Well with the Bristol elections over for 2 years and the dust settled from the emotion around the elections who were the big winners in Bristol.
Labour
Labour gained 3 seats from the 2007 election (elections are fought on a 4 yearly cycle) and regained one seat which was lost in a by-election. These were reasonable results but in no way matched the results in the Northern cities where Labour swept the board. The swing to Labour was from the lib dems was 4% only half that achieved nationally. All Labour’s gains were at the expense of the Lib Dems and failed to win any seats from the Tories.
Labour will feel that they have momentum and are winning seats again but have failed to make a big enough impact to take control of the council over a four year cycle – If all the seats had been up Labour would have won around 32-34 seats just short of taking control.
Lib Dems
The Lib Dems have lost 5 seats and lost control of the council but must surely being quite pleased not to have lost more. Indeed they increased their vote since 2007 by just over 3,000. They will be calculating that the next elections in 2013 could leave them level with Labour on seats or even the second party.
Greens
On bristol247.com Tony Dyer the Green’s election guru had predicted two gains, Ashley and Southville. In the end they won in Ashley (with the highest vote on the night). This extra seat allows them to register officially as a party on the council which is a big step forward for them. However they will be a little concerned with the size of the loss in Southville and the failure to make progress in Easton.
Conservatives
The Tories are treading water they neither lost or won a seat. The tories in Bristol don’t seem to be going anywhere and they have more vulnerable seats up in 2013. They will be a little worried that unlike the national party which advanced against the lib dems while losing seats to Labour they have made little impact in Bristol.
Parliamentary Seats
Two parliamentary seats had all their local wards contested, Bristol East and Bristol South. There has been surprisingly little change in vote share since last years GE:
Bristol East
Labour + 2.6%
Con +0.2%
Lib Dem – 4.9%
Bristol South
Lab +3.5%
Con -2.9%
Lib Dem -6.6%
Given the results it is hard to identify a real winner from the Bristol elections. All parties will take some cheer from the results and all have reasons to be depressed. Overall the Liberal Democrats, despite their losses, probably have had the best result given the national situation.
“Two parliamentary seats had all their local wards contested, Bristol East and Bristol West. ” You then go on to list figures for “Bristol East” and “Bristol South”. Presumably a mistake here?
yes, corrected now
“tredding”? – tsk, tsk, but a good analysis of the results anyhow.
oops combination of Freudian slip and a typo 🙂
I noticed Jon Rogers was too scared to wade in with his view on transgender healthcare. What’s Stephen Williams ever done for them? Nothing that I’m aware of. That’s a bit slack for politicians whose constituencies cover Montpelier.
I’ve been off spreading my tentacles into the transgender community and it didn’t take much to discover that bunch are so mellow it’s ridiculous. No wonder NHS treatment for the transgender community is illegally poor.
I’m scratching my head trying to work out how a doctor and a self-styled “gay rights” activist can talk the talk but not walk the walk on this issue of national human rights importance. It’s a scandal and they’re asleep on the job.
Where’s Labour on this? I don’t hear a peep out of them. What, you’re going to talk to all the same policy wonks and beer and sandwiches brigade? Faff around the problem and not have the bottle take a pop?
I’ve discussed leadership, organisation, and value to the voter way, way before you bunch. Ed Miliband’s position is a garbled rewarming. I wrote the ‘Blue Labour’ manifesto before it had a name. Keep up FFS.
There is clearly a north & south divide, & an underlying inner city – suburban factor, with Labour doing better in Bristol than some neighbouring councils.
Here in B&NES Labour won one, & lost one, with the LibDems the big winners, taking seats off an unpopular Tory administration.
The Tories seem to be treading water, & will be quite happy with their results, a year into government & they’ve succesfully dumped a load of blame onto the Libs.
But still a long way to go to 2015 ……
Exeter!!!
Shock. Bristol public shows lack of interest in all political parties.
Do you think that’s got anything to do with the fact they’re all the same?
Higher turnout than usual for the local elections, do you think it was the excitement generated by the AV referendum.
Mayoral referendum next year but no local elections in Bristol
In Westfield we had quite a few postal voters who completed the AV ballot, but didn’t include either the B&NES or parish slips, Also I think a few ‘missing’ issued paper, & blanks, at the full count.
