BONUS: Are the local election results the beginning of total Tory Annihilation? | Pod Save The UK

While the results from elections across England & Wales are still rolling in - the signs are pointing to a disastrous outcome for the Conservative Party. So Nish & Coco have jumped on for this special bonus episode to pop the champagne - asking exactly what it means ahead of the General Election - whenever that will eventually be called!
Liz Bates from Sky News joins Nish and Coco to explain why the historic result of the byelection in Blackpool is so seismic. They also discuss whether results for Reform UK will scare the Tories into more extreme right-wing rhetoric, whether Boris Johnson forgetting his ID was a publicity stunt and whether Keir Starmer is not a good leader, but a lucky one.
We also throw ahead to the general election - if there was a dreaded hung parliament - would that work at all? And how might the Tories be trying to claw their way back into favour before they finally allow the UK to vote on their next government?
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Guest:
Liz Bates, Sky News
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Pre-titles
3:09 Election Analysis with Liz Bates
5:50 Blackpool byelection
14:38 Conservative Party Reaction
17:59 Is Keir Starmer a lucky leader?
28:37 Boris Johnson publicity stunt?
30:02 General Election Analysis
Video credits:
BBC Newcast
BBC News
Sky News
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[@FlintReadUK]

The results are not a surprise but they are a delightful relief for normal people.

[@rohankurian5641]

Yes,, Thank you for your service 🗽❤🗽 By the ways in #Canada have you heard about Pierre Poilievre , whose a Cu*t criminal, 12 reasons why pierre should see jail in this lifetime - 1. Ask him about the "Replacement worker scandal" when he was the shadow minister for JOB'S" in Ontario..Thousands of illegally terminated canadians replaced by #peepee 's donor human-trafficker buddies..The little bit*h #donutgirl pierre tried killing whistle-blowers, witnesses & victims who had whistle-blowed on his sinister crypto. Ponzi!! They went after women & families in their desperate bid to coverup the crimes!! 2. He was doxxing the personal addresses of innocent women in Niagra falls without their #consent. 3. He illegally hijacked the P.A. system of a westjet flight to calgary and created a flight-risk by announcing false info. No wonder factory workers call him a fu*king stewardess. 4. The cu*t stays in a 19 room government paid Mansion & than on his own family properties charged innocent canadians above normal RENT. 5. CRYPTO ..Venezul*an #crypto & something to do with the #Ontario teachers pension fund loosing 95 million dollars. 6. University immigration scandal, connected with forced labor on his fu*king #apple orchards #coverup. 7. He swallows his spit like a bit*h on national Tv 8. Criminal cronyism 9. What was that news about jenni & pierre's extra-marital criminal jaunts behind anna's back? 10. Pierre & Friends Co-ordinated their social media tweets & posts in order to instigate innocent canadians during the illegal occupation in Feb'2022. 11. Whats with pierre's face?? The factory workers call him "Cum Eyes" for a fu*king reason. 12. Axe the tax Bast*rd paid #ZERO tax on his illegal crypto dealings..Fu*king Charlatan

[@m.a.b.4104]

Liz is definitely a friend of the pod! Her c**ts joke was gold! 👏👏🤣🤣🤣

[@WeepingPrince]

First past the post is just the worst - constantly tactically voting against the tories instead of voting positively on what you actually want is so demoralising

[@SliceOfDog]

Fully agreed. When Liz was talking about how a hung parliament would be disastrous because of our system, part of me thought "Good, then maybe we'd finally change it".

[@billberndtson]

Can the US have some of this trend? 😃

[@taneishar1994]

Fingers crossed

[@Snugggg]

wishing you the best!

[@robbie4084]

Ye knock Trump Back to his con World

[@Morhek]

You already are. Democrats across the US are overperforming against historical trends in local elections because voters of all stripes are sick of MAGA nutcases. That doesn't translate into popularity polls - the same people handing local level Democrats wins don't necessarily LIKE Biden, especially over Gaza, but they're still likely to suck it up and vote for him because the other side keep putting up raving lunatics. It's an artefact of the US media's need for a horserace that they're still treating personal approval numbers as if they reflect voting intent. The gap is not as close as it seems, and it really is the Democrats' election to lose...which doesn't fill me with comfort to say, given they're VERY good at blowing an advantage.

