![UK National Election Hangover [Update]](https://progresspond.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pattern-1-1280x640.jpg)
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Gordon Brown and Labor Party suffered a major defeat to David Cameron and the Tories. A poor result for Labor not witnessed for 80 years. Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats won big during the three election debates and expectations were high, however these were not converted into actual votes in yesterday’s British parliamentary election. Most likely what occurred, a large number of voters (≈ 30%) were undecided as they walked into the voting booth and pulled the lever for the opposition Tory Party. A strategic choice to hand the mandate to Cameron over incumbent Brown. A popular vote of 23% for the Liberal Democrats translated into a disappointing 8% representation by seats in the Lower House. [District representation in UK elections] I don’t agree with ChrisCook @ET who argues that no mandate was given by the electorate – Time for Change. Brown lost big, therefore Labor should not hang onto power.
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BBC Election 2010 National results
More info and links to come …
Not since the defeat of the conservative incumbent Edward Heath in 1974, has a UK election ended in a constitutional dead-lock. Just like Heath, the election result gives Gordon Brown an opportunity to try to form a coalition to obtain a majority of seats in parliament. However, the immense defeat of Labor as seen in the popular vote results would be a mockery of the clear signal: the British voters wants Brown out.
Seats Net Popular Vote %
Conservative 306 +97 10,706,5647 36.1
Labour 258 -91 8,4604,358 29.0
Liberal Democrat 57 -5 6,6827,938 23.0
Dem. Unionist 8 -1 168,216 0.6
Scottish National 6 0 491,386 1.7
This results in a position of power for the third party, the Liberal Democrats in the forthcoming negotiations for the country’s leadership.
Excellent coverage and discussion @ET – UK Election Results Thread 2
(The Guardian) – Nick Clegg will begin the process of consultation with his party tomorrow as he considers rival offers from the two main parties over the possibility of propping up a government in a hung parliament.
Tomorrow he will begin the critical canvassing of his new MPs and ruling executive, from whom he must receive the support of at least three-quarters before he does anything that might jeopardise the party’s independence.
At the Local Government Association in Westminster’s Smith Square at noon, Clegg will welcome all his MPs to the Commons and take views and advice on the first offer that his party has received from the Tory leader, David Cameron.
After that meeting, at 5pm Clegg will meet the Lib Dem federal executive.
Today Clegg held meetings with David Laws, Ros Scott, Danny Alexander, Lord McNally, Vince Cable and Chris Huhne. Face-to-face talks then took place between teams from both sides: for the Lib Dems, Alexander, Laws and Huhne took part, and for the Conservatives, George Osborne, Oliver Letwin and William Hague.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
