UK General Election 2024

[3141]

I saw a SDP election broadcast after the news last night. I must admit, I hadn’t realised they still existed.

The Liberal Party continued to exist after the Liberals and the SDP combined in the late 1980s to form the Liberal-Democrats. Maybe it still does.

 

[WesternLancer]

The Liberal Party continued to exist after the Liberals and the SDP combined in the late 1980s to form the Liberal-Democrats. Maybe it still does.

It looks like it does, seems to have a few Councillors

Liberal Party (UK, 1989) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But Google searches seem to want to confuse it with the Liberal Democrats so not sure if they have candidates in the 2024 General election

Edit:
Now found their website with short manifesto download and list of 12 candidates

The Liberal Party

liberal.org.uk

 

[simonw]

The Liberal Party continued to exist after the Liberals and the SDP combined in the late 1980s to form the Liberal-Democrats. Maybe it still does.

Liberal Party (UK, 1989) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

According to wiki, it does

 

[Oxfordblues]

We went for a walk in West Oxford yesterday. There were lots of Lib-Dem placards, a few Labour posters and just one Green banner. But not one single Conservative sign. Could it be that the handful of residual Tory supporters are ashamed to proclaim their allegiance? Or perhaps they're afraid of risking their security? West Oxford & Abingdon should be a walk-over for the Lib Dems this time with Layla Moran as MP.

 

[PGAT]

I feel the Conservatives have put in no effort into the election campaign whatsoever

 

[YorkRailFan]

The Liberal Party continued to exist after the Liberals and the SDP combined in the late 1980s to form the Liberal-Democrats. Maybe it still does.

The SPD tends to stand at elections as the SDLP (Social Democrat Liberal Party), I believe they had a few MPs prior to the dissolution of Parliament.

 

[simonw]

It looks like it does, seems to have a few Councillors

Liberal Party (UK, 1989) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But Google searches seem to want to confuse it with the Liberal Democrats so not sure if they have candidates in the 2024 General election

Edit:
Now found their website with short manifesto download and list of 12 candidates

The Liberal Party

liberal.org.uk

Some 'interesting' items in their manifesto

Railways ​

• Railways Franchises will be scrapped in favour of ‘Open Access Rail’ as the franchise agreement comes to an end:
  • Privately owned self-financing operators that are not subject to franchising, instead purchasing individual slots on the mainline. There would be a minimum of four operators per railway route.
  • Major Railways routes would operate 24/7.
    
• Greener railways by increasing the number of electric light rail/trains.
  
  
• Invest heavily in light rail as well as metro transit systems across all major cities in England: Manchester, Leeds, Bristol etc:
  • All light rail and metro systems in major cities would operate 24/7.
    
• HS1, HS2, HS3 etc. should be extended to cover Wales (Cardiff), North West of England (Liverpool and Manchester), Yorkshire (Leeds – Phase 2b), North East of England (Newcastle), Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) and Northern Ireland (Belfast).
  
  
• Investment in infrastructure to encourage rail freight rather than movement of freight by road.
  
  
• Increased investment in rail infrastructure and rolling stock, to reduce levels of overcrowding:
  • Set up a commission that would look at reopening some of the Beeching’ cuts to British railway lines in the 1960’s.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

• Privately owned self-financing operators that are not subject to franchising, instead purchasing individual slots on the mainline. There would be a minimum of four operators per railway route.

Wouldn't most operators go bankrupt without heavy financial support, or are they only talking about Avanti and LNER?

 

[YorkRailFan]

The SNP's manifesto (published today) has a few transport policies.

SNP 2024 Manifesto: A Future Made in Scotland

A vote for the SNP is a vote for independence. On July 4, vote for a future made in Scotland, for Scotland. Read the SNP’s 2024 General Election Manifesto.

www.snp.org

Transfer full powers for complete integration of track and train in Scotland - a fully devolved railway, including full ownership and powers over Network Rail Scotland and with powers for permanent public ownership of rail services to best serve Scotland's passengers, communities and economy.

Definitely makes sense, but that's all there is for Rail in the manifesto sadly. There is a small section for buses:

Promote a fairer and affordable transition to zero-emission transport fuels and ban the import and sale of new, non zero-emission buses by 2025. The UK Government must also fully support the production and use of sustainable bridging fuels in the maritime and aviation sectors.

Nothing on bus services or on domestic flights.

The manifesto follows the Green's stance on Nuclear Energy:

Rule out new nuclear power plants in Scotland. The SNP believe the best pathway forward to net zero and secure, affordable and clean energy is through sufficient growth in renewables, storage, hydrogen and carbon capture.

The SNP also wants to rejoin the EU.

We will champion our vision for an independent Scotland in the EU.

Yes, the SNP are still campaigning for independence:

Independence is a vital necessity for Scotland because decisions taken at Westminster have made life more difficult for people, families, communities and businesses across the country.

 

[simonw]

Wouldn't most operators go bankrupt without heavy financial support, or are they only talking about Avanti and LNER?

