The General Election Thread

[Moo]

On Saturday one of the broadsheets published an Election Special, on the front page of which is a map of the UK with all the constituencies coloured in according to party. There are also a couple of pie-charts showing the relative percentage of the total votes and the relative number of seats.

Two things struck me about this page: whether you use the seats or the percentage charts, there is no clear majority party; and if you fold the paper in half, thus obscuring Scotland, all you see is a sea of blue (more dappled in Wales), punctuated by concentrated red in some of the big urban areas.

Out of curiosity I've been looking at election results since 1945 (http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/uktable.htm) which gives, among other figures, the percentages and seats for all three parties. I may be wrong (I only said I've been looking at, not studying the figures), but with a few exceptions PR wouldn't have made all that much difference - apart from the fact that the exceptions would have put the Libs/Lib Dems in the same king-making position as they are enjoying today.

 

[Nigel Watts]

It looks like we're going back to the Seventies! (pusilanimous Liberals propping up a clapped-out minority Labour government in thrall to big unions and with no ideas in the middle of an economic crsis)).

Thinking of re-growing my afro, if I have enough foicules left in my scalp. Otherwise long hair in a ponytail a la status quo? Anyone know where I can get a katfan?

 

[Moo]

For me, the really sad thing is that Nick Clegg, who was hailed as a breath of straight-talking fresh air, has turned out to be as untrustworthy as the rest of 'em. Or, given his elevation to King-Maker, further proof of that saying about power corrupting?

 

[Nigel Watts]

We once thought Nick Clegg
Such a very good egg
But who now can refute:
He's a cheap prostitute?

 

[Nigel Watts]

My Cleggihew was a pale shaddow compared to these:

Sir Henry Rider Haggard
Was completely staggered
When his bride-to-be
Announced, "I am She!"

Sir James Dewar
Is smarter than you are
None of you asses
Can liquify gases.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Nick Clegg, thought the Tories,
Knew what the score is.
But it all went to pot -
He is now Brown's harlot

I hope to complete my hat trick when I have thought of a suitable word to rhyme with "tart".

 

[philmac1944]

how about tarty /party
:wink:

 

[Schoolmarm]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Flyfisher]

It looks as though we may have a Progressive Coalition after all now, . . . . .

(All very exciting. But they may be doing the Tories a favour by grasping the poison chalice for long enough to make them unelectable at the next election.)

I think that's a very good point.

Everyone seems generally agreed that we're in for some hard times when someone finally gets around to dealing with our deficit instead of playing political games. A 'progressive coalition' of losers might be able to hold together for a year or so but I bet it'll be very messy and at the inevitable new general election the electorate may well not want to go through it all again. It'll only take a few more floating voters, or UKIP voters, to vote blue and the conservatives will take an overall majority and the discredited Clegg can kiss goodbye to PR in his lifetime.

Alternatively, a Con-Lib alliance could do similar things for Labour. Such an alliance would probably hold together for a bit longer but once the inevitable cuts start to bite people might be more disposed to give the new Labour leader a chance. Of course, it won't really be fair to blame the forthcoming cuts on whoever forms the next government but the concept of fairness seems to be increasingly irrelevant in British politics. Oh how we all laughed at the USA's 'hanging chads' debacle . . .

Perhaps we should give up all this 'British' nonsense and go for full devolution. As Moo pointed out earlier, we'd then have clear majority governments in England, Scotland and Wales and everyone would be happy.*





* OK, I made that last bit up!

 

[Nigel Watts]

On the way back from an outing to VV Rouleaux to look at trimmings for the lampshades I am making this came to me:

Nick Clegg, the Liberal leader
Was such an eye-pleaser.
He broke the Nation's heart
When he showed he was a tart.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Nick are you branded, unfairly, a knave?
Do you now leave Gordon for Dave?
You are so unkind
Not to make up your mind.

 

[LadyArowana]

..........................they are now hawking themselves around like a cheap tart.

Not really fair.... to cheap tarts, I doubt they take more than 4 days to decide who to get into bed with.

 

[Penners]

most electors didn't vote for a Tory government.

I'm not sure what branch of mathematics that comes from, but given that the electorate voted for the Conservatives to the tune of two million more than the second-runners, Labour, I find your calculation questionable.

Add together the Labour and Lib Dem seats in parliament and they still haven't got a majority over the Conservatives.

 

[Flyfisher]

most electors didn't vote for a Tory government.

If you're referring to actual votes then, yes, you're quite correct. But isn't that usually the case with UK elections?

Labour polled just under 37% of the total vote in 2005, so "most electors" didn't vote for them either.

 

[Carol]

Have now got fingers in my ears during news bulletins as I can't bear to listen and instead sat musing about what is used to paint the Downing Street door? Is it wood or steel and how do they get such a lovely smooth sheen?

Let me know when a government returns.

 

[Penners]

BROWN RESIGNS

There is a God.

 

[Feltwell]

There is a God.

That's questionable, as we're getting Cameron.

 

[Flyfisher]

:lol: Carol - I know what you mean. I recall reading somewhere that they have two doors for 10 Downing St so that one can be repainted in the background. Alright for some.

No idea if it's wood or steel though, although now that Downing St is cordoned off from the public and has a permanent police guard I would have thought that steel is a bit overkill. Anyway, would their CO agree? :wink:

Stop Press: Brown's now at the palace . . . seems a bit rude to disturb the Queen in evening. Couldn't it wait until the morning? Oh yes, of course, the PR people are thinking about the newspaper printing deadlines. :roll:

 

[philpjuk100]

OK! so he has been prime minister for over an hour,whats he done? NOTHING!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

The sun is shining. There is a new Conservative PM in 10 Downing Street. We have inherited a broken economy from Labour to put back together. Normal service has been resumed.

Incidentally, who was in charge of the gaff in between Brown resigning and Dave kissing hands? Please God tell me it wasn't Speaker Bercow!

And one more worrying thought - if Calamity Clegg really is Deputy PM, then he's in charge when SamCam gives birth and Dave takes paternity leave.