One of the tragedies of the general election campaign was the death of John Boakes, UKIP candidate for Thirsk & Malton. As a result polling in the general election there has been delayed until May 27th.
These sorts of delayed polls happen thankfully rarely and are not usually of wider political significance. However, if the election result is as close as the polls suggest it will be, May 27th could turn into one of the first significant political tests for whoever is Prime Minster and whatever arrangements they’ve made (or not made) to get that post.
The notional result in 2005 was:
Conservatives 52%
Labour 23%
Liberal Democrat 19%
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10 Comments
Typical Liberal.
Looking at the next election before this one’s finished!!
Of course…this forum is for typical Liberals, sorry you dont feel quite a home.
Now then, what was the last figures for Thirsk and Malton?
Lib Dem gain from Con! But only if we’re careful in the negotiations and get our narrative right (and out there, bloggers!) on the outcome.
Hate the idea of our joining up with the Tories, but if, and only if, we can get a promise of a bill for proportional representation in the queen’s speech, would swallow hard and go with it.
I vote lib dem because I agree mostly with their ethos and their aims, but I do not and will not vote lib dem in future if they do a deal with the conservatives. It would be a disaster for the party’s future. The only way to get a future is for proportional representation and the only way possible to get that is from a deal with the labour party.
I am concerned that we are still talking to the conservatives, I don’t trust them. Please don’t forget your members we are on the whole opposed to these talks.
Any deal without PR would be truly disastrous. Coalitions only work under PR, not under FPTP.
Politics is the art of the possible. Let us trust our negotiators.
I am impressed by those who are saying a short term deal with Labour is the best choice. It should be possible to get some change in the voting system in that way. Any move towards a more proportional system before there is another election is desirable.
Would be interesting to see how the Lib Dems fight the Tories if they are in coalition at the same time.