UK Election

[culloty82]

Looks like the Lib Dems are headed for government as both Brown and Cameron are offering a full coalition. I agree they should go in with Labour - things are looking more optimistic than they were this morning, because as things stand they have 319 including SDLP and the Alliance, and leaving out SF's 5, they only need 323. All that needs to be done then is offer more autonomy to the nationalists and they would put them over the line from the sidelines, while the Tories are fairly stuck unless Clegg bites. In any case, most Lib Dem members would be centre-left and would be tempted by Brown's PR proposals, whereas Cameron is only floating vague waffle at the moment.

[The Fly]

Iris Robinson phoned Peter after the election result and said: "Now you know what it is like to get a good hammering by a youngster a three in the morning."

[Poor Student]

I still think Gildernew might scrape Fermanagh South Tyrone. The move to put forward a Unionist unity candidate might galvanise the nationalist vote around Sinn Fein. The SDLP have ran Tommy Gallagher every time since 1992 until now and McKinney might not be able to retain the support base from his work over the last couple of decades. The Alliance are also running for the first time since 1997 although it's hard to guess how many votes they'll take off both sides. Connor will be the favourite but I don't think it's a dead cert.

Looks like I was right on this one.

[Closed Account 2]

Scotland the brave has spared the rest of the UK from the horror show that would have been an outright David Cameron victory. There was something of the Thatcher about him and luckily depsite all the Ashcroft/Goldsmith funding, voter conscience and memories of the 80s seems to have jolted the population back from the brink.

I hope Clegg doesnt turn into some Manchurian Candidate....

[superfrank]

On the whole problems with voters being turned away, etc., I found this piece to be quite interesting. Especially the Tanzanian guy saying: "This wouldn't happen in my country."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8668395.stm

[The Fly]

Reg Empey is sunk. Apparently, Mike Nesbitt is to be the new party leader, and they're going to rebrand as Ulster Conservative and Unionist New Team..... or UCUNT for short.

[culloty82]

No white smoke yet, but I'd imagine things will finish either way by this time tomorrow. Brown seemingly met Clegg today, so no options being kept off the table yet.

[thischarmingman]

Brown to stand down:

STATE OF PLAY: Lib Dems start formal talks with Labour as well as Tories; Brown to quit




5.07pm Swift reversal

This is astonishing. A Lib/Lab coalition is once again on the cards - and Gordon Brown falls on his sword to help it happen.

We could be in line for another unelected prime minister, and David Cameron may have let the keys to number 10 slip through his fingers.

5.05pm Brown to stand down

This is it. He'll see through coalition talks, then stand down in time for a leadership election at the Labour Party conference.

So, farewell then, Gordon Brown.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/election10/

[osarusan]

Brown to stand down:



http://timesonline.typepad.com/election10/

This was always going to happen. Clegg was never going to work with him.

Labour just waited so the resignation as leader is portrayed as "stepping down to help bring about a government" instead of "stepping down after losing an election".

[culloty82]

What a dramatic day - Brown stepping down, the Libs talking to both parties at once, and now the Tories are panicking and offering a referendum on the Alternate Vote PR system. Who knows, maybe if Clegg holds out another 24 hours, he might squeeze STV out of Labour. I'd say it'll take til Thursday until a deal is done either way.

[Macy]

What a dramatic day - Brown stepping down, the Libs talking to both parties at once, and now the Tories are panicking and offering a referendum on the Alternate Vote PR system. Who knows, maybe if Clegg holds out another 24 hours, he might squeeze STV out of Labour. I'd say it'll take til Thursday until a deal is done either way.

Not sure whether AV would be enough for the Liberals, assuming that Labour offer AV+. Although I was reading that there may be complications with AV+ in that it would require the boundary commission to redraw consituencies and whether there would be enough time given the liklehood of a relatively early general election.

On a lighter note, and I can't get it from work, but if you can access youtube check out Adam Boulton totally losing the plot with Alastair Campbell live on Sky News yesterday. Brilliant telly. Edit - two links of the "Raging Boul" here

[Dodge]

Yeah, Boulter was hilarious. There's a clip of kay Burleigh losing it on Sky news too. They've never really hid their allegiance but I can't remember it being so brazen...


Also think the right wing media's portrayal of labour's bid for power hilarious. "hey! they're a political party and they won't let the parties they think would ruin the country into power!"

[pineapple stu]

the Tories are panicking and offering a referendum on the Alternate Vote PR system.

Presumably 60% of the people will vote for reform, so it'll be defeated?

[dahamsta]

I watched Boulton flipping outside Westminister live, it was brilliant; reminded me of John Sweeney going mental on the Scientologist. Bittersweet moment though, hate seeing that slimebag Campbell "win".

[culloty82]

So Cameron has taken over as UK PM, strangely the Lib Dems still haven't officially signed off on the deal yet, but that looks like a formality at this stage. I'd say they'll end up like our Greens, as they leak support, members and seats to Labour.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Not sure what the LD's will get out of this, except being the straight guy to Cam, a Moron's antics, as he strives to help all his fellow Old Etonians down to their last million....

Maybe the LD's can curb their worst excesses but don't reckon this'll last more than 2-3 years as eventually the relative grassroots will fall out over spending cuts and Europe where their views diverge.
The trouble is for Clegg & co, they almost had to look for some sort of coalition to try to force through an element of PR, besides the right-wing media would have branded them (& will do when the pact falls) 'irresponsible' for not backing their 'nice' Tory mates in some sort of 'Unity' government.
The best the Brit.electorate can hope for is that the Tories inevitably will force through some crass legislation, for which they'll be rightly hated, but the LD's can appear 'heroic' by not supporting them.

Labour should take time to reflect, find hopefully a non-Blair-like leader and take stock about PR, as they should be more mature about trying to support such in the longer-term and leave the Tories looking like the dinosaurs we all know they are.....along with their 'friends' in the North!

[dahamsta]

It's FF+PD/FF+Green all over again. The tail wagging the dog, badly; or just thinking they are.

Labour'll be in the wilderness for a while now, there's no-one worthy of party leader there, never mind PM. It'll be rather amusing to watch them casting blindly about for a decent leader in almost exactly the same way the Tories have done for the past decade.

[peadar1987]

It's FF+PD/FF+Green all over again. The tail wagging the dog, badly; or just thinking they are.

Labour'll be in the wilderness for a while now, there's no-one worthy of party leader there, never mind PM. It'll be rather amusing to watch them casting blindly about for a decent leader in almost exactly the same way the Tories have done for the past decade.

Or it would be if the Tories weren't tearing the country to shreds in the meantime. The whole "big society" thing is a load of balls, look at Hammersmith for Cameron's vision of his conservative Utopia.

[OneRedArmy]

It certainly could turn into FF/Green/PDs all over again, but there are a few important differences that could make it different:

1) The LibDems aren't propping up a failed incumbent (as the Greens are doing) and as the Tories haven't been in power for well over a decade, both parties can't collectively be blamed for the fiscal austerity that is required

2) With people like Vince Cable and a few other grey hairs in the background, I would hope the LibDems won't be as politically naive as the Greens have proved to be. This is the biggest risk for me, boxsets of Yes Minister should be required watching for all Libdem MPs.

3) Regardless of anything else, if the LibDems secure a material move in the direction of PR, short of the whole country fiscally imploding, then they will view the coalition as a long-term win. This has been their most consistent policy for almost 4 decades and any move away from first past the post would be hugely significant.

[Dodge]

I'd imagine the first big battleground between the Conservative Home side of the Tories and the LibDems will be Europe. It could be the best thing ever to happen to labour though as it gives them space to place themselves back on the left