Renton

Has anyone done a study to see if Lib Dem supporters are more likely to vote tory or Labour as second choice? I'd assumed the latter like, Clegg is on self-destruct mode.

That's my take on it as well SLP. Tactical blunder imo, and will not advance the cause of PR. I think it would also paralyse the country as I doubt Cameron could get anything through Parliament. Christ, what a mess. I voted Lib Dem and it wouldn't make me livid, I prefer to see democracy in action....the Tories have won most votes....it's their government to form. Fucking sick of party political games where MPs serve their own interests and ignore the voters. Hardly democracy though when the ruling party is a minority. The largest minority though. The only way to resolve that problem is electoral reform innit? Which won't happen under the Conservatives, innit?

That's my take on it as well SLP. Tactical blunder imo, and will not advance the cause of PR. I think it would also paralyse the country as I doubt Cameron could get anything through Parliament. Christ, what a mess. I voted Lib Dem and it wouldn't make me livid, I prefer to see democracy in action....the Tories have won most votes....it's their government to form. Fucking sick of party political games where MPs serve their own interests and ignore the voters. Hardly democracy though when the ruling party is a minority.

That is literally all I want right now. The two-party system might not have been shattered last night, but I still think it's on the cards if they can just hang tight and keep their hands clean until the next election, whether it's in October or 2015... Cameron won't offer PR and Clegg and the Lib Dem group will say no confidence. Mandy has already said many times last night he's into PR and Brown started studies in how it was going to work months ago. I take your point however. Nothing to stop Cameron offering a referendum and campaigning in opposition. Is it definitely a referendum issue? I reckon the vast majority of the electorate wouldn't understand the repercussions of what was being asked. Same with all referendums - and elections.

That is literally all I want right now. The two-party system might not have been shattered last night, but I still think it's on the cards if they can just hang tight and keep their hands clean until the next election, whether it's in October or 2015... Cameron won't offer PR and Clegg and the Lib Dem group will say no confidence. Mandy has already said many times last night he's into PR and Brown started studies in how it was going to work months ago. I take your point however. I assume the Tories would be hurt the most under PR? Well Labour has the most to lose regarding representation, but arguably it will hurt the right wing of the political spectrum most imo.

That's my take on it as well SLP. Tactical blunder imo, and will not advance the cause of PR. I think it would also paralyse the country as I doubt Cameron could get anything through Parliament. Christ, what a mess.

Brown is impotent though. Whereas Dave is semi-flaccid.

That sounded like Clegg was will ing to make a deal with Cameron re: forming a government. Can't see it working like.

True up to a point but there are just as many Tories in the south who even post-Blair are obsessed with "CND sympathising loonies" to quote LM and hark back to winter of discontent. What was the NE vote like before Thatcher though? Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression it was always staunch Labour. Just like Hertfordshire is staunch tory. Edit: more in response to the Thatcher accusations, I realise it backs what BR is saying.

Lib Lab coalition wouldn't be big enough though. You should be gutted by last night. Given all the factors against Labour, the poor Lib Dem showing, and the media influence the tories have had in a bankrolled tory campaign, they've been unable to even get a majority. Cameron should resign imo. First of all, we should all be gutted because chaos will now rule regardless. The Sky political bloke saying how Labour got less votes this time than they did under Kinnock yet could still form a government. Think it all points to a quick change in the voting system. That would be a change the Conservative party alone has flatly rejected then? How ironic. You must admit this was a piss poor performance from the tories, given the circumstances. People don't like your man Cameron I'm afraid. I disagree, the truth is people dont like Thatcher. How utterly patronising of you CT. People don't like him, he comes across as a priviliged, PR orientated tosser with no convictions. Read this thread again if you don't believe me, and accept he has led the tories to failure. How naive of you. I suggest you re-read this thread and see how many times a woman who left office 20 years ago gets a mention. Scotland Tory free and the North East for about 20 years??? Wonder why? Cameron......Nope. The guy on the beeb this morning said that all the voters talk about in Scotland on the doorstep is Thatcher. Alex is right, they have all had a mare but it is the UK plc that will suffer. 'A guy on the Beeb' ffs. I've reread a fair bit on this thread and although the past is obviously mentioned (Labour in the 1970s as well mind) - as it should be -, the main issue has been with the present leaders and their policies. Can anyone do a word count on 'Thatcher' and 'Cameron' to verify this I wonder because I'd stake money on it? You've probably mentioned Thatcher more than anyone as well. Regarding the NE vote, perhaps maybe that Cameron admitted he would target cuts at the NE may have had just a little bit of negative impact? That and the fact the area has always been a Labour stronghold of course, or had that fact passed you by? If the tories had had fair and sensible policies presented by a less smug and shallow man than Cameron, they would have won outright with their media backing (another thing you are discounting), simple as that. As for the inevitable rematch, I hope Brown does step down gracefully and with dignity, and the Conservatives keep Cameron. If this happens, I honestly think they'd lose outright.

