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Chris Terry-Enescu

@cjterry.bsky.social

3K followers 450 following 9.1K posts

Former political researcher and professional elections nerd specialising in electoral and party systems. Current day market research analyst for museums, heritage, the arts and charities around the world. UK's number one Romania-phile. Still a nerd. He/him

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · Jul 8

I decided to get one of those substack things people have and write about how Labour's victory is a reminder of how party strategy changes in a multi party, volatile environment. There's a bit about the 1977 Dutch election if you like that sort of thing

open.substack.com/pub/election...

The coalitionable, inoffensive, Labour Party

How party strategy in European PR systems can tell us about Labour's victory, and a journey through the weird and wonderful operation of Britain's electoral system.

open.substack.com

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 8m

I mean he sort of did, it's just that the Tories fumbled it even more.

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 13m

The reaction to the Hartlepool by election in 2021 (when he tried to fire Rayner) stands out as a gigantic flashing warning light in hindsight.

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 19m

Like this, for instance is both thin skinned and also I can only conclude that, assuming this is true, he thinks the job of the whips is just to enforce discipline when feeding back to the leader is also one of their jobs bsky.app/profile/cjte...

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 29m

I frankly think that bit is telling too, because allegedly they reshuffled the whips because the whips kept saying things like "you know you're going to lose this welfare vote, right?" so now they've basically got their ideal whips operation

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 20m

I don't think he's lazy. I do think he fundamentally just doesn't get politics as a field on a basic level and that he is remarkably thin skinned about feedback.

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 24m

Ailbhe compares to Boris multiple times in the piece but one way in which the comparison stacks up is that Conservative MPs basically always had their doubts about him as a leader but backed him cos they thought he could win. As soon as he was no longer winning the knives came out

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 25m

That bit genuinely made me laugh out loud.

"Please don't look me up on Wikipedia"

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 26m

He also seems to have quite a thin patience for constructive feedback

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 27m

Quite.

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 29m

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 32m

Well you never know when Uncle Gordon is going to throw some office stationary at you

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 33m

Also, the public has turned towards Reform because Graham Brady was the one thing keeping them aligned to the Tories

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 34m

I like this MP, who I immediately concluded was an optimist about how bad things were

Reposted by Chris Terry-Enescu

Jay Zedbee @jayzedbee.bsky.social · 35m

ok no it's joever

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 35m

My reference points for a Labour leadership crisis all include Tom Watson too so even that fails me

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 36m

I've said it many times, but the key to understanding the Conservative Party's internal politics is to remember that the Conservative Party is a messy bitch who lives for drama

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 37m

No it's a complex thing and you explained it well

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 37m

This is in the New Statesman today by Ailbhe Rea is well worth a read on the mood in the Parliamentary Labour Party

www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Does Keir Starmer realise how much trouble he's in?

The Prime Minister is facing a crisis of contempt among his own MPs

www.newstatesman.com

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 39m

👍🏻

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 52m

From the beginning pls

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 1h

What

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 1h

Really enjoying the nation's picture editors having a competition this morning competiting on who can find the photo of Starmer and Streeting in which one most looks like he's about to stab the other to illustrate denials that they're about to stab one another

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 1h

Health Secretary Wes Streeting denies plotting to oust Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but launched a series of sharp criticisms about the British leader’s political operation.

Streeting Denies Plot to Oust Starmer as UK Prime Minister

Health Secretary Wes Streeting denied plotting to oust Keir Starmer, as fresh doubts about the British prime minister’s grip on power plunged the government into crisis.

bloom.bg

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 1h

Also, you just know he wanted Alan to win

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 1h

I fear for him.

And also any leadership challengers who might try to get him cut off at the bar

Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 11h

Frankly given Noah's history of attacking Brits and Britain I also suspect he was trying to say 'unlike those nasty Brits' (I imagine the gentleman in question probably considers himself British, but that's neither here nor there)

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Chris Terry-Enescu @cjterry.bsky.social · 12h

It doesn't, but tbf I think Starmer would stand down if he was no confed in the PLP.