Pyrrhic Politics
David Vance SubstackRead More
A Pyrrhic victory is a win that costs so much in losses, damage, or effort that it feels like a defeat. For example, you might win a legal case or battle but lose so much money, time, or people that the victory isn’t really worth it. The phrase comes from the Greek King Pyrrhus, who won battles against the Romans but suffered such heavy losses that, according to the story, he said another such victory would ruin him.
Can we now turn our focus to the Makerfield by election which takes place on June 18th? As you know, this has come about because the incumbent Labour MP Josh Simons has stood down to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham the chance to win it, get into Parliament and stand against Keir Starmer. This is left wing politics in action and shows how they work together to get the desired outcome. The Green Party and Lib Dems are running almost invisible campaigns and that all goes to the good of Burnham.
Despite ALL of this, the opinion polls show that Reform is snapping on the heels of Burnham. The Reform councillor Rob Kenyon seems like an ideal candidate for this Constituency. He is a family man, a white van man, and everything I have heard him say thus far during the campaign is based and sensible. Reform comprehensible won this area in the May 7th local council elections. All the logic suggests that Reform is best placed to stop Burnham winning.
Rupert Lowe and his Restore Party beg to differ. They believe that Reform are weak and controlled opposition. There is very bad blood between Farage and Lowe. The Restore candidate, a lady called Rebecca Shepherd, is polling around 7%. No poll suggests that she can win and her on the ground campaign seems to run without her. She has given no interviews to media and I suspect that is because whilst she may be a nice person she is very politically inexperienced.
Her real significance is that she will attract sufficient votes to stop Reform from winning. That’s the truth. So whilst the Left unites to ease the path for Burnham, the right is at cats and dogs with each other.
A Burnham victory does not phase Restore but it will disappoint Reform.
The term Pyrrhic victory seems to linger in the air.
I know I have Reform and Restore readers and I can see all your arguments.
However, I believe a splintered right that cannot win power is a useless right.
Good intentions alone are not enough!
