The Jaggy Thistle election speakeasy is now open
Pull up a barstool for a chinwag. We're here for the next 48 hours
Happy getting rid of the Tories day! And if you’re a Tory, happy new start without the idiots day.
In years to come your children will ask you: “Mummy/Daddy, what did you do the day Britain kicked out the Conservative government and began the long and happy years of Labour hegemony?”
Your children will know the word hegemony because you will have brought them up properly and given them a dictionary for Christmas when they actually wanted Star Wars Lego.
And your reply will be: “I spent that day, and the following day, discussing politics with the clever people who subscribe to The Jaggy Thistle. It was called an election speakeasy, and much wisdom was spoken there.”
Indeed it is my pleasure to declare The Jaggy Thistle election speakeasy open.
Over the next 48 hours the speakeasy is yours to discuss this historic moment in British history. I will be chipping in with my thoughts as we go along, drawing on the experience of more than 30 years of political journalism. Feel free to ask me questions.
You are free to enjoy the speakeasy’s range of fine virtual liquor. You may even want to have a wee dram yourself at home. Me, I’m sticking to the non-alcoholic beer. Doctor’s orders. Damn those doctors.
The floor is yours and we can discuss what you like. We can talk about the campaigns: the gaffes; the strategic misjudgements; the moments of brilliance. We can talks about the results as they come in: I intend to stay up as late as possible, wallowing in schadenfreude, before grabbing a few hours kip before coming back to the keyboard, bleary eyed, in the brave new world of Friday.
Then there is what comes next. Who will be in a Starmer cabinet? What is the new government’s plan for its first 100 days? Whither the Tories? Whither the SNP? Whither Nigel Farage? What will Britain feel like under new management?
To have your say just use this button:
You’ll find another comment button at the end of this post.
If you received this post by email, please don’t try to join the conversation by sending an email reply: that won’t work, I’m afraid.
This may be a UK election but, as is the way with The Jaggy Thistle, we will look at the world through Scottish eyes. So there may well be discussion of what the result means for the Holyrood elections in 2026, and with them the Scottish independence cause.
Because this is a special occasion, the discussion will be open to all subscribers, not just paid subscribers as is usually the case.
But if you enjoy the discussion please consider becoming a paid subscriber for your Access All Areas pass to every Jaggy Thistle post, as well as the full archive and the ability to comment on posts.
You can find more details on the benefits of becoming a Jaggy Thistle paid subscriber here.
Join the conversation. Join the community.
If you know someone who would enjoy the the election speakeasy, please feel free to share this post with them. Use this button:
Have your say! Use this button to join the conversation, or offer a new thought, or ask me a question:
“A chield’s amang you takin notes, And faith he’ll prent it.” Robert Burns
Looking forward to all your contributions. Feel free to ask me a question. Feel free to comment on something you see on the news, or hear on the radio, or watch on an election night TV programme. Feel free to celebrate or commiserate when the results start coming in.
With so many SNP MPs set to lose at Westminster, the scramble for SNP Holyrood seats, especially on the list, is going to be brutal, is it not?