Latest news with #by-elections
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Polls open in Ramsey and Port Erin by-elections
Voting is under way in two local authority by-elections on the Isle of stations in both Port Erin and Ramsey South Ward will remain open until 20:00 Erin Commissioners Offices and Ramsey Town Hall have been set up as polling voters in Port Erin will be able to choose two new people to join the local authority, while in Ramsey there is only one vacant seat. The elections are being held after the authorities failed to attract enough candidates at April's general election. Candidates Port Erin (two vacancies): James Cubbon, Karl Drinkwater and Fenella Gray Ramsey South Ward (one vacancy): Gillian Corlett, Christopher Martin and John Powell Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Reform's support has peaked after council by-elections hit, pollster says
Leading pollster Lord Robert Hayward suggests Reform UK 's forward momentum has ended, with their support having "topped out". This assessment follows Reform losing two council by-elections they were defending last week, alongside a slight dip in recent national polls. The party has also faced internal challenges, including an MP resigning the whip and only three of its original five MPs remaining. Reform UK disputes Lord Hayward's analysis, citing recent polls showing higher support and gains in other council by-elections. Separately, senior figures like Lord Jim O'Neill have advised the Labour Party to cease "obsessing" over Reform UK.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Farage's support has ‘topped out', pollster claims as Starmer told to stop obsessing about Reform
A leading pollster has suggested that Reform UK's support in the country has 'topped out', and that the forward momentum carrying them up in the polls has come to an end. Lord Robert Hayward has told The Independent that recent council by-election results, where Reform lost while defending seats, coupled with a small fall in the polls, suggest that Nigel Farage' s march to Downing Street at the next general election is facing some serious questions. It comes after business leaders and senior figures in the Labour Party urged Sir Keir Starmer to 'stop obsessing' about Reform. The analysis follows Reform losing two by-elections last week for council seats they were defending for the first time. Many pollsters are looking at council by-election results as a more accurate indicator of the state of political parties than polls themselves. One of the results in Newark West, Nottinghamshire, saw the Tories gain a seat from Reform in Robert Jenrick's constituency, while in Benfieldside, County Durham, the Lib Dems gained off Reform. Both seats were won by Mr Farage's party in the recent county council elections, but their successful candidates had to stand down almost immediately. Meanwhile, Reform has also been hit by questions over another of its MPs, James McMurdock, who resigned the party whip over the weekend after an investigation was launched into his business dealings during the Covid pandemic. It means in 12 months, just three of the five original Reform MPs remain, after Rupert Lowe was ousted from the party earlier this year following a row with Mr Farage and former chairman Zia Yusuf earlier this year. Lord Hayward has also taken note of a dip in support for Reform in recent polls although they are currently still ahead of the other parties. In the last Techne UK poll Reform dropped 3 per cent to 28 per cent; and in last week's YouGov poll they were down one point. There has also been a small fracturing of Reform's base vote on the right, with the emergence of new parties like Advance UK led by Reform's former deputy leader Ben Habib and the Restore Britain founded by Mr Lowe. The decision by Reform to reveal that former Tory cabinet minister David Jones joined the party more than six months after he defected is also being seen as a sign of desperation. Mr Jones joined just after Christmas but had indicated he no longer wanted to be in frontline politics and wanted no news fanfare over his defection. But with the party in retreat, Reform has decided to try to regain momentum through an article on GB News' website, the channel which employs Mr Farage. Lord Hayward said: 'I would say their support has topped out rather than peaked [because] I'm not certain something else won't give them a further boost but the momentum has come to an end. 'Poll numbers have slightly declining. Membership numbers are down a bit. They are not winning by-elections. Those first two seats they defended were an important test.' Reform have hit back at suggestions that their progress has come to a halt especially with a More in Common poll suggesting they would be the largest party in a general election with 290 seats. A Reform UK spokesman said: 'Recent polls have us as high as 34 per cent, we were told 20 per cent was our limit, then 25 per cent and now 30 per cent. 'Reform has gained the most seats in council by elections since the local elections. We have all the momentum in British politics.' In an interview at the weekend Rachel Reeves former adviser Lord Jim O'Neill told The Independent that obsessing about Reform was harming Labour. He said: 'They should stop worrying about Farage, they have four years before that should matter.'
