Caters photo
By
Hazel Speed
Mrs May is ‘on a political roll’ with no challengers in sight.
Trudy Harrison is now MP for Copeland, and in winning this political seat has broken a couple of historic records.
Copeland has always been a Labour stronghold for 80 years but these days Labour has a ‘crowd-funded’, not ‘doorstep voted’ following, and a Leader who will never push any Trident button, Copeland being the nuclear industry heartland.
In the Stoke-on-Trent by-election UKIP‘s new Leader Paul Nuttall was involved in an allegedly false claim on social media as it was mentioned (supposedly accredited to himself), that he had lost someone he knew in the Hillsborough Disaster, and he refuted the comment, not endearing to engender votes or anything else! Many, naturally, were most offended.
UKIP therefore lost to Labour, Gareth Snell taking 37.1% of the vote to UKIP’s slim majority of 24.7% compared to the Conservative’s 24.3%. (In Copeland, the Conservatives trounced UKIP with 44.3% of the vote compared to the latter’s 6.5%).
Given that Stoke was considered UKIP territory and Mr Nuttall bragging it was important, they should have romped to success in this by-election.
Some commentators observed that UKIP were concentrating on taking voters from Labour but forgetting there were many Brexiteers also from the Conservative Party, and that Mrs May had now welcomed her mavericks back within a controlled fold.
I also watched an interview with the former, momentary Leader of UKIP, Diane James, who was invited to comment. One felt sorry for her however, as she was being asked almost to defend UKIP by default setting, so had to keep reminding the interviewer she had resigned and was now an Independent. She did make some guarded ‘middle of the road’ comments however.
There are those who think UKIP were mad to let her go and I concur. She is a clever and astute dignified lady and politician with culture and a persona which commands respect. Therefore, when it was announced Diane James had resigned and left UKIP, that cost many votes as there must have been ‘something bad in the woodshed’.
There is a common feeling that Labour are a spent force whereas UKIP have lost their raison d’etre post Brexit Referendum, in addition to the semi-retirement of Nigel Farage.
There were a few jokes, e.g. Mrs May could call an election any time now and win but why not keep Mr Corbyn where he is and get more value out of him.
Personally, I feel Mrs May should stay put as long as possible even after the UK leaves Europe. I also feel Labour should either split, dissolve, or merge with UKIP, then choose another leader.
Mrs May, deservedly, is unstoppable with no fear of any serious competition for as far as any daily horizon she may view.
The Prime Minister is a lady who has already justly earned her place in history, as has the new young MP Trudy Harrison, who won Copeland for the Conservatives. Mrs May visited Trudy at Copeland both before and after the vote. That in itself says a lot both to this talented new MP and the integrity of Mrs May herself – not forgetting her political astuteness. I feel sure Mrs May is a good poker player, albeit a busman’s holiday from the day-job!
Labour and UKIP, you have the wrong Leaders and Message – which do you value most, the Electorate or your pride, as now is the time to prove it or remain as a rather sub-quality political double (in)act!
Hazel Speed
Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine
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