LIVE THREAD: UK Election Results (Update - Early Exit Polls Show Tory Upset)

BBC ^ | May 5, 2005 | anonymous

[prairiebreeze]

I never trust any polls ;^)! I suspect they won't be born out. Somebody posted a link to an article that talked about low Labor turnout, but that might have been from when it was still early.

How much longer are the polls open?

[Republican Red]

I hope the BBC exit polls are better than the ones in the US favoring John Kerry in early afternoon!

I am reminded of a quote by Roger Ailes, head of Fox News, who answered a question from a Congressional inquiry into 2000 election coverage about why polls were so off. He said:

When Republicans come out of polls, if you ask them a question, they tend to think it’s none of your business and Democrats want to ‘share their feelings’

If these are exit polls showing Tories winning and the Ailes theorem applies, it should be a blow-out.

[MadIvan]

I can't find anything on turnout or exit polls.

Regards, Ivan

[snugs]

I think CSpan will be covering it later

[Dane]

What is the story here so far? Is Blair losing -- and if he does, is that bad for us?

Rush stated in his first hour that the Tories in the UK may be headed for an historic upset, according to exit polls. No one knows if Rush was being tongue in cheek or not.

Polls in the UK close at 5:00 Eastern time, and then we shall see.

If Micheal Howard(torie) does get in as PM, IMO, it would be a case of possible greatness in history being thrust upon him.

[snugs]

Thank you for that comment Prairie

[HostileTerritory]

Cut taxes, cut defense spending, ...?

[MadIvan]

We'd be joining the Australians in having a Conservative PM named Howard.

Not that I mind them setting a trend...

Regards, Ivan

[gopwinsin04]

Waston made the point above that I was going to make, most of the time it is absoluetly unheard of for a conservative canidate to be have the exit polling going in his favor and then have it turn around that evening.

In fact the conservatives may end up getting even more votes.

[Liberty Valance]

I've iced down a sixer of Newcastle Brown Ale in anticipation of an upset. If not...well, I'll drink it anyway! ;o)

[snugs]

I am interested what made you think of our country as poor and something out of the 1950s, serious question I am always inerested in what other people think of my country.

We are in fact the 4th richest country in the world as Michael Howard keeps reminding us and telling us to behave as such.

[Allegra]

Our polls had Kerry a shoe-in until the normal people had a chance to vote.

ROFL! I love the way you put this.

[gopwinsin04]

I would venture a guess that Rush is getting his numbers from the Washington Times' Tony Blankley, who frequently guests on that McLaughlin program.

[gary_b_UK]

It is a criminal offense to publish any information in the UK on how people have voted before the polls close.

The two pollsters doing the exit poll, MORI and NOP, will forward information on exit polls during the day to the two main news networks, BBC and ITN. Someone may have got round the criminal offense by forwarding the information to people in America, where they can then be "published".

All this is quite strange.

[MadIvan]

Oh indeed. But in my constituency, they don't count the Tory votes, they weigh them - Tyrie won't have any problems. I find him totally uninspiring, but never mind.

Regards, Ivan

[snugs]

Conservative in Britain is also for less government involvement in your life less centralization and more local control.

[Primetimedonna]

Has anyone actually seen these mythical exit polls? The only people who will be doing exit polls are BBC, ITN and Sky News and there's no way they'll release before the polls close. I've seen nothing on any British news source on this.

Is Rush the only one commenting on these polls? Is he "punking" his listeners?!?!?!

[MadIvan]

They can comment on turnout, I believe - that's the bit I find interesting. I haven't found anything on that.

Regards, Ivan

[Howlin]

I know so little about their politics. I hope it doesn't hurt our friendship with them.