High Peak

[john07]

Jun 2, 2024 17:10:36 GMT cogload said:

Didn't Willie Whitelaw use a yellow rosette?

The North East Labour Party used green.

Liverpool Tories used orange at one stage. Can't think why?

[Adam in Stroud]

Jun 2, 2024 17:36:22 GMT yellowperil said:

Yes I was involved in my first campaigns from 1945,age 6, onwards, and we were definitely yellow- I remember big yellow posters on our front lawn from a very early age. But in those days Yellow meant Labour - the liberals, when they re-emerged were red.

That's interesting.

I'm sure yellow is the Liberal colour (and blue for the Tories) when politics is referenced in Edwardian literature (e.g. Saki)

[yellowperil]

Jun 2, 2024 19:19:58 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

Jun 2, 2024 17:36:22 GMT yellowperil said:

Yes I was involved in my first campaigns from 1945,age 6, onwards, and we were definitely yellow- I remember big yellow posters on our front lawn from a very early age. But in those days Yellow meant Labour - the liberals, when they re-emerged were red.

That's interesting.

I'm sure yellow is the Liberal colour (and blue for the Tories) when politics is referenced in Edwardian literature (e.g. Saki)

I think it varied from place to place. I was describing the practice where I was then, which was, as it happens, Yeovil. 

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Jun 2, 2024 21:32:14 GMT yellowperil said:

Jun 2, 2024 19:19:58 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

That's interesting.

I'm sure yellow is the Liberal colour (and blue for the Tories) when politics is referenced in Edwardian literature (e.g. Saki)

I think it varied from place to place. I was describing the practice where I was then, which was, as it happens, Yeovil. 

If you have a copy of Henry Stooks Smith's "The Parliaments of England" (and if not, why haven't you?) then it lists the colours used by local parties and candidates.

[gwynthegriff]

Jun 2, 2024 22:08:11 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Jun 2, 2024 21:32:14 GMT yellowperil said:

I think it varied from place to place. I was describing the practice where I was then, which was, as it happens, Yeovil. 

If you have a copy of Henry Stooks Smith's "The Parliaments of England" (and if not, why haven't you?) then it lists the colours used by local parties and candidates.

I've seen a reference to a rosette maker in the 1960s stocking Liberal rosettes in eight different colours!

[tonyhil]

I had a Liberal Party election poster on my wall at the age of 11 (1959) which was green dayglo - Hitchin constituency.

[tonyhil]

Back to High Peak - this is a similar sort of stunt to local candidates setting up web links in the name of their opponents that direct people to their own website (or Facebook account or whatever): it's the sort of thing that immature political geeks think is clever, and most people regard as being pathetic and stupid.

[Adam in Stroud]

Jun 2, 2024 21:32:14 GMT yellowperil said:

Jun 2, 2024 19:19:58 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

That's interesting.

I'm sure yellow is the Liberal colour (and blue for the Tories) when politics is referenced in Edwardian literature (e.g. Saki)

I think it varied from place to place. I was describing the practice where I was then, which was, as it happens, Yeovil. 

I'll try to find the Saki reference, but my (possibly faulty memory) is that he uses "yellow or blue" as shorthand for politics in the way that we (or Americans) might say "red or blue". Doubtless there was more scope for local variation and tradition in a pre-colour photography age (let alone TV and t'internet)

This may force me to re-read my Complete Saki from cover to cover, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

[islington]

Jun 3, 2024 10:52:24 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

Jun 2, 2024 21:32:14 GMT yellowperil said:

I think it varied from place to place. I was describing the practice where I was then, which was, as it happens, Yeovil. 

I'll try to find the Saki reference, but my (possibly faulty memory) is that he uses "yellow or blue" as shorthand for politics in the way that we (or Americans) might say "red or blue". Doubtless there was more scope for local variation and tradition in a pre-colour photography age (let alone TV and t'internet)

This may force me to re-read my Complete Saki from cover to cover, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

At Eatanswill it was the Blues v the Buffs, which I've always assumed meant 'Tory v Whig'. And buff, as a colour, is not so far from yellow.

[Adam in Stroud]

Jun 3, 2024 11:45:01 GMT islington said:

Jun 3, 2024 10:52:24 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

I'll try to find the Saki reference, but my (possibly faulty memory) is that he uses "yellow or blue" as shorthand for politics in the way that we (or Americans) might say "red or blue". Doubtless there was more scope for local variation and tradition in a pre-colour photography age (let alone TV and t'internet)

This may force me to re-read my Complete Saki from cover to cover, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

At Eatanswill it was the Blues v the Buffs, which I've always assumed meant 'Tory v Whig'. And buff, as a colour, is not so far from yellow.