Lib Lab coalition wouldn't be big enough though. You should be gutted by last night. Given all the factors against Labour, the poor Lib Dem showing, and the media influence the tories have had in a bankrolled tory campaign, they've been unable to even get a majority. Cameron should resign imo. First of all, we should all be gutted because chaos will now rule regardless. The Sky political bloke saying how Labour got less votes this time than they did under Kinnock yet could still form a government. Think it all points to a quick change in the voting system. That would be a change the Conservative party alone has flatly rejected then? How ironic. You must admit this was a piss poor performance from the tories, given the circumstances. People don't like your man Cameron I'm afraid. I disagree, the truth is people dont like Thatcher. How utterly patronising of you CT. People don't like him, he comes across as a priviliged, PR orientated tosser with no convictions. Read this thread again if you don't believe me, and accept he has led the tories to failure.

Lib Lab coalition wouldn't be big enough though. You should be gutted by last night. Given all the factors against Labour, the poor Lib Dem showing, and the media influence the tories have had in a bankrolled tory campaign, they've been unable to even get a majority. Cameron should resign imo. First of all, we should all be gutted because chaos will now rule regardless. The Sky political bloke saying how Labour got less votes this time than they did under Kinnock yet could still form a government. Think it all points to a quick change in the voting system. That would be a change the Conservative party alone has flatly rejected then? How ironic. You must admit this was a piss poor performance from the tories, given the circumstances. People don't like your man Cameron I'm afraid.

And as I said before, the first thing the Tories will do is arrange a nasty little deal with the Ulster Unionists. Will that give them a majority though? Even if it did, they'd be paralysed, the tories have a few loose cannons on their back benches.

He's won fuck all though, and he won't be prime minister. Brown will still be there in 2 years time, and that's the thing to get angriest about of all. Doubt it. Any minority government is going to have to include the party with the largest minority. ...and even if Labour did retain any semblence of power, Brown would go the journey. Maybe Miliband Aye, I think Brown is finished. Pity imo, if people could see past his unease at PR they might realise he may be the best person to get us on the road to recovery - just my opinion, obviously. I don't think anyone has any idea what will happen now.

She's old skool, been posting since before she went to Uni I think. Doesn't post here now understandibly!

Lib Lab coalition wouldn't be big enough though. You should be gutted by last night. Given all the factors against Labour, the poor Lib Dem showing, and the media influence the tories have had in a bankrolled tory campaign, they've been unable to even get a majority. Cameron should resign imo.

Aye, Alan won a comfortable majority, Tynemouth only had a 0.4% swing to the tories! This means that there are still NO tories in the NE, in fact it's solid red apart from Redcar. This has been a total and utter tory FAIL. Can't say I'm happy though, in some ways its just about as bad a result for stability as could have happened. I can't see any coalitions working, and the country is more polarised than ever before. What next? We should all be concerned.

This is all too depressing. Democracy 2010. Everybody gets what nobody wants. Or something. Night folks.

Joan Collins on Cameron.

How obnoxious do you want to be considering the general feeling on this board? I hope you have hexed the tories there.

Central you mean.

Backs the exit poll.

I have a feeling it is. With the Tories specifically mentioning job cuts in the public sector you wouldn't think they'd get so many votes in NE. Good point. Anyone in jobs connected to the civil service or NHS in this area should be feeling a bit wary. Aye, but anyone with any public secotr job anywhere should feel wary. Smug twat Osbourne on now.

I have a feeling it is. With the Tories specifically mentioning job cuts in the public sector you wouldn't think they'd get so many votes in NE. That's my concern. If they representive vote for the Tories is as high in an area that they've frankly hammered in policy - what's it going to be like in the marginals? If I was a Labour fan in Tynemouth I'd be concerned as to the outcome. Tynemouth will fall undoubtedly. I live in the most tory part of it as well, the place is full of the blue rinse brigade, utter wankers. I'm getting depressed.

Stupid inbred mackems. I'm just praying these seats aren't representative.