P3Matov

Palace, Philosophy & Politics. And larks. Plus now over at GAB@Matov.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter Suspect it is more relief for Labour because that was a close, close call. And still the threat of a leadership challenge, albeit perhaps less of a risk. But Starmer has to move against the Left because they will still be coming for him.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

So Labour win by 323 votes. I wonder how many others they lost nationally by putting out this leaflet...https://t.co/g3IRlVeZ5u . Although it is funny to see the Novaramedia/Owen Jones types desperately trying to salvage some credibility given how they wanted Starmer to lose.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

Suspect no matter what the result tonight, Labour are going to implode. If they win then Starmer has to deal with the Corbynite Left without any delay and if they lose, then the Left are coming for him. Either way, blood will be spilt.

[David Hughes @DavidHughesPA]

Labour source says "it's going to be a long night" in #BatleyAndSpen with George Galloway's campaign hitting the party's vote and Tories picking up independents. Another Labour source predicts a 6k Tory majority. Tories say its too close to call.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter If Twitter was the barometer of reality then we would still be in the EU and Johnson would not even be an MP anymore. Truth is nobody really knows. Labour holding a seat in a by-election is not a 'win'. Merely avoiding a shit-show. Let's see. No dog in the fight beyond the lolz.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter Chesham and Amersham was a classic Lib-Dem by-election hatchet job, winning because they out Toried the Tories in terms of nimbyism. How by-elections are meant to play out. But this one? So much hype but not much by way of polling and the like. Plenty of froth but no substance.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

LOL. Starting to see ardent Lefties beginning to row back on their anti-Starmer stance. Maybe Labour does stand a chance of winning today.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@BarristersHorse The latest chatter seems to have it as Labour growing increasingly confident about holding the seat although the better markets seem confident in a Tory win. Hard to call anything at the moment given how screwed everything is.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

Whatever the result of the #BatleyAndSpen by-election the contradiction between socially conservative Islam and the progressive values of the modern Left has never been more starkly exposed. And potentially, the death knell for Labour in its current form.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

Does it really matter who #CPFC have as their manager? His only job to keep us out of the bottom 3. We ain't going to win anything, merely, at best, survive.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter @LeaveHQ All you need to know about Croydon Conservatives is Barwell.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

If football fans want to boo players taking the knee, best of British to them. If Oxford students want to take down a picture of the Queen, then best of British to them as well. This is what freedom of expression looks like. Long may it continue to be so.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter Ditto here. And all in light of the World Cup to come. In Qatar. Suspect not much knee-bending then.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

LOL. How very Palace. Build up our expectations then sucker punch us at the last minute. Like being assured you really have been bought 'proper' Adidas trainers only to open the box and find out they are a pair of knock-off specials your nan bought from the market. #cpfc

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter @LeaveHQ Yep. In 1940 the British public needed a win. And whilst Dunkirk was spun as a miracle, nobody with an ounce of nous truly saw it as anything than a defeat. But the BOB, different. A believable, and visible, narrative, the threat of invasion beaten off by the RAF. Invaluable.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter @LeaveHQ Agree with all of that but the BOB was absolutely crucial because of the politics. The US military won all the battles it fought in Vietnam but failed to win any political victories, hence losing the overall war. Optics are crucial.

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

@Mr_W_Carpenter @EveningStandard Henri Paul

[P3Matov @MatovP3]

You have to wonder about Labours PR team. Your popularity is lower than the tits on a snake so who do get to do a pally interview with? Piers Morgan. LOL. Up there with getting a Remainer to stand in Hartlepool.