Depressed lefty red-eye thread

[policywonk]

hello

ZD
And DC had his 24 hour election thingy the night before. He must be knackered.

Nice image there knottylocks [nauseous]

I'm not a lefty although strongly support certain social policies such as civil partnerships so not a natural Tory either. We got to keep our excellent local MP here (Lib Dem) and all Lab seats but 2 lost to Tories and one to Lib Dems. Think the regional results point even more to the need for electoral reform. I live in a very rural and coastal county which feels Labour is the party of middle-class urban life and has no understanding of country affairs, especially for the poor/elderly etc. I had much more sympathy with Labour when I lived in London (and voted for them there). Living where I do now it feels as if Labour is the most definitely out of touch and the results suggest I am in the majority. It feels as though there is no party that represents rural low income families.

Oh god ages - there will be endless bartering about the exact details of what should be on the table, probably some kind of commission to examine the options. Its a long game.

before we all move to another thread, can I just have a little snurk at:

Esther Rantzen in the Times

"Esther Rantzen has lost her deposit in a humiliating end to her attempt to become an independent MP."

The new labour candidate held the seat for labour and romped home.

Lib dem only have 52 seats but 23% of the vote, not too far behind the other two with 36% and 29%

Which is why we need electoral reform

The idea that these plans have been drawn up on no sleep is not right.

All the parties, based on their own private polling, will have made very careful plans for this eventuality. That's why from 10:01 last night we had the Labour gang coming out with a very unified take on an alliance with the LDs.

I think Clegg can be sharp, clever and make the most of these negotiations without being demonic. Don't we want good, tough negotiators in our political system?

Can people put on here hwen the other seats come in ? I can't see the bbc thing on my phone its too slow. And some coming in at 3 we will miss but I can MN on my phone.

TIA

Ok, going for a snooze now. DD has a spectacle tonight.

And it is inconsistent to call for pr and then be shocked that the smallest party gets to dictate policy. That is what happens in PR systems.

The entire regeneration of central Dublin was secured by a single independent (Tony Gregory) using his Clegg moment brilliantly.

In the best scenario, the small party curbs the excesses of the big party. In the worst scenario, they prevent the implementation of coherent policies and give too much weight to fringe ideas.

PR is problematic too.

sjg interesting point. We have rural northumberland here, about as poor rural as you can get. The ex-coalmining communities vote labour, the really rural bits (which are mostly owned by the Duke of Northumberland and other rich landowners tbh) are Tory and LibDem.

So from Gordons perspective, its a competition between David and Gordon, who can offer the Lib Dems the most? And Lib Dem priorities decide this election after all.

Is Clegg kicking himself for his pre-election statements, or using them to soften/ justify a pact he actually does want to make, because he knows many of his supporters would object to their governing with the tories?

Didnt work for the Green Party in Ireland. They were in a similar position (but clearer with PR system), went in with Fianna Fail, and have lost their credibilty bigtime.

This is like watching a train crash in slow motion. Someone do something,quick! Con/Lib - Please, please, no.

Can Cameron agree to electoral reform without the support of the party? I am really hoping this doesn't backfire on Clegg

Is it wrong to have just swigged the leftover wine from last night?

Prolesworth, I didn't really mean he is evil, just that he has made one very simple statement, which seemingly has managed to make him look v. trustworthy and genuine, while simultaneously turning all the tables in his favour. I quite like him actually.

Mme, can you explain how that works?

52 seats but 23% against 29% with 260ish?!

The best bet for Cameron would be to give Clegg a referendum but make it clear that the Tories will campaign for a no vote.

Clegg can't lose on his current strategy because if the Tories try to play hardball, he uses his shiny moral authority to play 'terribly disappointed headmaster' and then he can turn to Gordon.

Predict these faces are going to dominate the next thread .

Which is lots better than these ones

Strange, strange, strange world.

disenchanted: our electoral system is FUCKED that's how.

and that is the winner....this issue has become the big one.

prolesworth, if we had PR there would be loads more of 'this nonsense'. And its not a bad thing really.
I'm starting to think the Lib/Con coaltion is the least worst outcome - only the Libs can moderate the Tories, Lab can't. Its now all on Nick's shoulders to drive a hard bargain. And I know that it won't be the kind of govnt I really want, but it won't be as bad as a Tory landslide.
Please Nick don't let us down!

Giddy and a bit fuzzy. Might have to open another bottle!

FFS - here comes Boris, the spluttering fop.