[@denniskrust2137]

Sunak will go down in history with his named linked to a historically, disastrous defeat but not actually bear responsibility for it. Brexit, May, Johnson and Truss will cause this defeat but it will be Sunak's for the books. Rishi was an arrogant fool to believe he could lead the Tories back from those four disasters.

[@robbie4084]

Good comment and bang on

[@James-mb3je]

He deserves it tho. He didn't want to furlough, he was happy for people to starve. He could have called an election a year ago. He was elected on a manifesto of levelling up and green revolution, now he's pushing the polar opposite.

[@philalvarez4137]

Don't forget Cameron. Started it all then fucked off to let everyone else sort out his mess.

[@Morhek]

Sunak doesn't bear sole responsibility, Johnson primarily fucked it and Truss made it worse, but he certainly hasn't helped. There was a very narrow window of opportunity where he could have arrested decline. Didth the boats policy, stop agitating against trans kids, and get back to the Tories as "sensible money men," which is how he pitched himself as. The Tories would probably still lose, but not by this much. The problem is that he's NOT a sensible money man, he's a former hedge fund manager who know enough to sound like he knows what he's talking about without actually knowing what he's talking about. Investments aren't about numbers, they're about appearances and feelings, strong or weak, so he bet on an offence making them look "strong." And it turns out people don't want a "strong" government, they want a COMPETENT one.

[@Vulcanerd]

When you guys talked about how Sunak is preparing his cv/resume, I just imagined him sitting across from a tech employer who asks, "So, Rishi, what do you bring to our company?" And him answering, "Well, spinelessness? A weird sense of undeserved hubris? Maybe a touch of moral turpitude?" And I chuckled.

[@robbie4084]

He won't be doing that, he's a very wealthy guy, he won't be affected financially here

[@Vulcanerd]

@@robbie4084 Oh, I'm sure Nish knows that, too. I know he was wealthy from being a tech person, but the thought of him having to prep his cv was too much to pass on.

[@rustynail1194]

Liz was great BTW. I really really enjoyed her input and she was bloody funny as well!

[@Nicholas_Burmeister]

Thanks for the bonus show! I came for Nish's dashing looks and Coco's dulcet tones, stayed for lib-lab puns.

[@jgray2718]

As an American it is _wild_ to me that the government gets to decide when the election is. That's just a crazy advantage.

[@Bolachas25]

Within limits. Thankfully this bunch of muppets have completely stuffed up any potential advantage that could have given them and they’re running out of time. Should have called it last spring.

[@geofthompson3844]

There's a limit to that though. They can call for an election earlier if they think they have a chance to win. But 5 years from the date they were elected last time is the maximum they can be in before they must have an election.

[@lewischerry3552]

Extrapolating a local election to a general one is a fools errand, people vote very differently in a GE, there’s a much bigger turn out and people are far less likely to vote for the greens, independents and other small parties. Reform will do alright but probably won’t get an MP and the Lib Dem’s might pick up some more places but I doubt it’ll be enough to make the difference

[@geofthompson3844]

@lewischerry3552 correct. And single issue voter types are usually less likely to vote regularly. So many protesters don't generally vote unless they have that issue. And those that do vote left or right will not vote against that type in protest, they're more likely to abstain.

[@MRTransportVideos]

It only changed back recently - the Cameron (Coalition) administration introduced the Fixed Term Parliament Act, which did exactly what it says however, because Johnson tried three times after becoming Party leader/PM to call an election but failed because not enough MPs wanted one, he decided to scrap it - ironically, he 'left' Parliament a couple of months after the Act to repeal became law, meaning he never got to call one.

[@unfortunatalie1413]

Love it when Liz is on, getting the freedom to drop the C bombs she can't on Sky 🥰

[@lyledal]

Liz Bates is a delight! So knowledgeable, and SO much fun!

[@KristineMaitland]

Coco, I hear you about voting jitters. The last mayorial election in Toronto Canada had something like 100 names on the ballot, one of whom was for a dog.

[@eyejay404]

Liz was hilarious (and hugely informative) this episode. You guys make a great trio.

[@jgray2718]

38:25 "This is how pathetic party politics is..." I'm hopeful for the UK that you're shocked by this. The Republicans in the US have been very close to openly cheering Netanyahu to keep the war going because they're successfully fearmongering about the student protests. It's become their only real wedge issue this year. They tried Ukraine, but Republican voters are pretty lukewarm about it, and only Gaza is really sticking.

