UK General Election - May 7th 2015 (The Official Election Day & Results Thread)

[ag]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Parliamentary Party end up defecting as the LD organisation could suffer atrophy in certain areas in the next few months.

Carmichael - the Viking Islands - to some kind of Scottish Unionists.
Clegg himself to the Tories
Don't know enough about John Pugh or Southport to make an intelligent suggestion
Farron might remain in the LDs as the local organisation is v strong in the Lakes.
Williams - Ceredigion - another absolute stalwart area, but Plaid Cymru or Labour is not beyond the realm
Tom Brake - Carshalton - given the area, Conservative is the natural home, but don't know enough about his views to see if that would be palatable.

They survived worse. Why would they disappear now?

[Barnes]

Sources say that Miliband will be gone by lunchtime.

that's a clever line, but other 'sources' suggest he holds the leadership until Labour picks a new one.  you need a face to deal with

Wouldn't be necessary as Harman could take over as interim leader as she did in 2010.

[MaxQue]

LD hold Bristol West. At least, 7.

No. Labour won it 36-27 over Greens. LD 3rd at 19%.

[ObserverIE]

LD hold Bristol West. At least, 7.

Nope. Third place as expected behind Labour and the Greens and the vote down 29%.

North Devon lost.

North Norfolk and perhaps(?) Leeds North West and Cheadle are the only remaining hopes.

[ag]

LD hold Bristol West. At least, 7.

Seems like another Sky error. Lab gain.

[Peter]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Parliamentary Party end up defecting as the LD organisation could suffer atrophy in certain areas in the next few months.

Carmichael - the Viking Islands - to some kind of Scottish Unionists.
Clegg himself to the Tories
Don't know enough about John Pugh or Southport to make an intelligent suggestion
Farron might remain in the LDs as the local organisation is v strong in the Lakes.
Williams - Ceredigion - another absolute stalwart area, but Plaid Cymru or Labour is not beyond the realm
Tom Brake - Carshalton - given the area, Conservative is the natural home, but don't know enough about his views to see if that would be palatable.

They survived worse. Why would they disappear now?

The MPs who soldiered on in the 50s-70s knew exactly what they were getting into when they became MP -  a small rump presence, at least some of whom were supported by local deals with either Conservative or Labour parties. The present day MPs have all been MPs in a period when the LDs have been the third party of the UK, and are suddenly reduced to fifth party status with all the damnation that entails.

[Barnes]

The BBC has David Butler on their program.  My night has been made - I've been missing his commentary all night.

[ag]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Parliamentary Party end up defecting as the LD organisation could suffer atrophy in certain areas in the next few months.

Carmichael - the Viking Islands - to some kind of Scottish Unionists.
Clegg himself to the Tories
Don't know enough about John Pugh or Southport to make an intelligent suggestion
Farron might remain in the LDs as the local organisation is v strong in the Lakes.
Williams - Ceredigion - another absolute stalwart area, but Plaid Cymru or Labour is not beyond the realm
Tom Brake - Carshalton - given the area, Conservative is the natural home, but don't know enough about his views to see if that would be palatable.

They survived worse. Why would they disappear now?

The MPs who soldiered on in the 50s-70s knew exactly what they were getting into when they became MP -  a small rump presence, at least some of whom were supported by local deals with either Conservative or Labour parties. The present day MPs have all been MPs in a period when the LDs have been the third party of the UK, and are suddenly reduced to fifth party status with all the damnation that entails.

But they have the traditions to maintain Except for the last 5 years they have always been the hopeless also runs: the difference between minor third and fifth is not that big.  They still have a base of 2 mln. votes: and that is the hardcore that can be built on. A lot better than the greens. And, unlike UKIP, they are nicely concentrated in places.

We shall see. Hopefully, they survive. Or they will have to be invented anew

[ag]

Hopefully, the Norfolk North hold is not Sky misreport.

[Talleyrand]

Morley and Outwood recount (Ed Balls' seat).

