UK General Election

[Ariel]

'Smirnoff Ice is the drink of the gods - I cannae handle this c*** man.'

'Woke up beside half a can of Tennents and a full pizza and more money than I came out with. I call that a success.'

'It took every fibre of my being not to put the nut on them all' - talking about Labour councillors

'Ed Milliband is an unbearable ***'

'I've only just realised - I really f***** hate Celtic and 'Celtic, yer a joke! #scum'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3073108/Smirnoff-Ice-drink-gods-cannae-handle-c-colourful-20-year-old-SNP-student-

But seriously why did they have a 20yr old even running? She's going to get wrecked.

 

[Fareal]

I don't really think anybody cares that Ed "stabbed his brother in the back" any more than they care that he once ate a bacon sandwich awkwardly. It's amusing to see conservative commentators who had long dossiers about how crap Dave was back in 2010 suddenly signing his praises to the roof as the King over the Water. Doubtless if Dave had won we'd have heard about how he stomped on his hapless, more politically astute younger brother, and everybody hates him for that. It's not like the Labour leadership was Dave's by some kind of divine right. Having said that obviously the electorate didn't respond to him. The question is, who's gonna be leader now? Diane Abbott?

It will be interesting to see whether the SNP's electoral dominance is a hangover from the referendum that will slowly fade, or a new established fact of British electoral politics.

And of course, the big loser... the pollsters. Even internet darling Nate Silver fucked it up. It's easy to start picking apart polling methodologies but it's also important to remember that the same methodologies were used five years ago and they were extremely accurate. Have British elections changed so much in five years?

I found myself wondering this morning what will happen to Boris. His plan A was obviously to replace Cameron after an electoral loss. Now he's going to be looking for a hefty Cabinet post. I'm guessing Foreign Secretary since he likes to think of himself as a cosmopolitan and the job's vacant with Hague retiring. And it would put him in prime position to replace Cameron if he retires in 2018 or 2019.

Main issue for Boris surely is whether you can practically combine Mayoralty with a major Cabinet post. Or does he resign as Mayor? Might make more sense to hold on as Mayor in a non-Cabinet post, not run for re-election in London and then go into the Cabinet. Boris has a very carefully crafted persona of bumbling eccentric, but in fact he is fiercely intellectual and has a formidable political intuition.

 

[Picklechu]

It will be interesting to see whether the SNP's electoral dominance is a hangover from the referendum that will slowly fade, or a new established fact of British electoral politics.

Absolutely. That's what I, as an outside observer, is one of the things I am most interested in seeing. The "2.5" party system has essentially remained intact (at least in terms of outcome), but it's undergone a big shift.

And of course, the big loser... the pollsters. Even internet darling Nate Silver fucked it up. It's easy to start picking apart polling methodologies but it's also important to remember that the same methodologies were used five years ago and they were extremely accurate. Have British elections changed so much in five years?

This is the big one for me. My gut instinct is that a lot of it had to do with a last minute swing to the Conservatives due to concerns about the SNP and vote splitting, but we'll be able to get a better idea in a few days once the nerds and the computers have gotten at it.

I found myself wondering this morning what will happen to Boris. His plan A was obviously to replace Cameron after an electoral loss. Now he's going to be looking for a hefty Cabinet post. I'm guessing Foreign Secretary since he likes to think of himself as a cosmopolitan and the job's vacant with Hague retiring. And it would put him in prime position to replace Cameron if he retires in 2018 or 2019.

Absolutely. I don't see a scenario in which he doesn't get something, but I wonder what will happen if it's something he doesn't really want? He would have a difficult time trying to go back to just being mayor next(?) year.

 

[CWCissey]

Main issue for Boris surely is whether you can practically combine Mayoralty with a major Cabinet post. Or does he resign as Mayor? Might make more sense to hold on as Mayor in a non-Cabinet post, not run for re-election in London and then go into the Cabinet. Boris has a very carefully crafted persona of bumbling eccentric, but in fact he is fiercely intellectual and has a formidable political intuition.

