Election result

Good post TerriBull

I'm not a Conservative voter, and I fear for the future of the NHS and the poorer in our society now, but I think there are some valid reasons why the Conservatves appear to have won outright.
One is that Ed Milliband is neither liked nor trusted. And people don't forget what a mess the last Labour government made of the economy.
Also, David Cameron is at least trying to do something about the huge problems with immigrants by making it more difficult for them to come here and use our NHS etc, unless they reach certain requirements.
Also, we have all grumbled for years about welfare handouts to layabouts. Again, David Cameron has tried to address this, although not always fairly in my opinion. But at least there are now less people living off the state while idling their lives away.
And, thirdly, we are promised a referendum on Europe, which many of us have wanted for years. Hopefully, we can now re-negotiate our membership and if it still remains blatantly unfair then we can at least vote to leave.
Again, I am not a Conservative. Personally I hoped for another coalition as it does at least prevent sweeping excesses. We could now be in for a bumpy ride.

How many seats would UKIP have had, if we had PR?
I am mildly pleased with the outcome, in that it could have been worse. And it's not fair to assume that those who don't vote Labour don't care.
But I'm fearful of the outcome of the Referendum on Europe - there had better be some passionate and competent campaigning from the pro-Europeans!

Good thoughtful post Henetha.

Now Ed Miliband has gone!

Up to Harriet.

Well said Greyduster

POGS, why are you posting the same thing on both election threads?

Because I wanted to be heard and I couldn't see the point of a thread about a thread.

Didn't want anybody to be able to ignore me, I had been very quiet on the politics forum for a few days, making up for lost time.

And because I can Ana.

Ana

I thought as much, POGS!

I'm delighted with the outcome - YES!!!

Well, the Conservatives have now got 326 seats.

Can nothing stop Jeremy Vine and his ludicrous graphics on BBC?

Oh roses - I cannot agree that it is a "lazy assumption" on the subject of caring for the needy. They really have taken a battering and for me that is not the mark of a civilized society. People make the assumption that the Tories do not care about the poor on the basis of their record over the last 5 years, not on a whim.

I will be lobbying our MP (conservative) on this subject. He is a decent bloke and I think he will stand up for the needy - he has risked his position before to do what is right.

I am not surprised by the election result as the other two main parties had weak leadership. Hopefully the slender majority will mean that compromise might be possible.

Yes; I am hoping that also. Just because we vote for a certain party doesn't mean that we can't expect our MP to represent our views, and they can't do that if we don't tell them what they are.

Do any of you do Yougov? There are loads of polls on there, and I think they do take notice of what is said, as I was sent so many surveys on politics lately that all the parties must have commissioned one each, I think. I repeated over and again that the NHS, education and a decent pension were my own priorities, and the first two came out at the top. No government can ignore that.

Cameron's ideas on education and the NHS are not the same as many people's.
Cameron wants to hand everything over to private companies.

I bet he never thought of this when he targeted the Libdems.

www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2015/05/08/what-happens-next-cameron-will-be-held-hostage-by-the-right

At least all Tory MPs will be seen in the house of commons. With such a small majority, nobody will dare be ill.
Have to think of the positives.

I have listened to Nick Clegg's leaving speech and was quite upset, it was very gracious and moving (depending on your political stance I suppose) he explained why he had done what he did with regard to joining the Tories and in my opinion 'sacrificed' our party for the good of the country. Many Lib/Dems were not happy about this but it was done and we saw what thanks we got. Yes they didn't get student fees down, but people forget they got the pupil premium for needy children through and the free school meals for 4,5,&6 year olds. Also got the tax threshold raised. The Tories promised not to tamper with the NHS then made sweeping changes nobody wanted. This cost billions we are told. I am a pensioner so you could say I should be very pleased. In the main we have done well out of this government. The future remains to be seen.

More Eton Mess, anyone?

Has the resignation of so many Party leaders happened before?
It seems unusual to me that three parties will be electing new ones (assuming Nigel Farage doesn't change his mind sooner)

Cameron's ideas must be the same as many people, though djen.
Otherwise they would not have got in with a majority

They sort of did have the papers on their side.

Sort of? What, even the Guardian and the Mirror?

I think Farage will be back in September when UKIP has a leadership vote.