Chris Terry-Enescu
@cjterry.bsky.social
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
Pinned
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
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...
open.substack.com/pub/election...
No the British military is much less steeped in obscure practice and obsession with hierarchy than the civil service
February 13, 2026 at 12:18 AM
No the British military is much less steeped in obscure practice and obsession with hierarchy than the civil service
Yes, fair. I am trying to comfort the baby right now. She found out Matt Goodwin exists tonight 😱
February 12, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Yes, fair. I am trying to comfort the baby right now. She found out Matt Goodwin exists tonight 😱
A lot of people objecting to this post and quite rightly. To be clear, I do not believe Angeliki really believes the second part of this guff, but one problem with a dumb government that takes dumb positions is the mechanics of party discipline then force otherwise intelligent people to adopt them
February 12, 2026 at 11:26 PM
A lot of people objecting to this post and quite rightly. To be clear, I do not believe Angeliki really believes the second part of this guff, but one problem with a dumb government that takes dumb positions is the mechanics of party discipline then force otherwise intelligent people to adopt them
*Anti Hamas ones even
February 12, 2026 at 11:13 PM
*Anti Hamas ones even
An understandable conclusion growing up in Peterborough
February 12, 2026 at 11:11 PM
An understandable conclusion growing up in Peterborough
Yeah, unfortunately the Lib Dems lost their deposit last time and probably will again so clearly not much of an effort going on
February 12, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Yeah, unfortunately the Lib Dems lost their deposit last time and probably will again so clearly not much of an effort going on
Only two more Liberal Party leadership spills until the next federal election probably!
The Liberal Party of Australia has a new leader. Angus Taylor beat Sussan Ley in a party ballot, 34-17.
Breaking: Angus Taylor becomes Liberal leader defeating Sussan Ley 34-17
Sussan Ley, the first female leader of the Liberal Party, has been replaced by Angus Taylor after nine months in the role.
www.abc.net.au
February 12, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Only two more Liberal Party leadership spills until the next federal election probably!
He was Your Sort of Communist. Yes, he loves the workers revolution, but he also stands against Jew hate and when asked about Gaza said it was all Hamas's fault and that he stood with anti Gaza Palestinians
February 12, 2026 at 11:02 PM
He was Your Sort of Communist. Yes, he loves the workers revolution, but he also stands against Jew hate and when asked about Gaza said it was all Hamas's fault and that he stood with anti Gaza Palestinians
It was hard to judge, but there were some. I can say with all honesty that I haven't made up my mind yet, though as you might guess from the tone of my posts I'm not voting for Matt Goodwin. I recognised a couple of people who aren't, afaik, especially partisan.
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 PM
It was hard to judge, but there were some. I can say with all honesty that I haven't made up my mind yet, though as you might guess from the tone of my posts I'm not voting for Matt Goodwin. I recognised a couple of people who aren't, afaik, especially partisan.
She did, she got a loud cheer for attacking the government on it (tbf though, there was a less loud cheer for Matt attacking them in the opposite direction)
February 12, 2026 at 10:38 PM
She did, she got a loud cheer for attacking the government on it (tbf though, there was a less loud cheer for Matt attacking them in the opposite direction)
Joseph O'Meachair (Rejoin EU) came across as quite a decent person.
Hugo Wils (Communist League) was spirited, to say the least.
Nick Buckley (Advance UK) got a boo for saying he didn't think there should be separate communities and also informed us that he didn't care about Gaza or LGBT+.
Hugo Wils (Communist League) was spirited, to say the least.
Nick Buckley (Advance UK) got a boo for saying he didn't think there should be separate communities and also informed us that he didn't care about Gaza or LGBT+.
February 12, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Joseph O'Meachair (Rejoin EU) came across as quite a decent person.
Hugo Wils (Communist League) was spirited, to say the least.
Nick Buckley (Advance UK) got a boo for saying he didn't think there should be separate communities and also informed us that he didn't care about Gaza or LGBT+.
Hugo Wils (Communist League) was spirited, to say the least.
Nick Buckley (Advance UK) got a boo for saying he didn't think there should be separate communities and also informed us that he didn't care about Gaza or LGBT+.
The rest. I think Jackie Pearsey (Lib Dem) was one of the better performers of the night. She was a councillor in a neighbouring ward for 21 years. She was straightforward and clearly cares about the area.
Charlotte Cadden (Conservative) is a person who exists.
Charlotte Cadden (Conservative) is a person who exists.
February 12, 2026 at 10:35 PM
The rest. I think Jackie Pearsey (Lib Dem) was one of the better performers of the night. She was a councillor in a neighbouring ward for 21 years. She was straightforward and clearly cares about the area.
Charlotte Cadden (Conservative) is a person who exists.
Charlotte Cadden (Conservative) is a person who exists.
I think she was quite weak in pushing back on Matt's allegations about the Green position on drugs, I suspect this is not an area where her interests heavily lie, whereas she was much stronger on subjects like greening homes.
