The BBC keeps repeating a mantra that 'no one party' can claim a victory. I want to weep.
Council Seats
Conservatives +875
Labour -485
LibDem -242
Councils Gained/Lost
Conservatives +38
Labour -9
LibDems -5
Share of the Vote
Conservatives 41%
Labour 27%
LibDem 26%
Just what the hell would the BBC call a victory? As Javelin says in the comments: "Remember the BBC said yesterday that 600+ seats would be an excellent result for the Tories. Let's hope they stick to their guns and say this is an excellent result for Cameron."
Yes. Let's.
111 comments:
No, no...el beeb isn't Labour-biased at all.....
Iain,
The B.B.C is biased, it,s that simple. Just ignore them.
Private the bloody bastards, that'll teach 'em!
If this election were a boxing match, Labour would be the fighter who'd just managed to get up from his stool for the 12th round and then made it through to the bell with a broken nose, both eyes closed and having been knocked down a couple of times.
The Tory would be the fighter who wins on points with a unanimous decision having failed to knock out his Labour opponent WITH A GREAT CLUNKING FIST!
As you know, C4, the case for privatising the BBC is perfectly serious ...
It's because it doesn't fufill the goals your leader set. If you want to have a go at someone Dave's your man.
But that wouldn't suit you would it!
no no no no no! Let the Beeb and their political arm be happy they lost 400 council seats.
Hey - it couldn't be anything to do with the crackdown on postal voting, could it?
Blair Broadcasting Corporation for now, soon to be Brown Broadcasting Corporation............
Ranunculus, and what would they be?
Yes. Let's.
I wouldn't hold your breath Iain.
On 746 now, with 40 councils to go....might they break the 800 barrier?
It's currently Con 18; LD 13 in Guildford. Lib Dems have wiped out Labour's last stronghold in the Stoke ward of the town. Don't know why the final results are so slow.
Iain - apologies for language in advance,
You KNOW the BBC are a bunch of super-fuckwits. They will report no such thing. They don't want to "encourage" the Conservatives.
Left-wing c*nts to a man.
Tories now on course for 800+ gains. But no-one will know it.
GET ON THE PHONE and tell them to sort their reporting out!!
(and also who gives a flying fuck about Manchester/Liverpool/Newcastle? We've got seats everywhere else in the North and are winning councils everywhere else. Just cause three crap cities don't have any councillors, does not a disaster make. There are 80 councils with no Labour presence - why aren't the bunch of pinkos reporting that?)
As many else here have said - privatise the bastards!
It is an excellent result for the Conservatives - no denying it. I think, though, to be fair that just how good it is has emerged over the course of the day. It wasn't so apparant on the red-eye shows last night when the Tories were losing Eastbourne and not racking up some of the expected gains in the Northern suburbs etc. The problem, IMHO, isn't so much a particular outlet as the fact that we all like a narrative frame and that it's hard then to break out of it when things begin to change - especially when that change is incremental. Maybe people should wait until this evening before rushing in - otherwise we're guilty of the same thing ourselves!
WOO HOO!!!
Just announced - Tory share drops from 41% to 40%.
GOING NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not being funny, but you don't know?
At the moment the Tories have more than twice as many councillors as Labour - how and Blair claim it wasn't a "rout"?
What happens when you add in the London numbers?
It seems that the BBC no longer even bothers to hide their prejudices which is rather good in the long run as its doing a good job and making their privitisation a cert. The Beeb is the Titanic and I can't wait for it to sink.
Official - Labour are now the ONLY party that has increased it's share of the vote in England. FACT!
Final result for Guildford is Con 26: LD 22. Phew!
Raunculus, do feel free to enlighten me.
Yeah sure 'anonymous' Labour are the greatest - the only party to increase their share of the vote in England. Not difficult from such an embarrassingly low level to start off with though is it. Take your commie crap elsewhere.
Tories run into the sand. The tory figures are excellent for Labour - causing loads of complacency on the tory side but nowhere near enough to win a General Election.
Now you're just winding me up Iain. Very funny. I know you know and you're just pulling my leg. That's not very kind.
anon 4:21
I think you've missed the point. Labour got 26% in 2004 and then won the GE in 2005. Now they've got 27% - you do the math.