Free Malaysia Today
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
We made wrong call on 2022 election date, says Umno's Ahmad Maslan
Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan striking a gong to open the delegates meeting of the Bachok Umno division today. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno's lacklustre performance in the 2022 general election was partly down to calling for the nationwide polls at the wrong time, according to a party leader. Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan said although the party then suffered its heaviest election loss, it has not lost its fangs and remains politically relevant, citing Umno's success in winning multiple by-elections since the unity government was formed. 'It's not that Umno isn't strong as some say, but we placed the wrong bet in terms of choosing the date for GE15. We were still in power at the time, and the then prime minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob was from Umno. 'However, because we chose the wrong date, we suffered our heaviest election loss ever,' he said at the Bachok Umno division's delegates meeting. Umno won only 26 parliamentary seats in 2022, a sharp drop from its high-point of 102 seats in 2004. 'However, since then, by winning the by-elections in Nenggiri, Pelangai, Tioman, Ayer Kuning and Mahkota, we have shown that we are still formidable,' he said according to Harian Metro. Ahmad, who is deputy works minister, urged Umno's election machinery and members to take encouragement from the by-election results as they prepare for the next general election. He added that Umno must carry out several measures in order to ensure victory, including holding frequent grassroots activities on the ground and ensuring unity at the machinery level. The 2022 general election was called by Ismail, then an Umno vice-president, who announced Parliament's dissolution on Oct 10 that year, well ahead of its expiry in July 2023. Umno had been pushing for a snap election to be held by the end of 2022, but Ismail denied that the dissolution was due to Umno pressure. He said it was because his government could no longer function well, as the 12 Perikatan Nasional ministers in his Cabinet were being pressured by their 'boss'. The general election was held in November 2022, resulting in a hung Parliament, when no party won enough seats for a parliamentary majority. Pakatan Harapan won 81 seats, Perikatan Nasional 74 and the Umno-led Barisan Nasional 30. A coalition government was then formed by PH, BN, East Malaysian parties, and independents, who command a total of 153 seats, well over the 122 needed for a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ramsey Commissioner calls for by-election candidates to come forward
Having a choice of several candidates in upcoming by-elections on the Isle of Man was "fundamental to democracy", a commissioner has said. The polls are due to take place in Ramsey South, Port Erin, Jurby, Douglas Central and Ballaugh, as not enough candidates had come forward in the local authority elections to fill the for candidates in those areas closes at 13:00 BST on Wednesday ahead of polling day on 17 McGuinness from Ramsey Town Commissioners said "representing your town", and "giving back to the community" was one of the "most important and best things you can do". Having democracy was "massively important and it starts at the local level", he said. "Becoming a Ramsey Town Commissioner, I can speak personally is one of the best things I've done over the last 10 years."He advised those interested in standing as a candidate to get in contact with their local town hall, "get as much information as possible", speak to current or past commissioners and have a look at what the role entails. 'Large influence' Responsibilities for the local authority included bins, street lights, park management and the cleanliness of the towns. McGuinness said "while what we are responsible for is small, what we can influence is large", such as putting pressure on central government for funding or raising awareness on local residents' he said it was "not just about finding one person to stand, it was about finding multiple people so that we can have a proper election" such as having hustings, canvassing, and manifestos, so those elected had "gone through a full democratic process". It was "fundamental to democracy, to the Isle of Man" and "we have to know that the people who are standing are the choice of the people", he are two seats up for grabs in Jurby, Port Erin and Ballaugh while Ramsey South Ward and Douglas Central Ward both have one seat available. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
