The morning after the night before ...
As Bill Clinton observed following the confused outcome of the Bush-Gore campaign, "The American people have spoken. We're just trying to work out what they've said." And so to the United Kindom in 2010. A hung -- or balanced -- parliament. Talks now underway between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. Experts in constitutional law popping up on TV screens to descibe ever more enticing theoretical scenarios.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, the DUP leader after 31 years at Westminster -- defeated by Naoimi Long of the Alliance Party -- and the . In the corridors and lifts at the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, my colleagues and I are asking each other, "When did you get to bed last night?" The most common answer seems to be 5am, but some were up even later watching and analysing ever move.
One thing is beyond question: this was one of the most gripping elections anyone can remember, both nationally and locally. Did the contours of the political landscape in Britain and in Northern Ireland just shift? How will politics be changed by ? Is Britain now poised for an electoral revolution with the advent of proportional representation as price to be exacted by the Lib Dems for their support?
So, the public has spoken -- sort of. But what have they really said?
Comment number 1.
At 7th May 2010, newlach wrote:My maths is not the best, but could Labour manage it with the backing of the Lib Dems, the SNP and 1 other (5 Sinn Fein MPs do not attend and the Speaker does not vote)?
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Comment number 2.
At 8th May 2010, Heliopolitan wrote:I think theoretically they could, but yes, you're talking about a wider coalition, and that seems pretty well doomed. If there are tough economic decisions to take, such a coalition would collapse. Incidentally, for the purposes of voting, would Naomi be classed as a Lib Dem (i.e. would she take the Lib Dem whip)?
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Comment number 3.
At 9th May 2010, Peter wrote:Incidentally, for the purposes of voting, would Naomi be classed as a Lib Dem (i.e. would she take the Lib Dem whip)?
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Northern Ireland were classifying her as a Lib. Dem on Friday morning.
I assumne that would mean she would take the Lib.Dem whip Helio.
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Comment number 4.
At 10th May 2010, Fred Morrison wrote:Further to the comment on Bill Clinton following the Bush / Gore outcome it has always interested me to consider this notion of "the people speaking". Irrespective of the election tally in fact people spoke in lots of different ways saying lots of different things. There is this strange (to me) idea that out of the voices of many emerges a strange disembodied but allegedly unitary "voice of the people" of course no-one actually said anything. It can be taken to confirm or disconfirm almost any possible alternative. Knowing politicians it will be heard and repeated in a manner that best confirms their best interest.
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