This gets better by the minute, targeted austerity, you couldn't make it up.

Originally Posted by: warrenb 

Just spotted this result overnight - Liverpool Walton. Labour polled over 81% of the vote and the Conservatives lost their deposit. That must be one of the most one-sided constituency results ever?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000794

Originally Posted by: Darren S 

Post of the election - anywhere.

The Tories won so it must be undemocratic.

Beast's irrational core stripped naked and exposed for all to see.

Originally Posted by: Super Cell 

I want to be clear though, I do not believe the Tories won out of their own merit.

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

This is my theory about why Labour did so badly.

1) The shift right of the Lib dems since 2005. The rightward movement of the dems caused a situation where it pushed them further towards the tories than Labour. This was sealed with nick clegg as deputy pm, many who consider him the 'wanna be' tory. 

2) The distrust and dislike of the SNP. In addition to 1) lib dem voters who might otherwise vote labour decided to vote tory because they value unionism more than they value labour.

3) The almost complete mitagation of UKIP damage to the tories. In the end instead of seeing the shy kipper we saw the 'maunder effect', risking a snp labour coalition proved too risky for even very pro UKIP. Many tories would have switched back at the last minute but the mitagation did not occur with Labour. While the damage done to the tories from UKIP was tiny, the damage done to labour was big, and UKIP excelled in labour seats. This was probably because Labour felt in a winning position anyway and that it was 'safe' to vote UKIP.

4) The opinion pollsters. Projections of an SNP-Labour deal being the most likely, in fact the only option only adds to the three points above. If this was less of a concern then more of the vote would go to UKIP and Lib dems.

5) Major Labour PR disaster. The effect of the gender segregation senior labour conference cannot be understated. A large number of labour supporters were so disgusted by this turn of events that they went directly to the Green party. Basically Labour was caught in a Pinsor movement: From the right by UKIP, from the left by the Greens.

6) And of course this list would be incomplete without the SNP getting a point all to itself. Catastrophe north of the border, wiped out 40 seats just like that. 

I want to be clear though, I do not believe the Tories won out of their own merit. The tories won because Labour was hammered by everyone: Destroyed in Scotland by the SNP and held to ransom, the Greens draining their far left supporters, and UKIP their right ones. And a shoddy attempt to pick up the free lib dem votes. The tories should not get complacent.

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

Just spotted this result overnight - Liverpool Walton. Labour polled over 81% of the vote and the Conservatives lost their deposit. That must be one of the most one-sided constituency results ever?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000794

Originally Posted by: Darren S 

No they shouldn't.

Ulric was probably correct when he said his preferred least bad solution was a repeat of the Con-Lib coalition.

With Dave having a working majority all the spivs, chancers, consultants and other crooks commonly associated with the Tory party are going to see this as open season now.

At least Clegg et al had some measure of control of these and other would be antics in the last administration.

Originally Posted by: SEMerc 

That much is true.

However, I am so happy this morning

Having an overall majority is wonderful, since we can now implement the policies the LibDems blocked. I know many on here will disagree with me, but for me the following are manna from Heaven:

1. Repeal the Human Rights Act


2. Go to Brussels with a mandate to tell the Eurocrats to get stuffed.


3. EU Referendum where the whole issue can be put to bed for a generation. What do I want out of this - for the UK to stay in a properly reformed relationship with the EU. We need the EU to recognise that there is an inner core (the Eurozone) and an outer zone of detached nations. The outer zone to have all the benefits of free trade, but without "ever closer union", without all the non-trade related Directives and without any concept of a United States of Europe. If Cameron can negotiate the right deal, I shall vote to remain in, otherwise it is out.


4. Properly sort out the benefits system. Basically, young people should be in work, training or education - no benefits for being idle in other words. Catch people in their 20s and prevent them from sinking into the trap of a life on benefits.


5. Rebalance the economy. Easier said than done, but pro-business, pro-investment policies.


6. English votes for English issues as part of the Devolution settlement

Plus:

1. No votes for 16 year olds.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

Arguably we would have got all that with the Tories+Lib dems dealing informally with UKIP. I wish the exit poll had been closer to the mark.

