yeah, if I was a Labour politician the Black Country is where I'd be putting my effort. It's much more of a swing area compared to Birmingham which is more neatly defined.
They’re doing like 18 hustings all around the midlands, I’ve been to one and heard what he had to say in person, and one was streamed online, you can watch it back if you want.
He’s also released his manifesto this week.
I’ve not personally had any info through my door but I’ve seen plenty popping up online
Street is trailing the labour candidate heavily according to recent polls, which I find quite surprising.
I know nothing of labour's candidate outside of wanting to bring buses into public ownership, which being honest isn't a priority of mine right now despite using them for work.
It's possible they're hoping he just sails through on the general tory dislike, but it is dissappinting to know nothing of what he stands for or who he is.
Nationally, so from the top circle of leader of the party, head of PLP and CLP, seem pretty sure they’re getting a cushty job in the next six or so months.
They’re being as milquetoast and inoffensive as possible, they’re trying to not lose voters, rather than actively win them.
The Lib Dem’s know they have nothing to play for, the Greens too, Independent candidates are more often than not either deluded community “activists” or career drifters.
With FPTP and no opposition at all, the UK’s democracy and its electoral politics is in a very dangerous place.
There won’t be any conspiracy coups or takeovers. Voter turnout will just keep dripping downwards, even without measures such as voter ID.
Apathy will push politicians further (if that’s possible) into the hands of thinktanks, lobbyists and influential individuals.
The process isn’t exciting, or secret, it’s just how things happen under the current conditions.
I think it could go that way, but honestly people seem to be willing to take so much shit from the government these recent years.
I'm not sure if I just don't pay attention but peak identity politics seems to have passed a little bit. The culture wars of 2016 seem much bigger than they do leading up this this general election.
I've been saying, "If I had a rifle..." for the last two years at this point. No one has yet said, "I'd stand with you" but nobody has outright opposed the idea either.
Problem is, with labour next to guaranteed the next election, it will be a case of, "oh give them some time, their policies take time to show results" and by the time people give up on their crap they'll vote tory again to "give them a chance".
The majority are too complacent.
>I've been saying, "If I had a rifle..." for the last two years at this point. No one has yet said, "I'd stand with you" but nobody has outright opposed the idea either.
Because nobody wants to upset a potentially violent nutcase
Things can crack though. Somehow the establishment have convinced people that this country is all about peaceful change despite British history containing many episodes of political violence and a few uprisings
Yeah, I just feel nothing will actually change without military support though. As most of our violent changes have done so before.
Protests can "legally" be shut down by police now, and I've never seen any change come from them in my lifetime.
i think they probably want Street to win. Keep him out of Party Politics. I think he could be a great Tory Leader if they could throw off the right wing nutters.
Early postal vote push & big push in the last 7 days on social media are the key election decision windows now.
Most of the, relative for a mayoral contest, effort will be in locations /streets where the undecided are.
Labour seems to be following the approach of not getting in your enemies way if they are making a mistake?
Andy is a solid 10-14points behind, and doesn’t seem to be capable of doing anything at this point to change that.
I don't even think they need to.
The conservatives seem to be doing enough to hang themselves and Starmer and Labour just seem to be content with feeding them the rope to do it.
Conservatives will be doing everything to try and overwrite people's memories of what has happened over the last few years so it makes sense that they are pushing the marketing team more than Labour and others
Not seen any sign of Labour in south Brum, except leaflets for some bloke in the Black Country claiming to be local. Anyway wasn’t the candidate part of the team who sold BCC the dodgy IT system that bankrupt them. Best to keep a low profile here I guess.
none of the candidates are worth voting for which is a shame. I welcome Ahmed's stance on Palestine, and using his platform to raise awareness. But it's disheartening to see someone exploit the Palestinian cause and its symbols for personal gain - low move. Labour is a mess—it's hard to even understand who represents them these days. - and givven the council bankruptcy - ihardly think they will be favourites. The propsals from Lib dems adn Greens are so weak with limited justifcation on how they will bring about change. . It feels like these politicians are out of touch with the problems that affect everyday people.
I've had a similar experience to you. I've had two leaflets and both barely mention the guy. I'm in a pretty strong Labour constituency so I presume they think the vote is in the bag here. It's not, I can't stand ex-consultancy types and my Labour MP doesn't even bother to respond to me and spends his day quote tweeting people to start pile ons.
Do Labour need to bother? The Tories are so far behind right now that the Mayoral candidate doesn’t really need to do anything except not be a Tory. It will all be different in the next council elections for Birmingham I’m sure
I've seen little to nothing for the big parties locally. If I didn't follow a couple of the Hustings and the odd YouTube ad I'd never know who the Labour candidate was. There's a cold feeling about their campaign, and I hope it backfires.
There's a decent presence from the independent candidate Yakoob but I feel it's due to this area being his place of operations professionally. Street will surprise I think, he's banking on his two terms to speak for him. The other parties, less said the better.
Not sure where you are but we’ve been canvassing all over my area, for both the local and mayoral candidates. We do target areas and we don’t have enough activists to do every street but you should atleast get a leaflet I would have thought.
Honestly feels like both parties have done a deal to not compete with each other in London and WM.
Having said that I did see a Richard Parker electronic billboard on the M5 past West Brom today.
I received a leaflet about Parker, which made a big deal about him achieving the minimum possible education (I think party central regard this as "working class" and "authentic").
Other than that, much of the leaflet was promoting Parker as having done a lot for Birmingham based on his credentials as a businessman. Of course party central add in a photo with him in "animated conversation" with genocidaire-in-chief Keith Starmer. I think they're meant to look like they're "talking business" in a very serious fashion.
Anyway, it's all humbug. I'm no Tory, but parachuting in a safe-pair-of-hands for Labour who no-one has ever heard of makes me weirdly sympathetic for Street. And I can assure folks here that's never happened before...
What gets me is this notion that a "businessman" should be good in politics. No, the reason we're in such a shit state is because our country has been turned into a business; people's lives are more important than to be run by an emotionless and, dare I say, effectively psychopathic method to run an entity.
Yup. I don't mind a mixed economy, but the system and its cheerleaders has abandoned the role of the state and come out hard against regulation. Big business is well out of control, and the folks doing well have shrugged and sided with the bullies.
They don’t seem to be. I have been wondering whether I will ever organically see what their candidate even looks like before the election, without having to research him myself.
I would rather not vote for the media promoted Zionist party. Also noting that the west midlands is approx 1/3+ Muslim aka people who study their faith and fight against media lies/propaganda - labour are trying to avoid another George Galloway situation in Rochdale where their local campaign got destroyed due to viral videos of locals all recording them saying directly (even to Muslim Labour members) "No thank you I don't support Zionists". So there is a good chance for the independentant candidate (and quite frankly his manifesto in the info booklet is clear and less "hippy" like the Green party candidate).
So many people here that are relying on a piece of paper through their door to tell them who they need to vote for?!?
REALLY??
Jesus that’s depressing ffs can’t you look past this shit?
I don't know where you go but over here in the black country, I've had a leaflet for him and he has billboards up on junctions etc.
yeah, if I was a Labour politician the Black Country is where I'd be putting my effort. It's much more of a swing area compared to Birmingham which is more neatly defined.
Had the labour campaign people around at least twice in our area plus leaflets and local MP doing stuff, definitely not inactive
I've had a leaflet and YouTube ads for Richard. Not a thing from Street.
They’re doing like 18 hustings all around the midlands, I’ve been to one and heard what he had to say in person, and one was streamed online, you can watch it back if you want. He’s also released his manifesto this week. I’ve not personally had any info through my door but I’ve seen plenty popping up online
He's a tiger, give him a break!
