1997 General Election - The Portillo Moment
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- čas přidán 17. 04. 2010
- The result for Enfield South in the 1997 General Election. Labour won by 1,500 votes after a swing of 17 per cent. This general election saw Labour gaining 147 seats. The Conservatives had their lowest tally of seats since 1906, and in the process, 7 Tory Ministers lost their seats.
Westminster's loss was Great Continental Railway journey's gain.
Just what I was thinking.
Robot Lover "I'm just looking at my Bradshaws..."
+James Hoskinson He's now a train enthusiast
+VictorYong36 He still has a permanent smug expression on his face though :)
That comes from going to public school, a top Uni and being rich
Portillo's investment in pastel-coloured chinos skyrocketed from this point
Michael Denzil Xavier!!!
To give Portillo his due he accepted defeat very graciously. Considering he was widely tipped to be the next Tory leader, his shock removal from office was probably one of the defining moments of Labour's huge landslide victory that night.
This was terrible for many reasons, firstly he would have made a great Tory leader and two, Southgate went downhill fast from ‘97!
Trump could take a lesson from Michael Portillo about graciously accepting defeat.
@@unrealharryTwigg increased his majority at the following election. Seems the electorate disagreed with that statement.
Portillo was a horrible politician, a bit of charm and fake bonhomie in a sinecure job will never change that. There was a reason we loved it so much when he got kicked out.
Obviously because corrupt tories just go to the private sector.
The main reason this is such a famous moment is because of the sheer scale of the swing required to dislodge him from a safe tory seat (there was a 17.4% swing), and he was the biggest casualty for the Tories on the night, being as he has defence secretary, predicted by many as a future leader of the part. It was also a shock result that was not predicted. It was the moment that symbolised the loss of that election by the Conservative Party - the defining moment. He was very gracious here.
You're absolutely right, but there was an extra edge for some of us. I was a 23yo bisexual woman at the time, deep into LGBTQ activism, because the 1990s was a transition phase between the rampant homophobia of the 1980s and the acceptance of the 2000s. Michael Portillo had been part of the government that brought in the hated Section 28, and it was rumoured that he had had same-sex experiences himself, so we all saw him as a bit of a hypocrite. Along comes Stephen Twigg, a young, openly gay man. Not easy to be as a politician in 1997. And he still won. I didn't have much money at the time, but I'd bought a £10 bottle of Tesco-brand champagne - and by God, it flowed that night, particularly at this moment.
Yes section 28 and Portillo was a willing part of the cabinet who held out for more power rather than calling a general election. The Tory party clung onto power and hadn’t taken seriously the need to fix the country’s problems.
That seems a normal swing level these days.
@@russetmantle1Jesus wept …
The graciousness of Portillo in defeat is instructive for several reasons. He went on to do the almost unprecedented and genuinely think about why he lost. When he returned to Parliament he tried to teach his party what he saw as the lessons of 1997, namely that they became too mean-spirited, too right-wing, too focused on what we'd now call culture war issues. What's interesting about that is how badly he failed. The party didn't listen to him in any way.
But let it also be said that his easy embrace of moderate, centrist and liberal ideas suggests that the rabid ideologue he was in government was probably a choice he made. Meaning that in many ways he's worse than those of his colleagues who genuinely believed in the vile nonsense they talked about. Portillo knew better and did it anyway. The swing against him, and how much we enjoyed it, was earned by his behaviour in the years that preceded that night.
I'm just disappointed that so many leading Tory MPs have already run scared - I was so looking forward to many 'Portillo Moments' on 5th July!
Hopefully we will still have some
Hopefully we'll get a Braverman moment or something like that.
@olivercuenca4109 Bet my house if she loses she'll claim the election was rigged
@@olivercuenca4109 IDS is on shaky ground.
@@CyclingSteve I can't believe IDS hasn't retired. He must be ancient by MP standards
Michael Portillo went on to have the greatest tv show about Trains of all time!
pff, Thomas is wayyy better
only cos he let them run a train on his ass through his whole career
AND RIGHT NOW--18 OCT 2020, HE HAS ANOTHER GREAT TRAIN JOURNEY SERIES STARTING NEXT WEEK. WHO'S A LUCKY BOY, TRAVELLING THE WORLD, FOR FREE, AND BEING PAID HEAPS FOR ENJOYING HIS FAVOURTE HOBBY. WHO WON THAT ELECTION ????
