2011 elections and what it means for Ken

So the 2011 elections are behind us.  The country firmly rejected AV, Labour took a battering in Scotland with the SNP doing something that was never meant to happen - a party getting a majority in the Scottish Parliament, The Lib Dems were smashed throughout the country, and a mixed bag for the Tories.

First, AV.  I admit that I hammered my colours to the mast of first past the post.  I like it, and feel that it serves its purpose.  The result of 70% to keep the status quo should put the issue into touch for a generation, and I hope that the subject won't become part of Labour's manifesto again as it did in 2010.  However, there are many out there who are simply not accepting it.  They're talking about the amount of money the no campaign had, outrage at campaign adverts, the slandering of others.  There's just one thing.  Despite the overall enthusiasm for AV on Twitter, and the political blogs, the people, well, simply didn't want it.  That's it.

The elections.  Overall, Labour did well.  Not as well as I think we should have, certainly not as well as we ought to have in Scotland.  Some headline figures: 

In the local elections, Labour gained 800 new councillors, Tories 81 but the Lib Dems lost 695, and independent/others lost 199.  What does this mean? The Lib Dems were trounced, smashed, beaten.  Both Labour and the Tories benefited; and this is my niggle.  From my point of view, Labour need to be attacking and beating the Tories.  The Lib Dems suffered simply because the public wanted to make Nick Clegg suffer after the broken promises.

But the same is not said of the Tories.  Their support is holding out.  Next year is the London elections.  If Ken is to beat Boris a London wide strategy will need to be put into place that tackles this issue head on.  Highlighting the cuts is not enough.  Ken's team, in conjunction with London Labour, will need to make sure we give people REASONS to vote Labour, it won't be enough to say that the coalition is bad, its made up of Tories, Boris is a Tory, ergo Boris is bad.  Firm policies with a firm vision is what's needed.  I feel this is why Labour didn't do as well as it could have done in places such as Dartford and Medway.

Labour did well, but a lot more needs to be done.