Left wingers are getting a bit scared

[Fittster]

Look at the demographic of the vote, right wingers should be scared. They will be dead in 30 years.

"The website ConservativeHome (which now stages its own conferences) last month surveyed Conservative constituency associations which do return membership figures. It ads up to just under 60,000 paid-up members. This suggests total membership is unlikely to exceed 100,000 — less than half of the 253,600 when Cameron was elected leader.

‘Never mind trade unions, the Church of England, county cricket: the Conservative party has taken over the role of Britain’s most rapidly declining institution. With an average age of 68, the Conservative party is like a rural bus service whose clientele has dwindled year-on-year to an elderly rump, to the point at which it would be cheaper to replace it with a dial-a-ride taxi service.’"

[WinstonWolf]

Soov535 said:

Agree 100%

Cameron has played a fking hand and half here.

I suspect these "new powers" will severely emasculate politicians north of the border whilst being dressed up as a positive thing

[toppstuff]

Fittster said:

Look at the demographic of the vote, right wingers should be scared. They will be dead in 30 years.

"The website ConservativeHome (which now stages its own conferences) last month surveyed Conservative constituency associations which do return membership figures. It ads up to just under 60,000 paid-up members. This suggests total membership is unlikely to exceed 100,000 — less than half of the 253,600 when Cameron was elected leader.

‘Never mind trade unions, the Church of England, county cricket: the Conservative party has taken over the role of Britain’s most rapidly declining institution. With an average age of 68, the Conservative party is like a rural bus service whose clientele has dwindled year-on-year to an elderly rump, to the point at which it would be cheaper to replace it with a dial-a-ride taxi service.’"

This is a problem in politics in general. The Labour party is pretty skint these days and membership isn't exactly bursting.

Being a member of a political party just isn't common anymore. It doesn't meant that people don't vote though.

[ralphrj]

toppstuff said:

This is a problem in politics in general. The Labour party is pretty skint these days and membership isn't exactly bursting.

This. Party membership can actually be higher when you are in opposition as more people are motivated to get behind you to get you re-elected.

toppstuff said:

Being a member of a political party just isn't common anymore. It doesn't meant that people don't vote though.

And this. In the 1970s 10% of the population were members of a political party. Today it is just 1%.

[grumbledoak]

Rovinghawk said:

I'm not sure whether all this was planned, just kinda happened or evolved over the period of the referendum.

I rarely give politicians any credit, but if they have a talent it is more for seizing an opportunity than creating one, and for taking the credit rather than being responsible for any success. I suspect this is no exception.

[anonymous-user]

Rovinghawk said:

I'm not sure whether all this was planned, just kinda happened or evolved over the period of the referendum.

It certainly seems to be working to DC's benefit, though.

He made promises for more devolved powers for Scotland that his own party are already saying they won't support.

Isn't that going to end very badly for him?

[turbobloke]

McWigglebum4th said:

turbobloke said:

toppstuff said:

England on its own, is proportionally rather more Tory than the entire Uk taken together.

2010

not entirely an accurate picture

There is more labour MPs inside the M25 then there is in scotland

So don't get too self congratulatory

There's nothing self-congratulatory in a map, even when it's entirely accurate as per the one above at the time of the 2010 result.

All that blue touched a nerve for some reason maybe.

England looks like this in terms of the current three main parties:

Conservatives
296

Labour
191

Lib Dems
42

That'll do nicely but it could be better and will be if when the LibDems get what's coming. There are allegedly 38 Labour MPs in London, granted that's not the same as within the M25, and 40 in Scotland. Not having the malign influence of the 40 on matters pertaining to England will do nicely. I'll congratulate CMD if he manages to neuter the 40.

[BlackLabel]

So basically Cameron cannot deliver ‘Scottish Home Rule' without offering the same to England. If he did he would risk a revolt from within. And Labour will not accept this for England as it would leave them disadvantaged electorally.

So wtf will happen? Did no one think of this before they sent Gordon Brown to Scotland to offer what he did?

[MrBarry123]

The Telegraph explained this scenario previously (see link below).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100286...

Check and mate.

[THX]

I can't stand Cameron as a person, but I have to admit; he's a good fking slippery politician.

[turbobloke]

MrBarry123 said:

The Telegraph explained this scenario previously (see link below).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100286...

Check and mate.

Article linked by MrBarry123 said:

At which point the penny finally is going to drop for Miliband. He will be faced with a choice. He will have to try and cobble together some specious argument for why English voters are to be denied the same constitutional rights as their Scottish neighbours – an argument the Conservative Party and Ukip will gleefully tear to shreds – or he will have to endorse a constitutional settlement that will effective neuter him and his party politically for a generation.

Longer than that, hopefully but not at all self-congratulatory

[RichB]

toppstuff said:

An equally alternative scenario is to see the Tories charge forward under Boris and the flag of St George, rally the vote on an English parliament, marginalise UKIP and be back in charge in time for tea and biscuits.

[Einion Yrth]

turbobloke said:

MrBarry123 said:

The Telegraph explained this scenario previously (see link below).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100286...

Check and mate.

Article linked by MrBarry123 said:

At which point the penny finally is going to drop for Miliband. He will be faced with a choice. He will have to try and cobble together some specious argument for why English voters are to be denied the same constitutional rights as their Scottish neighbours – an argument the Conservative Party and Ukip will gleefully tear to shreds – or he will have to endorse a constitutional settlement that will effective neuter him and his party politically for a generation.