The shows are not about trains but social history of places taken whilst on a train journey. Big difference. Love his multi-coloured jackets . Wish I knew just how many he has. Poor politician but great social historian.
@@MrDaiseymay Jobs for 'The Boys'..If you know what I mean
the moment where they laugh at Portillo's middle name
probably the most underappreciated moment of this video
It was pronounced wrong
I must admit to giggling at that moment.
X-avier
@@echarts3710 It reminded me of Rodney's wedding on Only Fools and Horses. Do you take Rodney Charlton Trotter....
It's Za-vee-ay.
Mr. Portillo showed some dignity and has shown his ability to redefine himself.
I think that this was the making of Michael Portillo. He has done so well since then, and reinvented himself beautifully.
He's a great man still, and broadly liked across the board - that he took this L so graciously is a fine example of the man
yeah, him, diane abbott and andrew neil were so fun to watch on This Week, even though I have great objections to them all individually. I wish more politicians would realise how fun not being a politician is.
Love how the camera immediately zooms in on Portillo, not even thinking of filming the guy who won!
Never tire of seeing this, hoping for many more similar moments in the early hours of 5th July 2024.
Oh come on, if Portillo was really destined to be a Conservative Party leader then he would have been one by now. 2024 is not going to be a Labour landslide either, 'poor turn out' being the key phrase, this wll be the miserable election of apathy, people will be voting for what they are against rather than what they are for,.
@@VioletBagpipeSack-xf3ke Delusional
@@VioletBagpipeSack-xf3keWhy the fuck would anyone vote for what they're against?
@@RenaissanceEarCandy does the phrase 'protest vote' mean nothing to you? The fuck.
@@VioletBagpipeSack-xf3ke So they want rampant poverty, underfunded public services and no economic growth? Wierd bunch.
The beginning of Portillo's career as a train fanatic. What a night. Thought Portillo will replace Major as Tory leader after the '97 Election
He should have replaced him in ‘95.. might have saved the party
One of the heavyweights, along with Michael Heseltine and Ken Clarke who should have become leader at some point.
@@paulwilliams8389 Ken Clarke would have never. Heseltine, maybe.
History of England would be different, a loss for England that day
Why did Elton John read the result?
More to the point why was there a billy-goat in a man-costume standing to Portillo's right?
Richard Keel the real questions we need to be asking
🤣🤣
Because he wasn't busy doing Snickers adverts back then
Don't be stupid, it clearly Alan Bennett.
Rewatching in 2024. I remember this moment. The cheering was so loud, the entre street erupted and fireworks went off. It was a sign of change
Unfortunately as it turned out...........................
@@oliveringram3056 I suggest you study history, and look into the economic data for the following years. Your feelings don't matter
Good to see that Portillo accepted his defeat with good grace, and was respectful towards Stephen Twigg.
Somehow I can't imagine that many Tory MP's will accept their forthcoming defeat with the same degree of grace that Michael Portillo showed here. It's a measure of how far the Tory party has fallen - and the kinds of people it has as MP's now. Many, upon hearing that they've lost their seat will no doubt refuse to shake hands with the victorious new MP and storm off. Petulance and nastiness have replaced good grace and manners.
We are now finally approaching a similar 'landmark' time in British politics. Can't wait!! It will kind of feel like 1997 all over again - but the country isn't as well off as it was back then; and the UK economy has shrunk significantly since 1997. Though admittedly much of this shrinkage has occurred since 2019. Better not mention the 'B' word........!!
Same. Always brings a tear to my eye. The day the Tories got royally whooped.
This moment is gold. I can’t wait to see a replication of this moment with conservative MPs in the next GE
But Michael was one of the few great ones.. plus, Southgate went downhill with Labour
I can't imagine our lot of Tories losing with this much grace.
@@ExploreGamesAndMore yeah I imagine there'll be a lot more tantrums - although so many tory MPs have chosen to not stand this time that it may not be much of an issue.
your time has come, 6 weeks to go
Update this won't happen the tories have all quit out of fear of becoming the next portillo moment
This brings nostalgic feelings of great past times, I had to watch this to console myself after the recent tragic election result 😭😭😭
Great result actually
@@user-uu5oy2br5e Not for millions of already poor people. I couldn't care less about leaving the EU. That was the one good thing to come out of the result. Corbyn's also gone now which is good. Up to the new leader to deliver for the people and party.
@@user-uu5oy2br5e not for the country
@@user-uu5oy2br5ehows that turned out, champ?