He's already resigned as Mayor, he's now MP for Uxbridge, and eligible for a Cabinet post, which he will get.

Plan B for him is obviously doing a good enough job to instill confidence for when Cameron leaves after his second term.

 

[DuskEngine]

I think he may. Cameron just claimed three scalps tonight, Ed the Dead Duck, Cleggy and Farage are all indicating that they're resigning.

It seems like the Tories pulled off kind of a coup here, yeah.
So is the SNP likely to become the designated kingmaker going forward instead of the Lib Dems?

And of course, the big loser... the pollsters. Even internet darling Nate Silver fucked it up. It's easy to start picking apart polling methodologies but it's also important to remember that the same methodologies were used five years ago and they were extremely accurate.

Silver is pretty pessimistic about the state of polling as a whole.

 

[Picklechu]

But seriously why did they have a 20yr old even running? She's going to get wrecked.

I thought it was really interesting that both Mhairi Black and a twenty-three year-old are SNP MPs now. Some young people are quite capable, but--and this is just my white, conservative, American male opinion--she comes across as a bit of a moron.

I felt bad for a second last night as I was watching her speak after the voter totals were announced because I did't realize that she was Mhairi Black and thought she was a little old man at first.

 

[CWCissey]

I thought it was really interesting that both Mhairi Black and a twenty-three year-old are SNP MPs now. Some young people are quite capable, but--and this is just my white, conservative, American male opinion--she comes across as a bit of a moron.

I felt bad for a second last night as I was watching her speak after the voter totals were announced because I did't realize that she was Mhairi Black and thought she was a little old man at first.

The thing about the majority of SNP voters is that they're either fiercely nationalist, dead young, or just bleeding thick.

Mhairi Black is the middle of the Venn diagram...

 

[Fareal]

He's already resigned as Mayor, he's now MP for Uxbridge, and eligible for a Cabinet post, which he will get.

Plan B for him is obviously doing a good enough job to instill confidence for when Cameron leaves after his second term.

Has he?? I stayed up for his speech last night but didn't see him resign: has he done that this morning? He had said when he was selected in Uxbridge he'd carry on as Mayor although I wouldn't blame him if he changes his mind now.

 

[CWCissey]

Has he?? I stayed up for his speech last night but didn't see him resign: has he done that this morning? He had said when he was selected in Uxbridge he'd carry on as Mayor although I wouldn't blame him if he changes his mind now.

Well I imagine he'll see his term out. Then he'll say 'Toodle-oo chaps! I'm off to the Cabinet!'

 

[Fareal]

Well I imagine he'll see his term out. Then he'll say 'Toodle-oo chaps! I'm off to the Cabinet!'

I agree with you he's not a bad shout for Foreign Secretary. He doesn't have to maintain the persona abroad and it's not a job you give to someone who isn't smart. Too Eurosceptic though to hold the post if there is an EU referendum? But for the love of God, Jeremy Hunt has to go. Preferably out of a window.

What do you think happens in the post-election reshuffle? Osborne stays where he is, obvs, but who moves and where? Deputy PM just became vacant....

 

[CWCissey]

I agree with you he's not a bad shout for Foreign Secretary. He doesn't have to maintain the persona abroad and it's not a job you give to someone who isn't smart. Too Eurosceptic though to hold the post if there is an EU referendum? But for the love of God, Jeremy Hunt has to go. Preferably out of a window.

What do you think happens in the post-election reshuffle? Osborne stays where he is, obvs, but who moves and where? Deputy PM just became vacant....

It'll definitely either be Theresa May or Boris. My money's on Boris at the mo, Theresa May has proven herself to be an effective Home Secretary, so I imagine she'll keep her job. Michael Gove will likely remain as Education Secretary and IDS on Work and Pensions despite both being huge mongs. No idea who'll be Foreign Secretary, Boris is a good shout, but Cameron would likely want to keep him close as the man is electoral gold. I'd say Sajid Javid may be in line for a promotion...

 

[Venusaur]

I

And everyone hates Ed because he stabbed his more politically astute brother in the back

I keep hearing this, but I can never find the details. How exactly did he stab his brother in the back?

