So not as changed a world as I was half expecting when I went to bed 4 hours ago but certainly an interesting 6 months ahead. Big question - will this affect Brexit in any way?
Looks like a done deal to me...if May can work out an agreement with the DUP, they'll form a government by the barest of margins.
As it stands, there are 10 more to declare. Labour have 40.2% of the vote, their highest vote share since 2001.
History is made. For the first time ever, the 200 barrier has been broken for the number of female MPs in the House of Commons.
Just got up after going to bed around 4 hours ago and I am depressed. 31 bloody votes! Why didn't the Green and Lib Dem voters get behind the Labour guy in Southampton, and we would have had a Conservative free zone!! Utterly horrible result!! Next time we need to get that weasal out!!
That would make her look utterly stupid to go into bed with one of the most hardline and obscene political parties on the scene. It would confirm what the UK Conservative Party sometimes is to the core - utterly divisive and could result in riots on the streets of Northern Ireland. Tories better keep out of any alliance there and rule as a minority party.
Results justify Mays atrocious campaign. She was cowardly and arrogant, and clearly the public are dubious of her. This is not to discount the advise she may of been given from behind the scenes.
Have to agree with this..........to a point...........Have to say she didn't exactly have a very good campaign. She did not come over as a strong leader which is what we are going to need in the Brexit negotiations. Now the country really is in a mess.......Will May resign after this result? Is this the time for her to do so?
I don't think she has any choice. Might not create a formal coalition, but an agreement seems like a near-guarantee, because she simply cannot negotiate Brexit as a minority party that could fail a confidence vote at any time. Heck, the situation is so precarious that perhaps this whole Brexit thing should just be forgotten...pick up the idea in, say, 10-20 years when everyone has had some time to clear their heads.
If May is really interested in unifying the nation she could offer to make a coalition with ...... Labour!! Angela Merkel's Government is a coalition, so why the heck can't the UK Conservatives enter a coalition with Labour? It would make more sense than going into a very divisive alliance with the DUP, which despite her lack of wisdom in calling this election, she is surely not stupid enough to do this?
She has several options but resigning for who is not one of them. The Conservatives need to find a seat for Ruth Davidson as she seems the only one on the Conservative side capable of being a leader, let alone a PM. My own preference would be Sarkozy in order to take the Conservative Party back into the mainstream of European Conservatism. PS: The reality is, Brexit negotiations won't start until after the German elections in September. And just maybe the UK as a whole has rejected the concept of a hard Brexit.
In general we do seem to throw away political leaders rather earlier now than in past decades. I think party members from both main parties may be having nostalgic thoughts about past heavyweights who are 'retired' or in the Lords*. On a plus point it was nice for me personally to vote last evening with my family, the two girls being eligible for the first time. I'm sure we cancelled each other out of course but still a proud little moment. * =same thing
