Job Senior

Very pleased for them, but still utterly unsure what the Northern Powerhouse has *ever* actually done.

A fitting memorial to the late Frazer Irwin. Remember him coming round for tea often, sharing old photos and historical gossip. He'd fallen out with EVERYONE, but hung out on Ilkley More, in the letters pages of the Gazette and at my Ilkley Rocks. #Echobox=1751550615" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/25287043.…

@ricardoyorks Thats the line, yes ('we'll fill in the form for you on the phone'), but given where so many surgeries have gone ('use the QR code to book a prescription') I don't think it stops there tbh

@Wharfedalerocks I assume its to free up the phone lines for the over 70s, to be honest Ive always found the online way so much quicker and easier, allowing those who cant do that to phone up

So Ilkley medical now asking people to contact them via the website/app. I wonder how many of their patients are over 70? Real, and increasing issue, with digital exclusion in this country...

@ricardoyorks @_RobbieMoore Not sure the reform voters were otherwise Tories. Reform votes mostly come from Keighley--white working-class. They voted Tory in 2019 but have always been separate and had a separate party to support (UKIP, BNP). But yes, minor point!

@Wharfedalerocks @_RobbieMoore Im not sure it did to be honest, Reform took a load of Tory votes as well - I think you are spot on that he was the wrong candidate, they needed someone fresh and dynamic

Look forward to seeing the re-elected @_RobbieMoore at the Real Food Market on Sunday. (note---no Real Food does not have a political viewpoint...beyond vote Ilkley)

@ricardoyorks @_RobbieMoore Grogan was the wrong candidate--lost twice in seats, old and tired. And Labour centrally put no effort in. Gaza and the indie candidate in Keighley who used the Palestinian flag on his literature was probably the difference in votes, but Moore's work held his vote up really well

@Wharfedalerocks @_RobbieMoore Fair play, as I said previously, I thought his campaign was way better than Grogan's, when you see the energy of Katie White in Otley, John Grogan's felt stale and far too traditional

*coughs* meaningfully. We have the receipts.

@gregwrightYP And then got a career making slowTV which seemed to make him a lot happier

The Portillo moment. But Truss is no Portillo, who showed grace, eloquence and dignity in defeat all those years ago.

A bit of self-congratulation for talking about the potential for Ilkley staying Tory even in these depths of national support. I can only imagine how all those deeply unpleasant twitter campaigners against Robbie Moore feel.... (lolz)

@Samfr Just not true. They thought they'd won Hallam too. LibDems there were out at 6 yesterday morning delivering.

Lib Dems have gained Horsham and Epsom and Ewell. Bar Hunt's seat they've won everything they targeted. Extraordinary.

@gregwrightYP I'm giving myself a big pat on the back for saying he could win for about three years. Reform and Greens taking Labour votes and Moore just being a good constituency MP

In fact, could argue this is one of best results for any Tory candidate. Totally unexpected.

@Smylers2 @ricardoyorks Hmm, there's a strong right-wing group of white Keighleyites who voted BNP (Nick Griffin stood here remember), UKIP and now Reform? Not so sure that helps Labour at all. And then does the Ilkley Green vote go tactical? Not much love lost between Greens and Labour.

@ricardoyorks It might be close, it might not be! A strong Reform vote of disaffected ex-Conservative voters helps Labour; a strong Independent vote for ex-Labour voters upset about Gaza helps the Conservatives. Really hard to know which of those groups is bigger!

Different psephologists predict #Keighley & #Ilkley being as close as 4% (Electoral Calculus) or as far apart as 30% (FT, Savanta): inglesp.github.io/apogee/constit… It'll be interesting to see who's closest. Thank you @inglesp for collating these.

@airedaletales @ilkleyjournal Let us pretend that is true..

Very pleased to see the launch of the @ilkleyjournal following the model of @ManchesterMill and coming some....ooh...twenty years after I did that hyperlocal ilkley blog thing (still available at web.archive.org/web/2007011422… historic website people!)

@gregwrightYP Everybody I know! Miserable (thought got my out of a few social occasions I dind't want to go to anyway, so not ALL bad...) Hope you feel better soon Greg

Anyone else been struck down by the dreaded 'summer cold' which accompanies the drab clouds and drizzle? It feels like late December again..

So the Greens have a candidate. Now, if Reform get one too, owr Robbie has a chance. A small one, but...

So only three candidates declared so far for Ilkley. But Reform intend to stand reformparty.uk/keighley-and-i… Which will take votes from Tories and from Labour. Workers PArty will take from LAbour, Whither the Greens?

@airedaletales I mean....they've been run by the SNP for a few decades, so that's a bit arguable.

HAve The Greens got a candidate in Keighley/Ilkley yet?