European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,525 
|
Post by European Lefty on Jun 20, 2023 8:18:27 GMT
Yes, Cinderford looked Labour. Vandalised, graffitied, utterly lacking in self-respect. I expect lots of good kids leave Cinderford for the bright lights of Brum At least there is something notable about Cinderford and it's not some abandoned wasteland near Aberdeen. But, nobody from Glos goes anywhere near Birmingham. Being the West Country they either head to Bristol or Gloucester (though a bit like Dursley, lots of people stay where they grew up) |
|
Chris from Brum
Lib Dem
What I need is a strong drink and a peer group.
Posts: 9,175
Member is Online
|
Post by Chris from Brum on Jun 20, 2023 8:29:38 GMT
Yes, Cinderford looked Labour. Vandalised, graffitied, utterly lacking in self-respect. I expect lots of good kids leave Cinderford for the bright lights of Brum At least there is something notable about Cinderford and it's not some abandoned wasteland near Aberdeen. But, nobody from Glos goes anywhere near Birmingham. Being the West Country they either head to Bristol or Gloucester (though a bit like Dursley, lots of people stay where they grew up) I dunno, Cinderford RFC ("the pride of the Forest") seem to bring a few fans with them when they come to Moseley. |
|
neilm
Non-Aligned
Posts: 25,023
|
Post by neilm on Jun 20, 2023 9:00:26 GMT
But, nobody from Glos goes anywhere near Birmingham. Being the West Country they either head to Bristol or Gloucester Nowhere in Gloucestershire is in the West Country. For a start, it's past Exeter so might as well be in the North. Gloucester and Bristol are essentially Midlands cities with more in common with London than Plymouth or Penzance. |
|
|
|
Post by finsobruce on Jun 20, 2023 9:01:03 GMT
"I do not have any desire or need to play into party politics, which inevitably distracts from constituency issues and the needs of local residents" - which is why she joined the SNP presumably.
|
|
|
|
Post by edgbaston on Jun 20, 2023 10:21:51 GMT
But, nobody from Glos goes anywhere near Birmingham. Being the West Country they either head to Bristol or Gloucester Nowhere in Gloucestershire is in the West Country. For a start, it's past Exeter so might as well be in the North. Gloucester and Bristol are essentially Midlands cities with more in common with London than Plymouth or Penzance. Have you heard the accents of the people that come out of the Bristol estates, that’s not Midlands definitely South West. The gentrified central area may be a bit of London, but by that measure you could say a lot of places were, and at that point it loses all meaning. |
|
Chris from Brum
Lib Dem
What I need is a strong drink and a peer group.
Posts: 9,175
Member is Online
|
Post by Chris from Brum on Jun 20, 2023 10:27:10 GMT
I suppose what we need to understand is whether there is a distinction between "South West" and "Westcountry", and what it actually means. Gloucestershire is certainly far closer to Birmingham than to Truro, but to call it Midlands would be odd.
|
|
European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,525
|
Post by European Lefty on Jun 20, 2023 10:34:46 GMT
But, nobody from Glos goes anywhere near Birmingham. Being the West Country they either head to Bristol or Gloucester Nowhere in Gloucestershire is in the West Country. For a start, it's past Exeter so might as well be in the North. Gloucester and Bristol are essentially Midlands cities with more in common with London than Plymouth or Penzance. No. |
|
European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,525
|
Post by European Lefty on Jun 20, 2023 10:36:23 GMT
I suppose what we need to understand is whether there is a distinction between "South West" and "Westcountry", and what it actually means. Gloucestershire is certainly far closer to Birmingham than to Truro, but to call it Midlands would be odd. This is why in my mind West Country is Glos, Bristol, Somerset and the south west is Devon and Cornwall Dorset and Wiltshire are really a separate "Wessex" region alongside parts of Hants though none of these boundaries are hard and they don't really align with county boundaries |
|
|
|
Post by stb12 on Jun 20, 2023 10:54:06 GMT
"I do not have any desire or need to play into party politics, which inevitably distracts from constituency issues and the needs of local residents" - which is why she joined the SNP presumably. I can imagine becoming independent could feel quite refreshing, the trouble being that getting elected as an independent to parliament is extremely difficult. |
|
Sibboleth
Labour
'Sit on my finger, sing in my ear, O littleblood.'
