UK General Election 2015

[Starglider]

In the last 30 years, my constituency has gone from 60% Tory, 25% Lib Dem 15%, Labour, to 50% Tory, 30% Lib Dem 20% Labour. Chances of electing anyone other than the Tory candidate, negligible.

[Hillary]

Interestingly, Nate Silver has shifted his forecast significantly over the past couple of days.

Now it is

Tories - 279
Labour - 270
SNP - 51
Lib Dem - 25

This would put Labour/SNP just 2 seats away from a majority, or Labour being able to rule with a minority government with support from the SNP.

[Crazedwraith]

Interesting.

My dad (oh such a credible source, I know) is of the opinion the royal baby is good news for the Conservatives as it will make people happier and morel likely to vote for the status quo.

[Hillary]

The only people that's likely to apply to are those who will already vote Tory (or UKIP), if you ask me.

[Eternal_Freedom]

It probably would have had more of an effect if it had been a firstborn child. Hell, the news coverage of it has been quite subdued in comparison to their first kid. I've seen more fuss over actor's babies.

[Irbis]

And now for something a bit lighter:

General Election 2015 – The transport policies

An vote, yesterday (which sadly means it wouldn’t be valid)

The general election is almost upon us and that means every eligible voter in Britain has a decision to make.

Perhaps you’re going to vote Conservative because you’re the kind of vile, joyless twat who hates the NHS. Maybe you’re going to back Labour, because you’re a hand-wringing, farmers’ market lefty and you don’t mind making the blubbering, bed wetting president of the lower sixth chess club our prime minister. It could be you’re going to vote UKIP because you’re quite unpleasant and it’s easy to blame the utter failure of your own life on foreigners. Or maybe the Lib Dems will get your vote, because you want to waste it and wherever you live the candidate is almost certainly your old geography teacher.

Or maybe you haven’t decided yet because you want to know more about the transport policies of the various parties. In which case, Sniff Petrol is here to help with our exclusive General Election 2015 Guide To The Transport Policies Of Various Political Parties Guide 2015.

[madd0ct0r]

Brilliant stuff.

Had an interesting exchange with an old friend of mine. It seems we've ended up in parallel realities of economic performance.

[jwl]

And now for something a bit lighter:

Just recently we heard of Scottish twins who were forced to walk 500 miles and then, thanks to Tory cuts, walk 500 more. This journey could have been achieved by car, and we will work to ensure people in Scotland have access to adequate motor transport so that it is their choice whether or not to fall down at your door

Nice find.

[Dartzap]

Two and quarter party politics to multiparty in less than a generation by complete mistake! Had to happen eventually, I suppose!

[Purple]

Random question. Could you see a massive jump in the pools for Scottish independence if what ever idiot gets elected decides to start pushing for a split from the EU.

[Zaune]

Random question. Could you see a massive jump in the pools for Scottish independence if what ever idiot gets elected decides to start pushing for a split from the EU.

Very, very probably.

[SpottedKitty]

Random question. Could you see a massive jump in the pools for Scottish independence if what ever idiot gets elected decides to start pushing for a split from the EU.

The push for another referendum is pretty much inevitable, it's just a matter of when. Might be a good few more years, though.

[Dartzap]

Well, went and voted. Should be a half decent turn out, this is the first time I've had to queue to get a boothe.

[Zaune]

Done it as well. Went -somewhat reluctantly- with the Greens in the general election, and spoiled my ballot paper for the two council elections because it was literally Labour, Tories or UKIP.

[madd0ct0r]

nearly voted for the local Christian Party by accident.

That guy should not have Green as a surname.

[SpottedKitty]

Maybe it's pronounced "Throat Warbler Mangrove"...?

</obPython>

[jwl]

Well, went and voted. Should be a half decent turn out, this is the first time I've had to queue to get a boothe.

Is your area's turnout usually really low then? Because usually I wouldn't expect the order-of-magnitude difference in polling numbers required to get that kind of queue unless you have a really low turnout.

[Purple]

Random question. Could you see a massive jump in the pools for Scottish independence if what ever idiot gets elected decides to start pushing for a split from the EU.

Very, very probably.

And what are the odds someone will be stupid enough to want to leave the EU?

[Zaune]

Barring the nightmare scenario of UKIP getting a majority? Pretty low. We need the EU more than they need us, and the leading lights in the major parties know it.

[jwl]

Random question. Could you see a massive jump in the pools for Scottish independence if what ever idiot gets elected decides to start pushing for a split from the EU.

Very, very probably.

And what are the odds someone will be stupid enough to want to leave the EU?

You'd need a conservative PM for that, and even if Cameron completely fails in his renegotiation I don't think he'll push for leaving the EU if the referendum is held in 2017. If it is held close to the next general election he might though (for fear of ukip), and it is possible a coup in the party might bring a more Eurosceptic PM to the table. Boris Johnson for example. However, if they require the lib dems for a majority they might block the referendum bill anyway.

[Dartzap]

Well, went and voted. Should be a half decent turn out, this is the first time I've had to queue to get a boothe.

Is your area's turnout usually really low then? Because usually I wouldn't expect the order-of-magnitude difference in polling numbers required to get that kind of queue unless you have a really low turnout.

Its probably more to do with the time of day I went there, and the fact I've moved so my local station is now in the centre of town rather that at a bowling green Totnes has been Tory for the last 90 years, so I'm not expecting any changes!

[Eternal_Freedom]

Voted. It seems really anticlimatic, all this lead up to "the big day" of "the most important election in a century" or whatever...and I'm putting a cross on a piece of paper in a small church hall. I almost feel let down by the lack of pomp and circumstance. Oh well, time for a beer.

Incidentally, I find it hilarious that people are already talking about another Scots independnce referendum. They lost, so it's "we'll have another go until we get the answer we want!" If they had voted yes and Westminster pushed for a second referendum, there would be hell to pay, but the SNP think they can get away with it. Fuckers. I half-seriously suggested to my dad last week that we could build a fairly decent case for charging Alex Salmond with treason.

[K. A. Pital]

There is nothing in the world that prohibits politicians to keep advancing their goals. If their goals are the independence of Scotland, and they can convince the majority to follow them in the future, they can very well have a second, third or the hundredth referendum, neh? I can understand your sentiment, but "treason"? Seriously?

[Zaune]

So let's split the difference and have a referendum on full fiscal indsependence for Scotland, aka "Devo Max", which is what the SNP wanted as a third option on the referendum ballot and which the leaders of all three parties had to loudly and publically promise at the 11th hour to stop the referendum ending with an unambiguous Yes.

And while we're at it, can we have a bit of devolution for the Midlands, please?

[Dartzap]

Isnt Brum going for Super City Devo like Manchester has? Dunno how close you are to the Big Stink, mind.

Ah, looks like your closer to the Hellmouth that is Milton Keynes instead. Poor bastard.