General Election Thread

I have two expectations from the election...

David Cameron wins the most seats, forms a minority government with the other parties (not Lib Dems)

OR

Labour win most seats with a coalition with the Lib Dems, with the following caveats:
- Gordon Brown to resign as PM suggesting Nick Clegg as his replacement to the Queen;
- A group of all 3 Chancellors/Vice Chancellors working together on the economy;
- Ken Clarke as Chancellor Spokesperson to bring confidence to the city;
- Ministers made up of more well known Libs and Labs in order to be more recognisable to the public;
- Referendum in November on a new Voting System;
- Spending Review/Budget Late May/Early June;

Indeed. I heard it mentioned the other day that a lot of first-time/previously-apathetic voters could well be confused when they see no Clegg/Brown/Cameron option on the ballot paper.

I agree the first point: Cameron would form a minority government if appointed by the Queen as PM, with the Lib Dems perhaps supporting them on "confidence and supply" where they would vote with the Tories or abstain on votes of no confidence and the budget, but would be free to vote ad hoc on everything else.

On the second, there is no way that the leader of the junior partner in a coalition gets to be Prime Minister, even if they are ahead of the senior partner in the popular vote. If there is a hung parliament, unless there is a deal between two or more parties with 326 or more seats before the State Opening of Parliament, Brown will remain PM and will present a Queen's Speech. If that is voted down, he will then have to resign, and either the Queen appoints a Labour MP who has the support of Labour and the Lib Dems as Prime Minister, or she would appoint Cameron. If Cameron is then defeated on an issue of confidence (no confidence motion, budget vote or a piece of legislation that is designated a confidence issue) then Cameron would probably ask for a dissolution of Parliament and a new election, which with all other options exhausted would probably be granted.

That is where it gets tricky - the three main parties can get exactly the shame share of the vote but seats end up split something like Lib Dems 100, Tories 200 and Labour 300.

A PR system though wouldn't be ideal either though - indeed all voting systems have flaws somewhere, but I think for the Commons at least the first past the post system with a representative for each constituency is favourable - though balancing that with a PR system in a second chamber might work.

Really though whoever is in power if they're serious about doing what is required reforming Parliament should be pretty low down the list of priorities. Yes, things need to change but there are much bigger issues at hand which need sorting first.

Unusual to say this but I agree with every word you say!

A referendum won't come for a couple of years I suspect. There's so much to consider - the type of voting system (there are a variety of PR arrangments), the changing of boundaries, and crucially, the agreement between the Lib Dems and the Tories. By that time, another election could be called and the Tories could have an overall majority, ending the threat of PR!

Edit: The Tories will agree to whatever the Liberals want in order to get into government, many Tory MPs have only been in opposition(that must be frustrating). After a year or so, they'll find some excuse to call an election and they'll get an overall majority. My thoughts for what it counts!

Can I remind members there are perfectly good threads on Metropol for discussing actual election tidbits - this thread's just for the television coverage?

Lovely stuff over there.

You'll see some of BBC News's Election 2010 set from Monday (the 10 comes from the studio every weeknight), but look out for a special behind the scenes tour on Thursday's BBC Breakfast

J

BBC reveal their latest big name contributor for Election Night: Big Ben.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8656578.stm

Just caught Points of View and Jeremy presented it from the election studio, it looked good, similar to last time I think, but a few differences.. and it was huge!

Here are some pics of the BBC Election studio, as revealed on Points of View this afternoon. The official launch is apparently during Breakfast tomorrow morning.

http://i41.tinypic.com/2rer1bk.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2u7nhua.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/35laxyr.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2yxojmo.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/ofwpid.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/339mwaq.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/256e9ky.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/29nc8w1.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/23semw5.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/wv3fxi.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/11kjnft.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/30uxrwo.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/6howgj.jpg

Well it certainly is big! Hope it doesn't look to messy on the night though.