February 12, 2026 at 10:17 PM
I think she was quite weak in pushing back on Matt's allegations about the Green position on drugs, I suspect this is not an area where her interests heavily lie, whereas she was much stronger on subjects like greening homes.
I think Hannah was the room's favourite (though it was not at all unanimous). This is unsurprising as Levenshulme, where the hustings was, is the most Green friendly part of the constituency. She has also lived in Levenshulme in the past.
February 12, 2026 at 10:17 PM
I think Hannah was the room's favourite (though it was not at all unanimous). This is unsurprising as Levenshulme, where the hustings was, is the most Green friendly part of the constituency. She has also lived in Levenshulme in the past.
Hannah Spencer (Green): I really get why the Greens picked Hannah. She is incredibly charismatic and comes across as very authentic. Her background as a plumber not only gives a sense of authenticity but she also cleverly deploys it to back up points about the issues she cares about.
February 12, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Hannah Spencer (Green): I really get why the Greens picked Hannah. She is incredibly charismatic and comes across as very authentic. Her background as a plumber not only gives a sense of authenticity but she also cleverly deploys it to back up points about the issues she cares about.
Sorry phone ran out of battery while walking home, will provide more thoughts shortly!
February 12, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Sorry phone ran out of battery while walking home, will provide more thoughts shortly!
It's also something where she has a genuine positive story to tell about Labour delivering. I think this is important în a sense: Labour might not be delivering nationally, but there is some sense it is delivering locally.
February 12, 2026 at 10:01 PM
It's also something where she has a genuine positive story to tell about Labour delivering. I think this is important în a sense: Labour might not be delivering nationally, but there is some sense it is delivering locally.
Angeliki, notably, came most alive when given the opportunity to discuss improvements to local public transport by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. This is something she's personally involved with, as Manchester City Council's transport lead
February 12, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Angeliki, notably, came most alive when given the opportunity to discuss improvements to local public transport by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. This is something she's personally involved with, as Manchester City Council's transport lead
Angeliki Stogia (Labour). Angeliki broadly performed well, but she felt very hemmed in by her government's record. When questioned about trans rights, for instance, she stated that the Labour Party would always stand against transphobia and that they couldn't just change the supreme court decision
February 12, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Angeliki Stogia (Labour). Angeliki broadly performed well, but she felt very hemmed in by her government's record. When questioned about trans rights, for instance, she stated that the Labour Party would always stand against transphobia and that they couldn't just change the supreme court decision
Matt's statements also frequently involved accusing other people of lying about him and he would sometimes avoid the topic (especially memorably when questioned about Gaza). Sometimes he would launch into an unrelated attack on the Greens for being, in his mind, pro drugs.
February 12, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Matt's statements also frequently involved accusing other people of lying about him and he would sometimes avoid the topic (especially memorably when questioned about Gaza). Sometimes he would launch into an unrelated attack on the Greens for being, in his mind, pro drugs.
Right some conclusions on the three main candidates.
Matt Goodwin (Reform). I feel Matt was relatively polished, but he also felt like he was reading from a script and acted the most politiciany to coin a term. Many of his answers featured anecdotes from the campaign, none from this ward :O
Matt Goodwin (Reform). I feel Matt was relatively polished, but he also felt like he was reading from a script and acted the most politiciany to coin a term. Many of his answers featured anecdotes from the campaign, none from this ward :O
February 12, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Right some conclusions on the three main candidates.
Matt Goodwin (Reform). I feel Matt was relatively polished, but he also felt like he was reading from a script and acted the most politiciany to coin a term. Many of his answers featured anecdotes from the campaign, none from this ward :O
Matt Goodwin (Reform). I feel Matt was relatively polished, but he also felt like he was reading from a script and acted the most politiciany to coin a term. Many of his answers featured anecdotes from the campaign, none from this ward :O
It's the closing statements. The three main candidates have already done theirs and left. The Rejoin EU candidate is taking a moment to thank the Lib Dem for staying because she's a "major party candidate".
Laughter around the room.
The Conservative candidate is also still here.
Laughter around the room.
The Conservative candidate is also still here.
February 12, 2026 at 9:16 PM
It's the closing statements. The three main candidates have already done theirs and left. The Rejoin EU candidate is taking a moment to thank the Lib Dem for staying because she's a "major party candidate".
Laughter around the room.
The Conservative candidate is also still here.
Laughter around the room.
The Conservative candidate is also still here.
All except Sir Oinks a Lot (OMRLP) who is on holiday.
February 12, 2026 at 8:48 PM
All except Sir Oinks a Lot (OMRLP) who is on holiday.
Matt is returning to his favourite theme: that the Greens want to legalise ALL THE DRUGS. It's the last thing people in this community need apparently. Idk, might make listening to Matt more enjoyable.
February 12, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Matt is returning to his favourite theme: that the Greens want to legalise ALL THE DRUGS. It's the last thing people in this community need apparently. Idk, might make listening to Matt more enjoyable.