English politics special – Local elections 2023 (unbiased thread, for real)

[Oblomov Boblomov]

It's that time again! On Star Wars Day, over 8,000 seats will be contested in 230 councils across the land (England only – Northern Ireland will have their own elections two weeks later).

Mayoral elections are also taking place in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough.

Follow along with the action live on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2023/england/results

For the first time (in England at least, I think?) you must have photo ID with you in order to vote at a polling station. This is because the Tories are evil dirty bastards trying to suppress particular groups of people less likely to vote for them, including those from more vulnerable backgrounds. If you are unable to take a passport or driving licence, information on other forms of acceptable ID can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-64877005.

For a bit of fun, I'm asking you to guess how many seats the Tories will lose. They have 3,363 cretins fighting for their wretched little positions of power, which they may or may not use to further oppress minority groups, enrich the wealth of themselves, their friends and donors, spread fascist ideology, and generally make everything worse for people who aren't insufferably selfish bigots.

Vote in the poll and provide further detail in the thread for your chance to steal Charles' thunder by earning the true crown of value as GRcade's political Oracle!

Dowbocop - 1,400
Qikz - 1,069
aayl1 - 840
Oblomov Boblomov - 801
Sprouty - 752
Grumpy David - 750
Moggy - 666
Vermilion - 650
Tineash - 632.5
rinks - 480
Jenuall - 451
Tomous - 423
Kriken - 420
Red - 367
satriales - 306
andretmzt - 300
Xeno - 293
Rocsteady - 210
Octoroc - 180
Victor Mildew - 66
Herdanos - 20 (gain)

[Moggy]

Tories +200

[Dual]

Lose seats? Lmao.

I've just moved into a new area and will be voting for the local independent candidate. Seems like a nice lady who has lived here 30+ years and knows what's going on.

[satriales]

306 is my guess.

[Knoyleo]

Not enough

[Cheeky Devlin]

[Moggy]

I went with 600-799 but I'm really hoping it's worse than that for the Tories. Local elections are often a bloodbath for the ruling party.

But with the voter suppression ID law in place, who knows.

[Drumstick]

Easily over 1,000.

I'm not thrilled about it but I've voted for the local Lib Dem candidates as historically they stand the best chance of denying the Tories seats here.

[Herdanos]

I think the whole thing is rigged in favour of the Tories, even before you take into account their voter suppression this time around.

In my area, last time out, there were three Tory candidates, two Labour, two Green, and four indies. Voters could select three candidates. The three Tories won. But the non-Tories took most votes between them.

[Drumstick]

I think the whole thing is rigged in favour of the Tories, even before you take into account their voter suppression this time around.

In my area, last time out, there were three Tory candidates, two Labour, two Green, and four indies. Voters could select three candidates. The three Tories won. But the non-Tories took most votes between them.

That's just poor planning IMO. the non-Tories should obviously have fielded three candidates between them, i.e. one Labour, one Lib Dem and one Independent.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

I've gone with an optimistic 800-999, and I'll state 801 for my official GRcade Oracle guess.

Drummy, do you really think it will be so convincing? Over 1,000 would mark an enormous loss for them, which would obviously be great, but I'm not even confident it'll tip over the 800 mark.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

OP updated with a table of predictions.

Please provide an exact figure if you wish to be included in the official competition.

[Moggy]

OP updated with a table of predictions.

Please provide an exact figure if you wish to be included in the official competition.

So bossy

I'll go 666.

[Tomous]

423

[Qikz]

1069 - I'm optimistic.

[Herdanos]

Tories' losses will be minimal. Thousands of people in deprived areas (or places with significant student populations) are going to be turned away because they don't have valid ID.

[OrangeRKN]

I think the whole thing is rigged in favour of the Tories, even before you take into account their voter suppression this time around.

In my area, last time out, there were three Tory candidates, two Labour, two Green, and four indies. Voters could select three candidates. The three Tories won. But the non-Tories took most votes between them.

That's just poor planning IMO. the non-Tories should obviously have fielded three candidates between them, i.e. one Labour, one Lib Dem and one Independent.

It's not poor planning, it's first past the post being a terrible system

[Sprouty]

I'm going with 752, as I am a time traveller and therefore know the outcome.

I just need to make sure that I don't tread on any butterflies before tomorrow...

[Victor Mildew]

Execute order 66.

[Tineash]

632.5