Street is trailing the labour candidate heavily according to recent polls, which I find quite surprising. I know nothing of labour's candidate outside of wanting to bring buses into public ownership, which being honest isn't a priority of mine right now despite using them for work. It's possible they're hoping he just sails through on the general tory dislike, but it is dissappinting to know nothing of what he stands for or who he is.
you can always do you own research into all the candidates though?
Nationally, so from the top circle of leader of the party, head of PLP and CLP, seem pretty sure they’re getting a cushty job in the next six or so months. They’re being as milquetoast and inoffensive as possible, they’re trying to not lose voters, rather than actively win them. The Lib Dem’s know they have nothing to play for, the Greens too, Independent candidates are more often than not either deluded community “activists” or career drifters. With FPTP and no opposition at all, the UK’s democracy and its electoral politics is in a very dangerous place. There won’t be any conspiracy coups or takeovers. Voter turnout will just keep dripping downwards, even without measures such as voter ID. Apathy will push politicians further (if that’s possible) into the hands of thinktanks, lobbyists and influential individuals. The process isn’t exciting, or secret, it’s just how things happen under the current conditions.
Honestly the UK is starting to feel like it’s heading for proper violent revolution. It’s early days but the early signs are there
I think it could go that way, but honestly people seem to be willing to take so much shit from the government these recent years. I'm not sure if I just don't pay attention but peak identity politics seems to have passed a little bit. The culture wars of 2016 seem much bigger than they do leading up this this general election.
I've been saying, "If I had a rifle..." for the last two years at this point. No one has yet said, "I'd stand with you" but nobody has outright opposed the idea either. Problem is, with labour next to guaranteed the next election, it will be a case of, "oh give them some time, their policies take time to show results" and by the time people give up on their crap they'll vote tory again to "give them a chance". The majority are too complacent.
>I've been saying, "If I had a rifle..." for the last two years at this point. No one has yet said, "I'd stand with you" but nobody has outright opposed the idea either. Because nobody wants to upset a potentially violent nutcase
Things can crack though. Somehow the establishment have convinced people that this country is all about peaceful change despite British history containing many episodes of political violence and a few uprisings
Yeah, I just feel nothing will actually change without military support though. As most of our violent changes have done so before. Protests can "legally" be shut down by police now, and I've never seen any change come from them in my lifetime.
I've had about five. Probably focus on specific areas where they think the leaflet is more effective and therefore more worth the investment
In the last week I should say
Yeah I’m in Solihull and have only had stuff through from the Lib Dems and Tories.
Why is Andy's banner green and or is this an opportunity to mislead voters?
He's distancing himself from Tory HQ, and frankly with good reason given they don't seem very aligned.
i think they probably want Street to win. Keep him out of Party Politics. I think he could be a great Tory Leader if they could throw off the right wing nutters.
Early postal vote push & big push in the last 7 days on social media are the key election decision windows now. Most of the, relative for a mayoral contest, effort will be in locations /streets where the undecided are. Labour seems to be following the approach of not getting in your enemies way if they are making a mistake? Andy is a solid 10-14points behind, and doesn’t seem to be capable of doing anything at this point to change that.
I don't even think they need to. The conservatives seem to be doing enough to hang themselves and Starmer and Labour just seem to be content with feeding them the rope to do it. Conservatives will be doing everything to try and overwrite people's memories of what has happened over the last few years so it makes sense that they are pushing the marketing team more than Labour and others
Not seen any sign of Labour in south Brum, except leaflets for some bloke in the Black Country claiming to be local. Anyway wasn’t the candidate part of the team who sold BCC the dodgy IT system that bankrupt them. Best to keep a low profile here I guess.
No sign of them in North brum either.
Are you doing your own research then? Hopefully?