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

The LibDems would never, ever agree to repeal the HRA - it is one of their red lines.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

That much is true.

However, I am so happy this morning

Having an overall majority is wonderful, since we can now implement the policies the LibDems blocked. I know many on here will disagree with me, but for me the following are manna from Heaven:

1. Repeal the Human Rights Act


2. Go to Brussels with a mandate to tell the Eurocrats to get stuffed.


3. EU Referendum where the whole issue can be put to bed for a generation. What do I want out of this - for the UK to stay in a properly reformed relationship with the EU. We need the EU to recognise that there is an inner core (the Eurozone) and an outer zone of detached nations. The outer zone to have all the benefits of free trade, but without "ever closer union", without all the non-trade related Directives and without any concept of a United States of Europe. If Cameron can negotiate the right deal, I shall vote to remain in, otherwise it is out.


4. Properly sort out the benefits system. Basically, young people should be in work, training or education - no benefits for being idle in other words. Catch people in their 20s and prevent them from sinking into the trap of a life on benefits.


5. Rebalance the economy. Easier said than done, but pro-business, pro-investment policies.


6. English votes for English issues as part of the Devolution settlement

Plus:

1. No votes for 16 year olds.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

Conveniently ignoring the Draft Communications Data Bill 

Originally Posted by: Justin W 

Labour lost cos ed was unelectable outside their core 30%.

Go back to when he was selected. Many said at the time that unless the coalition completely screwed up, labour couldn't win with ed in charge.

It seems that those undecided voters when faced with the paper and pencil imagined ed at the despatch box, in the international arena and decided no.

I don't really see many other plausible explanations.

Originally Posted by: nickl 

Not too bothered about that to be honest - whatever they say they want, what they want to do is technically not feasible, so will fall flat on its face.

There are far more important fish to fry.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

Sums up many of my fears.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/scrap-the-human-rights-act-and-keep-ttip-heres-what-you-voted-for-and-will-get-with-a-tory-government-britain-10235374.html

Originally Posted by: NickR 

Should have voted UKIP  with over a 100 second places, Labour split the UKIP vote.

However bad the next 5 years will be though, a labour government would have been much much worse.

Originally Posted by: Quantum 

Sums up many of my fears.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/scrap-the-human-rights-act-and-keep-ttip-heres-what-you-voted-for-and-will-get-with-a-tory-government-britain-10235374.html

Originally Posted by: NickR 

I get the point about public spending cuts.

Make no mistake however that had Miliband got in Labour would have signed-off on the TTIP; because like Dave, Ed is a globalist.

The TTIP is quite possibly one of the most dangerous documents ever devised.

Originally Posted by: SEMerc 

Just spotted this result overnight - Liverpool Walton. Labour polled over 81% of the vote and the Conservatives lost their deposit. That must be one of the most one-sided constituency results ever?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000794

Originally Posted by: Darren S 

That much is true.

However, I am so happy this morning

Having an overall majority is wonderful, since we can now implement the policies the LibDems blocked. I know many on here will disagree with me, but for me the following are manna from Heaven:

1. Repeal the Human Rights Act


2. Go to Brussels with a mandate to tell the Eurocrats to get stuffed.


3. EU Referendum where the whole issue can be put to bed for a generation. What do I want out of this - for the UK to stay in a properly reformed relationship with the EU. We need the EU to recognise that there is an inner core (the Eurozone) and an outer zone of detached nations. The outer zone to have all the benefits of free trade, but without "ever closer union", without all the non-trade related Directives and without any concept of a United States of Europe. If Cameron can negotiate the right deal, I shall vote to remain in, otherwise it is out.


4. Properly sort out the benefits system. Basically, young people should be in work, training or education - no benefits for being idle in other words. Catch people in their 20s and prevent them from sinking into the trap of a life on benefits.


5. Rebalance the economy. Easier said than done, but pro-business, pro-investment policies.


6. English votes for English issues as part of the Devolution settlement

Plus:

1. No votes for 16 year olds.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum