All bets are on!

By the way, DH has just come back from Scotland and 'word on the street' seems to be that many who voted No in the referendum are now voting SNP.

Again, just saying! x

I think that the campaign has been boring. Very boring.
I think that they are going the way of the US, and keeping away from the random general public as much as possible.

I think you are right soontobe I think the funny awful Gordon Brown/Gillian Duffy "thing" was a wakeup call to all of them.

Whitwave

I don't think such a major statement as Miliband has made was aimed at the Scottish vote only to be honest. How can it be, he has declared a promise to the whole of the UK.

We get a tad immersed in our own countries but Miliband made a declaration that was sent to the voter in all 4 countries of the UK .

This could well be his Nick Clegg on Tuition Fees moment if he does not do as he stated and I don't think he will try and run a Minority Government so I am of the opinion he will do a deal with the SNP and show a very thick skin.

For what it's worth I dislike supply and confidence tactics, it is nothing more than blackmail , you scratch my back I will scratch yours.

I've really enjoyed the campaign this time. And I would be staying up most of next Thursday night if I hadn't booked a couple of nights away without checking the date. I don't think it'll be the same perched on the edge of a hotel bed watching the TV with the volume down!

Yes, the Gordon Brown episode is considered to be the turning point, sadly what it has meant is rather sanitised electioneering with all the candidates speaking to a selected audience, with no opportunity for challenge by member of the public i.e. the voters. I really dont need to see any of them being applauded by the party faithful at yet another 'hustings'. Last night, the audience did try very hard to get them ( all 3 of them) to answer the questions asked, but with little success. I am also getting sick and tired of Nicola Sturgeon, she is not a candidate for The House of Commons.

I thought the audience last night was the best so far, certainly clued up.

I agree POGS. I do wonder if Liam Byrne would still have written the "we have no money left" note if he know how it was to be resurrected 5 years on in such a damning way!

The other view of of course that they tory lead will hearten those who like to be on the winning side and demoralise the other parties. Don't forget - John Major's win against poll predictions and the fact that when asked, labour supports will say and the tories will refuse to comment but know how they will vote. Being of a conservative nature, no doubt!

whitewash, yes I live in Wales , I have worked / slogged on 14 elections and always quite easy to see which way the wind is blowing apart from 1964. This time is a tornado compared to the previous ones. Never have I encountered such open racism from England voters and a little in Wales too.

Wales has always been strong labour , as Scotland use to be. Plaid Cymru have three seats in Parliment and they will not support the Tories - if they still have three seats next Friday !

Too much focus on Milliband's slight trip last night, as if it's some sort of omen for the outcome. Heavens it wasn't in the recent "Madonna" falling off stage league!

I haven't found this election at all boring. I think if anything it's more interesting than usual!

I do Yougov surveys, and they have been flying in thick and fast, presumably all of the parties have been commissioning them. They must hate me, because I am refusing to commit. Having read Annie's post, I am tempted to vote for whichever party is the least racist, to try to balance things out a bit.

jo1book

I don't think it's racism on the part of the English but I do think the fact England is the only country in the UK to not be allowed to speak for itself has certainly come home to roost at this election.

Why is it the likes of the SNP are hailed as heroes by some because they are looking after their fellow nationals, the clue is in their name with the simple word 'National'. Plaid Cymru is the Party of Wales again a nationalist party both obviously wanting more than devolution, they want Independence. Yet if an English person raises such issues or asks why they cannot be allowed to do as the other nationalist parties they are subject to abuse and that's when things get heated up because the playing field is not level.

Some are making it perfectly clear that they detest the Conservative party and anybody who votes for them. That's up to the individual to say what they like, although I find it at odds with the perception the Conservatives are the so called Nasty Party, irony or what.

Hatred of the conservatives certainly seems to be the common denominator for a lot of those who are supporters of Labour, Greens, Plaid Cymru and the SNP. Thank goodness they are in the minority. I think this is another reason why this election is being viewed openly as being aggressive, undemocratic and being seen by those English voters who like to fight with the view that if your party looses at least be magnanimous in defeat as I certainly will be if the party I vote for looses.

