British General Elections Live Thread

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 05/07/10 | Daily Telegraph

[TonyInOhio]

The 2010 General Elections in the United Kingdom are underway, and the first results will trickle in in the next few hours. Post your observations here, and let's all root for the Tories!

[GeronL]

What the heck is Plan Cymru??

[Vanders9]

But rebellions against government bills are not uncommon. And the “free votes” cover important things, usually of an ethical nature. Abortion for example. Or the annual debate on restoration of the death penalty.

[GeronL]

didn’t they use to vote for the party instead of the person?

[Vanders9]

Plaid Cymru. Its gaelic. It means, literally, “party of wales”

Welsh Nationalists.

[goldstategop]

A regional Welsh nationalist party. In Wales, they speak a form of Gaelic related to Irish just across the Irish Sea to the west.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[UKrepublican]

Welsh nationalists. Plaid Cymru

[goldstategop]

Yes but they're not that frequent. And backbenchers get an opportunity to get a bill amended in committee before it ever comes up for a floor vote.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[GeronL]

DUP has won some seats, Tory coalition partner?

[GeronL]

High Peak, goes Con from Lab

[goldstategop]

They've always voted for the person. In practice though, one party will hold a seat for a very long time and people always vote for the candidate of that party. The reason changes of government take place at all is because there is no gerrymandering to benefit the party in power.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[Vanders9]

That is exactly what happens. The "exit poll" they are talking about is basically made by asking people who they voted for as they "exit" the polling station. Under UK electoral law they are NOT allowed to give the results of such a poll until the polling stations officially close at 10PM (it is feared that such polls and projections on the day might materially influence people voting). Obviously there are "projections", based on polls and so on before the election, but they are all unofficial and, as we are seeing, they can be well out because of regional and local variations.

[GeronL]

The Conservatives put up a lot of female candidates this year on purpose, has it helped them?

[goldstategop]

But their leader lost his seat. A shocker, which seldom happens. It would be like the US House Speaker losing his seat which happened back in 1994.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[Vanders9]

Potentially.

[GeronL]

Eastbourne, Con loses to LD

[propertius]

Not taking Lib Dem seats. I think we are heading for hung parliament. Exit poll looking more credible

[goldstategop]

Well... the Democrats here ran more conservative candidates for House seats in the last three elections, giving them big majorities. So yes, affirmative action in politics, as much as we dislike it, can be a political asset.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[GeronL]

maybe

[Vanders9]

Doesn’t seem to have done them any harm. Labour put up quite a few too. In fact, the first three labour victories of the night went to female candidates.

[GeronL]

Cons are doing nothing in Scotland. aargh