I've often wondered if there is a link back to tawny orange, which was the colour of officer's sashes in the Parliamentary army (and which I think in turn derives from the army of the Dutch Republic. Crimson was the colour of officer's sashes in the Royalist army and therefore also of the British Army from Charles II on, to this day.  I believe that in turn was imitated from the Hapsburg armies of the 30 YearsWar and earlier).

[redwombat]

Jun 3, 2024 5:38:15 GMT tonyhil said:

Back to High Peak - this is a similar sort of stunt to local candidates setting up web links in the name of their opponents that direct people to their own website (or Facebook account or whatever): it's the sort of thing that immature political geeks think is clever, and most people regard as being pathetic and stupid.

Agreed.

There are a lot of Labour boards up in High Peak ( I live in the constituency ) but they don't have the candidates name on them  - presumably so they can be re-used in coming elections. I trust the local party will be adding "Pearce" to their boards asap.

[hullenedge]

[Devil Wincarnate]

Jun 3, 2024 10:52:24 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

Jun 2, 2024 21:32:14 GMT yellowperil said:

I think it varied from place to place. I was describing the practice where I was then, which was, as it happens, Yeovil. 

I'll try to find the Saki reference, but my (possibly faulty memory) is that he uses "yellow or blue" as shorthand for politics in the way that we (or Americans) might say "red or blue". Doubtless there was more scope for local variation and tradition in a pre-colour photography age (let alone TV and t'internet)

This may force me to re-read my Complete Saki from cover to cover, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

Such suffering is never in vain.

[bsjmcr]

Jun 5, 2024 16:24:56 GMT hullenedge said:

Is he standing as an independent now? 

Will he also just as strongly condemn James Daly’s spurious allegations and waste of police time regarding Angela Rayner?  



Thought not. 

[jm]

SOPN
www.highpeak.gov.uk/media/9290/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-Notice-of-Poll-and-Situation-of-Polling-Stations/pdf/Statement_of_Persons_Nominated_Notice_of_Poll_and_Situation_of_Polling_Stations.pdf?m=1717774865887

Joanna Collins (Green)
Margaret Cullen (Reform UK)
Peter Hirst (Lib Dem)
Robert Largan (Con)
Jon Pearce (Lab)

[swix]

This actually ended up as one of the best Tory performances. Only an 8% swing. Labour majority of just 7,900. So a very striking over performance here, much much better than any polls or MRP suggested.

High Peak has a smaller Labour majority than next door Macclesfield, which is remarkable considering Rutley was defending a 10,000 majority and Largan was defending a 500 majority. And Sarah Dines lost Derbyshire Dales next door, despite defending a gigantic majority.

Anyone have any idea why this was a bit of an outlier?

[redwombat]

Possible reasons include

Ruth George ( previous labour MP 2017-2019 ) was hardworking and had a personal vote that helped make the 2019 majority so small.
Labour HQ reckoned this seat was "in the bag" and encouraged local activists to work in Hazel Grove, Cheadle and Macclesfield instead.
Largan ran a campaign stressing he was local ( very dubious - only since his election ) and ignoring his party. His posters were white and black.
Some effective use of social media.
Low Labour voter turn out because Labour was going to win anyway

[swix]

Presumably it’s also possible he genuinely had a good personal vote and was well regarded in the constituency.

What was the effective social media?

[matureleft]

I think there’s a ceiling to the Labour vote here. Even in 1997 (when the national vote was far higher) Labour only just cleared 50%. They managed just under 50% in winning in 2017, again when the vote share nationally was much higher. The Tory vote also moves in a relatively narrow span (until Reform knocked them back).

There’s a decent Green vote that probably saw no reason to be squeezed - Labour seemed almost certain to win.

So essentially a seat that probably won’t swing much in normal circumstances

[swix]

Jul 7, 2024 15:13:30 GMT matureleft said:

I think there’s a ceiling to the Labour vote here. Even in 1997 (when the national vote was far higher) Labour only just cleared 50%. They managed just under 50% in winning in 2017, again when the vote share nationally was much higher. The Tory vote also moves in a relatively narrow span (until Reform knocked them back).

There’s a decent Green vote that probably saw no reason to be squeezed - Labour seemed almost certain to win.

So essentially a seat that probably won’t swing much in normal circumstances

I don’t think this is quite right. High Peak had one of the highest swings to Labour anywhere in 2017. Also the prevailing narrative about the seat is that it is rapidly trending Labour. That hardly accounts for one of the smallest swings this time round.