I think the pro-Labour 'anonymous' piece of shit on here needs to be sectioned. Tories are gonna win the next election fuckwit - so you better get used to it. Mind you, given your state of delusion (akin to Hitler in his final days) you probably won't hear of the 2009 election result from your 'secure hospital' accommodation.
Of course Labour's share has increased by 1% - but that's overall - not just in England. Given that these local elections, unlike the last lot, include all of Labour's heartlands and all the Tories' weakest areas, it makes the Tory victory even more crushing for Labour and even more amazing for Cameron. Time to start planning our cabinet gentlemen?
Actually, Iain, BBC is now projecting Conservative vote at 40%, so no increase in share.
Labour, however, is 1 point higher.
No doubt yesterday's good weather helped the labour vote. For some reason the Trots don't like turning out in the rain.
Maybe it's because most of them smell like dogs when they get wet....especially labour "wimmin."
Raunculus, Caught you out haven't I? You just made it up. You have no idea what standards David Cameron set do you?
And I just love all these ANONYMOUS Labour trolls. Keep it up chaps. You might even believe it yourselves soon!
anon 4:27
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong.
You've got it the wrong way round. It's much harder for Labour to make progress in their heartlands - but they have. Conversely, it's easier for the tories to make progress - but they haven't.
It's all over now, baby blues.
"Tories run into the sand. The tory figures are excellent for Labour - causing loads of complacency on the tory side but nowhere near enough to win a General Election. "
You're a funny man ;-)
You're not comical ali, are you?
Oh yeah that makes sense - it's HARDER for Labour to do well where they have a lot of support, so supposedly it's easier where they have no support they do well? Yeah, well done mate. That must be why the Tories have Sunderland and Labour have made such crushing advances in the southern Engl...oh wait a minute - you're talking bullshit!
Guys, can I suggest bombarding the BBC "have your say" website with criticism of the way they have reported the results?
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6284&&&edition=1&ttl=20070504163125
If enough of us do it, they "might" get the message.
A Terrible Day for the Conservatives...
I couldnt agree more:
Labour up 1
Lib Dems down 1
Tories no change (GOING NOWHERE!!!)
Au contraire Iain, it is clearly you who has no idea of the goals your leader has set. Incidentally I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Labour Party or any associated organisation.
I thought you were teasing me, and now you seem to have revealed some rather unpleasant personal characteristics.
Shame on you Mr Dale.
In a way, I don't mind the BBC pumping out this crap if it persuades NuLab that they've achieved a respectable result. (I'd just rather said crap wasn't funded by my licence fee.)
I'm just waiting for a Beeb journo to report: "Leading Tory election pundit, Iain Dale, admits Tories have had a terrible day" based on your headline (irony lost, of course).
The most exciting news for me is that of the widespread losses by the Lib Dems.
anon 4:34
You genuinely don't understand, do you?
It's HARDER for Labour to make PROGRESS where they are already strong. Which bit of this are you having difficulty with??
I don't know of anybody who was seriously predicting Conservative gains of more than 600.
It now looks like it's going to be 800.
The BBC are now saying that the Conservative share of the vote was (only!) 40%. Because Labour and Lib Dems are contesting so few seats nationally, many of the Conservative's strongest areas are uncontested. This means that wards where Conservatives could reasonably have hoped for 60%+ of the vote (and Labour / Lib Dems share of the vote could have been very low) are not included in the partys' national share of the vote.
Give me a break Raunculus. I have absolutely no idea what standards David Cameron set. Do you? I don't recall him saying anything about what he was expecting. I asked you to enlighten me. You didn't, so I am forced to conlude that you are trying to wind me up.
Don't the beeb realise how conspicuous their Labour siding divorce from reality is becoming? Their coverage of this election has been disgracefully partisan.
Iain Dale says 'Just what the hell would the BBC call a victory?'
How about increasing their share of the vote? - that would be a good start. No advance - must be a bitter disappointment to shallow Cammo and all his tory boys.
This assertion that there has been no advance in national vote share is complete bollocks.
The last time these seats were fought we had 35% of the vote. All opinion polls have been showing the Conservatives at 38-40% for several months.