Only a bad result for lazy, non-taxpaying, parasitic, freeloading liberals
20 years ago to the minute. 3:01am, 2nd May 1997
ICONIC. Also, mark my words, the Jacob Rees-Mogg version of this in a few years time is going to be even more delicious.
It will be the Liberal Democrats who take his seat this time
Mogg has a 26.2-point swing ahead of his nearest opposition. If you seriously think that Mogg would lose his seat except for all opposition parties uniting in the constituency, you're delusional; medically quantifiably delusional.
@@anthonythatcherchurchilled285 Clearly you don't know how swings work in elections. He actually only needs a 13.1% swing against him to lose the seat. He has a 26.2% majority against his closest opposition at the last election. On all recent polls a 13.1% swing is very easily obtainable.
@@ryankeenan3374 When did I say he wouldn’t need a 13.1% to be unseated? Maybe you should reread what has been said. I did have the word swing on the mind when writing it, hence why I wrote it in place of “majority”, but it was evident what I meant; to argue on that is to proclaim that you don’t know what a word subjected to a typo means.
You mean to tell me that polling is drastic when a crisis is still going on??? Shock horror. In case you didn’t know, the next election isn’t until January 2025. That’s just under 2 and a half years. A lot can change in that time.
@@anthonythatcherchurchilled285 this aged well
May this repeat in general election 2024
But Portillo ain't standing in 2024 🤣🤣🤣
@@garethbuckeridge6910you know exactly what he means
Michael Gove says he's not standing, irritatingly. I can't believe it.
You have learned nothing, then.
@@olivercuenca4109 I’m considering converting to a religion (from atheism) just so I can pray that my MP Rees-Mogg loses. Never liked the guy.
There's going to be so many Portillo moments come July 4th 2024!
Why do you think all those Tories are running off now?
They'll be back in 5 or 10 years when nothing changes under sir keir
Maybe not. 70 odd Tories are stepping down as they too cowardly to face the inevitable humiliation.
I'm a man
@@hazmat7949 It will change, it will be much worse.
This is always worth watching. Let us hope there will be more Portillo moments in July.
who would you like to see?
@@wintersun398 Jacob Rees-Mogg has to be top of the list, but Braverman, Shapps and Patel are also well up there.
I’m sat in Australia watching great railway journeys, I learn so much from this show!!!
Michael Portillo was very gracious in defeat. I'm a socialist and I wish he was back in the house. A true heavyweight, even though I disagree with him on pretty much everything.
Ughh socialists... Stop taking shit other people worked for
Richard Merkle I think you mean capitalists
@@thejfoshow1320 YOU JUST DON'T / CAN'T, GET-IT CAN YOU ? THIS IS HOW IT WORKS---I'VE SAVED SOME MONEY, I'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA FOR A PRODUCT PEOPLE WILL WANT, I'LL SPEND MY MONEY BUILDING A FACTORY ,AND BUYING MACHINES AND MATERIALS, YOU MAKE IT FOR ME, AND I WILL PAY YOU A WAGE--YES OR NO? IF I MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, I WILL MAKE ANOTHER FACTORY, GIVING WORK TO MORE PEOPLE ---I COULD GET RICH--YOU WON'T ,BUT WILL AFFORD A REASONABLE LIVING , FROM YOUR ENDEAVEVORS.
@@MrDaiseymay you can make money on the back of my hard work
Hope someone like him is tapped to rebuild the Conservatives after 2024
The best thing that happened to Portillo, he's created a new life as interesting human being and TV traveller
More of this on the night of July 4th/5th 2024 please
He was on tv earlier that night pretending he didn't think he'd replace John Major as PM. Most delicious moment that night apart from Mellor and Goldsmith.
He wasn't wrong though,was he?
Probably one of the only likeable Tory MP's in recent years, love his railway journeys!
Outside of politics hes fine, but let's not forget this is the man who pushed for the poll tax, and was an executive for the the biggest weapons dealer in Europe
Not if you remember him when he was in Parliament.
He wasn’t likeable when he was an MP…. after being chucked out, he evolved into a nicer human being.
@@DavidAndTheDog Blame the media for that one.
Desperately hoping for an Iain Duncan Smith moment on July 4th.
I'm hoping for a Sunak moment.
_"Never underestimate the determination of a quiet man"_ 😂....
Isn't he jumping ship?
Just a shame Labour kicked out the MP for the area...
