UK General Election - May 7th 2015 (The Official Campaign Thread)

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I know what I'll be watching on C-SPAN this weekend!

What time does it come on?

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Though it's worth noting that Farage was... off. He lost it a couple of times and even insulted the audience. His closing statement was embarrassing: he was sweating profusingly, breathing heavily and his speech seemed rushed.

Yeah, that was a bit odd. Especially since it was Nigel Farage.

Maybe he had one pint too many.

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How do you make those maps, I know using google earth? Apologies if it's been mentioned elsewhere....

And an SNP-Labour-Green coalition is looking likely. The latter if they gain a few more seats.

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Drinking game: shot every time someone says 'too-close-to-call' between now and about 3-4am on May 8th.

Now why would you want someone to get alcohol poisoning?

YouGov did a cool thing on "Where 2010 voters are today":

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"Cameron heart not in it"

http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2015/04/22/cameron-has-wanted-out-for-a-while-just-wants-to-go-out-on-a-high-tim-montgomerie/

Didn't he make a pledge to only serve out the next term and then quit? That struck me as odd; normally PMs don't do that and for a good reason.

I guess that makes more sense now.

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Is there a chance that Sinn Féin will take their seats if it make a difference in being about to bring down a shaky coalition minority government, especially a CON one?

For some reason I doubt they'll break 100 years of "true patriotism" to do that.

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So what exactly is going to be Miliband's line when he inevitably goes into a coalition with Sturgeon?

A coalition means more than one party having seats in cabinet. There is zero chance of the SNP having or even wanting cabinet ministers who would be making decisions for the entire UK.

They would probably get the Scottish Secretary post, though.

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If, and I realize that this is a highly improbable if, no party proves capable of forming a government, is there anyone Elizabeth could call on to form an apolitical caretaker government pending a new election? I not interested at the moment on whether she would do that, but only if there is anyone she could call on, such as perhaps a crossbench Lord.

No. Cameron would again carry on as a careholder. He is in power until replaced.

Is there anything in the British law that would prevent something like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Australian_constitutional_crisis

Considering about half of that couldn't take place due to the House of Lords not being like the Australian Senate, no, there isn't.

[Vega]

If, and I realize that this is a highly improbable if, no party proves capable of forming a government, is there anyone Elizabeth could call on to form an apolitical caretaker government pending a new election? I not interested at the moment on whether she would do that, but only if there is anyone she could call on, such as perhaps a crossbench Lord.

No. Cameron would again carry on as a careholder. He is in power until replaced.

Is there anything in the British law that would prevent something like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Australian_constitutional_crisis

Considering about half of that couldn't take place due to the House of Lords not being like the Australian Senate, no, there isn't.

Well, obviously, I was not asking about that half

And, BTW, a minority might not be able to get the supply

Well then, no, there isn't, at least not one that I'm aware of.

[Vega]

If the UK had elections like Atlasia, with rank order voting by constituency, who do you think would have the better chance of winning? It seems as if it might be as close as the present state of affairs. Is there any chat about doing it that way, rather than the proportional system? The present system seem to reward the informed (the clever tactical voters), and punish the ignorant (who just throw their vote away).

That would probably favor the Tories and the Lib Dems, I'd imagine.

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Labour - 76
Conservatives - 68
UKIP - 64
Lib Dems - 58

Also, how is George Galloway doing in Bradford West?

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Can the Fixed Terms Parliament act be repealed with a simple majority?

No parliament can bind its successors.

Woah, so Parliament can't repeal laws passed by another parliament? That's rather surprising.

Shame too. FTPA is a horrible bill.

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Can the Fixed Terms Parliament act be repealed with a simple majority?

No parliament can bind its successors.

Woah, so Parliament can't repeal laws passed by another parliament? That's rather surprising.

Shame too. FTPA is a horrible bill.

Exact opposite of what you are interpretting.

The FTPA can be amended or entirely repealed by a simple majority.

Expect it to be.

Ahh, thanks.

I haven't heard Miliband say anything about it. Though I suppose it's one of those things that repealing sound unpopular to the uninformed public.