Last year we polled 38%. So please explain how 40-41% is not an advance. And preferably do it under a name and not anonymously.
The Beeb are tying themselves in knots spinning for Labour. It's completely outrageous.
Iain,
Have some sympathy with these Labour anonymongs.
They're all pissed - and so would I be if I was watching the demise of my party.
There, there...
With five Scottish regions declared the the Labour vote is up with a net gain of around 25,000 votes, which gives them another 0.1% of the share of the vote. The problem for them remains the fact that the SNP have polled an additional 137,500 votes and increased their share by almost 9.5% of the vote. The fact remains that Labour have still polled almost 50,000 list votes than the SNP. Both the Tories and the Lib Dems slightly down on the list vote. SSP meltdown continues and the Greens are in freefall too.
There’s little doubt in my mind that the ‘Alex Salmond for First Minister’ listing on the ballot form has had a hugely positive effect on the SNP
Vote.
Yes!!...broken the 800 mark with 30 to go....
*Sigh*
This anon Labour twatmong is such a repetitively boring penis-breath I wouldn't be surprised if it was Hirst/Ireland.
He certainly has the same capacity for self-delusion - and inarguably - the same lack of sense of humour as those two.
Everyone on this site is pointing out you're a boring twat and telling you to fuck off.
"Which bit of this are you having difficulty with?? "
;-)
804 seats! A CRUSHING, CATASTROPHIC defeat for Labour.
Below was posted by Votedave on his Webcameron site 27.04.2007 - it just illustrates how disappointed the tories really are behind today's brave face:
'I am predicting the projected share of the vote nationally to be Conservatives 44%, LibDems 28% and Labour 23%.
Yes Uttlesford does look like LibDem country. Bradford, where I live, is a hung council between Labour and the Tories - quite an exciting battle to look forward to :-)'
Prediction with just three Scottsh regions left to declare
SNP-48
Lab - 45
Con - 17
Libdem - 16
Ind - 1
Green - 2
I think what may be relevant about Manchester Liverpool and Newcastle is that - whereas a few years ago - they had a "stir" and were moving forward, they have now ceased and are, if anything, stagnating or even going backwards in the scheme of things.
After the Tories have won the next election I hope Cameron and co remember the blatant pro-Labour bias of so many at the BBC which receives vast amounts of licence fee payers money on the basis that it is supposed to be an unbiased and ojective public service broadcaster.
A night of the long knives would be in order.
Check this out:
http://www.fenland.gov.uk/assets/elections/results/districts/
Fenland District Council:
39 Conservative,
1 Independent,
0 Labour,
0 Lib Dem.
Now THAT really is desperate. You pick a random comment from an anonymous person and take that as the view of the Party. I know no one who was predicting 44% of the vote. If you read my post a few days ago you;d have seen what I was predicting and hoping for and my expectations were exceeded.
LAB and SNP both on 40 with all the constituencies declared and 3 of 8 regions still to declare.
The Labour Party is in denial on a massive scale about what the results mean for them. Is it safe to have the country run by a load of nutters who have lost all touch with reality? One of the things these results show is that contempt for Labour is not a minority attitude as the BBC and the press would have us believe. Throughout the country voters can't bear the sight and sound of them. It seems the only way they can get elected is by employing fraud.
In England, the conservatives now have more concillors than everyone else put together, with labour in 3rd
Con 4774
Lab 1723
LD 1957
Oth 1027
The Tories at this point control 153 of the councils declared. Win another 3 and we will control 50% of the councils up for grabs here. Furthermore - another 50 or so council seats and we will have passed the 900 gains mark.
Standing still? Nobody can claim victory? Piss off!
Iain 5:01
I'm sure, being more media savvy, you were capable of 'managing' expectations down. However, I think the post I quoted demonstrates the true expectations of the tories. Privately, they must be bitterly disappointed.
more vulgar than a vulcans vulva:
you could have saved yourself an extra word in "penis head" by calling Anonymong a "putz":)
From the BBC website:
"The BBC's commitment to accuracy is a core editorial value and fundamental to our reputation. Our output must be well sourced, based on sound evidence, thoroughly tested and presented in clear, precise language. We should be honest and open about what we don't know and avoid unfounded speculation."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_process.shtml#code
I would like to applaud the BBC coverage for it's balance and integrity.
