The People of Great Britain have spoken. After the exit polls – shortly after 10pm last night – predicted a huge Tory majority, the results that came in over night confirmed this. More on some of these results below – I did get up at an unholy hour to watch. There are however two questions which must be asked.
One is: how and above all why did the MSM manage to go with ‘knife edge’ and ‘hung parliament’ even on polling day?
The other is: how come the BBC manage even now to play down the election results by giving time and voice to inane commentators with inane ‘analyses’?
To the results. Were there ‘Portillo Moments’? Oh yes there were – only not the ones the Remain MSM predicted. Boris Johnson, Raab, Redwood, JRM, Iain Duncan Smith, Bill Cash all kept their seats, the exertions of the LibDems notwithstanding. An interesting footnote illustrating the BBC bias was their report that Phillip Lee ‘lost’. He was the Tory backbencher, puffed up by RemainCentral yesterday, who moved to the LibDems and fought Sir John Redwood, who of course won.
However – Jo Swinson, Leader of the LibDems, lost her seat. Yes, that’s correct: the Leader of the ‘Bollocks to Brexit’ Party got kicked out. Many other LibDem hopefuls who had crossed over and joined the Libdems were also not elected, be it Chuka Umunna, formerly Lab, then TIG (remember them?), be it Luciana Berger (formerly Lab then Libdem), be it Sam Gyimah (formerly Tory, even standing for the leadership election in July). The Tory arch remainers Grieve and Gauke both lost, the Tory candidates in their former constituencies beating them handsomely.
Another truly ‘Big Beast’ losing his seat was Dennis Skinner (Lab). Bolsover, his seat, is now Blue. Other seats going Blue across the North were Bishop Auckland, Labour since 1935, or Sedgefield, Tony Blair’s old seat as did Don Valley (Caroline Flint), Labour since 1922. Bridgend in Wales went to the Tories, and staying with Wales, the Tories won in Anglesey which was supposed to be a fight between Labour and Plaid. Apparently this Labour result – if it stands, at an as yet unconfirmed 203 – is the worst in nearly a century.
A sad loss is that of Nigel Dodds (DUP). What this, and the reduced number of DUP MPs means for both BRINO and Ireland, that remains to be seen.
Given the huge Tory win there were too many results to celebrate – mostly of Labour MPs losing their seats, MPs who have made a spectacle of themselves, but also of certain LibDems such as Tom Brake who tried to out-JRM JRM. Also gone is Anne Soubry, the spokesperson of the TIGs, formerly Tory, who kept popping up all the time.
After the tears of Labour MPs who lost or just won, we got the first Labour voices saying that this loss was due to both Brexit and therefore Labour’s disastrous Remain policy, and to Corbyn. John Mann, former Labour MP, said the losses were due to the toxicity of Corbyn and the toxicity around him: ‘if Labour doesn’t learn that lesson Labour won’t exist’. The swing in his old seat of Basset Law, he said, sums up the arrogance of Labour: ‘If that doesn’t go, Labour is finished.’
Caroline Flint (Lab) who lost her seat, blamed Corbyn for the Labour loss, saying that ‘the Corbyn project is not a project to win us elections. Moderate MPs put the pursuit of Remain at the expense of our heartland voters.’ Labour’s Momentum spokesperson meanwhile maintained that the election was sadly about Brexit and that their socialist policies played no part in their defeat … yes, really.
The ‘Remain alliance’ between Green, Yellow and the rest simply did not materialise. Remainers are blaming this failure on hatred of Corbyn while Labour is blaming it on Brexit – both are denying that we the voters, we the people have put them both in their place.
So what about Corbyn? He announced that he won’t be leading the Party into another GE, but will remain to oversee a change in the leadership of Labour. The BBC has heard from John McDonnell who apparently will also go – allegedly together with Corbyn, but not quite yet so as ‘not to cause panic’. As for possible Labour Leader candidates – God help us: Ms Long-Bailey, Ms Emily Thornberry, even Ms Jess Phillips … words fail!
There’s another leadership election coming: as Ms Swinson – who was going to waltz into No10 on the Remain vote, remember? – cannot now be leader of the LibDems because she has lost her seat, the runner-up, Ed Davey, will be the leader in the HoC while the LibDems have to elect a new leader. There’s also the small matter that they managed to end up with one seat less than in 2017.
And what does this resounding Johnson victory mean for Brexit? The BBC in the form of Andrew Marr was already opining that this might mean a ‘hard Brexit’, while others think he’ll now shove his BRINO through the HoC.
One point not mentioned in the MSM is that some Tory wins in the North were only possible because TBP took votes from Labour. It’s also interesting that MSM commentators are suddenly going on about the ‘Remain Alliance’ having fallen apart. I’ve been scouring the MSM religiously these past weeks – but mention of a ‘Remain Alliance’ was there none. There were lots of articles about TBP splitting the Leave vote though. That, to me, demonstrates in exemplary fashion that the issues not spoken about in the MSM are the ones that actually matter.
Johnson re-labelled the Tory Party as the ‘One Nation Tory Party’. The result, according to Andrew Neil, shows that this election was transformative because the Tories are now more small-town, more working class, and less ‘shires’ – whereas Labour, as mentioned by Yvette Cooper (Lab) who kept her seat, is now more a metropolitan party and no longer the party of the working classes.
And so to the SNP, winning 48 seats: they believe that this result means they now have the mandate, according to Ms Sturgeon, to insist on a 2nd Indy Ref. However, as Mr Marr pointed out: by the time this can even be talked about, we may be out of the EU, meaning there will be currency problems, border problems – and Ms Sturgeon and the SNP are facing the trial of Mr Salmond for sexual offences. Circumstances change …
With just a few seats still to be counted, the Tories have a majority of 78. We’ll see how Johnson will shape his new cabinet. The MSM are opining that this might mean the end of those bad ‘hardcore’ Brexiteers in the ERG. Since the truly knowledgeable Leave Tories – Sirs Bill Cash and John Redwood and Iain Duncan Smith for example – were not voted out by that ‘Remain alliance’, this could mean that the Bexiteers might have more weight when it comes to Brexit negotiations because they do not need to hold their noses and vote for BRINO so as to keep Johnson in.
As for the MSM and their use of polls: that was a huge fail. They are now left with gallons of egg on their faces. Regarding the BBC in particular, given their shenanigans about Johnson not going on that Andrew Neil interview, given the hostility -still only just veiled – of Andrew Marr, given the shocked faces of BBC presenters when the exit polls came out: this is Johnson’s chance to get rid of the BBC.
In general, the opinion of the MSM opinion makers and the Labour and LibDem losers was that this election was indeed the Brexit election, lost because the ‘Remain Alliance lost’. NHS? Socialism in one country? Rejected by us, the people.
We told That Lot that yes, we meant it when we voted to Leave – and that Johnson better get on with it, in the right way. This our vote was not ‘advisory’, and we definitely knew what we were voting for!
But don’t forget: we still don’t have Brexit. Today, there’s the EU Summit under that new leadership. So we cannot and will not rest on the laurels of today’s Tory victory, we will
KBO!
[Personal remark: I’m shattered, so are the rest of the INDEPENDENCE Daily editors. Please forgive us for today’s ‘reduced service’, with just Debbie’s invaluable Press review, and this column.]
I would also like to thank Viv and Debbie for the magnificent work done on this site. Your trawling through the newspapers every day, is a mammoth task, and it makes it so much easier to keep up to date with all the msm’s lies and distortions. I find that it is their omissions, that are the most illuminating. This detailed analysis of the General Election is really great to read. I did love seeing the loser politicians, especially Jo Swinson. But Nicola Sturgeon’s triumphalism, with repeatedly punching the air. It was so demeaning, and not the actions of a true leader. The msm were gutted.
I`ll keep it brief for once – did I hear hoarse laughter?
Viv and Debbie persistent brilliance, you`ve certainly provided a load of bullets between you, and I am sure you have played a major role in the remain debacle
Does KBO mean “Keep Boris `onest” ?
I`m sure that`s our major task from now on.
I was just having a look at the Guardian, CNN and other lefty publications: all in full melt down mode:-) There have been riots in London, these lefties just refuse to accept that their day is over, reality will catch up with them.
As much as I despise Angela Merkel, she’s an intelligent if misguided woman, she’s known for a long time that her globalist Marxist fantasy is over, it has failed and the tide has turned against it. Things could still get very messy as all of this Liberal / Lefty / Marxist / globalist crap unwinds but people a waking at an ever increasing rate, whatever happens: it is over.
Whether we end up with BRINO or True Brexit the one good thing to come out of all this is the fact that the, Remainers, Remoaners, Revokers, Blockers and Stoppers have been well and truly hammered. The ignored and denigrated Leavers have sent a clear message to the Political elites, MSM and other anti-democrats, “We have seen through your hypocrisy and lies”. Labour Leave voters in the North have been taken for granted and treated with contempt by their Londonistan centered party which has drifted away from it’s working class base and become more representative of, students, minorities, political correctness, etc, and is obviously more attractive to the metropolitan electors than traditional Labour voters.
Thanks to the I D team and all contributors for providing some sanity and an opportunity to share views at a very troubling and chaotic time.
We still need to K B O.
Just a big thank you to Debbie and Viv, my only honest news review which kept me sane if not increased blood pressure.
Viv and I are happy to work as hard as we can towards a full and complete Brexit, but the job is not over yet so, as Viv says
KBO
Allow me to also add my appreciation to Debbie and Viv for all their hard work.