Quite, that's why I commented that there ideas are 'interesting'

 

[YorkRailFan]

• Railways Franchises will be scrapped in favour of ‘Open Access Rail’ as the franchise agreement comes to an end:
  • Privately owned self-financing operators that are not subject to franchising, instead purchasing individual slots on the mainline. There would be a minimum of four operators per railway route.
  • Major Railways routes would operate 24/7.
• Greener railways by increasing the number of electric light rail/trains.

That feels like one of the rejected proposals for privatisation under Major's Government, its just not possible to have 4 competing per route on say Leeds-Carlise, or Carmarthen-Swansea, or Oban-Glasgow.

 

[WesternLancer]

Quite, that's why I commented that there ideas are 'interesting'

I'm sceptical that they are 'fully costed'

 

[takno]

Wouldn't most operators go bankrupt without heavy financial support, or are they only talking about Avanti and LNER?

They fairly clearly don't know what they're talking about. Seems like a random combination of some poorly-understood green stuff and a sprinkling of poorly understood liberal economic extremism.

A less kind person than me might observe that in the divorce the Lib Dems got the energy and talent, and the Liberals got to keep the purist nutcases

 

[gg1]

The SPD tends to stand at elections as the SDLP (Social Democrat Liberal Party), I believe they had a few MPs prior to the dissolution of Parliament.

The SDLP are a Northern Ireland party who predate and are completely unrelated to the SDP, though they are both centre left parties.

 

[Gloster]

The SPD tends to stand at elections as the SDLP (Social Democrat Liberal Party), I believe they had a few MPs prior to the dissolution of Parliament.

The SDLP are a Northern Ireland party who predate and are completely unrelated to the SDP, though they are both centre left parties.

They are the Social Democratic & Labour Party. The SPD is a German party, but there are also parties with those initials in Czechia and Serbia.

 

[simonw]

That feels like one of the rejected proposals for privatisation under Major's Government, its just not possible to have 4 competing per route on say Leeds-Carlise, or Carmarthen-Swansea, or Oban-Glasgow.

What? Don't tell me Portishead, when it finally opens, won't be served by 4 different operators.

 

[52290]

Are the Official Monster Raving Looney Party standing anywhere? They are the only party for which I would put a sticker in my window even though they aren't standing in my constituency. I feel that such move would be consistent with their motto 'vote for insanity, you it know makes sense!'.

 

[Gloster]

Are the Official Monster Raving Looney Party standing anywhere? They are the only party for which I would put a sticker in my window even though they aren't standing in my constituency. I feel that such move would be consistent with their motto 'vote for insanity, you it know makes sense!'.

According to Wikipedia the Official Monster Raving Loony Party is standing in twenty-two seats, which is more than Alba or the Communist Party. (The ‘Official…’: is there an Unofficial Monster Raving Loony Party as well?)

 

[HSTEd]

The SNP also wants to rejoin the EU.

Thus ensuring their rail policy can't be long-term, because they'd be required to abandon it again immediately upon entry to the EU!

 

[nw1]

They fairly clearly don't know what they're talking about. Seems like a random combination of some poorly-understood green stuff and a sprinkling of poorly understood liberal economic extremism.

A less kind person than me might observe that in the divorce the Lib Dems got the energy and talent, and the Liberals got to keep the purist nutcases

Interestingly both the "new" SDP and "new" Liberals appear to be Eurosceptic parties and Brexit supporters, differing radically from the Lib Dems and also, if I remember right, from the SDP-Liberal Alliance of the 80s.

Just seen the party political broadcast of the SDP on iPlayer. Not impressed, to put it mildly. Whether it's intended, the impression I get is of a right-wing populist party. They put down the Lib Dems by showing the character knocking on the door and getting no response. What on earth is that supposed to mean? Then they do a sneering put down of Labour, having a go at them for being too soft on immigration.

Bring back the 1981 edition of the SDP, not this 21st-century mutation. They certainly don't sound like social democrats to me!

 

[Busaholic]

It looks like it does, seems to have a few Councillors

Liberal Party (UK, 1989) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

But Google searches seem to want to confuse it with the Liberal Democrats so not sure if they have candidates in the 2024 General election

Edit:
Now found their website with short manifesto download and list of 12 candidates

The Liberal Party

liberal.org.uk

They always have a candidate in my Cornish seat of St Ives, including this time, and usually in a couple of others too such as Camborne. In this area I'd say it's associated with Wesleyan Methodism and is to a certain extent the nearest there is to the ideas of the old Whig party.

 

[AlterEgo]

I saw a SDP election broadcast after the news last night. I must admit, I hadn’t realised they still existed.

It isn’t quite the same party as the one in the 80s.

 

[Busaholic]

Interestingly both the "new" SDP and "new" Liberals appear to be Eurosceptic parties and Brexit supporters, differing radically from the Lib Dems and also, if I remember right, from the SDP-Liberal Alliance of the 80s.

David Owen, the leader of the SDP who famously refused to go along with the merger with David Steel's Liberal party, became a huge opponent of the UK adopting the Euro, long before Gordon Brown in effect did the same, but still believed we were better 'in' than 'out'. Confession time - I helped out in the SDP's election campaign in Greenwich in the 1980s which Rosie Barnes, to everyone's surprise especially her own, she won! I had refused to help in the Lewisham East seat where I lived, having met Polly Toynbee, the party's candidate, and taken an instant dislike to her!