Much of the anti-BBC comment seems to be from tory sore losers - don't shoot the messenger.
I have to say, I'm really enjoying the troll comments on this page. It's put the icing on the cake for me.
I must say that anonymous Labour person's comments are extremely amusing, but it's wrong to laugh at the mentally unwell, so I ought to stop. Won't though.
SeanT is a legend (see politicalbetting)
To all you Labour TWATS let me just repeat his wise words here:
"Can someone just tell me what would have been bad for Labour, if 27% and losing Scotland is “not bad”. Were they expecting Gordon Brown to get drunk and grope some student nurses, live on TV, before throwing up over the Queen? Would that count as “bad”?
Similarly, what do the Tories have to do to do “well”? Win in Poland? Take control of St Petersburg? "
Touche.
Anonymous 3:38 (why can't people be arsed enought to at least invent a name?)
These elections are not the same seats as the ones that were elected in 2006.
To say that the results are good because they're not as bad as 2006 is like saying that Labour had fantastic results in the Midlands because they weren't as bad as in Surrey.
You can only compare results with the last time that these seats were elected - in 2003. That year, Labour had a very bad night, losing 833 councillors. This week, starting from this low base Labour has done even worse, losing at least 460 more councillors.
I'd have thought that this was a disaster for Labour. If they think that this is a success then I can only hope that they have many more elections like this in the future.
mike wood
Labour got 26% and went on to win the GE. Now they have 27%!!
What happened to the BBC's usual exit poll? Were the results that bad for Labour?!
Here's one for the Labour supporter on here - SNP lead 45-43 in Scotland with only the Highlands and Islands region (inevitably an SNP stronghold) to declare! LABOUR HAVE LOST TO SALMOND!
Win another 2 councils and we control 50% of the boroughs up for grabs today. Win another 30 or so council seats and we pass the 900 gain mark.
No one party can claim victory? Bad day for the Tories?
Piss off Rita Chakrabati!
where's Gordon Brown?
Wheres Brown? Probably commiserating in a school playground
The Guardian is also "self-censoring" in favour of NuLabour:
http://leninology.blogspot.com/
I think it's quite sweet how our little tame Labour person posting here clings onto a 1% increase in the vote (bearing in mind that Labour didn't contest quite a few seats) and believing that will mean a GE victory in '10.
Bear in mind that in '05, there wasn't the amount of crap floating around in the public domain about cash for peerages, the Navy hadn't been made to look idiots by Iran, but there have now been even more tragic losses on both sides in Iraq; then there's the problems with the housing market, increases in council taxes, lies about crime statistics, and of course the excruciating management of the NHS, etc.
Or perhaps our Mr Anonymous would regard 3 apologies in 2 weeks to the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Health as a resounding Labour success?
Nationially it looks good for the Tories, especially in the North, but down here in Wiltshire not that impressive. Maybe the old heartlands need some shoring up as well.
(This will not be popular: but then sometimes the truth hurts)
In terms of Tory (or come to that, Labour) prospects for the next GE, the number of seats won in these local elections is entirely and completely beside the point. All that tells you is how well you have done locally compared with three years ago--irrelevant!
What does matter is the % of votes cast, and when you look it it that way, this was no triumph whatever for the Tory Party. The Labour vote was up 1%, Lib Dems down 1% and the Tories not changed from last year's 40%.
In other words, Cameron has made no impact whatever on voting outcome, despite all the troubles and strife among Labour. Never was there a better opportunity for Tory gains, yet --OBJECTIVELY-- there has been none where it matters.
Bladder on a stick for Tory leader time?
Sorry.
[2br02b]
We've done it! After 296 councils declared, the Conservatives control 159 out of a total of 312. Bad day? Get real!
Wait a minute anon - weren't lasy tears figures also revised down to 39%?
Dry your eyes NuLab cry-baby!
lasy tears!!!!
should be
last years!
The dynamic has changed today.
The past 15 years has seen a tactical anti-Tory vote, with left-wing voters doing anything to keep out the Tories.
This stopped today: 40% share is once again enough for the Conservatives to win significant numbers of first-past the post contests. Hence ! 861 ! gains today.
