General Election 2019

I think every word of it is utter shite. And it's abysmally spelled. I can't work out if it's a parody that people have fallen for, or whether someone genuinely thought it would get enough traction with people smart enough to operate a pencil in a polling booth.

What would you prefer? Is your issue specifically with this seat?
My understanding is Labour didn’t want to partake in this alliance. I’d rather we didn’t move to a two party system.
Pragmatically I can see it costing both major parties votes in Stroud. I’m therefor not sure it gives the Tories an advantage.

I'd prefer they focus on seats where they don't risk aiding the Tories.

Would you have liked to have seen Labour partake in this alliance?

Of course. But that's not the point.

The alliance is being pushed as a remain alliance. Yet they're running candidates against remain supporting labour MPs. That's straight up dumb, imo.

It's entirely possible that the Tories could win with a plurality of one. If one of those seats is Stroud, I think you'll see a lot of unhappy people.

For the record, I also think this may help Labour in some cases. I suspect most Green voters will turn to Labour before the Lib Dems. But that's a hunch.

Isn't this one way though? Are there any Labour remain candidates standing aside for the alliance? I guess not as Labour would just stand someone else instead.

Having lived just outside Stroud for a few years, I fully understand why Greens are standing, and could easily see them winning, Dale Vince has a fair amount of sway in the area, employs a lot of people through Ecotricity and also influence through Forest Green Rovers.

I totally get your sentiment but it seems unfair to only blame the alliance for this.
Also many Labour MPs might be remain but that’s not the party position.

Having lived just outside Stroud for a few years, I fully understand why Greens are standing, and could easily see them winning, Dale Vince has a fair amount of sway in the area, employs a lot of people through Ecotricity and also influence through Forest Green Rovers.

That bums me out even more. The combined votes for the Lib Dems and Greens in 2017 was 2,500. Labour received 30,000. There is zero chance of the Green party winning the seat. But if that's your impression it means there may be people who think the same and will vote green instead of Labour, eating into that razor thin 600 vote lead.

I totally get your sentiment but it seems unfair to only blame the alliance for this.

It's really not. It was their decision.

Also many Labour MPs might be remain but that’s not the party position.

Their position is to hold a second referendum. Some may call it a "People's Vote" - that thing which Dominic Grieve supports, and whose constituency the Lib Dems have pulled out of to allow him a chance to win.

Looked into a bit more, looks like Vince is backing Labour (he has donated to both Labour and Greens in the past).

And it was Labours decision not to take part when invited.

Labour don’t want to commit to saying they’d support leave on the deal they want to secure.

Grieve is an independent so not a like for like argument.

Obviously we disagree so there's no point continuing. But this (the Stroud case in particular, and maybe some of the other targeted seats) is either tactically dumb, or purposefully an attempt at punishment, on the part of the alliance. I can't really work out any other reason for it.

Probably a good idea.
I wondered if it was to apply a bit of pressure to get Labour to join or help raise the profile of the campaign.
I’m not sure it’s very viable anyway hence why I think it’s sensible Labour avoided getting involved. I’d read it Labour are prepared to loose Or at least risk Stroud to gain other seats...
That said Lib Dem’s had/have voter numbers even if not seats.

In Dominic Grieve's constituency the Lib Dems have pulled out, but the greens are still standing, so technically, exactly the same as in Stroud.

My point was about the Lib Dems relationship to a second referendum - they are not opposed to working with MPs who support a People's Vote.

As a somewhat related side note, the alliance is far from perfect in terms of agreeing where to step aside. There's at least one constituency in Wales where the Lib Dem candidate has refused to stand aside and is running as an independent.

it’s a distraction imo

No, but they are quite opposed to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour.

They have a good reason for this (which may end up helping Labour).

If they were to be outwardly more supportive of Corbyn's position they would struggle to take votes in Conservative marginals - this is where the LDs are expected to make most of their gains. As a result, they are not going to pursue a strategy that can be easily linked to helping JC get to number 10.

You could call this dumb, as they all appear to want a similar thing (second ref), but as this is a full election with a prime minister at the end of, its more complicated.

John McDonnell's statement on this was idiotic. "We don't need to join a pact because we're going to win a majority!" Or in other words, "I don't need life insurance, because a wizard told me I'm immortal!"

Apparently in cases where Labour stand no chance and any campaigning will split the non-Tory vote they just budget £0 for campaigning though. Not sure of the truth of that.

The LD's know they'll need a coalition to gain power, it's not in their interest for either the Tories or Labour to gain a majority.

John McDonnell's statement on this was idiotic. "We don't need to join a pact because we're going to win a majority!" Or in other words, "I don't need life insurance, because a wizard told me I'm immortal!"

Have you heard the shit the lib dems have been saying? I can't wait for PM Swinson.

But that's stupid, isn't it? The question in this election is: is it going to be a Tory majority or a hung parliament? There's not a chance in hell Labour returns majority unless the SNP suddenly cease to exist. If they campaign strongly against Labour, they increase the chances of a) Tory majority b) the political event they oppose most strongly (hard Brexit) coming to fruition.

I hate everyone. Bunch of children.

Depends on how many seats the LD's think they'll take off the Tories, does it not?

I think the best case scenario is a hung parliament, the question then would likely be which of Johnson or Corbyn resigns first, which would dictate which party the LD's go into coalition with.

Depends on how many seats the LD's think they'll take off the Tories, does it not?

In 1997 Blair got 328 seats in England, that's the sort of result you'd be looking for to get a Labour majority assuming Scotland stays with SNP. Can't see it.