[@BeccaAl]

Thanks Coco, Nish and Liz. Great show as usual.

[@MamaJanella]

Ohmygoodness! Ohmygoodness! Ohmygoodness! I'm so happy for you! ❤🇨🇦

[@troyaturner1979]

I love it when Liz is on. She cracks me up🤣

[@silverXnoise]

✊ in solidarity with my homeland comrades in Wales, standing up with all the workers, warm regards from the United Sheepfucker’s Guild, Local 207 in Waynesville, NC. J/k, let ‘em have it. Love from 🇺🇸.

[@Vulcanerd]

Hooray, a bonus episode! Incidentally, you two just swept Pod Shag the UK under the rug, but I will not be denied! Pod Shag the UK forever!!

[@JustME-ft4di]

As a sick/disabled person I am waiting for the full onslaught of the ‘skivers v strivers’ rhetoric again. The problem is Labour are just as bad as the Tories on this so I will not be voting for them either.

[@VinceLammas]

More Liz Bates please!

[@deancostello14]

I think it's hilarious how they mention saving Teesside Airport. It has like 3 flights a day, it is not a sustainable airport. It would have made more sense to turn it into houses.

[@catprog]

From overseas I don't know if it will be an annihilation on the terms of -2021 Western Australia or -2012 Queensland

[@amandadeloff4278]

Congrats on the promotion to friend of the show, liz!!

[@rusty911s2]

Liz Bates: what a star. Very good indeed.

[@alextyler9912]

Love Liz x

[@DanielleA2023]

🤞🏻🤞🏻 but VOTE in alot of Greens with Labour to force Labour out of being "tory-lite"

[@Alexander-uj5pb]

The crazy braverman has said the tory voters are on strike. What a pratt does she really believe most of the electorate are stupid. Most people are pragmatic and are likely to vote for a party, any party, if the party are seen to make their standard of living better. Truss et al, screwed most people. So hell mend the tories.

[@andrewwilton5017]

I would disagree that Reform don't have a large platform considering the frequency of Richard Tice's appearances on the BBC

[@Snugggg]

all in the name of _bAlAnCe_

[@lloroshastar6347]

I agree, Reform have a big platform, but not a huge support base, certainly a lot smaller than the media would have us believe. If the polls were correct, Reform would have won at least 100 councillors over the weekend, instead they won 2, out of thousands of seats available. Their support is clearly over inflated by the media.

[@tamathafevs]

Spot on Liz. lack of Investment in people (and the things people need) is the failure of successive governments. Effective societies needs to thrive not just survive; that MUST be the guiding mantre of the people we elect to serve us

[@HShango]

Tories getting their P45 ready 😂😂😂

[@gabrielhodgkins-webb5977]

There is love for Keir starmer. I love Keir starmer

[@jackoh991]

Why? He's supporting a genocide

[@grahamaskham]

what a great guest!

[@billberndtson]

Guys, you should get Phil from A Different Bias on sometime.

[@fredfish4316]

Hung parliament? Getting silly.

[@Mercs_Beamers]

Love Phil Moorehouse

[@willalm830]

Liz, she is so funny

[@Pintheshadows]

I am in Norwich and when I looked at the balot I panicked a bit because the Communist party was at the top. For a moment black and white images of Vladimir Lenin flashed through my mind accompanied by patriotic Soviet music, and I considered it. I came to my senses and voted Green who did pretty well, gaining a few councillors.

[@bootletillylaroya7003]

🙏🏼 Nish / coco it’s my Christmas watching the tories fall. However your individual monologues on the state of things are fantastic other than fantastical (the black knight Monty python monologue) could a request a moment where you both compare and contrast this sketch with tories being wheeled out to claim this a meagre scratch ? I recognise this request maybe triggering : I do hope so

[@pauldockree9915]

Nish Kumar What on Earth? POD SAVE THE WORLD? Point? Good. It was always my point of view. Jon and Co. Hei Nish Kumar. Coco. Yes. We will talk about it. lol

[@VaucluseVanguard]

Perhaps it is the end on the Tories, however, the Tories are about to be replaced by a more disciplined and more united party that follows basically the same policies as the Tories.

