Forum Topic

Why is London so different from the rest of England?

We bucked the trend by staying/going Labour. I have my own views but would like to hear yours.

Penny Crocker ● 3979d10 Comments

For me, i was ALMOST going to change my national vote from that of a lifetime and to be fair I wish I hadI did change my local vote.The reason?As cited one thing only -- the local A&E situation.If you're going to go around decimating A&E in the whole of NW London then expect to get some flack.I was really, really, REALLY hoping the local Tories would knock on my door canvassing. I had it all planned how I was going to tell them I'd been voting for them all my life and how their A&E policy sickened me to my bones and they could whistle for my vote.End of the day -- red, blue, purple, yellow or green (well maybe not the greens)... they are all just a bunch of ***** looking to keep cushy jobs.Politics and religion - two dinner party guests you never want

Colin Goodman ● 3977d

There is another angle which one might like to consider. I noticed this before when we had the local council elections.Labour had a really organised group of supporters putting leaflets in doors, going around in groups drumming up support and asking residents to vote Labour. I lost count of the number of leaflets put through my letterbox.Compare this with the Conservatives, apart from seeing Angie Bray and her team in Ealing Broadway and 1 leaflet through my door that was it.I was sorry to see Angie Bray lose her seat, she was a hard working MP and was quick to respond to residents who contacted her for advice.Perhaps lessons will be learned in the future.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3977d

I think everyone on here has expressed of my own views. Certainly going not very far out of London does seem like another world.

Penny Crocker ● 3977d

The various views expressed are interesting Penny.  Could there be a very simple explanation, in that Rupa Huq is a more appealing and better candidate than the past incumbent MP?

Gerry Tan ● 3978d

Omission,I forgot to thank Angie Bray for her hard work for us. She always threw herself into grass roots problems. She didn't lose because she was always eating bacon sandwiches, because she was unpopular or because the electorate didn't like the Conservatives and their policies. She just lost the NHS and the local hospital services debates.

Arthur Breens ● 3978d

There are two reasons why this area bucked the national trend(1)We are at the sharp end, rent rises, service cuts, nowhere to build new schools, assaults on public spaces, high rise buildings, soup kitchens, food banks etc. We are never more than 500m from another and different community so we feel the difference between the haves and the have nots.(2)Most of the constituencies within the Shaping a Healthier Future(SaHF) area have reported swings towards Labour. This as a direct result of these  proposed sunami-like changes to our NHS locally. There has been a concentrated, sustained and vigorous campaign by the people (including 38 degree activists)rather than just Labour activists to keep open Charing Cross Hospital and Ealing Hospital. The SHaF proposals are understood by the public and these were clearly condemned by Labour.  The Conservatives tried hard to defend them. They are dangerous, wrong and poor proposals and the Conservatives backed their horse that turned out to be the wrong horse.Both these things sharpen the mind of the the electorate and are understood. I am not surprised Labour won here. The rest of the country seemed more interested in how the press saw one man eating a bacon sandwich. So I've stopped eating them.

Arthur Breens ● 3978d

London is a world city in its outlook and culture, in many respects not functioning or behaving like anywhere else in the UK. It's probably got more in common with New York than Birmingham.So, if that premise is in any way reasonable, it's not surprising that London has different politics to most of the rest of the UK. What is surprising, given the economic weight and general culture of the City, is that those politics are left of centre.

Sam Salisbury ● 3978d

"we rub along better than you might think "That's a good way to put it.  We all know that some papers are designed for the area that is known as "Middle England", don't know exactly where that is, but it sounds a bit blinkered.Maybe we are more politically aware here, perhaps it is the numerous nationalities we have that makes us lean a bit more to the left, most of us will know someone who came here to work hard and make a better life.  I know I do.That said, Angie Bray seemed a good MP.  But none of them have ever knocked on my door to beg for my vote.

Debbie Edwards ● 3978d

I wondered if, in our patch, the hospital A&E closure programme may have had an effect. Interesting that neighbouring seats went Labour, when Finchley (for instance) didn't.More interesting in a way that in ECA, the UKIP candidate - who came across as a personable chap at our hustings - got under 2,000 votes: less than both LibDem and Green.Maybe, when we are a jolly mixed community, we rub along better than you might think from fora like these.

Sara Nathan ● 3978d

Analysts have already, sit down I am only quoting, cited the attraction of Labour to a number of ethnic minorities.

Nigel Brooks ● 3978d