UK GENERAL ELECTION 2020: July 2016

Thoughts about why we should abolish the Honours system in the UK

This society purports to be actively opposed to colonialism and the actuality and the legacy of the former British Empire, yet it perpetuates the shadow of that edifice through issuing hundreds of 'honours' to people predicated on an institution it also reviles and seeks to apologize for.

If one is successful in business the reward is a very tangible huge income and the deference of a workforce and the accolades of a peer group. What need is there for a nation to praise you for doing well and getting rich. No one did it to benefit humanity or to advance the nation, they did it for ambition/fun/the challenge/kudos/cash. The role and the income are their own rewards.

If one is a successful sports or entertainment star then the fame, cash and accolades are ever present. Massive appearance money, promotion contracts, stellar salaries, cups, trophies, awards, and legions of prizes and self-massaging events happening all the time. Why do we need to 'honour' these overpaid, over-hyped, over-indulged people who by definition never do anything of real importance.

Then there is politics and the press! I don't need to say anything on this do I?

What of the humble and ordinary? Well they are humble and ordinary. Why should that be rewarded? What are we rewarding? Joe was a fine doorman for 43-years at the FO. Good. Well done Joe. Thanks. Nice safe job wasn't it? Constant pay and good public service pension. You were diligent, polite and attentive. They very features of the job description. No award.

The special cases for the National Treasure antiques expert, figure skater, cricket umpire or chief of a charity? No, they have the kudos of being a national treasure and they know the public like them already. They were just doing a job for which they were rewarded in various ways. And for all those toilers in the public service or the voluntary sector...........Surely that is the purpose of 'serving'....to serve, not for a reward. If you award a gong or series of gongs it was a less selfless act looked at in retrospect.

I am all for binning the whole system forever and replacing it with nothing. If any of you think some service needs a reward then people are doing it for the wrong reason.

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Who the CLP have nominated in the Labour Leadership contest

@CLPNominations a good account to follow

So far, seventy constituencies have made supporting nominations. Fourteen for Smith and fifty-six for Corbyn.

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Top 10 MPs by Followers on Twitter

interesting website http://www.mpsontwitter.co.uk/
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Name	Party	Followers	Change
Rt Hon David Cameron MP	Conservative	1,606,638	▲ 547
Jeremy Corbyn MP	Labour	598,143	▲1,346
Rt Hon Edward Miliband MP	Labour	531,464	▼ -95
Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP	Liberal Democrat	280,732	▲ 20
Boris Johnson MP	Conservative	239,897	▲ 199
Tom Watson MP	Labour	223,969	▼ 0
Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP	Scottish National Party	221,478	▲ 89
Rt Hon George Osborne MP	Conservative	188,723	▼ -7
Caroline Lucas MP	Green Party	184,651	▲ 66
Mr Chuka Umunna MP	Labour	166,284	▲ 43

Change refers to number of new followers in past 24 hours.

ICM POLL CONVERTED INTO A ELECTION FORECAST

If the ICM poll was converted into a forecast Polling data

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National and Regional Prediction: Conservative majority 106

Party	2015 Votes	2015 Seats	Pred Votes	Gains	Losses	Net Change	Pred Seats
CON	37.8%	331	43.0%	47	0	+47	378
LAB	31.2%	232	27.0%	0	47	-47	185
LIB	8.1%	8	8.0%	2	3	-1	7
UKIP	12.9%	1	13.0%	0	0	+0	1
Green	3.8%	1	3.0%	0	0	+0	1
SNP	4.9%	56	4.7%	1	1	+0	56
PlaidC	0.6%	3	0.5%	1	0	+1	4
Minor	0.8%	0	0.8%	0	0	+0	0
N.Ire		18		0	0	+0	18

A list of upcoming council by elections and vacant seats

Link to >>> Council election results May 2016 - April 2017

Collated By MiddleEnglander

There are 20 by-elections for 21 seats during August and 8 already in September. There are a further 20 known vacancies - 14 in England, 4 in Wales and 2 in Scotland - where there is as yet no date for the by-election.