@@nebno6 chingford? It's been Tory forever
This can still fetch a smile to my face.
Even though Portillo is good
I remember this so clearly. Love it.
After the recent election result I had to waych this to cheer myself up 😭😭😭
A moment to savour Let's hope that there are many such moments in forthcoming by elections and GEs in 2023-24
Gracious in defeat.....I never cared for Mr Portillo until his stylish speech when he lost to Mr Twigg. I truly believe he is a great loss to parliament and this country when he stepped down from politics. A world class talent lost to the Consevatives where mediocrity is perceived to be true talent.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Portillo's speech that night. He set a splendid example with that speech.
Your comment is a perfect example of how dumbed-down the elecrtorate in this country really is.
style of substance is unfortunately is now the order of the day.
Unfortunately, far too many MPs are cut from the same cloth. Are you old enough to remember the 1997 election? Portillo losing his seat was a momentous event. David Mellor wasn't so gracious in defeat.
Deb Banerji I agree. Portillo is quite a decent Tory compared to some of them.
Geoff Poole In government, Portillo was one of the most right wing people you could wish to meet! Great for trains, though!
I remember that well. I went to bed about half eleven that night sure of the knowledge Labour had finally won. Something woke me up around that time and I out of curiosity switched on the telly in my room. That was THE turnover of the whole night. Portillo was one of the better Tory MPs,bright articulate and witty. I thought he would have taken over from Major but he went and lost me a tenner. 🤑
I have the greatest respect for Michael Portillo.
I was at an event where he was being interviewed - he said that what you don’t know, is they were told the result immediately beforehand. They then have to get up on stage to formally have the votes announced and result declared. So there’s a reason he takes it well on the stage - he had been told 5 mins previously!
I was so traumatised I couldn't go to work the next day. For a returning officer to be unable to pronounce Xavier was all too much to take.
He was an X-Men fan.
You’d think he’d just ask the candidate if he wasn’t sure wouldn’t you? 😂
What a great way to be told that you are no longer required!
I find myself here because something reminded me of it. I Remember it, happy days. But how can this be so long ago!
Would love to see this sort of decimation again.
It will be Labour as well.
With so many high profile Tories standing down, we'll miss out on so many of these moments this year.
Politics’ loss was Television’s gain
He does TV series about train journeys back in the Victorian era.
Proto-UKIP ends Portillo's parliamentary career.
He came back after this in 1999
It's now 2023, and Labour have just won the Tamworth and Mid Beds by-elections with a swing from Conservatives of 23.9% and 20.5% with a General Election due no later than 28th January 2025.
I really don't understand why this is remembered as such a humiliating moment for Portillo personally. It was just a really bad defeat for the Tories, and Enfield South wasn't safe enough for Michael to survive there. I'd say he handled the situation with about as much grace and dignity as one could expect.
Even during the night the exit polls still thought he would keep the seat. In the BBC election coverage, right up until the results were announced they thought he would keep the seat.
He could have become leader of the Conservatives had he held on to his seat. Instead his political career was cut short. Surely that counts as humiliating? How he handled the situation - which was indeed very gracefully - has no bearing on that.
@@gymnasiast90doesn’t make it a humiliation, it’s just the event
He was the highest level Conservative MP to lose that night, a potential Prime Minister and a symbol of a more right-wing Conservative party. It is remembered for the shock it caused: it was SO unexpected. I was working in Germany at the time so wasn't part of any election fever and had stayed up late to watch the results. Even on my own it was stunning!
@@lukestevens8735 I also remember the identification of Portillo with the right of the Tories. Looking back I wonder how much of that was opportunistic - in his second career as a journalist he has been much more moderate and circumspect. He also appears to have found more comfort and happiness in this role than he ever did while he was in government, so maybe it was a win-win all around. Watching this again today, Portillo looks almost relieved.
I've never forgotten this moment
Sweet, sweet moment.
To be fair Portillo was dignified in defeat.
Imagine in this comming election Anderson or Gullis losing 😊
Looking forward to many more such moments in political history in July 2024!
🌹🌹🌹🌹
Accepted defeat like a champ tbf. If this was Trump, he’d be storming parliament asking who stole the election 😂
Doh! They did ‘steal’ the 2020 election. There systems are not as good as ours and it’s corrupt as hell over there.
Arguably he's now got a much better career travelling the world on various train lines.