So, suprisingly, I think quite a few people did come out mainly because of AV …..
I’m so bored shitless with Labour I’ve 99% quit reading their slice of the blogosphere.
I’m not going to carry Labour and if they can’t give a shit for peoples aspirations my vote recommend is switching further from the left, on past the Green’s, and onto the Tories. I have no respect for cretins like the CONDEM’s but sorry. Had to be done.
I have a very very good political nose and proven it enough times. I’ve written Mili-bore off and discounted Labour winning the next election. I’m not convinced Labour will take Bristol either. You just don’t get it.
I just worked out today that I’ve literally gained nothing under Labour. Nothing. It’s not as if I’m not specific enough or that I don’t write stuff that gets ripped off when it suits politicians but there’s the “me” thing missing. What about me?
Still waiting for someone *anyone* to grow some balls (ha ha) over just this *one* latest policy and funding area. You’ve all gone quiet and I know what that usually means. I’ve got you over a barrel.
So?… Deal, buster.
Let us know how you get on with the Tories, intregued
Intriguing’s a polite word for it. Why bother with the Tories, why not go the full stretch and go ukip?
Still Tebbit’s Community Programme was brilliant, interesting jobs for the asking, and free courses in just about anything you could think of. Well worthwhile.
Way better than Labour’s more recent coercive and punitive measures.
They won’t be running that again now tho. Rehashed Restart is the best you could hope for, or worse.
Any Tories whingeing about the unemployed should be made to write out a million times their chancellor’s dictum about high unemployment being a price worth paying. Or better still, make them pay that price. See how they like it.
Well, it always important to have a good self-image …….
despite all evidence to the contrary ….
* Lord Ashcroft paints Labour into a corner while Cameron hails NHS reform turning the corner.
* Hazel Blears and James Purnell hailed as the leaders of Blue Labour. Impossible since I have circumstantial evidence both clowns ripped me off and they still can’t articulate themselves.
* NHS in meltdown over breaching its own IVF treatment policies and poor financial management compromising care. (Factoid: Louise Brown’s partner lived in Montpelier while they were dating.)
* Alistair Campbell is trumpeting Steve Richards comparison of Osborne with Brown that I made before the general election.
* Labour quoting Lao Tzu back in my face.
I am a strategist. That puts me beyond politics. So quit with the mediocrity and tribalism, okay? While you’re at it find a better strategist. No, really. Get off your doughnut fed ass and find one.
Stephen Williams is bitching about his body image. Something I said?
Yeah, like HE’s got a problem. Told ya those gays don’t give a stuff for transgenders. Not a peep. Not a mention while the NHS wilfully (and meanly) continues to illegally undermine and restrict treatment.
Grrr.
Jon Rogers is still too chicken to comment.
What’s a bitch gotta do to get some SERVICE around here? It’s like they’ve got democratic dysphoria. Kinda explains a lot…
SKY has commissioned a new drama about a transgender Hitman. If it’s written intelligently it could be the best show on TV.
In strategy timing is everything. Nothing wrong with mine.
Hello, hello. Andrew Grice commenting on Blair firing a warning shot at Mili-bore. Only a couple of days late. Eh, Tone? Whoops-a-poll-eclipse.
Things get nuanced from this point onwards. Liam Byrne and Peter Hain are messing up as well. Their policy strategies and party reorganisation schemes are damp fireworks.
Fuck, I’m good.
It’s a little opaque but like my housing association test if Labour can’t fix the transgender issues what makes them think they can run government? Did Labour win the council? Nope. Will Labour win the next general election? Er, nope.
But…?
I have this saw that unless politicians give *me* what *I* want they’re no good. It’s worked pretty well so far.
So?
C’mon, the logic ain’t hard.
Labour just aren’t creative and lack the killer instinct. Okay, so hiring a transgender hitman might be going a step too far but it’s crushingly obvious that Labour don’t represent value for people at an individual level.
Stephen Williams didn’t like the post below and it was axed:
How can Stephen Williams stand idly by while NHS policy on transgender healthcare is currently in breach of human rights legislation and best practice?
