Eenuh Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 I just tried reading up a bit on what this hung parliament means, but to be honest I still don't get it much. =P Over here we just get multiple parties to form the government, seems in the UK only one party can (if and only if they have the majority of the votes)? Also, people not being able to vote? That's kinda sad. You'd think it be better organised. Do all places still use paper ballots there (so not switched to computer yet)?
Serebii Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 I just tried reading up a bit on what this hung parliament means, but to be honest I still don't get it much. =POver here we just get multiple parties to form the government, seems in the UK only one party can (if and only if they have the majority of the votes)? Also, people not being able to vote? That's kinda sad. You'd think it be better organised. Do all places still use paper ballots there (so not switched to computer yet)? Yeah they are paper, not even electronically counted. They have to get a certain amount of seats, 326 to be precise, to be guaranteed to be sworn in by the Queen. If all parties get lower, then we get the hung parliament. The current leader can form a coalition with the other parties to try and get into power and get the majority. This is done by seeing if the parties can get a common ground. So it's probable that Labour and the Lib Dems will negotiate something and boom, Labour in charge despite not having the majority.
Charlie Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 (edited) I just tried reading up a bit on what this hung parliament means, but to be honest I still don't get it much. =POver here we just get multiple parties to form the government, seems in the UK only one party can (if and only if they have the majority of the votes)? Also, people not being able to vote? That's kinda sad. You'd think it be better organised. Do all places still use paper ballots there (so not switched to computer yet)? I think it's shocking that it's the current PM who gets the first chance at getting into power in the case of a hung Parliament. Surely it should be the leader of the party who got the most votes? And yeah it's ridiculous that people were turned away from polling stations, people have a right to vote. One polling station ran out of ballot papers which is beyond belief. How this can happen is outrageous, there should be an instant enquiry into this monumental cock up. Results in Scotland are as follows: Labour: 41 seats (no change from 2005, although picked up the 2 seats they lost in a by-elections) Lib Dem: 10 seats (no change) SNP: 6 seats (no change) Conservative: 1 seat (no change) My home constituency is Labour yet again which is fine for me as Ann Mcguire does a decent job and is always very approachable and willing to talk to you. Edited May 7, 2010 by Charlie
Eenuh Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Ah, I've been voting electronically for years now already, though not all places here have it. Guess it's not without its share of problems either... though no chance of running out of paper heh. =P Coalitions here are the only option here. It's impossible for a party to get the majority here, so there are always coalitions being formed. Then again we seem to have lots of different parties, whereas the UK only seems to have three big ones plus a few smaller others?
EEVILMURRAY Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 The alternative election shizzle was fun, but I couldn't stay up and watch it all, it was meant to finish at 1 but surely went on for longer than that. Wanted to catch the last Fonejacker bit.
nightwolf Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Its very worrying that a lot of people weren't able to vote, specially at hallam which is basically down the road. It seemed quite peaceful yesterday morning..?
Dyson Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Clegg has pretty much just announced Liberals are jumping in to bed with Conservatives. Does this essentially mean my vote went Tory?
chairdriver Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Optimistically, at least that means the Tories will be slightly more Liberal in order to appease their partners.
MoogleViper Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 I went to bed. How come some votes aren't announced? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/default.stm
Will Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Clegg has pretty much just announced Liberals are jumping in to bed with Conservatives. Does this essentially mean my vote went Tory? Hasn't he just confirmed what he's said all along - that the party with the most votes should be allowed the chance at forming a government first? I went to bed. How come some votes aren't announced?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/default.stm Some people aren't very quick counters.
Jimbob Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Clegg has pretty much just announced Liberals are jumping in to bed with Conservatives. Does this essentially mean my vote went Tory? Theoretically he has. But Gordon Brown gets the first chance to try a coalition, but if the Liberals want to side with Conservatives then we have a Conservative/Liberal government. But as the Conservatives have majority seats (not the 326 to auto-win), they get a chance to form government if the Queen lets them. Have to see won't we.
Will Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Looks like this could be sorted pretty quickly. Here's hoping Clegg and Cameron can sort something out by the end of the day.
BlueStar Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Sun headline is BRITAIN REJECTS BROWN Somehow they've missed out the subheading "Doesn't think much of Cameron either."
Serebii Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 This is why our system doesn't work. It's all mixed. Votes don't all count for the same amount. That's how it should be Party Seats Gain Loss Net Votes % +/-% Conservative 291 95 3 +92 10,213,492 36.0 +3.9 Labour 251 2 89 -87 8,307,487 29.3 -6.3 Liberal Democrat 52 8 13 -5 6,481,602 22.9 +1.0 I mean Lib Dems only got 1.9 million less votes than Labour but have so many less seats. Conservatives got 1.9 million more than Labour and only got a further 40 seats.
Charlie Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 This is why our system doesn't work. It's all mixed. Votes don't all count for the same amount. That's how it should be Party Seats Gain Loss Net Votes % +/-% Conservative 291 95 3 +92 10,213,492 36.0 +3.9 Labour 251 2 89 -87 8,307,487 29.3 -6.3 Liberal Democrat 52 8 13 -5 6,481,602 22.9 +1.0 I mean Lib Dems only got 1.9 million less votes than Labour but have so many less seats. Conservatives got 1.9 million more than Labour and only got a further 40 seats. Which is exactly why the Lib Dems are wanting to change the electoral system to a version of proportional representation so that percentage of votes = percentage of seats. That will be one of the main things they are going for if they do indeed strike up a coalition with the Conservatives.
Supergrunch Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Labour + Lib Dem coalition = no thanks. Labour minority = really no thanks. Conservative minority = no thanks. Conservative + Lib Dem coalition = yes please. This is quite fun, although disappointing in terms of the Lib Dems. Oh well, at least they got the (safe) seat in my constituency.
gaggle64 Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Seriously disappointed by the Lib Dem showing yet relieved that the Conservative haven't got it all their own way. Mixed emotions all round it seems.
MoogleViper Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 I just hope lib dems are able to change the voting system. Labour + Lib Dem coalition = no thanks.Labour minority = really no thanks. Conservative minority = no thanks. Conservative + Lib Dem coalition = yes please. This is quite fun, although disappointing in terms of the Lib Dems. Oh well, at least they got the (safe) seat in my constituency. Why do you want them to side with Tories?
martinist Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Looks like Dumfries and Galloway was taken by the torries. Good thing is there's no more st00pid Russle Brown. Bad thing is I hate the elected torrie candidate even more than Russle >__<
Serebii Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Perhaps he wants them to side with the lesser of two evils?
Supergrunch Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Why do you want them to side with Tories? Partly just through being sick of Labour, but partly because I think a more balanced Tory party with the Lib Dems calling some of the shots (and hopefully pushing things like electoral reform) might be a good thing. It'll mean re-examination of policies, without anything swinging too far one way, and might end up being line with my views (right on things like education, left on public funding and immigration). Plus it's what I predicted the outcome of the election would be a few weeks ago, so it'd be nice to be proven right.
gaggle64 Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 Looks like Dumfries and Galloway was taken by the torries. Good thing is there's no more st00pid Russle Brown. Bad thing is I hate the elected torrie candidate even more than Russle >__< Nope, don't worry, D&G was held by Labour. Dumfriesshire where we are was also held by the Conservatives though. Goddamn English snooty retirees.
MoogleViper Posted May 7, 2010 Posted May 7, 2010 I think changing the voting system is by far the most important for me. Has Boris Johnson painted his face completely white? Look at his lips.
Recommended Posts