Longer than that, hopefully but not at all self-congratulatory

I really cannot stand Dan Hodges and he's far from photogenic. He has an IQ however that exceeds that of the current shadow cabinet added together. Not that that's a major achievement mind.

[heppers75]

turbobloke said:

MrBarry123 said:

The Telegraph explained this scenario previously (see link below).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100286...

Check and mate.

Article linked by MrBarry123 said:

At which point the penny finally is going to drop for Miliband. He will be faced with a choice. He will have to try and cobble together some specious argument for why English voters are to be denied the same constitutional rights as their Scottish neighbours – an argument the Conservative Party and Ukip will gleefully tear to shreds – or he will have to endorse a constitutional settlement that will effective neuter him and his party politically for a generation.

Longer than that, hopefully but not at all self-congratulatory

This and in spades - say what you like about 'call me Dave' and I suspect there will be a very large degree of planning behind him from some very clever folks but this has seemingly been played very very well. From a strategic perspective this whole episode does seem to be shaping up to be something of a political masterstroke, it may not play out yet; however all the pieces are on the board and in play to cripple the reds for a very long time.

Here's hoping they play it out that way!

[Steffan]

Einion Yrth said:

turbobloke said:

MrBarry123 said:

The Telegraph explained this scenario previously (see link below).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100286...

Check and mate.

Article linked by MrBarry123 said:

At which point the penny finally is going to drop for Miliband. He will be faced with a choice. He will have to try and cobble together some specious argument for why English voters are to be denied the same constitutional rights as their Scottish neighbours – an argument the Conservative Party and Ukip will gleefully tear to shreds – or he will have to endorse a constitutional settlement that will effective neuter him and his party politically for a generation.

Longer than that, hopefully but not at all self-congratulatory

I really cannot stand Dan Hodges and he's far from photogenic. He has an IQ however that exceeds that of the current shadow cabinet added together. Not that that's a major achievement mind.

Interesting article and as others have said Dan Hodges is very sharp unlike Milliband and co. The Labour party has been fortunate that it has taken this long for the Tories to recognise the opportunity. Nothing has been agrees as yet but I do think that such a change would be entirely just and fair and as a bonus very probably ruin the rest of the Labour parties dreams. Good we could do without another burst of Punic overspending and personal nest filling from Labour apparatchiks seeking political power as a quick buck provider.

Long way to go but we can but hope. I find the fall in political parties membership interesting. It suggests to me that individuals seek wealth and security by their own efforts rather than join a political party to change the system. That may be a fallacious ideal but it is my view. I think education and opportunity has had that effect on the post war bulge and subsequent replacements. Politics is no longer central to the lives of the working man. Neither are trade unions.

[Countdown]

So CMD wil have even less reason to pander to the fruitloop section of his party?

[s2art]

Steffan said:

Long way to go but we can but hope. I find the fall in political parties membership interesting. It suggests to me that individuals seek wealth and security by their own efforts rather than join a political party to change the system. That may be a fallacious ideal but it is my view. I think education and opportunity has had that effect on the post war bulge and subsequent replacements. Politics is no longer central to the lives of the working man. Neither are trade unions.

Not sure about that. Why has the Tory membership dropped so dramatically? I suggest that overall party membership has dropped mainly due to there being little ideological differences between the three big parties; Thatcher won.
I do note that UKIP membership is doing well though. They offer a difference to the mainstream.

[turbobloke]

Countdown said:

So CMD wil have even less reason to pander to the fruitloop section of his party?

No idea which section that is but if he panders less to the about-to-be squished LibDem punnet then great

[Steffan]

s2art said:

Steffan said:

Long way to go but we can but hope. I find the fall in political parties membership interesting. It suggests to me that individuals seek wealth and security by their own efforts rather than join a political party to change the system. That may be a fallacious ideal but it is my view. I think education and opportunity has had that effect on the post war bulge and subsequent replacements. Politics is no longer central to the lives of the working man. Neither are trade unions.

Not sure about that. Why has the Tory membership dropped so dramatically? I suggest that overall party membership has dropped mainly due to there being little ideological differences between the three big parties; Thatcher won.
I do note that UKIP membership is doing well though. They offer a difference to the mainstream.

You may well be right. This is clearly a complex subject and no doubt academics are waxing lyrical upon it currently. My own take is that the older generation who lacked education and opportunity joined trade unions and political unions to make changes in the system. The post 1945 government and subsequent massive legislation did substantially alter that inadequacy. From that point the interest in politics started to diminish and that process has continued.

I have always been aware that I was born into a very fortunate generation being a baby boomer post WW11 personally and I am doubly fortunate as I have never seen war or endured the effects of war. My parent both struggled through two world wars and all the consequences. As did their parents. They were very much more politically aware that I have been both hating the Conservatives with a vengeance. I think that the reasons are as I suggested. But no doubt there are alternative explanations. I am my no means certain that I am right but that is my general feeling on this hypothesis.

Edited by Steffan on Friday 19th September 20:08

[Gaspode]

RichB said:

toppstuff said:

An equally alternative scenario is to see the Tories charge forward under Boris and the flag of St George, rally the vote on an English parliament, marginalise UKIP and be back in charge in time for tea and biscuits.

Yep, I'll drink to that one!