And now (in UK) the news fills with waffle about whether Labour should have a leadership contest or not.

How about new elections?

How about new elections?

Why would Labour call new elections when they are likely to do badly? I know Reform and some Tories are calling for them, but there is no constitutional requirement to call one. I think Labour will claim the precedent of the Tories changing leaders four or five times without calling an election gives them a little leeway.

I suspect at the last general election, the Tories were pleased to lose because they knew whoever won would have to deal with the mess they left and thought one term wasn't enough time to turn things around meaning Labour would then at the end of five years, get all the blame.

(That doesn't mean there isn't a lot I think Labour could have done a lot better!)

In reply to Dave's message of 23 Jun 2026:

I think Labour will claim the precedent of the Tories changing leaders four or five times without calling an election gives them a little leeway.

True, but Labour were calling out the Tories each and every time then and saying they wanted general elections. So now that they're in that same boat, they should do what they demanded, right?

I agree they should. I will be extremely surprised if they do. The only real reason they should is their calls for the Tories to do the same. There is no constitutional reason for them to do so.