[@user-np5gu3yc6o]

The shocking thing for me is the turnout figures. Are the percentages normal for Council, bi-election and Mayoral elections or are people just scunnered with all political parties?

[@ke8213]

Liz smashed it today - well done!

[@jsd8981]

Does anybody know whats happening with sunaks india trade deal... ???...

[@safiul1930]

Vote 3rd party.

[@rsmith6366]

Splitting the Left is a vote for the Tories.

[@christina-clairegeorges3661]

My friend always said go into an interview like an oxford educated white man 😅

[@MaxLifeATX]

subbed

[@JasonL220]

lol 37:27 seems like there was many minutes of corpsing that got cut

[@FlintReadUK]

First time I have ever heard the death nell described as "Mid term", What planet was this guy on last night?

[@Tom_murray89]

I really hope Susan hall doesn’t get in

[@derronhall495]

I have very bad eyesight, but do the opening credits not say "POPO"? I have been drinking.

[@PaulBlundell-xf6mt]

You Yung,r folk like this utube talk , is ace , , I'm 62 now , , lived through Thatcher,s destruction , , keep this video going , friend s , for Yung and older people , ace. 👍 Paul Yorkshire UK , .

[@parallaxview6770]

No because the Tory B team replacing them is Starmers Labour

[@mikeharrison1868]

Thanks ;0)

[@occamraiser]

Seriously? Are you actually pretending that the next election results are in any way in doubt? If there was EVER a waste of breath it was that question.

[@billybob-jp7eh]

When labour win the general election what will the note in the treasury be? "There is no money left and we owe trillions on debt"

[@TheConduit10]

Pakistan & Britain Forever.

[@johnthekeane]

You look like students in different rooms of the same shared squat.

[@Dani20240]

Please replace rishi now before the general election.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I CANT STAND STARMER* but he is an astonishingly good tactician - he is the UK's Mitch McConnel, hopefully less evil. HE brought down Bojo - he laid the traps over 6 months of PMQ's and Bojo stumbled into them. I just wish he had more vision, cos I fear he will fail miserably at turning the UK around and then its FASCISM time.

[@jackoh991]

He's supporting a genocide so not sure on the less evil front

[@tribalmattersmtg5532]

I heard PoliticsJoe is talking **** and wants a pod beef. It’s 2024, you gotta let the other pods what’s what.

[@stuartmelville5684]

i dont know liz but isnt she awesome (not truss) lol

[@oohhboy-funhouse]

Labour is absolutely winning by default, no one should be excited by this. Starmer is lucky, not good. Gaza position shouldn't be hard, yet they completely face planted and has been so dismissive, that includes Liz's comments.

[@fallen2205]

Labour might just be avoiding the hatchet job they did to Corbin previously, labelling them antisemites...

[@chrisw125]

Liz4pm

[@duckweedy]

Labour doesn't have any plans either short term or long term.

[@Nicholas_Burmeister]

Maybe, but at least they don't seem to have plans to actively drive the country into a tree.

[@peteradaniel]

@@Nicholas_Burmeister actually with Rachel Reeves at the helm they’re pretty much running austerity 2.0 which is what got us into this mess in the first place. You’ll be eating it your words in two years time when reality just and labours poll numbers tank

[@Notalloldpeople]

Perhaps look at their policy statements rather believe the right wing media rhetoric

[@MillerFobbs]

Maybe the Tories should get back to having an English leader, as opposed to an Indian immigrant one. No Asians thanks, the muslims were a warning.

[@lloroshastar6347]

Or maybe they should stop pandering to the far-right over and over again and recognise the country wants to move back to the centre ground.

[@simonmcmanus1397]

brilliant, keep it coming

[@PaulBlundell-xf6mt]

Brilliant thanks, laffin , Paul Yorkshire UK , .

[@terencefisher4707]

Get out right now Rishi and the Rishite’s……….you sack of grit. I was asked a crossword clue yesterday it was, 4 letters ending in it, I said sh%t but the answer was grit. I still think I got it right though, like ………

[@terencefisher4707]

To follow on from my previous comment.. Was I either, being the 48% who got it right or am I the 52% who got it wrong? The biggest Brexit quandary still to be resolved???

[@James-mb3je]

Nah, who gives a shit. We are where we are.