Wycombe

[stb12]

Wycombe

[heslingtonian]

I note that the 2019 Labour candidate who performed well is standing for Galloway's Workers Party. Could that damage Labour's chances here?

[Merseymike]

Apr 30, 2024 13:40:49 GMT heslingtonian said:

I note that the 2019 Labour candidate who performed well is standing for Galloway's Workers Party. Could that damage Labour's chances here?

Probably. Frankly, the awful new candidate Emma Reynolds sums it up.

Khalil Ahmed wrote in April 1st - and for me I agree with the sentiment. Pity about the Workers Party, though...

"With deep regret, I resign from the Labour Party today. My membership of the party spans over two decades, during which I've been actively engaged, serving as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate, a councillor of 10 years, and CLP Chair. Additionally, I had the honour of serving as the Mayor of our beloved town, High Wycombe.

The Labour Party once held the values of social justice, compassion, and advocacy for ordinary working people, but it has strayed from its core principles. I feel that the party has lost sight of its values, making it hard to differentiate from the Conservatives. As a member of a large ethnic minority community in Wycombe, I feel sad, alienated and disappointed by Keir Starmer's lack of support for us.

Under Keir Starmer's leadership, the party lacks compassion. The recent events in Gaza have been distressing, with the Labour leadership failing to condemn atrocities against Palestinians. Labour MPs have justified the bombing of refugee camps and asserted Israel's right to cut off essential supplies to Gaza. The actions of the party leadership are indefensible, the call for a ‘ceasefire that lasts’ was made 4 months too late. Thousands of civilians in Gaza have been killed, and I cannot condone complicity in acts that amount to genocide.

The failure to is unacceptable. Keir Starmer's statements regarding Israel's actions are deeply troubling and undermine the party's credibility on matters of global justice.

The Labour Party's failure to prioritize policies that truly uplift the lives of people and address the pressing crises facing Britain is deeply disheartening. The departure from principles once championed by leaders like Jeremy Corbyn is troubling, but so is the move away from the early foreign policy solutions of New Labour, that sought peace and negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians. Labour must be brave and uphold basic principles of human rights and justice. It must lead this country, not shy away from protecting people and it must learn from the grave mistakes it made in the early 2000s rather than repeating them by supporting conflict that ends the lives of innocent people.

I must be true to myself, and demonstrate leadership to those who voted for me, by resigning from the Labour Party. Today I choose what is right over my own ambition. However, my commitment to our community remains unwavering. I will continue to champion local initiatives like the Wycombe Food Hub and advocate for the establishment of a Town Council, promoting equality and democracy in my home town. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my Labour colleagues and friends who have supported me, especially over the past decade".

[right]

I'm sure there are plenty of local jealousies, but getting a former Labour Parliamentary candidate whose also a former mayor is not a bad move at all. The Workers Party are picking up better candidates than I'd expect from Galloway (although it's a low bar).

[The Bishop]

Well that may be true in some cases but certainly not all. Seen their candidate for Stoke North?

[Devil Wincarnate]

May 7, 2024 13:52:00 GMT The Bishop said:

Well that may be true in some cases but certainly not all. Seen their candidate for Stoke North?

This sounds like an interesting story...

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Steve Baker has publicly attacked the Conservative Party 'National Service' policy, and thinks he may lose his candidacy: "He knows he could be sacked as a candidate and he thinks it would be worth it"

[johng]

May 27, 2024 9:36:28 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Steve Baker has publicly attacked the Conservative Party 'National Service' policy, and thinks he may lose his candidacy: "He knows he could be sacked as a candidate and he thinks it would be worth it"

Defending a majority of just 4.2k (2.4k on new boundaries according to EC), surely that's a likely Labour gain anyway.

But it's clear there's a lot of unhappiness among Tory MPs with Sunak for calling the election and about the campaign so far. It's easy to see how he might think is this worth it.

[finsobruce]

May 27, 2024 9:36:28 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Steve Baker has publicly attacked the Conservative Party 'National Service' policy, and thinks he may lose his candidacy: "He knows he could be sacked as a candidate and he thinks it would be worth it"

Eh? Don't understand that at all.

Nobody likes the policy, if you can even call it that. They are hardly going to remove him at this stage.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

I suspect (a) he thinks he's toast anyway, and so can't be arsed to spend the next five weeks defending a batshit policy; (b) it's a good way to distance himself from a toxic Conservative brand even when he's a government minister.

[East Anglian Lefty]

The more puzzling thing is that he bothered to disturb his holiday to do that.

[johng]

May 27, 2024 19:31:24 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

The more puzzling thing is that he bothered to disturb his holiday to do that.

Yes. I am quite surprised he decided to go on holiday given that he is standing again. He's clearly given up.

[BucksDucks]

9 candidates - Con, Grn, Lab, LD, Ref, Workers, Climate Party, 2 Independents
www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/current-and-previous-elections-in-buckinghamshire/election-timetable-and-notices/parliamentary-general-election-on-4-july-2024/

[Andrew_S]

x.com/AaronBastani/status/1809218745581117699

[right]

Jul 6, 2024 1:20:16 GMT Andrew_S said:

It's easy to forget how principled Steve Baker was compared to most successful politicians, whatever you think of his principles. It shines through against Balls and Osborne, it was about ideas for him and it's the party for Balls and pretty much nothing for Osborne.

[Deleted]

As someone who is firmly non-Conservative, on some issues I found Baker to be one of the worst of them, and on others one of the best. Similar to David Davis. The vast majority of Conservative and Labour MPs seem to sit firmly on a 1D spectrum between the moderate and non-moderate wings of their parties whilst I think voters tend to be more complex, and I think Baker stood out in that regard.

[Clark]

Labour gain despite their vote going down - I suspect their normally reliant Asian voters abandoned them here like in many other places.

[Ports]

Jul 6, 2024 12:05:44 GMT Clark said:

Labour gain despite their vote going down - I suspect their normally reliant Asian voters here abandoned them like in many other places.

Was in High Wycombe town centre in the last week and there were posters for both Khalil Ahmed and Ajaz Rehman that anyone getting a bus will have seen. Obviously here they weren't a substantial enough group to have a big effect, but the Labour majority could've been a bit higher yes.

[batman]

That's absolutely true, but it's worth noting that this seat actually swung noticeably to Labour against the national trend in 2019, so maybe this evens things out slightly in that respect