[© tweed]

why does every victor feel the need to thank the police?  don't British police not kill people?

[Peter]

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Parliamentary Party end up defecting as the LD organisation could suffer atrophy in certain areas in the next few months.

Carmichael - the Viking Islands - to some kind of Scottish Unionists.
Clegg himself to the Tories
Don't know enough about John Pugh or Southport to make an intelligent suggestion
Farron might remain in the LDs as the local organisation is v strong in the Lakes.
Williams - Ceredigion - another absolute stalwart area, but Plaid Cymru or Labour is not beyond the realm
Tom Brake - Carshalton - given the area, Conservative is the natural home, but don't know enough about his views to see if that would be palatable.

They survived worse. Why would they disappear now?

The MPs who soldiered on in the 50s-70s knew exactly what they were getting into when they became MP -  a small rump presence, at least some of whom were supported by local deals with either Conservative or Labour parties. The present day MPs have all been MPs in a period when the LDs have been the third party of the UK, and are suddenly reduced to fifth party status with all the damnation that entails.

But they have the traditions to maintain Except for the last 5 years they have always been the hopeless also runs: the difference between minor third and fifth is not that big.  They still have a base of 2 mln. votes: and that is the hardcore that can be built on. A lot better than the greens. And, unlike UKIP, they are nicely concentrated in places.

We shall see. Hopefully, they survive. Or they will have to be invented anew

There is a big difference between 3rd and 5th in terms of Westminster organisation. No formal whips office, so no formal right to nominate members to committees. Their committee seats will be entirely in the gift of the other 3.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Hopefully, the Norfolk North hold is not Sky misreport.

Confirmed by the BBC page.

Taunton Deane, however, is gone.

[Barnes]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits.  

[Bacon King]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits. 

speaking of deposits, at this point in the night the Liberal Democrats have lost £141,500

[Peter]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits. 

speaking of deposits, at this point in the night the Liberal Democrats have lost £141,500

Mortgaging the entire Lake District should cover it.

[Tender Branson]

These results are not really unexpected. The voters just waited until election day and the Tories reap the rewards of the strong economy while the LibDems crash like the FDP. Labour gets killed because of the SNP-surge in Scotland. Funny thought that the Tories might even get their own majority (or slightly not, like the CDU in 2013).

Anyway, watching UK election night coverage is really painful: I just stayed up for the exit poll, because even if you wake up at 6am, there was not even 1/2 of the constituencies in. 7-12 hours of crystal ball reading and pundit talk until you have the final results ...

[Barnes]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits. 

speaking of deposits, at this point in the night the Liberal Democrats have lost £141,500

They might be able to cover that when they liquidate.

[Barnes]

I will say one thing: I am quite glad that all this chatter of the new "pluralistic, multi-party" system is over.  Wasn't going to happen and was quite annoying.

[Chancellor of the Duchy of Little Lever and Darcy Lever]

The BBC has David Butler on their program.  My night has been made - I've been missing his commentary all night.

His putdown of Jeremy Vine was sublime.  If I get to ninety with even half his faculties I'll be blessed.

[Barnes]

New BBC prediction has an overall Tory majority of three.  Looks like we're at October 1974.

[Talleyrand]

Apparently Labour requested the recount in Morley and Outwood.

It seems very likely Ed Balls has lost.

[136or142]

Why does it take over 9 hours to count the ballots?

[ObserverIE]

Lab gain Chester and Dewsbury.

The Lib Dems hold Leeds North West, bringing them to 8. Cheadle and St. Austell both lost.

[ag]

Remember that recounts don't always (or even usually) mean a close result.  Of course, with Balls's seat it should be very close, but usually recount requests come from smaller candidates trying to save their deposits. 

speaking of deposits, at this point in the night the Liberal Democrats have lost £141,500

They might be able to cover that when they liquidate.

Well, that would leave Britain without a single party worth rooting for Hopefully, the 2 mln. voters could pay, what is it, 7 pence each, to invest in their country's future.