Depressed lefty red-eye thread

[policywonk]

hello

theyoungvisitor - SNP have been the main opposition to Lab in Scotland, they are nationalists, that is not normally a left wing position...

Sorry, not ninjacat. Nymphadora

Only some parts of England. Here in the NE I think they gained one seat. We need independence too!

Do we automatically go back to the Polls if there's no working coalition?

So presumably a minority Tory gvt woudl mean a repoll in 6 months - is that right?

[so ignorant - can't believe I don't know any of this]

In a word LeninGrad - power. At the end of the day, it corrupts most. But they'd be stupid to sell out - it would take a long time for voters to trust them again.

Nick Robertson of the BBC posted possible alliances on his blog as being:

LAB: 261
LD: 55
SDLP: 3
ALLIANCE: 1
Possible total: 320

CON: 306
DUP: 8
IND UN: 1
Possible total: 315

Non-aligned:
SNP + PC: 9
GREEN: 1

nearlytoolate - yes I suppose that would be completely contradictory for the SNPs, I can see that.

But they're been very clear about auctioning their vote to the party that provides the best deal for Scotland and I can't see the Tories supporting their demands for cradle-grave care and all that.

< pours more coffee >

I don't think the Tories would walk another election tbh.
I think the high turnout especially at the last minute was because the apathetic non-voters suddenly woke up and smelled the hammy-smelling future and thought oh fuck.

This result is a zillion million bazillion times better than I ever thought it was going to be.

I don't think any of us know it, youngvisiter. They'll probably have to make it up as they go along. Don't envy any of the politicians, I must say - up all night and the mother of all dilemmas to sort out.

TYV - here's the BBC explanation, not too long and quite useful (for me, but I am a proven dullard )

I don't think a repoll is inevitable. As someone has already said, a Tory minority with Lab-Lib voting stuff down might be the way it goes. Hard to see how that might work but actually think that might be interesting, a slightly new way of getting stuff done or not done

Apparently so - can you see any of them working in a coalition? They are all pretty determined that they didn't lose! Think its all on Cleggy's head and who he thinks will give his party the best way of getting their points across in parliament. Interesting times ahead perhaps, or just depressing!

It wouldn't have to be just LibLab though. Plaid, SNP, Green and SDLP could all be brought on board - all are broadly left. SDLP have taken Labour whip before apparently.

Lance Price made a rather convincing case on the BBC for allowing a Tory minority administration, letting them get an emergency budget through, but the left parties all working together in opposition to protect frontline services and work for PR. Worse things could happen, god knows

Agree these threads have been great but not sure whether it's a great thing, really, that MN has broken along left/right lines so decisively - the whole pre-election period has been extremely bad-tempered hasn't it?

But how on earth could the LD work with the Tories?

I mean, how?

Even trying to be objective, I can't see how the Tories getting in could work. Without a majority in parliament, they are never going to make the changes they want re public spending as neither Lib Dem nor Labour would pass them?

Am I totally naively imagining a happy, progressive alliance of LD, lab, green etc as the only positive option?

Here is an idea. Just tweeted by Armando Iannucci: "Anyone discussing a Lab/Lib-Dem opposition, making electoral pact for next, looming, election?"

O god Trevor Kavanagh. Where's my big gun.

I just think they should let the Tories form a minority government and stand well back

Bucharest -lol @ hammy smelling future and I agree the future doesn't look as grim as it seemed yesterday.

DD is missing music but bonding with the kitten, my veg patch is blooming and the coffee tastes good. Not bad so far yet, today.

still twiddling with Election seat calculator as the votes come in. Have to go out soon and help with school trip.

mainly just depressing I think. You can't interpret the vote as in any way endorsing a ground swell in favour of voting reform, I'm afraid. Which gives Clegg a pretty weak negotiating hand I'm afraid.
As far as I can see the Tories hold all the cards.

Thanks SGM I have put the link in threads I'm watching. Hope you're DD is better today .