A zombie Thatcher might be better than this shower, but don't hold out too much hope.

@steevc I suspect I should say something potentially positive, such as. "Our darkest hour." or "We may have been defeated in battle, but we haven't lost the war!" But I think one could argue that an 18,000 majority wipeout is "The writing on the wall."

@dick_turpin The fact that Reform got so many votes may drive them even more extreme, but I'm not convinced that's what people want. Our politics is a mess and I'd settle for something boring.

@steevc "The People" don't want different. They think they do, but they don't really. Farage did what he said he would do. It is a unique situation for most politicians, and yet the majority hate him. Donald Trump gave America "A different political style" the majority hate him. I'm not convinced the public wants Kier Starmer or Labour, for that matter; they just want the Tories out.

@dick_turpin I think the US situation is different. We lack an inspiring leader from the main parties. Farage just wants to fuck things up. I'm sure there are some who are happy with the current chaos. There are no easy fixes anyway.

@steevc But he is inspiring. He has a commanding personality, and he's no dumbass but above all, he is this "Different kind of politics" you hear people bleating about. Most don't really know what that means, but it sounds good when bitching with your mates, but then, as I said, when they get a different kind of politics, they don't like it, which proves my point, they don't really want to change.

@dick_turpin Not inspiring to me. He wants to break things. Some changes are needed though including reducing the influence of the lobbyists and party funders. Farage has his backers with their own agendas.
I'm sure 'the people' would like a change from not being able to see a doctor or affording to buy a home. I guess I'm just 'woke' :)

@steevc Hmm? I was reading up in Private Eye about Labour MPs and their dodgy donations from businesses. Although, in the sense of fairness, businesses donate to both the Tories and Labour. It's good to keep a foot in both camps.

@dick_turpin Those with money will try to game the system. I'd be in favour of MPs having to wear sponsor logos like those in sport. We know a lot of them go straight from politics to a nicely paid board post.
I do think some of them really care about improving matters, but they are all just human. Money is a powerful motivator.