One last push
A day that could change everything. Or, maybe, nothing.
Dear lovely people,
The elections are nearly upon us. Parliament has shut up shop, so MPs will be joining the thousands of people across the country warming up their fists to knock on your door.
I’m in an area with no election. Barren. Bereft. It is a tale of much woe.
Seemingly, everyone else does have one. Like when the Game Boy came out, although hindsight does suggest that very few people actually had one back then.
A short and snappy preview is almost impossible. There are just too many flavours, it’s the Baskin Robins (31 flavours) / Heinz (57 varieties) of election days.
We’ve got the Senedd, Scottish Parliament, London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs, some unitary councils, some mayors, some county councils and some district councils.
They’re using different voting systems and different times to count. Sometimes you have to be 16+, other times it’s 18+.
The picture is too big to take in. The story where you live might be very real. Certainly those of us lucky enough to live in Wales or Scotland will be very focused.
These are some of the questions we’re asking:
Just how badly will Labour do? What happens to the PM when / (if?) the answer to that question is ‘extremely’? On national vote share, will the Greens, Lib Dems or Conservatives come fifth? Will the SNP win an actual majority in Scotland? The same for Plaid Cymru in Wales? If either are hung, who is joining whom? Has Reform’s shine dulled a little?
A week today, we’ll have some answers. I’m excited.
Just one last note on this - good people will lose their job next week. Good, decent, hard working, considerate and passionate people who have served their constituency well will lose their jobs.
People inevitably vote in terms of the national party. Perhaps you’re a Labour councillor and everyone now loves the Greens. You’re out on your ear. Your record means nothing. Sometimes.
That makes me a bit sad.
Peace and love,
Tatton x
And we'll never be royals
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler
You can call me queen bee
And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
Let me live that fantasyk about you, wonder what went wrongLorde
(Yes, it’s a Lorde lyric at the start of a thing about the House of Lords. Yes, I am delighted, thanks for asking.)
The end of democracy
I’ve always believed in suffrage. People should be allowed to vote, right? I think votes at 16 is fine. It won’t change much. I’d start them at 13 so that everyone has a General Election while they’re at secondary school.
I like the constant thud of progress, anyway. From rich men to most men to most people over 21 to pretty much everyone over 16. That’s the vibe anyway.
Which means that today I am sad. The clearly elected element of the House of Lords has now been abolished.
There used to be loads and loads of people eligible to sit in the House of Lords because their dad was eligible. Loads.
Then, Tony Blair pitched up. He got stuck into Lords reform and got rid of them - except for 92.
To whittle down those hundreds and hundreds down to 92? They voted! The Conservative peers voted for their allocation of peers (42, I think) and then the crossbenchers had 28 slots, etc.
These are members of the House of Lords that had a (not very) democratic mandate.
We now have fewer opportunities for people to vote others into our Parliament than we did before. Boo!
I believe that Blair left the 92 in so that he would come back and do more Lords Reform later. He didn’t get round to it, so it has become Sir Keir Starmer’s job.
Of course, it’s 2026 and our government don’t like taking a stand on much, so 26 of them have been given life peerages, so can continue to be part of things.
I imagine some of those who remain booted out might feel a little sad. I imagine them sitting as tall as they can at their desk, their hand stretched faaar above their heads, with a finger from the other hand over their lips. Silently screaming ‘Pick me! Pick me!’. Poor them.
Anyway, yes. A historic moment. 66 old men removed.
Obviously it’s progress of sorts. Hereditary peerages and odd byelections shouldn’t get you access.
It’s just… there are so many people in the House of Lords who shouldn’t be there. The appointment process stinks.
Let’s hope this is the beginning. One big push please, Sir Keir!
No dice. Parliament is off until the King’s Speech on 13th May.
We’re one week away from actually launching Simple Animals. Join us on Instagram or Facebook. It’s been years in the planning. It’s going to be wonderful. Expect a mix of election results and animal joy next Friday.
Be well x