Matthew on 7/5/2010 at 15:50
Denying skinheads constitutional rights itt
More seriously, I don't like the idea of them getting in, but is that 12 seats figure based on 650 available seats? I know the LibDems wanted a reduction to 500, the Tories to 585.
R Soul on 7/5/2010 at 16:14
It's based on 650 because I applied the current voting percentages. With 500 seats they'd still get 10.
Also, starting with the percentages on the BBC's site, and rounding things off properly, the total seats came to 651, so which party would be happy to lose an MP to get the numbers right?
SubJeff on 7/5/2010 at 17:22
I can't believe Brown is still trying to hang on!
Matthew on 7/5/2010 at 17:26
Is SD still asleep or is he trying to help Lembit drown his sorrows? :p
Edit: and was Fermanagh and South Tyrone the closest-run constituency? After three recounts the margin of victory was by 4 votes.
jay pettitt on 7/5/2010 at 18:53
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Haaaaaaarrrr!
Yes, yes this result pleases me. As long as labor do not have a majority i'm a very happy man.
I'm glad somebody is happy.
Excepting the urge to shake my pom-poms for the awesome Caroline Lucas, things seem (to me at least) to be pretty unsatisfactory. New Labour did better than expected, which means that any hope for a resurgence of a socialist Labour rising from the party's ashes seem to be kicked into the long grass. Lib Dems have lost seats rather than gaining, putting them in a weak position to bargain in a coalition. And the Tories have enough of an advantage to hold parliament to ransom and prevent meaningful electoral reform (and make any 'uber' Lib/Tory coalition likely to falter) while not having sufficient oomph to make Tory voters happy. And because Lib and Lab have both come out of the election as relative losers, a Lab/Lib coalition that might at least instigate electoral reform while a coalition government lasted would also be an uneasy option.
Still, at least the UKIP campaign never really got off the ground.
Namdrol on 7/5/2010 at 19:08
Quote Posted by jay pettitt
Still, at least the UKIP campaign never really got off the ground.
Well, it did but came to earth with a bump. ;)
SD on 7/5/2010 at 20:00
Quote Posted by R Soul
The Liberal Democrats would gain more than 90 seats with the current vote, but I'm sure that's nothing to do with their support for PR. I'm sure they'd still support it if it would cost them seats.
You're goddamn right we would.
Quote Posted by R Soul
And the BNP would go from 0 seats to 12, so be careful what you wish for.
Under a strict party list system that treated the entire country as one constituency they would, but I think it's only Israel which has a system like that. Such a thing is not under serious consideration for the UK. Even with a more proportional voting system like STV or AV+, you need a fair percentage of the vote before you start getting any MPs.
Brian The Dog on 7/5/2010 at 21:03
Cool, thanks for clarifying. Since people like the BNP getting into Parliament was the main reason I was worried about PR, that's allayed my fears somewhat.
As Ulukai says, things are unsatisfactory for all the parties really, so assuming Cameron gets into power, he may well have another vote in 6-12 months time to try and establish a clear majority. Which is probably why he's not offering the LibDems much - a major piece of political reform for 6 months of support seems like a high price in the bargaining chips. The LibDems seem to be keen on at least abstaining on the Queens Speech and Economic Policies.
thefonz on 7/5/2010 at 21:57
Goddamnit I voted for Optimus Prime :erm:
