This is Northumberland Calling 5.07.24

The Lacklustre Landslide edition

Hello American (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling

The results are in and Starmer won by a landslide. However, when you look at the numbers, the turnout wasn’t great and some things were mixed. A lot will depend on how Labour govern. Starmer is expected to appoint his whole cabinet today and get on with governing tomorrow. There is a NATO summit next week after all.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-labour-biggest-party-holborn/  or https://archive.ph/eXQeD

Here, my MP Guy Opperman lost his seat. He was a good MP in many respects – he certainly worked hard on local issues, but as pension secretary, he also brought in ESG. And he was closely linked to the unseating of Liz Truss as prime minister and installing of his friend Rishi Sunak, bypassing the Conservative members entirely. I suspect he contested his seat because Sunak asked him to as he was supposed to be retiring and suddenly he wasn’t. It also appears the Lib Dem vote collapsed in Hexham so there was some sort of tactical voting.  The new MP Joe Morris grew up in the area but has worked in the Westminster bubble since uni. He will be a Starm-trooper.

All but one seat in the North East went to Labour. The new MP for Durham North Luke Akehurst formerly ran the ‘We Believe in Israel’ group. He was parachuted into the seat, one of the safest for Labour.

Kemi Badenoch retained her seat. Suella Braveman also retained hers. Unfortunately Miriam Cates lost hers as did the SNP stalwart Joanna Cherry.

Many Big Beasts in the Tory party did lose their seats most notably Liz Truss. Jacob Rees-Mogg also lost his. Grant Shapps as well. Penny Mordaunt (the one who carried the sword at the coronation) also went. All the Tory big beasts and cabinet ministers who have lost their seats (telegraph.co.uk)

Pro Gaza and anti-Semitic MP George Galloway lost his seat.

Nigel Farage won one (one the eighth attempt of trying - -Reform now have four seats)

More worryingly is the number of one-issue (an issue which has nothing to do with the running of UK domestic policy)  independent MPs were elected and Labour had a hard fight in a number of constituencies, particularly in Birmingham. The Labour MP Jess Phillips was booed by pro-Gaza supporters as she gave her victory speech. She, however, did seem to know what to do with them. Wes Streeting was narrowly re-elected and should be the new Health Minister. He too faced a pro-Gaza challenger and Shabana Mahmood who will probably be the justice minister narrowly squeaked through.  The takfiri movement and other illiberal movements are going to be a thorn in Labour’s side. And hopefully they will take another look at Lord Walney’s report on political violence.

 However, by tacking to the centre, Starmer might not have to depend on the Islamo-Left. He has a large enough majority to govern from the centre without worrying about the far Left too much, much as Blair did. Labour tends to win when they keep to the centre.

These are the manifesto pledges and the Times’ view on what is there and not there. Labour has more than enough MPs to deliver on them.  

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-party-manifesto-2024-key-policies-pledges-keir-starmer-general-election-ssr220qw7 or https://archive.ph/C5J8X

The SNP in Scotland collapsed. It shows what happens when you ignore the electorate and indulge in petty thieving. Independence is now firmly off the agenda in Scotland. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/snp-admits-independence-is-off-the-table-after-labour-rout-in-scotland-pcmch2mn9 or https://archive.ph/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/snp-admits-independence-is-off-the-table-after-labour-rout-in-scotland-pcmch2mn9

Because there are always scene stealing moments – the Telegraph did a good round up including the man wearing a baked- bean balaclava next to Jacob Rees-Mogg as the Moggster had to give his concession speech. The award to the best hat goes to the High Sheriff of Northumberland. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/maddest-general-election-night-coverage-moments/  or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/maddest-general-election-night-coverage-moments/

There are always leaving honours and Hilary Cass was raised to a crossbench peer which means she will serve in the House of Lords and hopefully will be a strong voice when some of the Labour promises such as a full conversion therapy ban are looked at. This is the full list:  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dissolution-peerages-2024

Because France is in the midst of the 2^nd part of its snap election, Robert Tombs has done an excellent op ed – in the first round you vote what you want. In the second you vote against what you fear. And France is about to discover what they fear most.  He is very gloomy and figures the Fifth Republic might be doomed. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/04/frances-fifth-republic-may-not-survive-the-week/ or https://archive.ph/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/04/frances-fifth-republic-may-not-survive-the-week/

Here my revisions are due next week and I am still working on them.

The weather has been blustery and cold, not like July at all.

Paddy in his stars and stripes

Paddy has been enjoying his walks and did wear a stars and strips bandana yesterday in honour of the Fourth of July.

Hopefully everyone else’s week was a good one. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.

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