Posts: 15,288
|
Post by Sibboleth on Jun 20, 2023 11:05:00 GMT
At least there is something notable about Cinderford and it's not some abandoned wasteland near Aberdeen. But, nobody from Glos goes anywhere near Birmingham. Being the West Country they either head to Bristol or Gloucester (though a bit like Dursley, lots of people stay where they grew up) London was always a common destination as well, as was South Wales. |
|
|
|
Post by uthacalthing on Jun 20, 2023 11:05:02 GMT
I can imagine becoming independent could feel quite refreshing, the trouble being that getting elected as an independent to parliament is extremely difficult. You have a vivid imagination. Nobody in recent times became an Independent in a refreshing manner. The usual route is disgrace and an inability to be seen in public. Margaret Ferrier is not using her newfound freedom to do lots of good work for society, she is wisely using it to put a few thou into her bank account while hiding from society apart from the occasional forced and desultory appearance. She is 62, her next job offer would be at a humiliating £22k a year and she will be keen to not have to take it and hold on for her pension. |
|
|
|
Post by finsobruce on Jun 20, 2023 11:06:26 GMT
"I do not have any desire or need to play into party politics, which inevitably distracts from constituency issues and the needs of local residents" - which is why she joined the SNP presumably. I can imagine becoming independent could feel quite refreshing, the trouble being that getting elected as an independent to parliament is extremely difficult. You gain : independence, the benefit of not having to go to endless party meetings or adhere to things you don't agree with etc.
You lose: party resources, network of supporters, party infrastructure and often, a sense of reality etc.
|
|
Sibboleth
Labour
'Sit on my finger, sing in my ear, O littleblood.'
Posts: 15,288
|
Post by Sibboleth on Jun 20, 2023 11:06:55 GMT
I suppose what we need to understand is whether there is a distinction between "South West" and "Westcountry", and what it actually means. Gloucestershire is certainly far closer to Birmingham than to Truro, but to call it Midlands would be odd. This is why in my mind West Country is Glos, Bristol, Somerset and the south west is Devon and Cornwall Dorset and Wiltshire are really a separate "Wessex" region alongside parts of Hants though none of these boundaries are hard and they don't really align with county boundaries There's also the older term West of England which would definitely include Gloucestershire, but also Herefordshire and even about half of Oxfordshire. |
|
|
|
Post by Daft H'a'porth A'peth A'pith on Jun 20, 2023 11:09:47 GMT
I can imagine becoming independent could feel quite refreshing, the trouble being that getting elected as an independent to parliament is extremely difficult. You gain : independence, the benefit of not having to go to endless party meetings or adhere to things you don't agree with etc.
You lose: party resources, network of supporters, party infrastructure and often, a sense of reality etc.
When have political parties had anything to do with reality? |
|
|
|
Post by stb12 on Jun 20, 2023 11:10:49 GMT
I can imagine becoming independent could feel quite refreshing, the trouble being that getting elected as an independent to parliament is extremely difficult. You have a vivid imagination. Nobody in recent times became an Independent in a refreshing manner. The usual route is disgrace and an inability to be seen in public. Margaret Ferrier is not using her newfound freedom to do lots of good work for society, she is wisely using it to put a few thou into her bank account while hiding from society apart from the occasional forced and desultory appearance. She is 62, her next job offer would be at a humiliating £22k a year and she will be keen to not have to take it and hold on for her pension. I’m not meaning how it came about, more that when it happens there will be some noticeable benefits as finso mentions above. But of course clear downsides that are more significant in the long term |
|
The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 36,552
|
Post by The Bishop on Jun 20, 2023 11:14:50 GMT
I hope the threshold is not met. It would pain all the right people. There are times when you try a bit too hard  Are we really saying that committed unionist TPFKAB doesn't look forward to an opportunity of giving the SNP a bloody nose? |
|
|
|
Post by stb12 on Jun 20, 2023 11:17:19 GMT
The Tories and Lib Dems will put up paper candidates and do virtually no campaigning here as well
|
|
European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,525
|
Post by European Lefty on Jun 20, 2023 11:17:41 GMT
This is why in my mind West Country is Glos, Bristol, Somerset and the south west is Devon and Cornwall Dorset and Wiltshire are really a separate "Wessex" region alongside parts of Hants though none of these boundaries are hard and they don't really align with county boundaries There's also the older term West of England which would definitely include Gloucestershire, but also Herefordshire and even about half of Oxfordshire. And of course North Glos + Worcs + Herefordshire is actually a relatively coherent grouping. In cultural terms there is a divide through Gloucestershire along the linguistic ʌ~ʊ isogloss (north east to south west, splitting Glos from Cheltenham) and although both halves fit with the west country and the north can fit with Hereford and Worcs, neither can accurately be described as Midlands |
|
|
|
Post by finsobruce on Jun 20, 2023 11:18:40 GMT
You gain : independence, the benefit of not having to go to endless party meetings or adhere to things you don't agree with etc.
You lose: party resources, network of supporters, party infrastructure and often, a sense of reality etc.
When have political parties had anything to do with reality? Often nothing at all, but at least it is an illusion shared with many other people, who will occasionally stand you a pint, buy you an ice cream or pay you an undeserved compliment.  |
|
|
|
Post by East Anglian Lefty on Jun 20, 2023 11:19:41 GMT
I can imagine becoming independent could feel quite refreshing, the trouble being that getting elected as an independent to parliament is extremely difficult. You have a vivid imagination. Nobody in recent times became an Independent in a refreshing manner. The usual route is disgrace and an inability to be seen in public. The other route is being pathologically incapable of dealing with colleagues. |
|