 

[CWCissey]

I keep hearing this, but I can never find the details. How exactly did he stab his brother in the back?

He did a deal with the Unions so they'd back him as leader of the Labour party rather than David, who had the backing of the party and the public.

 

[Dudeofteenage]

Well people liked David more than Ed, he was an acceptable amount of geeky. I think he'll come back and get the leadership position myself. But Dianne Abbott is a good (yet really fucking scary) option for a betting man.

Naw, I think Dave is done with electoral politics. He might pop up in the House of Lords one day, possibly even show up in a future Cabinet like Mandelson did, but I don't see him standing for Parliament or the party leadership. I think the next Labour leader will be somebody who wasn't a contender last time. Maybe Alan Johnson? I understand the rank and file like him a lot an he's been low profile during this campaign so he may be able to escape responsibility for it.

I think the SNP will stick about, the referendum really smashed Scotland's opinion that Labour fights for them, their campaign was that disastrous.

I've no doubt that the SNP are going to be around for the forseeable future, but it's possible that this election may be a high water mark for them. I wouldn't be surprised if the next election sees their near-total stranglehold on Westminster seats getting chipped away. But who knows. I admit what is happening in Scotland right now, electorally, isn't something I really understand.

Boris is obviously going to be in the Cabinet, he's too well loved not to be, I'm wondering if he's in line for Deputy, it'll either be him or Theresa May, and I'd rather have Boris in the wings to be fair.

Do you know something about George Osbourne's short term plans that the rest of us don't?

He's already resigned as Mayor, he's now MP for Uxbridge, and eligible for a Cabinet post, which he will get.

Nope, he's still Mayor for now. It's expected he'll resign though. Combining the Mayoralty with a backbench slot is doable, but combining the Mayoralty with a Cabinet post, even a mid-ranking one (and I doubt he'd be happy with a mid-ranking one) would be practically impossible and against the spirit, if not the letter, of the law.[/QUOTE]

 

[Pickle Inspector]

Poor UKIP, they get 3.73 million votes and 1 seat while SNP get 56 seats with 1.45 million votes.

Also it'll be pretty embarrassing for Clegg to return to the Houses of Parliament as an ex leader with his party wiped out and no longer in power.

I'm looking forward to seeing what's going to happen with Labour though, their leadership battle will be interesting.

 

[Picklechu]

I'm looking forward to seeing what's going to happen with Labour though, their leadership battle will be interesting.

I have twenty Britbux on Harriet Harman.

EDIT: A quick Google search shows that she's been named acting leader.

 

[DuskEngine]

Theresa May has proven herself to be an effective Home Secretary, so I imagine she'll keep her job.

Speaking of- it looks like the data surveillance bill is on the cards again. And no Lib Dems to block it this time.

I have twenty Britbux on Harriet Harman.

EDIT: A quick Google search shows that she's been named acting leader.

Until a new one is found, at which point she intends to resign. Thank god.

 

[AnOminous]

Also- why exactly do people hate Ed Miliband so much? He comes across as some kind of weird robot-man, but still, it didn't seem like the Tories needed to do much but go "at least we're better than Labour-SNP" in their campaign.

He's creepy and looks like an alien. He is also an ineffectual hack who inspires absolutely nobody. If anything good comes out of this election for Labour, it is getting rid of that guy as a "leader," because he wasn't one.

 

[Arctic]

He's creepy and looks like an alien. He is also an ineffectual hack who inspires absolutely nobody. If anything good comes out of this election for Labour, it is getting rid of that guy as a "leader," because he wasn't one.

This video really explains it all.

 

[Holdek]

But seriously why did they have a 20yr old even running? She's going to get wrecked.

Eh, she's done well so far by winning.

Silver is pretty pessimistic about the state of polling as a whole.

And that was written last year. He's got to be even more so now.

Do you know something about George Osbourne's short term plans that the rest of us don't?

Wouldn't Deputy PM be a demotion from Chancellor? Gordon Brown wasn't Deputy under Blair although he was the heir to Blair.