By Election

It is very easy in the hours, days and weeks after a by-election victory (especially one on the scale of that we have just witnessed in North Shropshire) to get carried away with the hype around it, and credit where credit is due this was a stunning performance by the…

Unusual things happen in Hong Kong on a daily basis, entertaining or not. — The phrase “Hong Kong still has ICAC” is quickly becoming a thing of the past. On Monday (Aug 2), ICAC released a statement confirmed Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming, a local recording artist who is known for his opening support for democracy, is charged with breaching electoral law. Au Nok-Hin, a former…

Labour holds Batley & Spen. Was it good luck, or did something important and positive happen? The first thing I want to say is that from the reports I have, Kim was an excellent candidate and the fact she was a local important. I am also told that she is…

While the Labour lost voters, the result might indicate that a decent, pro-minority, left-wing candidate could have been done better. Starmer hails Labour revival after Kim Leadbeater wins Batley and Spen Labour "is coming home" after the party narrowly held on to Batley and Spen in a sometimes brutal byelection, Keir…www.theguardian.com Starmer must be able to sleep with ease — at least tonight or for a few days. The Labour’s winning margin is just by 323 votes, but won anyway.

The real left can’t be so optimistic about the Labour candidate, Kim Leadbeater, a sister of Jo Cox with her centrist comments on Palestine, pay rise for nurses, and the governmental fiscal policy, even through she is a true local, community oriented candidate, probably capable of bring the local voices to Westminster. Quite likely, Starmer is afraid of its potential outcome. — Following the successful bit for Mayoral position of West Yorkshire by Tracy Brabin, Batley and Spen constituency will decide its MP out of 16 candidates running for this position.

So what’s the story behind the stunning Liberal Democrat victory in the Chesham and Amersham by-election, a seismic win in the most traditional of Tory seats, at a time when Tories have a commanding poll lead? There will be plenty of theories — and plenty of dismissals too. Mid-term blues…

A by-election is fertile ground for takes. From the subtle to the ludicrous, we are blessed the morning after a by-election with a range of views expressed with a range of confidence normally closely related to the lunacy of that view. …

The Chesham and Amersham by-election. What’s the headline? Tory vote collapses, or Labour loses deposit. A bit of good news and bad news. …