The BBC, together with all the other organisations that Nu-Lab have turned into party fiefdoms must now recognise this.
The writing will be on the wall at BBC TV centre today as they all leave in their licence-payer funded Taxis at 7.01pm tonight.
The New Labour posters who already think the next election is in the bag have forgotten to factor in a very important variable;two years of Brown as PM.Oh dear.
In 2003, the last time these seats were elected, the figures were:
Conservative 35%
Labour 30%
Lib Dems 27%
The Conservative lead has gone up from 5% to 13%. Not a bad start.
The Conservative vote isn't unchanged from 2006. The final Conservative share of the vote last year was 39% so maybe it's timr that Labour dropped this red herring.
Not a bad result for the Tories if they just want to be councillors but there is no progress today towards No. 10.
Iain -
Not surprised you want to weep.
Your blog is regularly described as the "saddest thing on the Internet".
(How about having another look at that randomised link sponsorship deal, eh?)
It's no good trying to deny the lack of tory progress. They got 40% last year and 40% this year. Want proof? Quote from Eric Pickles after last year's local elections:
"I'm not hiding it away. In a night of triumph there were three disappointments, but a 40 per cent share of the poll means we are truly back in business - 40 per cent is magic."
Typical New Labour tactic,paint a gloomy picture,and when things turn out not so bad claim a massive victory.Classic!
Much more balanced reporting from ITV.
yes but will 800 seats help climate change? its the only subject they are interested in.... Tony Bliar " it gives us a platform to win the next election" wanker.
The result is even better news on reflection- the libdem implosion makes the next GE a much clearer decision for people. a libdem vote is wasted when in comes to parliamentary election. that has to favour the Tories.
OK folks the BBC complaints web site is here - log on and give them both barrels.
Weren't leading Tories and BBC commissars predicting that a General Election victory is only assured if the Tories commanded well over 40% of the vote?
41% is far from "well over 40%" and the numbers seem to have remained solidly static since last year's election.
And finally; 59% of the people did not vote Tory, and nor did they make convincing gains in Scotland or the large northern cities as they needed to in order to illustrate nationwide electability.
After everything negative for Labour that has happened since last year's election, the Tories' failure to build on last year's proportion of the popular vote is nothing short of staggering.
"Staggering" is what we will be after two years of Brown.
anon @ 6.43:
"Typical New Labour tactic,paint a gloomy picture,and when things turn out not so bad claim a massive victory. Classic!"
This tactic was invented on 2 May 1997 and had never been used by any political party before then. Especially not the 1990-97 Major administration, oh no oh no oh no.
Do grow up, you muppet.
Do you actually watch/listen to the BBC?
They have been declaring the Tories as the winners all bloody day.
Too busy bitching, that's yer problem..
Abolish the Fuckers when Dave gets in, and then they will know what defeat is..
The BBC aren't going to care about your complaints, they're going to delete them and carry on with their professional propaganda games, you clearly don't know what's best for yourselves after all. Ignorant people!
Anon.7.36.
Just to put you straight, this tactic was probably invented in the Roman elections for the senate in 52BC for all I know but it does not make it any more plausible you total numpty.
Iain Dale said...
This assertion that there has been no advance in national vote share is complete bollocks.
The last time these seats were fought we had 35% of the vote. All opinion polls have been showing the Conservatives at 38-40% for several months.
Last year we polled 38%. So please explain how 40-41% is not an advance. And preferably do it under a name and not anonymously.
Well said, Iain!
Liked this so much I thought I'd post it again in its entirety.
Will these nulabbers ever stop fanasising the results they so desperately crave?
Auntie Flo'
I just complained to the BBC. At the top of the webpage it says "Your complaint is important to us."
I expect a fullsome apology, entirely free from condescending self-justification, any second now.
...
Hmmm! There seems to be some delay.
Dont be silly Iain, this is the BBC you are talking about, not an ordinary state funded self interested socialist organisation, like the NHS for example.
We need health care armed forces policemen and fireman ect. We dont need a public funded propagander channel that turns out Ist rate indoctrination and 3rd rate entertainment, only good for people to dimm or brainwashed to notice.
And the people working at the BBC KNOW IT.