Mellor losing his seat was much funnier as he took it badly
Yeah, he was salty😪. I remember the impression David Baddiel used to do of Mellor on Fantasy Football League 😂😆
Referendum party 1342 - the point where UKIP, Brexit and Reform all began
one of the top 5 greatest tv moments
+ian warrington Shut up you pukeweasel
+David Jatt ha ha
+David Jatt ha ha
David Jatt but you are here just as much as we are...😂
ian warrington ummm. Sure.
Years ago i went for a poo in my nans. Comes back into the living room, after my poo obviously, and theres a guy sat there who i assumed was a neighbour. So we’re all sat there chatting and having biscuits. He asked me about my paper round etc and liked how me as a 13 year old child was hustling alongside school. Turned out to be stephen twigg who’d popped round for votes and ended up in my nans for an hour. Its my only interaction to this date with an MP, i think 99% of them are scum but twigg seemed like a really nice fella
What nobody ever realised about this moment at the time was that it changed the direction that Michael Portillo went in his career path.
I am Labour through and through, but Michael Portillo is an honorable man.
alright mark antony
You aren't true labour if you aren't a vile , hate filled, narcissist.
Great night and I know exactly where I was when this was announced, it was a pivotal moment in UK politics and democracy and it was such a time of hope! Having worked in Labour politics for decades I met Stephen many on quite a fee times! Like so many Labour MPs elected that night he went on to achieve plenty for the people in Enfield Southgate and was a good MP.
While Portillo had earned his status as being an ultra-right win and a disliked figure, I did think he acceptance of losing speech was one of the finest given by a losing MP! So, all credit to him for that, but I am glad he found trains later and I do like those shows.
I guess today there would be three contenders for national enjoyment in seeing them lose, Suella Braverman, Lee Anderson & Mogg!
Yet, the sad thing today is all three are more hard right than even Portillo was! A bad sign for our democracy & another reason why such figures need to lose in this election for the good of the country!
Looking forward to a clegg moment
It just happened!
+Rick Wong Indeed, and a damned good thing too! Also, to put icing on the cake, the new Labour MP is a staunch supporter of Jeremy Corbyn.
@@davidparry5310 hope you reconsider this comment considering what happened to the "new labour mp"
@@fryliver4953 While I don't deny that there are serious potential grounds for condemning Jared O'Mara (the alleged incident in a nightclub in which he used a misogynistic slur to a woman on the eve of the 2017 general election), some of the stuff that O'Mara received opprobrium over was just plain bullshit (raking him over the coals over remarks he made many years ago at an impressionable age and, pertinent to the homophobic remarks he's said to have made online, at a time when British attitudes to sexual minorities were still in a state of flux - really?!). Regardless, his replacement is MP for Sheffield Hallam is another left-leaning member of the Labour party, so ... there's that.
WHO ?
Small error in the description - the constituency was Enfield Southgate (not Enfield South). For the 2024 general election the boundaries changed and the constituency became Southgate and Wood Green. After Stephen Twigg won Enfield Southgate the Labour Party held it until 2005 when the Tories won it back. They lost it again in 2017 and it was held by Labour until 2024. The boundary changes in 2024 incorporated part of the old Hornsey and Wood Green constituency in neighbouring Haringey. This means it is unlikely the Tories will capture it again as no ward in Haringey has elected so much as a Tory Councillor since 1998. (There was a brief period in 2009 when one Labour Councillor defected to the Tories. So no Tory was 'elected', but he became their sole council seat until he was beaten a few months later in May 2010). No more 'Portillo moments' in this seat I think 🙂
@InLiverpool17 In the description you've put "Enfield South;" I could be wrong, but I think the full name is "Enfield Southgate."
Can't wait for Boris Johnson to be voted out in similar fashion in a few months time.
He's standing in the next election...we are getting Portillo Moment 2 in the next 18 months😂
I like Michael Portillo.
i hope your profile pic is ironic
@@greenglassrecycling That's not for me to say.
one of many favourate moments of that election!
Why?
Let's have more of this next election
Love it. Never forget just how vile he was a a politician.
He couldn't hide his disappointment. Brilliant 👏
Honestly this was a very humbling moment for Portillo and I think it was the making of him.
I'd never vote for Portillo or anyone like that, but have respect for him for being a good sporting loser in this instance.
Oh, I'd forgotten just how good that was! Thank you!
Roll on July 4th.....
Labour enabled child abuse.
Michael Portillo - what a gent!
