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Post by johnloony on Feb 18, 2017 10:24:03 GMT
Please keep your clothes on. Thank you. would beg to differ. Differ about what?  |
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Tom
Unionist
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Post by Tom on Feb 18, 2017 13:35:35 GMT
Anyone else baffled as to why the media is so much more interested in Stoke than Copeland? This strikes me as the far more important by-election as there is the chance of the government winning a seat off the official opposition, something that has not happened for 35 years. Whereas there's a greater pedigree of the official opposition losing a seat to another opposition party (Bradford West, Romsey etc). If the Tories win this seat or come close it will tell us a lot more about how the general election could turn out than what happens in Stoke.
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,988
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Post by The Bishop on Feb 18, 2017 13:40:16 GMT
You have a point, but much of the media (very much including its "liberal" element) find UKIP "sexy". Plus of course, Stoke is rather easier for Londoners to get to  |
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Feb 18, 2017 13:43:57 GMT
Anyone else baffled as to why the media is so much more interested in Stoke than Copeland? No, no-one. |
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Post by thirdchill on Feb 18, 2017 13:45:43 GMT
Anyone else baffled as to why the media is so much more interested in Stoke than Copeland? This strikes me as the far more important by-election as there is the chance of the government winning a seat off the official opposition, something that has not happened for 35 years. Whereas there's a greater pedigree of the official opposition losing a seat to another opposition party (Bradford West, Romsey etc). If the Tories win this seat or come close it will tell us a lot more about how the general election could turn out than what happens in Stoke. One possible reason aside from UKIP being a contender is the number of gaffes which are being made, the state of the campaign locally and the embarrassing tweets etc that are coming out. That's far more exciting than Copeland where there has been very little of this. Not exciting enough to cover in-depth compared to what is going on at stoke. |
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neilm
Non-Aligned
Posts: 25,023
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Copeland
Feb 18, 2017 15:43:11 GMT
via mobile
Post by neilm on Feb 18, 2017 15:43:11 GMT
It's also much easier to cover an urban seat regardless of how far from London, and it fits better into a whatever narrative anyone wants to push (like Toynbee and her hard to believe claim to have been doorknocking). A semi rural seat just doesn't do that.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 17:34:44 GMT
Having spent all day in Copeland in the wind and rain....well breeze and a bit of spray, I can only say I am glad I don't have to leaflet this all the time. Plenty of troops on the ground from both of the main protagonists. We talked to some Labour canvassers who didnt seem entirely happy. On the other hand there were a few Labour posters about in Egremont. Currently in Wetherspoons in Keswick having a pint of Thornbridge Jaipur Decent pint  |
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Post by gwynthegriff on Feb 18, 2017 17:59:12 GMT
Plus of course, Stoke is rather easier for Londoners to get to Indeed. A glance at the National Rail Journey Planner for Euston-Stoke v Euston-Whitehaven will answer the question. Under 2 hrs v 4 hrs+ |
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Sibboleth
Labour
'Sit on my finger, sing in my ear, O littleblood.'
Posts: 16,040
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Post by Sibboleth on Feb 18, 2017 18:00:40 GMT
Stoke is one of those places that - despite having never visited personally except for maybe thirty seconds with a camera once - certain media types have developed a weird obsession with. They seem to believe it is a heaving pit of fury, discontent, post-industrial bleakness and outright neo-nazism. It is, of course, none of these things.
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Post by justin124 on Feb 18, 2017 20:06:32 GMT
Having spent all day in Copeland in the wind and rain....well breeze and a bit of spray, I can only say I am glad I don't have to leaflet this all the time. Plenty of troops on the ground from both of the main protagonists. We talked to some Labour canvassers who didnt seem entirely happy. On the other hand there were a few Labour posters about in Egremont. Currently in Wetherspoons in Keswick having a pint of Thornbridge Jaipur Did you have any sense as to the state of play there? |
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Post by greenhert on Feb 18, 2017 20:09:50 GMT
There are several reasons why Copeland, despite indeed being more psephologically interesting as David correctly points out, is not getting nearly as much coverage as Stoke-on-Trent Central:
1. Stoke-on-Trent is much easier to get to in transport terms than any of the towns/villages in Copeland; Cumbria is a rather isolated county within England.
2. The gaffes made by both Labour and UKIP in Stoke-on-Trent Central, especially on Twitter, will sell more stories in the dead tree press and get more social media attention.
3. Stoke-on-Trent Central has a wider variety of candidates (10 as opposed to 7, and from a broader political spectrum than Copeland's even though both have all five major UK-wide parties contesting) and one of them is the leader of a UK political party (i.e. Paul Nuttall). Meanwhile, Copeland's main contenders are relatively unknown nationally.