They are shitting their pants, and I can smell it from 20 miles away, in South London.
Camerons got to privatise something somewhere, just to match Tony Blair. However as the NHS is off the list, Cameron has little left too privatise.
At no risk at all of overstating my case, may I say. Closing down the BBC would be the greatest gift to the future of mankind, and especially the English speaking people, that any Conservative PM could possibly give to the world.
14 POINTS CLEAR AND NOT WINNING.
THE BLAIR BROADCASTING CORPORATION ARE JUST PISSED OFF!
I hope you all across the pond are more successful than we have been in the U.S. at defunding your left-leaning ministry of propaganda.
As for your complaints about bias, I think it is important to remember that the state-run media will naturally reflect the policy preferences of, well, the state. Indeed, it would be perverse to expect that the government would fund a messsage with which it did not agree. Accordingly, until you there (or we here in America) quit electing leftist politicians, you can expect the BBC (a) to remain intact and (b) to continue to provide the world with a left-of-center view of the facts.
So, the results are a "springboard" for Labour?
I look forward to tomorrow's cartoons showing Bliar as a swimming pool lifeguard, Broon on the springboard preparing to dive into an empty pool (empty except for a small puddle captioned "Labour Support") with Cameron or Salmond holding the plug!
If only I could draw...
As an afterthought, perhaps David Cameron should do an Alex Salmond at the next election. Give up his Witney seat to a suitable candidate (minority/woman?) and challenge a winnable-but-dangerous seat oop north. That would be leadership!
Aaron @7pm,
Are you actually looking at the same stuff as the rest of us?
Have you looked at the news front page?
The web coverage is just pure suppressio veri. It's simply unbelievable.
ID: This assertion that there has been no advance in national vote share is complete bollocks.
2B: Saying so does not make it so.
ID: Last year we polled 38%.
2B: No, we polled 40%
ID: So please explain how 40-41% is not an advance.
2B: (Actually 40%)
2B: 40%-40% = 0%
2B: No advance. Get it?
2B: Actually, I think it's worse than that: we are piling up basically useless votes in southern England where we already dominate, while making little or no progress in northern England, Wales and Scotland--Just like Labour used to do in the Welsh mining valleys.
2B: And if this the best we can manage while Labour is in such difficulties, our GE outlook is grim indeed.
ID: And preferably do it under a name and not anonymously.
[2br02b]*
*I'll post again under my own name 'properly' once I've figured out what you did to this blog while I was away that's currently preventing me from doing so.
Cleanthes,
John Humphreys, and I quote...
"Not only did Labour lose control of Scotland, and lose their majority in Wales, they took a hammering in England, too."
Today Programme, R4, AM today.
I've long ago given up watching/listening to anymore than their headlines.
Their bias is breathtaking.
Wow, reading some of the language and comments about "Trots" and "wimmin" makes me pleased I bothered to seek re-election last week, and that by doing so I prevented the Tories from getting a majority on my council and actually incresed the gap between Labour and Conservative votes.
Juvenile stuff - much of which should be moderated - that makes me wonder whether Cameron has changed the Tories at all.
I still remain unpersuaded by the comments showing that the result "proves" that the Conservatives are ready to win the next General Election.
Where are the Tories in the urban north of England (no, Birmingham isn't in the North); where are the Tories in Scotland? Where even, dare I say it, are the Tories in Oxford?
Answers on a postage stamp, or, let's review Margaret Thatcher's performance in the local elections prior to 1979. I assure you her success in local election before gaining office (indeed let's objectively look at Blair's success with 49% of the vote prior to 1997)far overshadowed David Cameron's showing on Thursday.
He still has a lot of work to do outside southern England whichever way you spin it.
From Mark:
In response to Kyle Allen
The difference between the situation now and in 1977 is that the local elections in those days were essentially two-party contests, where voters registered their dislike of Labour by voting Tory, not Liberal - don't forget that the country was ruled by a Lib-Lab coalition then.
Liverpool was the only city where the Liberals were the alternative to Labour, and the Greens were still some years in the future as the Ecology Party.
Today's challenge for Cameron is to squeeze out the Lib/Lab/Green hegemony in places like Oxford by trying to win back the vote of the academic lobby.
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