1. Gender reassignment facial surgery options are less than minimally ideal.
2. Hair removal treatment is considered a discretionary option for funding reasons.
3. Quality of care can be very poor.
4. The transgender and equality acts are a mess.
5. Government computer systems continue to ‘out’ transgenders.
Obviously, not everyone in the constituency is after a sixpack…
I’ve also been doing more research and compared various private surgeons around the world with the NHS and to be blunt the NHS are butchers using antiquated surgical techniques with no regard to aesthetics or function.
Cameron is in a bit of a nose-dive this week and it’s crossing my mind to raise this issue directly with number 10 because it highlights how backward the NHS is and how many opportunities to advance medicine and a profit for Britain are being missed by stupidity and prejudice.
When Blair pissed me off about job centres I wrote to William Hague and his question at PMQ’s the following week was described as genius and one of the few times Hague ever flattened Blair. (Nothing wrong with my policy analysis and strategic skills is there?)
I’m thinking this issue is a gut punch to Labour’s opposition to the Tories NHS reforms and I’ve got enough insight to make it stick.
Pissed off doesn’t even begin to tell you how annoyed I am right now.
Why vote Labour?
Mili-bore in fight back. Yeah, right. It didn’t take me a second to dismiss his stance on welfare and the link with transgender politics is that the economic and social costs of incompetence in the area is losing more than what’s being saved.
While criticism is being levelled at the NHS Future Forum for Sir Stephen Bubb’s alleged biased views on competition the Patient’s Association is squealing at doctors being given power to commission might be used to inflate their salaries.
Competition is really a macro regulation and cultural issue and no politician I’ve heard of displays mastery in this area. They’re too busy leaping on the latest meme and dad dancing with gullible constituents to acquire much of a clue.
I’ve already established the NHS has failed for a whole stack of reasons and the Patients Association’s claims are undermined by the fact treatment is compromised by penny pinching.
Right now I’m taking a day’s break from research but the next task on the slate is to challenge the so called “medical opinion” of the PCT and penny pinching. A world class transgender healthcare package costs £50,000 (inc indirect costs). How many private companies and GP’s are going to reject that? Zero.
Last but not least I’ve been able to shoehorn transgender politics into the Conservative mindset. If the Tories enable transgenders then that’s bye-bye to an entire constituency and the alphabet soup might follow.
Why vote Labour?
Howard Jacobson writing in the Independent is “struck dumb by too much women’s stuff” as in a moment of transgressive abandon Sandi Toksvig said the Tories put the “n” in “cut’s”.
There’s a joke in there.
Oh, I forgot. Labour doesn’t do creative or humour or spontaneous. Maybe that’s why the feminist candidate for Ashley ward area lost?
Why vote Labour?
According to the BBC Labour are voting against the NHS bill regardless of any changes while remaining totally silent about useless, penny pinching, and slow healthcare for transgenders.
Shameful.
The only fully legal compliant healthcare options for transgenders are mostly private and aren’t cheap. Isn’t it nice of the Liberals to block that.
Shameful.
Where’s Stephen Williams on this? Outed as a one track mind transphobe. Where’s Doctor Jon Rogers on this? Twattering about traffic which isn’t even his brief.
Shameful.
Transgenderism is a medical condition and shoes are transport so I just figured out I might be able to sting Disability Living Allowance for new shoes. Waddya think of Christian Louboutin?
Shameful (but in a nice way).
I just pinged one of my media friends (I have them as well) to see if they’d do an expose of the illegal cheap-ass transgender NHS healthcare butchery in the UK.
‘Scuse me grinding a stiletto into Labour’s eyeball. A lifetime of brutalising oppression and broken promises gets to you after a while.
Just discovered Philip Davies the Tory MP for Shipley made a derogatory comment about transgenders applying for royal protection jobs with S014.
Shameful.
I know of at least one transgender military veteran who is trained in firearms and live targets, and has a concealed weapon permit. Yes, they carry.
Another trangender I know of was hassled by a mob whose ringleader was armed. They were carrying, kept cool, and got themselves and a relative out with nobody harmed.