I hate, I hate the language of those who say 'If we gang up together we can lock our opposition out , for good'. I use the word not in a personal attack on those who say it but the undemocratic message it means and it doesn't sit well for many voters IMHO.

may2015.com/featured/election-2015-odds-miliband-is-a-5941-favourite-to-become-pm-despite-recent-polls/

Good for him.

He can only do it with the backing of the SNP so do you think he will try running a minority government or quickly rubbish his own declaration of No Coalition, No Supply and Confidence, No dealing with the SNP?

If you were Milliband what would you say when asked about working with the SNP? you have forty one MP's fighting to hold their seats in Scotland , all aware their chances of retaining their seats is grim. Would you want a leader to say tough luck , your loss, as long as I get into No 10 ?

The Guardian poll tracker shows you all the other parties involved.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/poll-tracker

The SNP has quadrupled its membership since Cameron backtracked on his promises after the referendum. Scotland do not trust him. I heard yesterday that the SNP are on track to win every seat in Scotland.

All Miliband has said is that he is not going to do a deal with the SNP. It means he can try to get what he wants through parliament, and it's up to the SNP whether they support him or not on any vote. It's up to them whether they let the Tories in or not. I thought he'd shot himself in the foot when I first heard him say that, but now I think it's quite clever, if he is chosen to be PM.

One thing I find interesting is the problem of Trident. Labour says it will keep Trident, as do the Tories. Libdems say Trident light. SNP say they will not back Labour on Trident, but the Tories say they will not. Does that make any sense to you?

POGS I believe that any party in opposition turns nasty because it is fighting against a certain strength the ruling party has, in that it is known. Miliband is a unknown factor and his supporters feel the need to rally to his cause.
I think you are right about the hate message from the Nats. We are all stronger to-gether and your average voter is getting fed up with them.

Remember Martin Luther King; We live together as brothers or we die together as fools.

P.s. I didn't see the leader's discussion last night. What did Miliband do? Break out into "I'm a virgin"? Do tell.

I'm with the SNP about this. I hate what the Tories have done to the poor and dispossessed in our society. I hate them even more because they pretend otherwise.

With you durhamjen

jo1book

I don't see Miliband as an unknown factor at all. He was well established in the Labour Government and has been given more media coverage than any other opposition leader I have ever known. Mainly due to the fact politics is becoming more popular with voters.

As for not watching Question Time last night and asking 'What did he do, do tell'. I will repeat he said categorically Labour will not go into coalition with the SNP, Labour will not go into a Supply and Confidence deal with the SNP, Labour will do no deals with the SNP.

Anniebach

You are missing the point. Miliband , Cameron and Clegg are not in the position of being able to speak to just one nation to gain votes, as you imply. Even Miliband would know that by declaring his guarantee that he will do no deals with the SNP the voters in Wales, England and N. Ireland will expect him to keep to his word. Hence as I said it could be the electorate will view any U Turn as his Nick Clegg Tuition Fee moment, you know where that has left him.

DJ

So you believe Miliband and Labour will try running a Minority Government then?

POGS On the basis that over half the Scots did not vote for Ms Krankie, would they not be better giving a tactical vote to Labour or Conservative.

Yes, POGS.
SNP have said they will not support the Tories. The Tories will not be in a position to form a government, because there will always be a vote of no confidence by the opposition. The Libdems are unlikely to go in coalition with the Tories again, and if they do, there will not be enough MPs to get the queen's speech passed.
The SNP are not going to go against the Labour queen's speech because if they do they will let the Tories in. Clever of Miliband, I think.
If Miliband keeps Trident out of the queen's speech, he will be able to form a government.

Five years ago, the Tories promised no top down reorganisation of the NHS, and look what they did as soon as they got in.
No Tory can have the moral high ground on election promises.