4th August - 7 link to >>> candidates and past election results

Ashford BC, Beaver - Labour resigned - 4 candidates: Con, Lab, Green, UKIP
Brighton & Hove UA, East Brighton - Labour resigned - 6 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, Green, UKIP, Ind
East Yorkshire UA, South East Holderness - Conservative resigned - 5 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, UKIP, Ind
Eden DC, Alston Moor - Conservative resigned - 2 candidates: Con, LD
Newcastle- Under- Lyme BC, Silverdale & Parksite - UKIP sitting as Independent Group died - 4 candidates: Con. Lab, UKIP, Ind
Nottinghamshire CC, Bingham - Conservative died - 3 candidates: Con, Lab, Ind
Rushcliffe BC, Cranmer - Conservative died - 3 candidates: Con, Lab, Ind

11th August - 3
North Ayrshire UA, Irvine West - SNP resigned - 6 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, SNP, Green, Socialist Labour
Renfrewshire UA, Renfrew South & Gallowhill - Labour died - 4 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, SNP
Worcestershire CC, Ombersley - Conservative died - 4 candidates: Con, LD, UKIP, Ind

18th August - 9 contests for 10 seats
Gravesham BC, Pelham - Labour died - 6 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, Green, UKIP, Eng Dem
Kent CC, Gravesham East - Labour died - 5 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, Green, UKIP
Redcar & Cleveland, Ormesby - Liberal Democrat resigned - 5 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, UKIP, North East
Richmondshire DC, Catterick - Independent died - 4 candidates: Con, LD, Green, Ind
Surrey CC, Farnham South - Conservative resigned - 6 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, UKIP, Residents, Ind
Thanet DC, Northwood - 2 UKIP sitting as Democratic Independent resigned - 10 candidates: 2 Con, 2 Lab, 2 LD, 2 UKIP, United Thanet, Ind
Wandsworth LB, Tooting - Labour resigned - 5 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, Green, Social Democratic
Waverley BC, Farnham Castle - Conservative resigned - 4 candidates: Con, LD, UKIP, Residents
Waverley BC, Farnham Shortheath & Boundstone - Conservative resigned - 5 candidates: Con, LD, UKIP, Residents, Ind

25th August - 1Fife UA, The Lochs - Independent (Communist) resigned - 5 candidates: Con, Lab, SNP, Green, Communist

1st September - 5
Bournemouth UA, Kinson North - Conservative resigned
Cornwall UA, Four Lanes - UKIP resigned
Dorset CC Ferndown - Conservative died
East Dorset DC, Parley - Conservative died
Stockton-On-Tees UA, Grangefield - Labour died

September 8th -2
Mansfield UA, Yeoman Hill - Labour died
Sheffield MB, Mosborough - Labour died

22nd September - 1North Lanarkshire UA, Coatbridge North & Glenboig - SNP resigned

Not yet called - 20Blackpool UA, Tyldseley - Labour died 25th July
Bolton MB, Rumworth - Labour died around 27th July
Cotswold DC, Stow - Conservative died 15th July
Derby UA, Allestree - Conservative resigned 16th May
Gateshead MB, Chopwell & Rolands Gill - Labour resigned late May
Kettering BC, Rothwell - Labour died around 20th July
Kings Lynn & West Norfolk BC, Heacham - Conservative resigned early July
Maidstone BC, Shepway South - UKIP died 13th May
Newcastle-upon-Tyne MB, Blakelaw - Labour resigned around 3rd July
North East Derbyshire DC, Tupton - Labour resigned 11th July
Rother DC, Darwell - Conservative resigned beginning of May
Shropshire UA, Bishop's Castle - Liberal Democrat resigned around 22nd July
Teignbridge DC, Teignmouth Central - Conservative died 2nd June
Wellingborough BC, Finedon - Conservative died 11th July

Glasow UA, Garscadden & Scotstounhill - Labour died 25th July
Highland UA, Cullodon & Ardersier - Labour died 21st July

Caerphilly UA, Gilfach - Labour resigned around 14th April
Caerphilly UA, Risca East - Labour resigned late July following election to Assembly
Cardiff UA, Plasnewydd - Labour died 24th July
Carmarthenshire UA, Cilycwm - Independent died 5th July

Seats losses party by party since May 2016 main cycle

Link to >>> Council Election Results May 2016 - April 2017

Link to the information

Conservative seats lost <<< Link to (31)

Labour seats lost <<< Link to (22)

Independent seats lost <<< Link to (9)

UKIP seats lost <<< Link to (7)

SNP seats lost <<< Link to (5)

Lib Dem seats lost <<< Link to (1)

Green Party seats lost <<< Link to (1)

Council by election results 28th July

Link to >>> Council Election Results May 2016 - April 2017

Cornwall, Newlyn & Goonhavern - Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative

Party	2016 votes	2016 share	since 2013	since 2009
Liberal Democrat	247	24.4%	from nowhere	-1.1%
Conservative	234	23.1%	-23.0%	-17.2%
Independent Yeo *	163	16.1%	from nowhere	from nowhere
Mebyon Kernow	161	15.9%	-28.1%	from nowhere
Labour	77	7.6%	-2.2%	+3.5%
Independent Tucker	75	7.4%	from nowhere	from nowhere
Independent Thomas	54	5.3%	from nowhere	from nowhere
Independent				-23.9%
Liberal				-6.1%
Total votes	1,011		84%	66%

* was Liberal Democrat candidate in 2009

Swing since 2013 not meaningful and since 2009 Conservative to Liberal Democrat 8% although of limited relevance
Council now 43 Liberal Democrat, 34 Independent, 30 Conservative, 8 Labour, 4 Mebyon Kernow, 1 Green, 1 UKIP, 1 Non Aligned, 1 Vacant

Haringey, Harringay - Labour hold

Party	2016 votes	2016 share	since 2014 "top"	since 2014 "average"	since 2010 "top"	since 2010 "average"
Labour	1,054	46.2%	+3.7%	+4.2%	+8.7%	+9.1%
Liberal Democrat	765	33.6%	+3.7%	+3.3%	-5.5%	-5.5%
Green	325	14.3%	-2.3%	-2.6%	+3.8%	+4.4%
Conservative	99	4.3%	-1.2%	-1.6%	-3.4%	-4.0%
UKIP	36	1.6%	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere
TUSC			-5.5%	-4.9%
Independent					-5.1%	-5.7%
Total votes	2,279		58%	65%	40%	44%

Swing Liberal Democrat to Labour 0% / ½% since 2014 but ~7% since 2010

Council now 48 Labour, 9 Liberal Democrat

Newport, St Julian's - Liberal Democrat hold

Party	2016 votes	2016 share	since 2012 "top"	since 2012 "average"	since 2008 "top"	since 2008 "average"
Liberal Democrat	948	53.7%	+11.6%	+11.9%	+4.4%	+5.5%
Labour	432	24.4%	-20.3%	-21.3%	+3.4%	3.2%
UKIP	156	8.8%	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere
Conservative	135	7.6%	-5.5%	-4.9%	-17.3%	-17.9%
Plaid Cymru	71	4.0%	from nowhere	from nowhere	-0.7%	-1.1%
Green	25	1.4%	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere
Total votes	1,767		78%	82%	76%	81%

Swing Labour to Liberal Democrat 16% since 2012 and ~ ½% / 1% since 2008

Council now 37 Labour, 10 Conservative, 2 Independent, 1 Liberal Democrat

Sutton, Carshalton Central - Liberal Democrat hold

Party	2016 votes	2016 share	since 2014 "top"	since 2014 "average"	since 2010 "top"	since 2010 "average"
Liberal Democrat	1,250	43.4%	+5.1%	+5.7%	-3.9%	-4.9%
Conservative	1,061	36.9%	+11.6%	+11.7%	+0.4%	-0.4%
Green	211	7.3%	-0.3%	+0.4%	+0.5%	+1.6%
Labour	1,76	6.1%	-3.1%	-3.2%	-3.2%	-2.5%
UKIP	150	5.2%	-10.5%	-11.5%	from nowhere	from nowhere
Christian	29	1.0%	-1.1%	-1.2%	from nowhere	from nowhere
TUSC			-1.7%	-1.8%
Total votes	2,877		67%	71%	51%	55%

Swing Liberal Democrat to Conservative ~3% since 2014 and ~2% since 2010

Council now 44 Liberal Democrat, 8 Conservative, 2 Independent

Wychavon, Droitwich West - Conservative hold

Party	2016 votes	2016 share	since 2015 "top"	since 2015 "average"	since 2011 "top"	since 2011 "average"
Conservative	281	41.9%	-2.9%	-1.8%	-10.3%	-9.6%
Labour	161	24.0%	-13.8%	-14.6%	-23.8%	-24.5%
UKIP	132	19.7%	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere
Liberal Democrat	97	14.5%	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere	from nowhere
Green			-17.4%	-17.7%
Total votes	671		31%	31%	52%	Row 7 column 7

Swing Labour to Conservative 5½% / 6½% since 2015 and 6½% / 7½% since 2011

Council now 39 Conservative, 5 Liberal Democrat, 1 UKIP

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National and Regional Prediction: Conservative majority 106