On 11 November, many assumed that Nigel Farage’s Brexit party was revving up for a general election. But that morning, Farage told an audience of supporters and journalists in Hartlepool that his Brexit party would be standing down in 317 Conservative-held seats to avoid splitting the leave vote. The audience was stunned; there was muted applause after he finished. This election will be remembered as a resounding, crushing victory for Boris Johnson’s Conservatives. Just as has happened countless times before, Farage will be written off and ridiculed for his party not winning a single seat. But that morning of 11 November was the single most important moment of the campaign. Farage won it for Johnson. The decision to stand down against the Tories was not an easy one. According to Ed Jankowski, who was the Brexit party’s digital strategist until the middle of November before resigning, Farage was for a long time eager to stand in every seat and not stand down – as … [Read more...] about The Brexit party folded, but make no mistake: Farage won it for Johnson
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The Brexit party has made its first U-turn. But expect more surprises from Farage
Ten days is a lifetime during a general election. On Friday 1 November, at the Brexit party campaign launch, Nigel Farage committed his party to contest more than 600 seats. This was despite worries being aired by MEPs and Arron Banks, ally and erstwhile financial backer of Farage, that it would split the leave vote. As of this morning, Farage appears to have listened: the Brexit party will now not stand in 317 seats won by the Tories in 2017. This U-turn represents, effectively, a “leave alliance”. What more can we expect from the Brexit party in the coming weeks? It is likely the first of many surprises to come from Farage. But beneath the surface, it consolidates his party’s key strategy – focusing resources on 20 or so key seats where the party has the best chance of winning under the first past the post electoral system. It also reminds us that Farage will have an important role to play in this election: leave alliance or not, the Tories must gain seats to … [Read more...] about The Brexit party has made its first U-turn. But expect more surprises from Farage
There is hope: Boris Johnson’s big majority could unleash the social liberal within
Now what? Boris Johnson’s bonus for a stunning election victory is room for manoeuvre. He promised to “get Brexit done” and the UK will surely leave the EU in January. But he was careful not to say how. He only said that he would also leave Europe’s single market and customs union, a choice for which he will now claim a mandate. A mandate is not a plan. British elections are good at hiding paradoxes. There was no great Tory swing. Johnson actually increased the party’s vote share by just 1.2% on Theresa May’s ostensibly disastrous election two years ago. They won handsomely because of first-past-the-post. Labour and the Liberal Democrats could not bring themselves to do constituency deals and duly split the anti-Tory vote right across the country. Had this been a transferable-vote presidency, Johnson, with just 43% of the poll, could well have lost. It was the fratricidal incompetence of the left that gave him victory. Evidence of this is that … [Read more...] about There is hope: Boris Johnson’s big majority could unleash the social liberal within
‘Joe is not playing with a full deck’ says Donald Trump as Biden escalates attack on president – but is tripped up by his own gaffes including saying ‘poor kids are as bright and talented as white kids’
Donald Trump shot back on Friday that 'Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck' in response 2020 candidate's claims that the president is inspiring violence with inflamed rhetoric. 'His comments, look, Joe is not playing with a full deck. I saw his comment. Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck,' the president said, as he left the White House for Hamptons fundraisers. 'This is not somebody you can have as your president.' He added, 'But if he got the nomination, I'd be thrilled.' Trump came back to Biden later in the long question and answer session that lasted more than half an hour that he'd been watching the Democratic debates. 'Joe Biden can't answer a simple question. something is going wrong with him,' he asserted. At a Boone, Iowa event, Biden broke out into laughter after DailyMail.com asked him about Trump's slam. 'Speaking of full decks ....' he said, trailing off. Donald Trump shot back on Friday that 'Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck' in response … [Read more...] about ‘Joe is not playing with a full deck’ says Donald Trump as Biden escalates attack on president – but is tripped up by his own gaffes including saying ‘poor kids are as bright and talented as white kids’