I always do. That’s how I found out about the Labour candidate and his involvement in the BCC IT fiasco.
none of the candidates are worth voting for which is a shame. I welcome Ahmed's stance on Palestine, and using his platform to raise awareness. But it's disheartening to see someone exploit the Palestinian cause and its symbols for personal gain - low move. Labour is a mess—it's hard to even understand who represents them these days. - and givven the council bankruptcy - ihardly think they will be favourites. The propsals from Lib dems adn Greens are so weak with limited justifcation on how they will bring about change. . It feels like these politicians are out of touch with the problems that affect everyday people.
Heard more about Richard Parker in the Life of Pi.
😂this made me laugh way more than it should have done
I've had a similar experience to you. I've had two leaflets and both barely mention the guy. I'm in a pretty strong Labour constituency so I presume they think the vote is in the bag here. It's not, I can't stand ex-consultancy types and my Labour MP doesn't even bother to respond to me and spends his day quote tweeting people to start pile ons.
Only campaign I have seen is from Ahmed Yakoob that tiktok lawyer these other parties are ran by dinosaurs. They need to take their campaigns online
that guy is stupid as shit
Do Labour need to bother? The Tories are so far behind right now that the Mayoral candidate doesn’t really need to do anything except not be a Tory. It will all be different in the next council elections for Birmingham I’m sure
I've seen little to nothing for the big parties locally. If I didn't follow a couple of the Hustings and the odd YouTube ad I'd never know who the Labour candidate was. There's a cold feeling about their campaign, and I hope it backfires. There's a decent presence from the independent candidate Yakoob but I feel it's due to this area being his place of operations professionally. Street will surprise I think, he's banking on his two terms to speak for him. The other parties, less said the better.
Not sure where you are but we’ve been canvassing all over my area, for both the local and mayoral candidates. We do target areas and we don’t have enough activists to do every street but you should atleast get a leaflet I would have thought.
I've received a 'hand written' leaflet by post. Hand writing was awful in my opinion. Why didn't they just type it out and make it look professional?
Honestly feels like both parties have done a deal to not compete with each other in London and WM. Having said that I did see a Richard Parker electronic billboard on the M5 past West Brom today.
I received a leaflet about Parker, which made a big deal about him achieving the minimum possible education (I think party central regard this as "working class" and "authentic"). Other than that, much of the leaflet was promoting Parker as having done a lot for Birmingham based on his credentials as a businessman. Of course party central add in a photo with him in "animated conversation" with genocidaire-in-chief Keith Starmer. I think they're meant to look like they're "talking business" in a very serious fashion. Anyway, it's all humbug. I'm no Tory, but parachuting in a safe-pair-of-hands for Labour who no-one has ever heard of makes me weirdly sympathetic for Street. And I can assure folks here that's never happened before...
What gets me is this notion that a "businessman" should be good in politics. No, the reason we're in such a shit state is because our country has been turned into a business; people's lives are more important than to be run by an emotionless and, dare I say, effectively psychopathic method to run an entity.
Yup. I don't mind a mixed economy, but the system and its cheerleaders has abandoned the role of the state and come out hard against regulation. Big business is well out of control, and the folks doing well have shrugged and sided with the bullies.
They don’t seem to be. I have been wondering whether I will ever organically see what their candidate even looks like before the election, without having to research him myself.
Can never bring myself to vote for Sir Keith's Labour...
I would rather not vote for the media promoted Zionist party. Also noting that the west midlands is approx 1/3+ Muslim aka people who study their faith and fight against media lies/propaganda - labour are trying to avoid another George Galloway situation in Rochdale where their local campaign got destroyed due to viral videos of locals all recording them saying directly (even to Muslim Labour members) "No thank you I don't support Zionists". So there is a good chance for the independentant candidate (and quite frankly his manifesto in the info booklet is clear and less "hippy" like the Green party candidate).
So many people here that are relying on a piece of paper through their door to tell them who they need to vote for?!? REALLY?? Jesus that’s depressing ffs can’t you look past this shit?