Defending Jerusalem: Labour and Britain after 2007

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
I was wondering that myself, but iirc didn't the BNP outperform UKIP until like 2010?
Not really, no.

Polling wise there was a notable BNP support IoTL that failed to materialise because of the 17% rule and some issues surrounding how the polls were conducted. As well as this, UKIP always beat the BNP in the ballot, in 1997 by 40,000 votes, in 2001 by ~350,000 votes, and in 2005 by about ~400,000. There is of course the potential for the BNP to actually gain a seat, but unlike UKIP they were deeply underfunded and more unstable, but if they can break the 17% rule, as is being hinted by their prominent position ITTL...
 
Not really, no.

Polling wise there was a notable BNP support IoTL that failed to materialise because of the 17% rule and some issues surrounding how the polls were conducted. As well as this, UKIP always beat the BNP in the ballot, in 1997 by 40,000 votes, in 2001 by ~350,000 votes, and in 2005 by about ~400,000. There is of course the potential for the BNP to actually gain a seat, but unlike UKIP they were deeply underfunded and more unstable, but if they can break the 17% rule, as is being hinted by their prominent position ITTL...
The what rule?
 
The 17% rule is an electoral phenomenon where the far right in Britain never get more than 17% of the votes in any constituency during a general election.

A bit arbitrary. UKIP race-bait all the time. I guess Carswell was above that sort of stuff but you had outspoken anti-semites like Jack Sen getting near 17%.
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
A bit arbitrary. UKIP race-bait all the time. I guess Carswell was above that sort of stuff but you had outspoken anti-semites like Jack Sen getting near 17%.
The rule itself only became a thing thanks to Barmybrook hitting 17% in 2005, but it's held up since, even in the face of UKIP, which was more just right-wing than far-right, and even on an individual candidate level the far right ones like Sen have a habit of only getting into the low teens (though YMMV).
 
Chapter 7: Tearing the House Down

Cameron attacks Labour's Veteran Housing plans as 'Cynical Stunt'

Mail Online 4:34pm Tuesday October 09

David Cameron has led the attack on Labour's 'disingenuous' policy offer to veterans today. The Tory leader said it was 'disgraceful' that Labour were 'playing politics with the hopes and dreams of the brave men and women of our armed forces'. 'These policies won't materialise, people will be betrayed, and our country will be all the poorer for it.'

Cameron has said the policy 'doesn't add up, won't work' and merely represents a 'pretend handout' - 'Labour will spend more of other people's money, and inevitably fail.' The Conservatives released research that shows Labour's policies would raise the countries' national debt and would damage the housing market 'At a time when Labour's poor administration mean it is more fragile than ever.'

Yvette Cooper, the Housing Minister, said the Tory response 'Shows the lack of vision of the Conservative Party. It's sad for the people of Britain that the main opposition party is going to spend the election just talking Britain down. Well Labour are optimistic about the future of our country, and the future for our armed forces. We are serious with commitments. Just as we were when we delivered Sure Start, the Minimum Wage, and reduced class sizes. What exactly are the Tory plans on housing? Are they just going to complain about us if they get into government?'

Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, said 'The squabbling of the two main parties is pathetic. Neither of them care about our soldiers. They sent them into a warzone without caring about their welfare. Only the BNP would bring our soldiers back and put them to use defending our borders.'

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Tory MPs Criticising Campaign as 'Overly Defensive'

Conservative Home 8:37pm Tuesday October 09

Numerous Tory MPs have expressed concern that the election campaign is too defensive and negative. "In two weeks we've gone from being positive change, to just whinging about Labour policies. It's ridiculous."

"We risk looking like whinging losers if this goes on." said one MP, whose constituency is a Labour facing marginal, "And we know what happens to losers in elections."

The Labour press operation has been characterised by it's aggression and ability to drive stories. One Tory source was more relaxed "They can't keep announcing handouts every day until the election. It's going to get bonkers. The Public are too sensible to swallow this for too long."

Although different sources have conflicting opinions, tt is however evident from Labour's dominance of the front pages, that the election campaign needs to shift up a gear.


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Has anyone seen the Liberal Democrat campaign?