That doesn’t count my pathetic by comparison martial arts and adventuring. Being skint sucks so I can’t afford to go leaping out of aircraft over Mount Everest like Kate Craig-Wood.
Care to repeat that Davies?
Just looked at his website. What… a… fat… useless… fuck.
Beaten by a bitch. LOL.
Just caught a BBC report covering Mili-bore ranting about people who don’t make a contribution. (Take a look in the mirror, buster.)
*ahem*
I’m not the one responsible for the Labour governments failed economic policies and the Incapacity Benefit assessment (thanks Labour) should be fun if I spring on them I’m a transgender. Oh, moley. The paperwork if they mess *me* around.
Technically I’m employed by the Department for Employment and Learning (who are anything but) and they’re twiddling their fingers while Coca Cola, Yahoo!, American Express and AT&T are providing a world class transgender healthcare package.
Maybe the Tories should sack a few more Labour voting civil service deadbeats? That would pay for a boob job and have me raring to get back to work. Hey, you had your chance. I just want my life back, okay?
Oh, shit. I just thought… in some jobs I might have to wear makeup and a skirt. *gulp* Better make that the extra pretty package, huh? Sacking four Labour voting civil service deadbeats ought to pay for that.
Maybe I could be the weathergirl on television instead? Hmmm.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can do that Mr Mili-bore. Pleeeeeeeze.
Jon Rogers finally comes out of the closet on Twitter by trumpeting Shirley Williams attack on the coalition’s NHS reforms.
* Not a peep from Jon Rogers about transgender surgery being complete and utter shit on the NHS,
* Not a peep from Jon Rogers about transgender patient care being complete and utter shit on the NHS.
* Not a peep from Jon Rogers that almost any transgender who can will go private to get away from the NHS nightmare.
* Not a peep from Jon Rogers on NHS treatment being illegal.
* Not a peep from Jon Rogers on NHS delaying tactics being illegal.
Thanks Jon. You can comfort yourself that you’ve backed the most shitty, slow, and awkward solution for a third class minority. I hope you’re proud.
Pssst. Anyone wanna buy my bollocks for £50,000? (Like I need them any more.) I wanna look pretty not like the mangled remains of yesterdays dinner.
Oh, anyone who thinks the NHS is providing “quality, not price” and “should not be able to “cherry-pick” easy and profitable cases” check out Dr Douglas Ousterhout and Doctor Suporn.
If the NHS can provide that quality of outcome for less money like, er, now then I’ll send David Mili-bore my bollocks in a jar after it’s done. Seriously.
C’mon. Someone tell me the Tories NHS reform isn’t going to shake the NHS deadbeats out of their complacency and give transgenders the treatment they deserve. Go on, I double dare you.
Silence…
Labour bellyaching over child welfare payments? C’mon, find something serious. That alarmist gender war crap is getting old. I can both defend IDS proposals (so help me God) and come up with a better policy response in 5 seconds flat (I just did).
I’m gonna have to remove Labour sites off speed dial and the RSS feeds so I don’t get tempted to peep. They’re really boring and full of repetitive shit right now.
The way Mili-bore is going he’ll probably be trying to haul off all transgenders to the gas chambers this time next week while his shadow cabinet are exposed as a bunch of old lags, deadbeats, chancers, and lightweights. (Been right every time so far.)
Got something more exciting on…
Just kickstarted a research and consultation phase on taking the NHS to court over their totally shit and illegal transgender healthcare and suing their asses into the ground in a deeply embarrassing way.
Labour and the TUC can go stuff themselves as they’ve obviously got zero understanding or willingness to do something meaningful. It’s all talk and point scoring. Treading water. Nobody from Labour has rushed in here. Mouth McCarthy is dumb. Sez it all doesn’t it?
Oh, yeah. Gotta write to Number 10. (Can’t forget that and if it saves Cameron’s ass don’t come crying to me.)
Just read the unions are planning a million man strike. The same unions who are defending NHS doctors incompetently treating transgenders? Sorry. No sympathy from me. Will anyone notice a million union workers being sacked? That would pay for a world class full spectrum private healthcare plan for transgenders and open up a few job vacancies so we can get back to work and live a normal life.
