So what exactly was the point of voting?

[notsureatall]

....the electorate are being totally ignored and the general election might as well not have happened. Who gets to govern is being decided by a few double-dealing, self-interested MPs from a third-rate party with hardly any seats.

The Tories won the most seats. They should take power.

And I say that as a Labour voter

As far as I understand the thinking is not to have a formal 'progressive coalition', just a Lib-Lab coalition and to ask for other parties' support on an issue-by-issue basis.

I honestly do not see how this 'Rainbow Coalition' could work. It will be held to ransom at every possible stage, and it would only take 2 or 3 Labour MPs to abstain on a piece of 'Lib Dem' legislation of vice versa for the government to be defeated.

Although there would still be compromise with a Lib/Con coalition, there would at least be a good working majority and only the needs and wishes of two parties to accomodate.

Steala I agree Clegg is in a horrible position and I do feel for him. I am becoming less sympathetic though because he appears to be developing a smirk today as if he is enjoying all this hugely.

Badgers - I think the nationalist issue is actually incredibly important and is being overlooked somewhat by the media.
The nationalist parties are minorities even within the countries whose interests they represent. You have to feel that if the populations of Wales and Scotland felt that protecting their share of the budget at all costs was the most important thing then they would all have voted for either Plaid or the SNP - but they didn't. So for the needs of the whole Union to be held to ransom by the representatives of such a tiny minority is very distateful.

My dts are hoping for a re-vote as they'll get yet another day off school.

Alibabaa, I did vote SNP, but we have the misfortune up here of people panic voting Labour. As well as those of the we-voted-Labour-all-our-life crowd. Labour has done hee-haw but that doesn't stop the sheeple for voting them in to try and keep the tories out.

It hurts to say this but the Tories should go it alone.

Hello everyone!

I'm a new member and I'm happy to see such interesting discussions and varying views. I had a look at this thread because of the title and just wanted to say that I think anyone concerned that their vote didn't count might want to take a good look at this website
www.takebackparliament.com/

I'm a first time poster so I hope it doesn't break any rules to include links??