15 bemused reactions to the odd media spin on the local election results

During the 2017 snap general election, the Conservative and Labour parties received a combined total of around 67 per cent of the vote, which gave a lot of Brexit supporters carte blanche to insist that the country overwhelmingly wanted to leave the EU. Yesterday, many councils across England and Northern Ireland held local elections, in which the Conservatives and Labour took quite a hammering, and anti-Brexit parties, the Lib-Dems and the Green Party, made significant gains.

You’d think that this would have led politicians and commentators to conclude that there had been an anti-Brexit backlash, but no …that’s not what they decided.

Not impressed with @BBC online reporting about #LocalElection2019: results cast in terms of “handling of Brexit” and “Brexit deadlock” rather than the big gains for Remain parties. This isn’t just a matter of language: it makes a huge difference. Not a good look, @BBC.

— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@cliodiaspora) May 3, 2019

We’ll see what final results of local elections look like by end of day as they are pretty mixed geographically up to now but so far message from local elections- “Brexit – sort it.” Message received.

— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) May 3, 2019

But that Isn't the message. Labour have lost seats to pro- Remain parties….

— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) May 3, 2019

Yes, a swing towards pro-EU parties has been widely interpreted as being a message to hurry up and get on with Brexit. There’s so much spin on that it’s a blur. This is what other people have been saying about the results.

1.

[huge swings to Remain parties in local elections]

Pundits and politicians: “This is clearly a call to get on with Brexit”

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) May 3, 2019

2.

So losses for the Tories, Labour and Ukip and gains for the Lib Dems, Greens and Others. What could it possibly mean? #Brexit #Remain#LocalElection2019 pic.twitter.com/u8Xo9GT3eT

— Zoë Paramour (@ZoeParamour) May 3, 2019

3.

I thought I was a master bullshitter, but I am in awe of the BBC:
"Brexit supporting parties suffering huge losses and pro-remain parties making huge gains clearly means people want to see Brexit delivered!"
Genius.#Remainbacklash #LocalElection2019

— Not Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) May 3, 2019

4.

Really strong results for Remain overnight. A demonstration of the strength of Remain voters and the punishment they can inflict on parties who refuse to represent them.

— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) May 3, 2019

5.

https://twitter.com/danhett/status/1124240060566650880

6.

https://twitter.com/agirlcalledlina/status/1124231020927225857

7.

Only someone as spectacularly thick as Brandon Lewis could interpret this disaster for Tories and Labour as a mandate “to get Brexit done” #r4today pic.twitter.com/XgIm0kqPtm

— Steve Anglesey (@sanglesey) May 3, 2019