Watching the UK General Election...

[fantastic_jackie]

Rather reading it HERE between calls.

I'm not entirely sure what it all means, (though I'm sure y'all Britons will fill me in if I ask - which I am! Asking, I mean.) but I do know one thing: Y'all have got a LOT of parties over there!!

Comments

[godricgal.livejournal.com]

Do you have some more specific questions I can try and answer, rather than launching into a full explanation of our electoral system, which I'm afraid I don't have time to do!

We only have three main parties, and only two of those have any chance of gaining an overall majority. The rest are small parties and these are only predicted to get about 30 (of 650) seats and most of those will be in Scotland, Wales and Northern Island, where they have their own parties.

[patriot-jackie.livejournal.com]

Ha! It was rather broad... My break was at its end. lol

Well, the talk I've been reading of on a separate thread is constantly referring to "Swing" for the Conservative Party, which I assume means a sort of projection of seats they anticipate CP to gain from Labour?

Moreover, I guess I'm more curious whether this is a "good" turnout. I heard the numbers were great, but is this a good change? Do y'all even expect much change from this? I can't read friends' pages here, and I know they're still counting....

The rest are small parties and these are only predicted to get about 30 (of 650) seats and most of those will be in Scotland, Wales and Northern Island, where they have their own parties.

Lol Over here, we have a grand total of 2 Independents in the Senate. I don't know the last time anyone other than a Republican or Democrat won any national seat... Occassionally you'll get the "Independent" like now, but they're usually not even really independents. Like Joe Lieberman... chased out of the Democratic party for his stance on the Iraq War. Democrat everywhere else except for that - not an "Independent." We're SO two party here. It kinda sucks...

[godricgal.livejournal.com]

Well, the talk I've been reading of on a separate thread is constantly referring to "Swing" for the Conservative Party, which I assume means a sort of projection of seats they anticipate CP to gain from Labour?

When they talk of 'swing' they simply mean the change in vote between the incumbent party and (mainly) the next most popular party. So in this election, they're discussing the 'swing' in votes from Labour to Conservative. So while they to talk about projected 'swing' ahead of the election there is, of course, also, actual swing, which they can discuss once results start to come in, and use these figures to make projections about the results for constituencies yet to be called.

Moreover, I guess I'm more curious whether this is a "good" turnout. I heard the numbers were great, but is this a good change? Do y'all even expect much change from this? I can't read friends' pages here, and I know they're still counting....

I had a chat with some of the staff at the polling station and they thought it was a rather good turnout. They always announce turnout when they announce the results, but I've only caught some of those figures, though my feeling is that turnout is up about 8%.

As for whether we can expect change. I believe we can, but then I probably would, as a life long supporter of the opposition who haven't been in power for 13 years. However, I do believe that if the Conservatives do pull off a majority (which is looking less likely now, unfortunately) the change will happen, albeit slowly (which is right) as it untangles the huge government put in place by Labour over the last 13 years.

I hope that makes some kind of sense. I'm on my way to bed as the birds have just started singing, which has reminded me just how late (early!) it is, lol. I desperately want to stay up, but I have my project to polish and print in the morning, so I can't afford a lie in past 9!