I did my duty yesterday and helped remove the not so fragrant Grieve from the green benches.
We can all sit back now for a day or two, before we KBO next week.
Oh well done indeed! That, and the count afterwards, must have been hugely enjoyable!
I stayed up till 5am European time. We are away at the moment till Christmas. Major storm and the leccy went out for 4 hours at that point. I had to resort to taking my little radio to bed with headphones and could just pick up Five live. It was a pretty conclusive result and many annoying ones are no more. Thank goodness. We raised a G&T at lunch and breathed out. I hope he lives up to his promises and squashes any dissenting voices. Corbyn should step down today, although he is the gift who keeps giving. Their little quivering faces were a joy to behold. The people have spoken again. Hopefully this will be the last time needed. Merry Christmas to you all and a very Brexity New Year. :}
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/uk-has-e2-80-98wreaked-its-revenge-on-the-political-establishment-e2-80-99/ar-AAK5FAl
An excellent interview by Sky Australia News with Brendan O’Neill of Spiked.
A huge thank you Viv for all of your graft.
Thanks for the link, Ceri – and congrats for getting rid of that Wollaston critter! One more on that list of enjoyable moments, watching the defeat of the traitors.
Viv l, I would like to add my thanks to you and Debbie for your hard work. What happened yesterday was that on the whole the ‘remainiacs’ got a well deserved punishment beating. I had hoped Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper would have been amongst the ‘punished’ but although Cooper came close she was let off the hook in the end.
I am delighted and relieved Corbyn and Co have been vanquished; sad BXP did not win a seat or two especially as they played such an important part and curious about how Bojo will handle Brexit and the SNP.
Meanwhile, all the best.
Viv, thanks for all your superb Brexit Bretrayal analyses and today’s masterly summing up.
I feel now that Johnson has absolutely no excuse if he lumps us into associate colony membership of the EU with his ” any deal will do” WA&PD. All of us who have been calling for a proper, clean Brexit now need to put the pressure on Johnson and the ERG to gird up their manhood and insist that nothing less than a Free Trade deal and clean Brexit will be good enough for the millions who have confirmed their desire for Brexit and routed the naysayers.
You both deserve a well earned rest. Boris in. What could possibly go wrong…
Must join the deserved congratulations to the ‘Daily’ Team……….fantastic reporting, insight throughout the whole term, and above all? MANY common sense comments new evaluations. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
A bit of stats:
An average number of votes per party to get 1 seat was 160,204.
25,883 is minimum required – SNP.
864,743 is maximum required Greens.
Above the average:
Liberal Democrat – 334,122
Brexit Party – 642,323 but 0 seats
Below the average:
Conservative – 38,300
Labour – 50,701
Democratic Unionist Party – 30,516
Sinn Féin – 25,979
Plaid Cymru – 38,316
Social Democratic & Labour Party – 59,369
Well Done Viv and Debbie. Much appreciated. Certainly helped me through some of the darker moments. I hope this win provides at least a small break in which you can recharge batteries, refresh the soul, rediscover a sane world etc.
Hard to believe that Y Cooper kept her seat. I know it’s the red rosette mentality, but even so – her constituency voted Leave, nearly 70 per cent!
18,297 people there must be daft as brushes.
If I am correct, she did originally identify there was an immigrant problem from the EU and said the Labour Party must do something about.
And now likely to be the new labour leader
Well done ladies! Saved me staying up all night for a change!
Shattered you may be, I believe you. Yet today Viv you’ve written one of your BEST reports. Got right to the bottom of it all.
Do you realise folks IT’S FRIDAY 13TH.
Many thanks to you Viv and Debbie for all your extremely committed work to further our cause. Nobody could have done it better. We Brexiteers are deeply indebted to you both.
Here, Here!
It was essential to obliterate the Marxist threat. Three cheers for that. But let’s not get carried away.
Riddle me this: When is a Brexit not a Brexit?
Almost as soon as the GE is over the truth comes seeping out. They proclaim let’s get Brexit done and declare Jan 31 2020 Brexit Day. Um? But it isn’t. It’s the day we lose all say in the EU but continue to pay and continue to be subservient to all their laws and diktats. That ain’t Brexit Day. All Fools Day more like.
The scenarios go on to declare Brexit will also happen at the end of the transition period and/or when we have a trade deal; could be Jan 2021 or even Jan 2022. Two Brexits, three Brexits, then? And factor in the needless Treaty and the Political Declaration, and whenever Brexit happens, below the fanfares and veneer, it will not be truly Brexit.
Unless Boris, empowered by his landslide, decides finally to talk tough and be tough. I would like to be pleasantly surprised, but I am not holding my breath.
Correct in every way.
Many, many thanks to Viv and Debbie for the many hours they have put in to provide us with news and infomed comment throughout. ‘Indie’ has been my first port of call each day and I’ve distributed regular links to a large group of friends and colleagues.
Viv, you rightly make much of the inability of the losers to face the truth: that their policies, and for some their very nature, were unpopular; because they couldn’t possibly be wrong could they.
But it wasn’t just the politicians.
Andrew Marr’s final words on a revealing and game changing night, perfectly illustrated, as if it need to be, how our self-proclaimed elites are so up themselves, so lacking in self-awareness, that they will never and can never learn. Viewing through his protective mental polarising prism, Marr disdainfully declared it had been, “a provincial revolt against metropolitan values.”
There you have it; he thinks the peasants are revolting. The authentic voice of the despot down the centuries.
Forgot to add my thanks for your seemingly tireless commentary over the past weeks. A daily light in our darkness.
Us peasants ARE revolting aren’t we? Unwashed,, uncouth, disrespectful that’s me and proud of it ! Was it first said in Tsarist Russia?
Oh. By the way, I should have said earlier Well Done Viv. KBO
This comment will just not appear under Flyer’s where it was intended.
I look forward to:-
Defence contracts to British firms
Keeping our fish and limiting Fish exports.
Some signal on Tax easing on future value industries.
Government restriction on cancerous growthindustries.
Tidying up our democracy, Which has shown its resilience.
War on corruption, Drug Lords, Shadow power.
Return to proper and useful Education. ( Pehaps free Private Education.)
I would like to point out to the politicians of ukip, that ,had they listened to anything but themselves they would now be in pole position as a PROTEST PARTY with many avenues of fertile ground. Fools.
T G Spokes sounds about right to me.
We shall see where Boris really stands .now
Boris (to EU): “Now chaps, how do I stand with regard to leaving the EU?”
Barnier (EU): “You don’t stand Mr Johnson. – You grovel”.
The importance of this election is that Brexit is not an aberration but an insistence on leaving an arrogant and corrupt EU.
And where Britain has led others will follow?
Let us hope that others do follow. The destruction of the EU and those globalist organisations which seek to control us, whether directly or by the use of deluded teenagers, is an absolute necessity for our longer term survival.
Thanks so much both for your daily detailed and incisive summations throughout this campaign (and before it.)
I updated myself every time I woke up with the BritainElects Twitter feed but couldn’t stay up or bear to watch the BBC and co. My take too is that voters were very clever on the whole and voted Con over BXP in most of the constituencies where a Con gain was possible in a close marginal but BXP where not so close – 90% of BXP votes came from disgruntled Lab voters in these allowing Con some incredible wins eg Blyth. The Tories owe BXP a big thank you (but will never give it.)
The Tories as a priority if they have any common sense (debatable) need to show these newly won over Lab strongholds that conservatism and restrained capitalism pays and ensure their lives are noticeably better under them than Lab. They MUST reduce low grade immigration and encourage new business growth and new jobs in these areas.
Shame BXP didn’t get any seats though they came very close in Barnsley. Tories in Hartlepool should have voted for Tice if they wanted a real Brexit. This and the two Barnsley seats were lost to Leave due to tribal Tories. Enjoy your Lab MP folks.
Many thanks to Debbie and Viv for their unending vigilance and damned hard graft ….Now to keep reminding Boris that multiple thousands of the votes cast in favour of the Cons are not permanent , but only on short term loan and were only granted on the condition that he totally complies with the Democratic Wishes of the Real British People….
It was delicious seeing Jo Swinson loose her seat wasn’t it:-)
Yes, but tempered by watching Sturgeon gloating over it.
Thank you Viv; please take a well earned rest. We can survive without you over the weekend…and look forward to more ID on Monday.
Well done to the ID team. Much deserved praise on these comments. I suspect the Daily Brexit Betrayal column will continue as long as Viv feels motivated and appreciated. Long may she reign.
In the meantime I will be writing to my brexit supporting MP with a message to ask them to actually look at the withdrawal treaty again. The ERG may be happy with BRINO but Its still a horrible and treacherous act of deception. Now the tories have a majority will they have an honest debate about what they intend to vote for? I dont want a delay but the tories need to wake up and stop pushing through a treaty that was always framed to make leaving of no consequence and rejoining at some later date so easy. Will Boris surrender to the EU for an easy life? Very likely. I hope some conservatives made it into westminster last Thurs. We shall see.
Thanks Viv and yes, shattered – you and me both!
‘Twas fun though! I’ve taken note though of what the BBC and the other TV lot didn’t show nor found noteworthy, e.g. the ‘Portillo Moment’s which didn’t happen: Raab, Redwood, IDS, JRM
Well Done to everyone!
Ah well, There was much ado, but luvvies labour lost ! So hopefully all’s well that ends well! 🙂
I see what you did there. Have a tick.
JF
Thanks JF 🙂