Election results and ramblings in SE London
- Woolwich and Greenwich: Labour (Matt Pennycook) hold.
- Erith and Belvedere: Labour (Teresa Pearce) hold.
- Eltham: Labour (Clive Efford) hold.
- Lewisham Deptford: Labour (Vicky Foxcroft) hold.
- Labour East. Labour (Heidi Alexander) hold.
- Bexleyheath and Crayford: Tory (David Evennett) hold.
- Old Bexley and Sidcup: Tory (James Brokenshire) hold.
- Old Bermondsey and Rotherhithe: Neil Coyle (Labour) hold.
- And just over in Kent – Dartford: Gareth Johnson (Tory) hold.
I started this post at about half 1 in the morning as results started to come in. Labour were doing far better than expected by the media, Tories and many of the most optimistic Labour supporters. The Tories have failed in many seats, particularly Eltham. Those recent 20% poll leads went nowhere once scrutiny was applied. And why is that?
Yes there’s Brexit. And the big issues like schools and hospitals. But there’s other underlying reasons much of the media havn’t really picked up or do with a cursory mention at best. The press and journalism has become increasingly concentrated amongst the middle class – and well-to-do middle class at that who can do low paid interns with parental support. Social mobility? Its mostly in the past when it comes to much journalism. How well do they represent those in their 20s and 30s now struggling in private rentals? Unless you have parents to prop you up and help you buy you’re screwed. Even on a good wage of £30-40k the chance of buying a decent place within an hour of work is very limited. And people are pissed off.
Then you add in the most expensive public transport in Europe. The Tories have been utterly dire on Southeastern rail and how SE London has been royally screwed by Chris Grayling and the Tories blocking investment and improvements. Just this week it became clear that “temporary” cuts in rail services look to become permanent in areas with massive housing and population growth. They’ve particularly fucked over younger workers with stable and secure housing beyond their reach and transport beyond their means.
Anyone who reads this site regularly knows I criticise the Labour council in Greenwich frequently. But goodness me the Tories have been beyond bad.
The Tories have snatched “defeat” from the jaws from victory. Eltham candidate Matt Hartley has ignored about 10 requests for answers on Southeastern trains. He deserves to lose when he backs Chris Grayling and screws commuters.
The Tory in Erith and Belvedere was so hapless he didn’t know how to spell a town he is standing in. He said nothing on Facebook. Nothing on Twitter. He has about 20 followers. He’s probably never been in the area until he was dropped in by Conservative Central Office. When you treat areas with such contempt you deserve to lose.
They’ve put out generic leaflets that say nothing. They bleat on about security after cutting 20,000 police and Border Agency staff by 25% since 2010. You can criticise Corbyn as crap on security but my god May’s record is atrocious.
Back to local issues and the explosion of buy-to-let, at the expense of everyone except landlords (of which many MPs are included) is a big issue. Especially in cities like London. What have local Tories had to say about it in south east London? Nothing I’ve seen. Vapid contact with voters all the way.
Anyway, enough rambling. Time for bed. What a load of crap many Conservatives have been in SE London.
I have to admit it made me smile seeing the Tories lose Eltham, southeastern is a concern, I just hope the different MPs on the southeastern network can rally together to get a better result. Who knows maybe Chris Grayling will lose his position in the reshuffle, all I know is that if there is another election the public have just told the Tories that when we said jump they didn’t jump high enough.
It is time to change the benefits and social housing system/criteria. There should be more affordable housing available for those that have a job, pay taxes, and less houses/benefits for those that don’t make any effort to get a job. In England there too many people and generations of families that live on benefits and social housing without daring to go to work. In Greater London there is no excuse ..If you want to get a job you can have one. I am tired to pay taxes and fund this sort of useless people that take advantage of the system.While milions of people that go to work ,pay taxes and struggle even to rent a place and they have to share flats and houses. The system have to change.