Essentially if you see this election as “the 2005 era Labour coalition against a much much weaker Tory party and when voters are much more willing to shop around” it makes a huge amount of sense.
North East Hampshire and Aldershot are very interesting re shop around. A chunk of the former (LD heavy) was welded to the latter. LD vote in Aldershot way down. Lab win. Lab vote in NEH down slightly (and would have expected 15+). LD MP.
Indeed. Given that you weren't a target until what, a fortnight ago? Stunning that the Labour vote was basically flat and that a v LD-y ward went near completely red in a Labour target.
I think NE Hants began in the low 100s? But Brewer ran a superb campaign. Positive. Human. She was everywhere. Hardly anyone saw Jayawardena, who at the end descended into desperation. Locals knew something was up when he started sending out bizarre emails.
(+ Aldershot nos are astonishing.)
I think CONs were only ones to really get out and about in my constituency - given it's been about as blue as they come for three decades now as well, little surprise it was a CON hold in the end (with Reform second - again, I cannot say I am surprised).
