Five More Bloody Years... · 10:00pm May 9th, 2015

If you told me a few days ago that the Conservatives would win the election with a Majority come Friday morning, I would've called you a "stupid twat". With the opinion polls tied, it was looking like a minority Labour government. Now here I am, Sunday night, and now it is I who feel like the stupid twat.

Yes, it seems the Tories pulled another 1992 and have not only won the election, but have increased their number of seats just enough to form a majority government that no longer has to rely on a coalition with the Liberal Democrats (who have been utterly slaughtered). When the exit poll showed the Tories in this position, I faintly broke into what I could best describe as sorrowful laughter, knowing that that was it. Another five years of Tory government, only this time unbridled.

I suppose then there's no point in hiding the fact that I'm a Labour supporter, which I didn't tell you in the last journal because that was about getting people to vote in general, not making it a 'Vote for Labour' journal.. I may not have been Miliband's biggest fan, but I'm still a Labourite, hailing from a family of staunch Labour supporters. Hell, the Labour party is not without it's flaws, but it's the party that best represents my interests and one of only two parties able to form the government.

The reasons for Labour's defeat in my opinion are as follows:

*Ed Miliband himself. As I said, I'm not a big fan of our now former Labour leader and neither were many, I'm afraid. I'm sure he's a really nice bloke and intelligent, but the main thing he seriously lacked was charisma. The position of Prime Minister has become a very presidential role here in recent years. As well as having the smarts, you've got to LOOK and ACT the part. I know it sounds shallow, but that's how it works; you've got to inspire confidence and faith in your voters, get them to rally behind you. Ed just didn't have it. David Cameron, Tony Blair, and Margaret Thatcher definitely all looked and carried themselves as Prime Ministers, that you look at them and get the idea they have a firm grip and control of the situation.

One can also criticize Miliband for veering Labour away from the Centre ground in favor to the Left.

*The rise of the Scottish National Party and their winning of 56 out of 59 of the Scottish seats, many of which were Labour. In fact, Scotland used to be a Labour heartland until the SNP's rapid rise following the defeat of the Scottish independence referendum last year. Now with Scotland completely swinging from red to yellow, I'm worried how Labour will be able to really win them back.

*'Shy Tories' just like in 1992 (a phenomenon where the share of the vote won by the Tories in elections is substantially higher than the proportion of people in opinion polls who said they would vote for them) and those undecided right until they get into the booth. Miliband's unpopularity may have contributed to this.

*The Economy has admittedly been improving.

Whatever the reasons, the fact's are clear. David Cameron is Prime Minister and will remain so for at least four years (he's ruled out a third term and so they'll likely choose the next Tory leader before the 2020 election), and so Labour must now pick itself up, do some SERIOUS soul searching and come back swinging in 2020. They've come back before and they'll come back again, and with Ed Miliband having gracefully stood aside, I hereby endorse Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Business Secretary and a more centre-left Labour politician, to take up the mantle in the upcoming leadership contest in some months time.

Finally, as I said on my status, if there's good thing to come out of this political bloodbath (and trust me, quite a few political scalps were collected, including some big name Labour and Lib Dem politicians) it's that with Nigel Farage's defeat and resignation, then that's it. Ukip is dead. Finished! He IS the party. Without him, they're on the nosedive. Although, that's a pretty insignificant consolation prize in the face of it...

-Magic Man

PS, Also, fun fact: following Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage's resignations as leaders of their parties, this makes all the current leaders of the major parties, aside from the Tories, WOMEN. No lie, all the acting leaders of Labour, Lib Dem and Ukip until the leadership elections are women, alongside the current leaders of the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru (the Welsh nationalist party).

PSS, Actually, there IS one other good thing I took away from this election, that this was my first time voting in a General Eleciton. So there is civic pride in that.

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SIGAWESOME

SIGAWESOME #1 · May 9th, 2015 · · ·

Actually, there IS one other good thing I took away from this election, that this was my first time voting in a General Eleciton. So there is civic pride in that.

Congratulations!

WRT voting, I love the following quote by Lazarus Long:
If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for...but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong. If this is too blind for your taste, consult some well-meaning fool (there is always one around) and ask his advice. Then vote the other way

Crystal Moose

Crystal Moose #2 · May 10th, 2015 · · ·

Yeah, I am worried Abbott will pull the same thing in our next election.

3057684
Lol, if the UK is the same as Australia, which I am certain it is, then voting isnt optional, its mandatory. Reason it would have been MM's first time would be he wasnt old enough during the previous elections.

SIGAWESOME

SIGAWESOME #3 · May 10th, 2015 · 1 · ·

3058054

voting isnt optional, its mandatory.

True.

Point still stands though, especially if all the available candidates are little more that septic sacks of horse-apples (and that is giving horse-apples a bad name...)

Crystal Moose