4. Campaigning on the ground has purportedly been more vigorous in Stoke-on-Trent Central than in Copeland.
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Post by justin124 on Feb 18, 2017 20:13:03 GMT
There are several reasons why Copeland, despite indeed being more psephologically interesting as David correctly points out, is not getting nearly as much coverage as Stoke-on-Trent Central: 1. Stoke-on-Trent is much easier to get to in transport terms than any of the towns/villages in Copeland; Cumbria is a rather isolated county within England. 2. The gaffes made by both Labour and UKIP in Stoke-on-Trent Central, especially on Twitter, will sell more stories in the dead tree press and get more social media attention. 3. Stoke-on-Trent Central has a wider variety of candidates (10 as opposed to 7, and from a broader political spectrum than Copeland's even though both have all five major UK-wide parties contesting) and one of them is the leader of a UK political party (i.e. Paul Nuttall). Meanwhile, Copeland's main contenders are relatively unknown nationally. 4. Campaigning on the ground has purportedly been more vigorous in Stoke-on-Trent Central than in Copeland. I get the impression that Labour and the Tories have been campaigning very vigorously in Copeland! |
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Post by greenhert on Feb 18, 2017 20:15:31 GMT
I meant by other political parties in addition to Labour and the Conservatives (and UKIP within Stoke-on-Trent Central).
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Post by gwynthegriff on Feb 18, 2017 20:58:32 GMT
Some of Labour's literature, I am told, but didn't see any, has been pretty unpleasant in tone, which is always a sign that they are worried behaving normally. JFTFY |
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Post by gwynthegriff on Feb 18, 2017 20:59:46 GMT
Stoke is one of those places that - despite having never visited personally except for maybe thirty seconds with a camera once - certain media types have developed a weird obsession with. They seem to believe it is a heaving pit of fury, discontent, post-industrial bleakness and outright neo-nazism. It is, of course, none of these things. As mentioned on the S-O-T C thread try Oliver Road, Stoke on google streetview. |
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Richard Allen
Banned
Four time loser in VUKPOTY finals
Posts: 19,052
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Post by Richard Allen on Feb 18, 2017 23:17:17 GMT
Difficult to say. Our guys seem to think it is going okay, but of course the biggest issue is definitely the hospital. I saw a couple of SAVE OUR HOSPITAL - VOTE LABOUR posters in windows. Either the occupants have been sold a lie or, it is an act of complete self-delusion. In reality I should think that a vote for Trudy Harrison is more likely to see Jeremy Hunt intervene in the decision, than a vote for Jill Troughton. If the Tories win the seat then they are in a position to do something about it and would....cynical though it may be, presumably be more inclined to do it? The hospital though is a real issue. People in Egremont are some 40 miles from Carlisle and by any measure this is a totally unacceptable proposal. It is just way too far for someone in need of emergency treatment. It really is that simple. Of course, so far this is only a proposal. It isn't a hard decision. If Hunt was planning to intervene then he should have done before the postal votes hit. I think it will be tight and I expect that the hospital will be the deciding factor. It depends on what the voters think is the best way to vote in order to keep the hospital open and for that reason I am hopeful that they will vote for Trudy. Some of Labour's literature, I am told, but didn't see any, has been pretty unpleasant in tone, which is always a sign that they are worried Senior Tory activist says vote for us or we will close your hospital and let you all die. |
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Copeland
Feb 18, 2017 23:18:41 GMT
via mobile
Post by Devil Wincarnate on Feb 18, 2017 23:18:41 GMT
Stoke is one of those places that - despite having never visited personally except for maybe thirty seconds with a camera once - certain media types have developed a weird obsession with. They seem to believe it is a heaving pit of fury, discontent, post-industrial bleakness and outright neo-nazism. It is, of course, none of these things. There used to be a community site called Pits and Pots. I realised how middle class I am the other day when I told Mrs DW that we need to go to the Emma Bridgwater factory outlet. |
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Jack
Reform Party
Posts: 8,714
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Post by Jack on Feb 18, 2017 23:23:58 GMT
Stoke is one of those places that - despite having never visited personally except for maybe thirty seconds with a camera once - certain media types have developed a weird obsession with. They seem to believe it is a heaving pit of fury, discontent, post-industrial bleakness and outright neo-nazism. It is, of course, none of these things. There used to be a community site called Pits and Pots. I realised how middle class I am the other day when I told Mrs DW that we need to go to the Emma Bridgwater factory outlet. Do you need some new flowery napkins? |
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Copeland
Feb 18, 2017 23:26:03 GMT
via mobile
Jack likes this
Post by Devil Wincarnate on Feb 18, 2017 23:26:03 GMT
There used to be a community site called Pits and Pots. I realised how middle class I am the other day when I told Mrs DW that we need to go to the Emma Bridgwater factory outlet. Do you need some new flowery napkins? I need spotty dinner plates and I need them in a reasonable timeframe! |
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Post by robert1 on Feb 19, 2017 0:43:55 GMT
'Spotty dinner plates'!! Interesting taste.
On a more Copeland related matter, I'm struck by the poll above which uses blue for a marginal Labour win and yellow for a marginal Tory victory.
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