There an election this year.....

[Ex-Pat Tyke]

On the whole I think this election campaign has been until the last week or so so mind numbingly boring. I remember how the 1997 election campaign just seemed to trudge on.

[all new Phil]

On the whole I think this election campaign has been until the last week or so so mind numbingly boring. I remember how the 1997 election campaign just seemed to trudge on.

I think that’s down in part to a lack of imagination by broadcasters. The coverage has been pretty poor considering that actual chaos that has happened and it feels like that parties are in control rather than the media. Feels like journos are just following the leaders round from one event to the next and it’s all very stage managed.

It does seem very leader focused too - two of the biggest issues at the moment are the economy and defence yet there’s been no debate on either. I can’t even remember seeing Hunt or Reeves.

[Ex-Pat Tyke]

I think The Mirror has focused on Reeves a bit but the only coverage I've seen about Hunt is a GB News story saying he could lose his seat.

[cwathen]

The last two times the government changed, in 2010 a Labour win was doubtless thought privately to be unlikely, and in 1997 Tory defeat was doubtless privately thought to be inevitable, yet publicly the incumbent government still campaigned like a thumping majority could be delivered and it was all still to play for, even if no one actually believed that.

This time the Tory campaign, which has never felt positive from the start seems to have pivoted not on actually speaking of winning, but on trying to prevent a Labour super-majority. Whilst manoeuvres for the inevitable leadership campaign that will start on Friday morning are barely being hidden.

I mean at least it's in touch with reality, but I don't think I've ever seen quite such public admission of inevitable defeat by an incumbent.

[Ex-Pat Tyke]

The last two times the government changed, in 2010 a Labour win was doubtless thought privately to be unlikely, and in 1997 Tory defeat was doubtless privately thought to be inevitable, yet publicly the incumbent government still campaigned like a thumping majority could be delivered and it was all still to play for, even if no one actually believed that.

This time the Tory campaign, which has never felt positive from the start seems to have pivoted not on actually speaking of winning, but on trying to prevent a Labour super-majority. Whilst manoeuvres for the inevitable leadership campaign that will start on Friday morning are barely being hidden.

I mean at least it's in touch with reality, but I don't think I've ever seen quite such public admission of inevitable defeat by an incumbent.

From the moment Sunak called the election I knew it was going to be a labour walkover. The 1997 campaign seemed so exciting for me not just because it was the first time I'd voted in a General Election but also because of other changes in my life.

During 2010 I kept trying to work out if there could be any alliance that could stop the Tories.

I think the aftermath starting on Friday will be more interesting.

[james2001]

Part of the Tories talking about defeat and supermajorities is to try and get some complacency in Labour voters so they'll either stay at home or vote for someone else. I've been getting several emails from Labour pointing this out and they're trying to send the message that it isn't a done deal and people need to vote.

[Philip]

Whilst I hate the paper, I'm a little surprised the S*n haven't endorsed anyone yet. Which suggests, they're expecting a Labour victory but aren't feeling too strongly about endorsing them.

I too saw a Tory PPB that seemed to focus more on "Labour are going to win, so vote to prevent a supermajority" which seems a little startling, admitting that they probably aren't going to win by making up the concept of a "supermajority"

[cwathen]

Whilst I hate the paper, I'm a little surprised the S*n haven't endorsed anyone yet. Which suggests, they're expecting a Labour victory but aren't feeling too strongly about endorsing them.

There's reports The Sun will never endorse Labour with Starmer as leader when he was DPP during the phone hacking scandal prosecutions.

They also won't endorse the Tories when they're about to lose spectacularly. And even The Sun isn't going to endorse Reform.

[WillPS]

So glad it's nearly over (both the government and the campaign). It's been such a drag.

[Charlie Wells]

From the constituency I'm in it's been confirmed a vote held at the first hustings was rigged.

EXCLUSIVE: Leaked WhatsApp messages show Labour rigged hustings poll at St Neots
It was an orchestrated campaign by the St Neots and Mid Cambs Labour
https://www.cambsnews.co.uk/news/exclus ... ots/26919/

After the first hustings they opted for paper based voting, instead of via an app.

[Philip]

Whilst I hate the paper, I'm a little surprised the S*n haven't endorsed anyone yet. Which suggests, they're expecting a Labour victory but aren't feeling too strongly about endorsing them.

There's reports The Sun will never endorse Labour with Starmer as leader when he was DPP during the phone hacking scandal prosecutions.

They also won't endorse the Tories when they're about to lose spectacularly. And even The Sun isn't going to endorse Reform.

Well, they've endorsed Labour, not particularly strongly mind.