A Mixed Night

So, another election over, and with the current chaotic horse-trading going on, I suspect that we may end up with one before 5 years are up.

Overall, I'm very mixed on the night. With regards to my own outcome, my UKIP vote didn't get in the way of booting out the dreadful Labour MP to bring in a Conservative who is at least a little better (and I believe a better "local" MP). So, the UKIP share goes up at least. That's the 2nd best outcome (to UKIP winning which wasn't likely to happen).

It doesn't appear that UKIP did particularly well, and my feelings are that we didn't run a strong media campaign. UKIP have the best policies, but we need to get the message out more.

The interesting message from last night's polls was about the personality of candidates. Gisela Stuart stayed in power in Edgbaston because she wasn't afraid to be her own person, and local people trust when their candidates do that. Perhaps we can hope that parties will realise that they can't just parachute in candidates who've been carefully selected to represent the wishes of the party - they are to be the representative of the people first.

Election Night Drinking Game

OK, just for a bit of fun (and I know I'm going to be up), here's the election night drinking game.

1. Exit polls show Labour are beat and the first results show this as likely and a Labour panellist in the studio says "it's a bit early to say that". Take a drink.
2. Exit polls and early results show that Conservatives aren't going to get a majority and Conservative panellist in the studio says "it's a bit early to say that". Take a drink.
3. Minister/former minister gets their arse kicked in a seat. Take a drink.
4. It's Jacqui Smith. Take another.
5. She comes third. One more.
6. Jacqui Smith loses her deposit. Empty the bottle.
7. The Monster Raving Loony party appears. Take a drink.
8. Esther Rantzen appears. Take a drink.
9. Mandelson loses his shit. Take a drink.
10. Jeremy Vine says "just for a bit of fun". Take a drink.
11. The BBC come up with a graphic for who is going to win that makes The Day Today look subtle. Take a drink.
12. Nigel Farage wins in Buckingham. Open your best bottle of champagne.

Porn Director To Stand for Parliament

From the BBC:-

A female pornographic film director has been selected as the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Gravesham, Kent, it has been announced.

I hope someone tells her that in a secret ballot, she doesn't get to see which box gets filled in.

Seat Tipping - Labour's Potential Long Term Disaster

Reading Jackie Ashley's column where she stated that some Labour politicians got me thinking: how many Labour seats are going to "tip" to the Lib Dems.

One of the things about the 1997 election was how much tactical voting occurred. People who desperately wanted the Conservatives out chose the strongest opposition candidate in their seat, whether Lib Dem or Labour. It's one of the features of wretched First Past The Post voting systems.

Now, if Labour don't get their vote out, or if voters who are left-leaning decide that they can't stand Labour any longer, then the LDs will get that vote. Which could mean that following the election, a lot of seats may end up with the LDs in 2nd place, which could then lead to them holding a lot of 2nd places come the following election.

Could we see a hung parliament in 5 years time?