BBC NEWS: Exit Poll Suggests Labour Victory

BBC News ^ | Thursday, 5 May, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

Tony Blair is on course to win an historic third term for Labour but with a much reduced majority, according to a joint BBC/ITV exit poll.

The poll suggests Mr Blair's majority will be reduced from 160 to 66.

The findings - based on 13,000 voters from 320 polling stations in marginal seats - were announced as polls closed in the 2005 general election.

Counting is now underway with the first results of the night expected shortly after 2300 BST.

[SheLion]

OMG! Three postings the same???? What the 'ell?????

[RoseofTexas]

What time do the polls close? And when will we hear who won? I'm a bit confused on the parties, but I guess either one will do...right??

[Phocion]

A close Labour victory could be the worst possible outcome for Americans, if it leads to the early departure of Blair.

[MplsSteve]

I'm listening to BBC Radio via the 'Net.

They're saying that Labour will have a 66 seat majority based on early exit polling.

All in all, BBC Radio seems relatively balanced.

[RoseofTexas]

If Blair is booted out, which for the snakes known as the omWHORES go orgasmic!

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Thanks. Everything you wrote is spot-on and makes perfect sense. Especially this:

"The reason American conservatives tend to like Blair despite his liberal social positions is that his social positions don't affect America, while his support for America obviously does. If you care about social issues in the UK, though, Blair is a liberal."

[RoseofTexas]

OMG..I goofed...meant WATCH instead of WHICH...yikes, I'm so confused...LOL..;o]

[Donna Lee Nardo]

VRWCisme's post here is interesting.

[texasmountainman]

If this exit poll is accurate and as a result Labour loses that many seats and Blair ends up stepping aside for Brown, what does that bode for Great Britain's commitment to the coalition in Iraq? Would Brown stay the course? Or would he begin pulling out British troops?

[VRWCisme]

Thank you; I do try!

I was in London recently, and I felt a bit torn when I heard the politic discussions--like you, I prefer someone who is more conservative and less prone to supporting the socialism that has overtaken Europe, and Blair is not, yet the conservative party was attacking him for supporting the US. The election of more conservative MPs could affect the socialism and EU issues to some degree but it could also open the door for someone who will be less of a US ally when the going gets tough.

[wardaddy]

I would bet he is pro-abort.

I doubt any politician short of the National Front in Britain is anti-abortion.

[warsaw44]

God Bless Scotsman Tony Blair!~

[Southack]

"OK, but specifically what does Labour want done, that Blair hasn't done?"

Fully a third or more of Labour wanted Blair to fight Bush over Iraq. More than two thirds of them want to currently tuck tail and run from Iraq ASAP, too.

By and large, Labour favors the EU and the EU constitution and can't stand that Blair sold some state assets (i.e. privatized them).

Labour is mostly old-style socialists; Blair is a Third-Way kind of man.

Kudos to Blair for standing with the U.S. over Iraq and Afghanistan; catcalls, boos, and hisses to the Tories who turned on their American friends in order to turn Iraq into political gain for them against Blair.

The Tories sold out their conservative principles for short-term political gain; aided by the corrupt BBC that wanted to bring Blair down so that the old-style socialists could regain control of Labour over the Blair Third-Way men.

As it stands today up to half of Labour and half of the Tories are corrupt and without ethical principles.

Britain therefor stands, stealthily I might add, at the threshold of a potential political realignment. The upcoming EU votes will likely tell that tale, though.

[roses of sharon]

Any up-and-coming Tories that are good conservatives? Any hope? Any political stars for the future? It would be great to see political speech from a conservative that is a little radical, (for Britain).

Thanks for the info.

[Soul Seeker]

I agree entirely with your post #53.

I have no respect for the Tories. I have no respect for Labor. I have no respect for Howard. The only man I have respect for currently is Tony Blair. My support is, as from your post I assume the same, unapologetic for this man.

Given how Great Britain has tossed aside Churchill... tossed aside Thatcher...I wouldn't find it a stretch if they tossed aside Blair.

Britain therefor stands, stealthily I might add, at the threshold of a potential political realignment. The upcoming EU votes will likely tell that tale, though.

Agreed. This election was significant as our own Nov. 2nd was. A coarse has been chosen. With our own election that coarse was easier to decipher, there remains a question mark over where britain is headed but we'll soon find out.

[littlelilac]

in other words in Parliamentary democracies you can mutiny against your own leader any time really, you don't have to wait until a convention every four years.....

Martin in Canada forced Chretien to retire sooner than he wanted to......in other words we get PMs we the people didn't necessarily vote for...we have to wait until the next national election to affirm or reject that new PM

[colorado tanker]

......in other words we get PMs we the people didn't necessarily vote for...

True, although that's not always a bad thing. In Britain, the Labour parliamentary party historically has been more conservative, mostly center-left, than the party base, much of which is loony left.

[littlelilac]

it's called forcing a leadership review...

rumours are abounding that the liberal wing of the new Conservative Party in Canada is planning a mutiny on Harper if he loses the next election......

[traviskicks]

http://www.neoperspectives.com/governmenthealth.htm

Some stories about failing british health and dental care at the bottom. Did you know they have a 'jobseekers allowance' in Britian?

[neodanite]

I forget, were Americans supposed to send letters to Britons telling them who they should vote for and why?