Guido Fawkes 10:03pm October 09

Liberal Democrat MPs and activists seem to be perplexed at the total absence of a national campaign. David Howarth, the Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, was caught calling Lib Dem national office 'Fucking Useless' and referred his party leader as a 'dullard' - which coming from David Howarth is high praise indeed. Lib Dem activists in Rochdale have complained they have received no campaigning material from their head office. The Lib Dems are noticeable absent from newspaper election coverage. Journalists who (for some reason) have bothered chasing the Lib Dems for comment have reported not getting anything in time for stories to run. Some have suggested the Lib Dem leadership are too slow in signing off policy responses, and are unsure how to respond to Labour's policy offers (which so far, have constituted all the events of the dullest snap election ever.)

The stories further fuel rumours that Menzies Campbell was due to stand down before Brown called the election. How much longer will Ming the Mercilessly-Boring go on for? Will the Lib Dems grow a spine and actually stick the knife in?
 
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Chapter 9: Patriot Games

9:32 pm Office of Gerard Batten MEP, London, Tuesday October 09

"I only agreed to this meeting out of a courtesy to you. This is a total non-starter. It's not in UKIP's interest, and it's not happening as long as I'm leader." said Nigel Farage firmly; taking a puff on his cigarette, flouting the recently genesis of the smoking ban.

"That's absolutely absurd" said Griffin "Look at the results. In most places we stood, we out-polled you. In places where we both stood with cost each other our deposits."

"A few 500 pound notes here and there isn't exactly our most pressing concern." said Farage condescendingly, referencing the massive disparity in the two party's financial resources. Gerard Batten, sat in the background, winced; he had hoped this would be more productive.

"You have the infrastructure, but we have the insurgency, and the concentration. It doesn't have to be a formal alliance, just spin at as being a struggle to field candidates at such short notice." said the BNP leader, defiant "Besides, we know some of your local parties won't stand candidates against us anyway. UKIP in Barking have agreed to step aside."

Infuriatingly for Farage, he knew Griffin had a point here. Farage's leadership was firm but not absolute, in lots of parts of Britain he had little authority to override the local chieftains, many of whom were personally or politically sympathetic to the BNP. Indeed, many of his own elected representatives, and NEC members supported an electoral pact. This very meeting was only taking place to appease Batten, the party's only London MEP, who despite his constituency, was one of more fashy of the Purple European Parliamentarians.

Farage knew that only the BNP stood to gain from this. UKIP wern't a serious challenge in any parliamentary seats, but Griffin and a couple of other British National candidates, if the stars aligned, might get elected. UKIP would then be tarred with getting Nick Griffin elected, and the real mission, getting Britain out of the European Union, would be dead.

"Look our parties arn't the same. You're Fascists, we're not."

"I am not a Fascist I am a British Patriot. You sound like the Guardian. You know that's the sort of thing they say about you too?"

"Don't compare me and you. Now go, I'm going to the pub and I don't want you to join me."

"Well. Thank you for meeting Nigel. I know you said this meeting was a formality for you, and it was for me as well. We're not going to stand in seats where you've outpolled us and you do well. And you can't stop your local parties not standing candidates against us."

"To hell I can't"

"Nominations have to be in 6 days, Good luck!" said Griffin, winking with his good eye, and exiting the room.

"Fuck a duck." said Farage once he was left. Downing the glass of Scotch he'd been nursing throughout the meeting.

"Well I guess this means..." started Gerrard Batten MEP

"Shut the fuck up you moron." shouted Farage, throwing the glass in Batten's direction, picking up his trenchcoat and leaving. Batten uncoiled himself, having cowered from the shards of glass that exploded a couple of metres away from him. He sighed, and tried to remember where his office boy kept the dustpan and brush.


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Newsnight Studio 10:34pm Tuesday October 9th


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"You dominate the lettings market in Edinburgh, and yet your properties have repeatedly been found to be sub-par. It's absolutely laughable you're comparing this to communism, we're trying to make the property market work better by raising standards. Your lettings agency made super-profits last year by ripping off Students and young families. How is that fair? Is it fair that you've evicted families for not paying raised rents in sub-standard houses? How is that fair?"

The representative for Grant Property was visibly disheveled by another broadside from Cooper

"We've got thousands of happy customers across the capital" he offered, insipidly.

"Is that the best you've got? You come on here criticising our productive policy, and you have nothing to offer you own tenants who are being ripped off?"

"We offer fair rents for convenient city-centre properties"

"And people say politicians talk in spin"

"Thank you Mrs Cooper, and thank you Mr Samuel" intervened Kirsty Wark, ending the segment to commence a discussion about corruption in Football.
 
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