@PurushaDesa ooh. I didn't know that. I loved that film. Good job Ian putting him straight!
Let's hope there are lots of similar moments in 2024
Whenever I'm down I remember and watch this moment!! Get in! I will never forget that night! Awesome!
+Angela Pearson Clearly you still live in 1997 so you probably have very good reason to be "down" you unbearable old bint.
Ha Ha Ha!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!! Can't see you have much going for you either!
+David Jatt Glad I have wound you up made my life sooooo complete. Enjoy your life love I do so enjoy mine!!
Angela Pearson So you didn't even bother actually denying that you're a demented cow... or that you cried for Jihadi John's misunderstood multicultural soul when he died...
And instead you just merely settle for the erm **cough** "satisfaction"(lol) of your disgusting personality (rightfully) repulsing people and how it "winds people up" (despite the fact that my comments to you were really pretty calm)?
How brilliant I'm sure the whole world's really impressed.
+David Jatt Deary me love!! You know nothing at all about me. I despise ISIS and everything they stand for (any sane person would). I feel sorry you are so narrow minded that just because I am a working class girl from Manchester (who has worked all her life and never claimed benefits) and supports Labour you presume I would support any form of Terrorism. I loathe it as I do sad people like you.
Mr Twigg hasn't had a lasting effect on this country in the same way as Michael has
trains innit
I mean talking about trains and pretending he was never a tory politican probably helped that
do mps that have been voted out typically stand for election again?
Never gets old😂
His life after frontline politics is very successful making excellent television programmes
Proud to say this man is my MP
I remember that election evening. Portillo was in the BBC Pundit studio commentating on the election sure in the knowledge of re-election. The rumours started going round that Enfield Southgate was going to be tight and Portillo scuttled back to the constituency early in a panic.
"I'm the returning officer, and it's great to be back!"
Portillo, though professionally hurt, probably didn't get too down about this. I mean, he only lost his seat in the House Of Commons. Far worse things in life can happen than that.
Looking forward to the 2024 edition!
🌹🌹🌹🌹
Sorry to spoil the thunder of this somewhat, but the candidates are informed of the result before they walk up on stage.
Never beaten as the most joyous moment on TV!
Still very funny after all these years.
After 18 years the tories experienced humiliation like Jim Callaghan did in 1979. As Callaghan said in a documentary about his life Politics is circular.
Is David Mellor's defeat speech in 1997 on CZcams?
btw how far is this into the election night because i don't know which part it is on?
Without watching the full night election special, I'd say 3-4 hours in with the turn out size so skip to 1am onwards u be fine.. I know I posted this 5yr ago but hey
they'd have known the results before standing on stage, candidates are always told before hand to prevent breaking down and crying on stage
That seat has gone back to labour
@Admiral Sven yeah, one of the few ffs
@@michaelheeheejackson7255 one word for you: Demographics. That’s the only reason it’s shifted to labour.
@@wessexfox5197 i am aware
"At the local election HQ, Portillo remarked "Everyone around me, including the Labour workers, behaved towards me as though I'd been bereaved. They looked apologetic. I know I was a national figure of hate for Labour but you can only hate at a distance. The people in that room were Labour councillors that I'd worked with and liked. All evening, they treated me with courtesy and consideration""
- _Portillo Moment_ Wikipedia
On 12 December 2005, Twigg was arrested in central London for being drunk and incapable in a public place and taken to Marylebone police station. That’s some celebration, 8 years!
loved his railways program
I can remember watching and laughing at the time, but my views have changed.
Nice to see Elton doing his bit as the returning officer.
I watched this in a hospital room whilst in the process of giving birth. Gave me a good laugh as I momentarily forgot about the pain of the contractions.
Portillo would later return to Westminster, winning the Chelsea by-election
Love the bloke celebrating stalky's result
This almost makes me cry. I watched the election coverage all night in 1997 and when Twigg won, I danced around the room shouting "Yessssssssss! Yessss, Yesss, yessssss! It was a good thing that the result arrived in the small hours - if it hadn't, I would have 'phoned *everybody* I knew :-)
yep.
Yes Blair became a 3 time election winner, including 2005 after the Iraq War, and would have gone on to beat Cameron in 2010 if he had stayed on.
+Dale Ryan No, he wouldn't.
MR Robert Jameson there was no minimum wage before the labour win in 1997 and it was increased during the 15 years above the rate of inflation. Immigration had nothing to do with pay rates at that time