The next MP for Colchester?

So there we have it, a couple of hundred local party members squeezed into the non-partisan Colchester Arts Centre to cast a vote on who will become the Labour candidate for 2024.

There were two local candidates and two outsiders and on this occasion the members went for New Towns ‘Pam off the telly’, and lets face it, celebrities are better than all of us.

The local Momentum has anyone but Lee Scordis instruction to its members which was rather difficult for him.

I am a bit disappointed for Lee, banter aside it looks like he lives for this and now I hope he actually takes a breather and have some fun for a change. Jaegers down Spoons with the boys will do him wonders.

So Essex Universities Professor Pam Cox is the one, although the institution has been subject to quite a few fruity views as of late it was actually Lee Scordis who spoke out against it. I guess these issues are unrelated.

So what are Pam’s chances?

Actually pretty good, poor old Will Quince has 4 problems.

1. No government ever gets 4 terms
2. Government is slightly unpopular
3. Boundary changes
4. Weak Lib Dem performance

It is number 4 which will help Pam out, as you may know the Liberal Democrat’s have been in steady decline in the constituency since 2015 and so much so they could become the fourth party. However, the Just Stop Oil and other general japery that is aimed at preventing the working class from earning a living will affect the Green party.

In a nutshell the Lib Dems maintaining their current candidate is of paramount importance to give Labour a potential victory. Alternatively, Will Quince needs a decent Liberal candidate to return.

One thing for sure is that when the General Election comes round the plethora of tactical voting websites out there will be pushing their own agendas. Only the Lib Dems stepping aside completely will guarantee a change.

There is a litmus test locally though with the Highwoods bi-election.

I would expect Pam Cox to thoroughly get involved with this campaign, and actually seen pounding the streets evenings and weekends.

What is next?

A good question and the selection for the Lib Dem candidate is up next. I have a feeling that the the outcome will be absolute Clown Shoes. Nationally, the narrative is non existent and to a point that I could not even remember who was leader was and had to google it. Even then Sir Keir Starmers name came up first.

The Greens will appoint a ‘hippy de jour’ closer to the time and Reform will no doubt field a candidate to earn 63 votes and lose the deposit.

All Pam needs to do to win are the following;

1) Do not use Russianisms – Comrade this and that is sooooo Putin

2) Do not mention Corbyn. Obviously.

3) Do not mention the EU, this is catnip to loons on both sides of the spectrum.

4) Avoid niche issues. Stick to the bigger picture.

5) Fingers crossed for a nonsense Lib Dem candidate.

Although 18 months is a long time and as we all board the bantersauros express, one thing for sure is that this election will be carnage.

I live for the chaos.