Rod Liddle, who may be their best known supporter now, was a confirmed Brexiteer who loved goading Remain supporters, but doesn't appear to mention the subject much nowadays.

 

[nw1]

David Owen, the leader of the SDP who famously refused to go along with the merger with David Steel's Liberal party, became a huge opponent of the UK adopting the Euro, long before Gordon Brown in effect did the same, but still believed we were better 'in' than 'out'. Confession time - I helped out in the SDP's election campaign in Greenwich in the 1980s which Rosie Barnes, to everyone's surprise especially her own, she won! I had refused to help in the Lewisham East seat where I lived, having met Polly Toynbee, the party's candidate, and taken an instant dislike to her!

Rod Little, who may be their best known supporter, was a confirmed Brexiteer who loved goading Remain supporters, but doesn't appear to mention the word much nowadays.

Rod Liddle is that (not Little)? Yes, I remember him being someone who moved increasingly rightwards later.

 

[BrianW]

I feel the Conservatives have put in no effort into the election campaign whatsoever

Hereabouts, Johnny Mercer, no mention of Conservative; and Geoffrey Cox, the Conservative candidate for Torridge and Tavistock

The Ofcom rules on Party Political and Referendum Broadcasts say

How many SNP and Plaid Cymru candidates are there, let alone DUP, UUP etc in NI? Any broadcasts? Who pays?

 

[Busaholic]

Rod Liddle is that (not Little)? Yes, I remember him being someone who moved increasingly rightwards later.

Yes, corrected. I think his political position is much more nuanced than you suggest, and he tears into into quite a lot of people like Farage and Rees-Mogg too. Not a 'clubbable' person. I suspect that if I met him I'd quite like him, though not agreeing with some of his views. An agent provocateur, for sure.

Hereabouts, Johnny Mercer, no mention of Conservative; and Geoffrey Cox, the Conservative candidate for Torridge and Tavistock

How many SNP and Plaid Cymru candidates are there, let alone DUP, UUP etc in NI? Any broadcasts? Who pays?

If Cox doesn't get re-elected, the Tories might not win 50 seats overall!! Mercer knows he's toast.

 

[Gloster]

How many SNP and Plaid Cymru candidates are there, let alone DUP, UUP etc in NI? Any broadcasts? Who pays?

SNP: 57, PC: 32, but I think that in their case the calculation is affected by Rule 17 of the Ofcom rules, which means that each nation is considered separately. The same is true of NI.

There are 18 seats in NI: the Alliance and SDLP are contesting them all, while the other parties each have candidates in at least 14.

 

[Purple Train]

Interestingly both the "new" SDP and "new" Liberals appear to be Eurosceptic parties and Brexit supporters, differing radically from the Lib Dems and also, if I remember right, from the SDP-Liberal Alliance of the 80s.

Just seen the party political broadcast of the SDP on iPlayer. Not impressed, to put it mildly. Whether it's intended, the impression I get is of a right-wing populist party. They put down the Lib Dems by showing the character knocking on the door and getting no response. What on earth is that supposed to mean? Then they do a sneering put down of Labour, having a go at them for being too soft on immigration.

Bring back the 1981 edition of the SDP, not this 21st-century mutation. They certainly don't sound like social democrats to me!

The SDP are a strange one: they're left-wing (economically speaking: I judge "wingness" economically, as judging it socially is the American way, isn't it?) but socially conservative, and they have a pact in some seats with Reform UK. If it wasn't for that last bit, they'd probably be the party most closely aligned to my own views, but I think they take the social conservatism slightly too far (mine doesn't extend to immigration).

 

[takno]

David Owen, the leader of the SDP who famously refused to go along with the merger with David Steel's Liberal party, became a huge opponent of the UK adopting the Euro, long before Gordon Brown in effect did the same, but still believed we were better 'in' than 'out'. Confession time - I helped out in the SDP's election campaign in Greenwich in the 1980s which Rosie Barnes, to everyone's surprise especially her own, she won! I had refused to help in the Lewisham East seat where I lived, having met Polly Toynbee, the party's candidate, and taken an instant dislike to her!

Rod Liddle, who may be their best known supporter now, was a confirmed Brexiteer who loved goading Remain supporters, but doesn't appear to mention the subject much nowadays.

They also used to get a lot of support from John Cleese, who I think they kept after the merger. He even did a party political for them once. It wasn't great.

I only know Polly Toynbee from her Guardian columns, but she seems like a rather difficult person. Much like Simon Jenkins the sort of person you sometimes agree with, and then have to double-check your thinking because it's so improbable that they are right about anything. Rod Liddle meanwhile is exactly the sort of vacuous contrarian baiter who has dragged British politics and government down to its current dismal level of triviality.

 

[SynthD]

is there an Unofficial Monster Raving Loony Party as well?

Yes, they supply all the candidates we see in the tv debates.

Rishi Sunak was at a power station control room today, which strongly reminded me of Chernobyl. Judge for yourself below. On Twitter people are comparing it to the Springfield power plant from the Simpsons.