Labour don’t give a fuck about quality or people, or enabling aspiration. Maybe when someone in Labour is prepared to seriously change their position on transgenders you might get my attention. For now Cameron is my new best friend.
Until Labour get *this* issue there’s no hope for them. You’re going to lose the next election (like I give a shit) and if Cameron comes through I’ll take a great delight in sending Mili-bore my bollocks in a jar so he can contemplate where he went wrong.
Good grief. I’ll happily front a media campaign and even stand as a Tory MP if Cameron waves his magic wand. What’s Labour got to offer me? Fuck all.
Why vote Labour?
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger going apeshit over Mili-bore.
Warned you this would happen. Nobody listened.
Beginning to wonder if I’m low-balling and the NHS should be forced to admit it’s failed and illegal transgender healthcare should be scrapped and that the government should instead offer transgenders the best overseas surgery.
Just think of it as restoring the karmic balance for spending billions on Trident willy waving.
As nobody from Labour has the spine to post an opinion on this (including the usually vocal Mouth McCarthy) I might just get back in the mood for posting on big media sites again and get my transgressive agenda out there.
You don’t want that to happen.
Watched about 10 seconds of Mili-bore being interviewed by Nick Robinson and clicked off in disgust.
No mention of politicians failure to create good quality well paid jobs and positive PR for people like me?
No mention about our skillbase and continual self-learning (not everyone vegetates in front of a television or fucks like bunny rabbits).
No mention of putting up with bullshit from people in work and living with nuisance neighbours who are mollycoddled by Labour supporting PC types.
No mention of the hidden mental and physical cost of poverty that stacks the deck even harder against us.
No mention of a shit NHS built for the convenience of lazy surgeons who illegally regard transgenders (it’s a disability) as third class citizens.
Try again Mili-bore.
Just worked out the total cost of the bombs dropped on Libya in one week will pay for an entire years worth of world beating full spectrum transgender healthcare packages and put Britain at the leading edge of a business with strong export potential.
If Gaddafi gets out of this scrape I’ll have to write to the Libyan embassy and suggest to them that charitably funding transgender healthcare would be the biggest V sign to parliament he could give while looking like the good guy.
Hey, I like this transgressive politics. It’s fun.
Unison bellyaching to the Guardian about the usual union meat and potatoes bullshit.
No mention of quality, customer care, and value.
Does Unison know how shit NHS transgender healthcare is?
Is Unison proud to represent NHS employees complicit in this?
Is Unison so dumb it can’t look up on the web and see how many employees Doctor Suporn employs in his clinic and at the local hotels?
Idiots.
Of course, if Unison is willing to underwrite this transgenders private healthcare package I might shut up before they get any more embarrassed.
According to The Telegraph unions and NHS management have a agreed a new dress code for nurses. Isn’t it odd how something that isn’t anything to do with clinical competence but merely cosmetic has the full force of these dinosaurs behind them but transgenders medical requirements to achieve a healthy self-image and full social integration are dismissed out of hand.
More proof it’s one rule for them and one rule for us.
Why vote Labour?
Just picked up a fantastic book recommendation from a transexual friend that Mili-bore and Unison would benefit from reading. It really is the go-to book for people who want to make things happen.
As Labour don’t value me I don’t see why I should spill what it is but I can toss it into an email to the Tory party. The principle is make things harder for me and I can make things harder for you. A lot harder.
Beginning to feel that election victory slip away yet?
Why vote Labour?
Mouth McCarthy is reported as railing against the NHS reforms in the Evening Post. Labour failed transgenders and is still failing transgenders so sorry not listening and you can’t make me.
In a few weeks I managed to change the rules of the game in the US with some well placed influences and I haven’t even got started over here. If Labour wanted to know what juggling anti-matter is like they’re about to find out.
Haven’t had so much fun in ages. No, really. I get off on this.
It’s something to do…
Jon Rogers bandwagonning the anti-supermarket protests in Twitter. I’ll give it a month before he’s standing up like a cardboard hero in favour of world class healthcare and funding for transgenders.
Every little snip helps…
Ed Balls whining about VAT. Nope. Still not listening. What’s the point of being able to buy more makeup and nail polish when NHS transgender healthcare is so ineffective? Another week before Labour crack. I can tell.
Started my own blog so you’ll finally be rid of me. Yay.
Unions talking up sustained industrial action. This isn’t very smart for a lot of reasons including motive and timing. They’re fighting entirely the wrong argument. I don’t think you’re going to win this one and it’s going to bounce back in your face.
I’m more convinced my position on this is better and will be putting that directly to the Tories myself instead of going through Labour who’ve been completely useless so far. If that works things could get interesting.
Paul Smith saying on Twitter that he’s not always nice. Pressure getting to anyone? In contrast Jon Rogers on Twitter is actually beginning to sound smart and half-human. Dropped the ball there didn’t you?
I’ve added a big yacht in Bristol docks to my wish list just in case Labour think I’m cheap…
The UN just passed a resolution today giving equal rights to transgenders so you bunch are going to have to start being nice to me.
The transphobe Stephen Williams still doesn’t get how NHS bureaucracy is discriminating against transgenders.
Williams is also sucking up to religions. Not a peep from him that transgenders are highly valued by religions in other parts of the world.
What a horrible ignorant and biased little man he is.
The Guardian is reporting how the West has exported child sex selection to the developing world with disastrous consequences. This is on top of the US government pressuring countries into restricting transgender healthcare and a transphobic NHS. Sounds a bit stupid doesn’t it?
I have impeccable timing or very good luck (or just been going around putting ideas in peoples heads).
Still no comment from The Bouncing Bomb or Mouth McCarthy.
Why vote Labour?
Mli-bore finally admitted to himself that he’s an idiot and buckled to the agenda led by Diary of a Benefit Scrounger. Still not good enough. Try harder.
The Independent is going medieval on the incompetent NHS for negligence and macho lawyers. Sill not good enough. Try harder.
Things do seem to be going my way don’t they?
Why vote Labour?
Ed Balls is reported by the BBC as warning the unions against falling into a “strike trap” but no it’s not very complicated at all.
Getting a little warmer.
Still no word from Labour on how the scandalous failure of NHS transgender healthcare is totemic of politicians failure and how this costs wider economy.
Hurry up.
More half baked policies and street parties at taxpayers expense isn’t giving transgenders what they want and Labour need to get that.
Try harder.
The Telegraph reports that Frank Field kicking the victim again. A misguided evil man.
It should be pretty clear from what I’ve written over time that I’m not the problem here. Labour still don’t get that, and they’re still an unconvincing and weak opposition.
I’m fiddling with a couple of things that need to be done right now and I’m doing it without Labour’s help or support. If I succeed I bet Labour will be there to take a share of the glory. Clue: ain’t gonna happen.
Why vote Labour?
The Times highlights the unions are suffering a membership and revenue meltdown. Labour and their paymasters just aren’t relevant and what’s ironic for them is they’re doing it to themselves.
I caught mention of Labour’s policy review (is that thing still rumbling on?) and had a quick look before closing the browser tab before I fell asleep. Support for union action is tracking at a real low.
Told you so.
Plans for a directly elected mayor are being watered down. Hardly makes it worth the bother. Not that Bristol has any obvious candidates worth talking about so it’s probably just as well.
Fucked that up didn’t you?
The Guardian reports Mili-bore is picking up reform issues I raised *yawn* over a year ago and and talking points I raised last week but his implementation is cluttered and unpolished. That’s why he looks embattled and his own side are tearing chunks out of him.
Do I have to give a lecture on writing briefings and delivering keynote speeches as well? (And the difference between them.) C’mon, I’m the unemployable one here. Surely some rich git with a PEP degree can do better than me.
Just been looking into the economic costs of poor transgender healthcare. D’ya know it can cost the state more to skimp a one-time £50,000 cost for a world class outcome than the annual recurring costs of keeping your average creep in prison? Not all cuts are cute if you get my drift…
I recommended people used the legal system to the maximum to pursue policy goals. Labour are invisible on this issue. Today the BBC reports that students have obtained a judicial review of student fees so at least someone is paying attention.
I’m aiming for a judicial review of transgender healthcare right now. Why? Because I can and have nothing better to do.
Why vote Labour?