazy backsides and put an X on 2 ballot papers.

 

Whether it is down to lazy backsides or not, I'd also like to know why they didn't vote. It is quite curious.

[wheels]

Thank you, wheels. Perhaps you should notify the BBC of your numbers:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/councils/E08000007

The BBC have been made aware of this error

[Howard]

Welcome to the first past the post system. We had our chance to make the first steps towards proportional representation in the referendum and the country chose not to endorse it.

Perhaps you'll get more satisfaction from the Euro elections which do use the PR system.

On your point on the 15,000 who didn't vote; perhaps some of them were under 18 and therefore ineligible to vote.

[red666bear]

abell voted in with just 37% of the vote. 63% didn`t vote for him.

ingham voted in with just 38% of the vote, 62% didn`t vote for her.

Just over 8000 people bothered to vote combined in marple north and south, what about the 15000 who couldn`t be bothered to get off their lazy backsides and put an X on 2 ballot papers.

 

[Howard]

This is not correct Howard it is in fact

Lib Dem - 1  Lost Hazel Grove and Stepping Hill Gained Offerton
Con No Change Lost 2 Heatons North and Offerton and Gained Hazel Grove  and Stepping Hill
Labour + 1 Heatons North

Thank you, wheels. Perhaps you should notify the BBC of your numbers:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/councils/E08000007

[wheels]

The situation is exactly the same as pre 2012 and it is likely that the two opposition parties will seek the responsibility on control.

Sorry that should have been "it is Unlikely that the two opposition parties will seek the responsibility of control"

[wheels]

Cllr Derbyshire was re-elected LD Group leader this evening and probably Council Leader. Ian Roberts from Cheadle and Gatley elected as Deputy Leader.