Is this result a disaster?

[pork pie]

From the BBC:-
"The pound has fallen against both the euro and the dollar after it became clear that a majority government was unlikely to emerge from the election.

Sterling was down nearly three cents, or 2%, against the dollar at $1.4683. Against the euro, it was down almost 1.5 cents at 1.1597 cents.

The markets are concerned that a weak government might be unable to reduce the UK's high budget deficit quickly.

Shares also fell in early trading, with the FTSE 100 down 1.6% at 5,177.59.

The cost of government borrowing also increased."

We needed a Government with a clear mandate, we have not got one, and the markets have a dim view of this outcome.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

There'll be another general election in a couple of months time.

 

[Trufflehound]

Not if it leads to the reform of a political system that's 100 years out of date and was never democratic in the first place.

 

[ROKERITE]

Yes, and yet Ken Clarke was criticised severely when he predicted this a couple of weeks ago.

 

[vegster]

There'll be another general election in a couple of months time.

Entirely possible if there is no quick resolution. In fact, if a second election was called it would mean bye bye to the UKIP/BNP/Green/etc. as people would harden their choice to straight red or blue in order to get a majority result.

Lots of votes for the minor parties are really protest votes and these will disappear 2nd time around as people vote sensibly.

 

[pork pie]

Not if it leads to the reform of a political system that's 100 years out of date and was never democratic in the first place.

Very true. The Conservatives have had the deck stacked against them, and need a far higher share of the overall vote to get a majority in the House of Commons. Maybe it is time to have multiple votes with a candidate needing an overall majority in each seat to get elected, and minority candidates being eliminated?

 

[coventrygull]

Entirely possible if there is no quick resolution. In fact, if a second election was called it would mean bye bye to the UKIP/BNP/Green/etc. as people would harden their choice to straight red or blue in order to get a majority result.

Lots of votes for the minor parties are really protest votes and these will disappear 2nd time around as people vote sensibly.

That may be true. The Mrs might put me on a sex ban if I don't vote Conservative next time

 

[The Large One]

Very true. The Conservatives have had the deck stacked against them, and need a far higher share of the overall vote to get a majority in the House of Commons. Maybe it is time to have multiple votes with a candidate needing an overall majority in each seat to get elected, and minority candidates being eliminated?

That might (or might not) be a fairer way of electing an MP, but it doesn't necessarily mean that any one party would still gain a Commons majority.

What it would mean, though, is that the mandate for a coalition government would be on the back of something far more representative.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

That may be true. The Mrs might put me on a sex ban if I don't vote Conservative next time

That'll be fine - I am sure there will be some nice big ethnic man popping round to "unblock her sink" for you!

 

[withdeanwombat]

OBVIOUSLY some people should have a weighted vote.Me,for example.I should have a hundred votes because I'm a Conservative.Labour voters should only have one per household so they can have an in-house raffle to see who votes.Or perhaps the clever one who signs with an "x" anyway.Liberal supporters should have two votes each in case they cannot make up their minds.

 

[Arthur]

Is anyone really surprised?

For all of you that wanted a hung parliament don't come crying on here when you don't get many pesetas for your two weeks in Benidorm.

 

[desprateseagull]

i think most markets affected by the Greece financial problems, not just election woes..

 

[pork pie]

i think most markets affected by the Greece financial problems, not just election woes..

That is obviously having an impact - but the £ is falling against the Euro even.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Very true. The Conservatives have had the deck stacked against them, and need a far higher share of the overall vote to get a majority in the House of Commons. Maybe it is time to have multiple votes with a candidate needing an overall majority in each seat to get elected, and minority candidates being eliminated?

But that's just a typical result of governmental manoeuvring - legitimised by the current political system. I'm hoping the Tories will conceed that electoral reform is the price they need to pay in order to gain the necessary Lib-Dem support. I guess we'll find out the answer soon enough, but I'm not exactly holding my breath tbh.

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

if it keeps the tories from office then definitely not a disaster.