Election result

sara4 - I was also moved by Nick Clegg's speech- and really felt for him.
He was in a situation where he just could not win, but gave it his all.

All those Lib Dems who turned away from him and the party recently and either voted Green or Ukip, or whatever- should have realised what the outcome would be, with the FPP system. Do they really think that the Tories un-reined by Nick Clegg will be better???? Beggars belief. Those voters have destroyed their own party and the centre left - I fear for the ensuing 'Eton Mess' as Rowan aptly said. They will have to live with it- I wonder what the South West will be like?

I wish Nick Clegg a great rest with his wonderful family- and to find another outlet for his talent and social conscience.

He's probably already lined up a wonderful job in Brussels.

I think that once some of us have got over the shock and period of mourning, we shall need to decide why it all went so wrong and where we go from here.

Some the Labour commentators suggested that Labour whilst concentrating on it's natural support lost sight of the where we needed the votes i.e. the middle ground. Something to think about.

I am sure that much of what we value and fear might happen is also something many people who voted Tory yesterday also value and fear. For example fairness, greater equality, a good health service etc. and fear of losing them. But I think where we largely went wrong was the argument - although there was hardly any argument that hit home - on the economy. We lost many small businesses when we needed to pick them up.

Ana, didn't you notice that he retained his seat? He hasn't resigned as an MP - yet.

I find the whole thing now very worrying. Despite all the Tory assertions that people are better off it is far from the truth in parts of UK. The place I know best about at the moment is South Wales as we last lived there and we have children and gc living there. Several members of the family have had what equates to a wages cut - any increase others have had have been poor and not at the same level as inflation. Jobs are now paying thousands less than before the previous general election. The worst personal case I know is one family member having to take £2,500 pay cut - which the union had to agree to - or they were all to be made redundant and if they got their jobs back it would be at the lower rate anyway and minus any benefits.
As to Europe - one of the main reasons for the setting up of the EU was to remove the threat of war between the European Nations as their lives / economies were so intertwined. We had a referendum and agreed to join and in any relationship you have to take the rough with the smooth. You cannot just throw your toys out of the pram because you don't like some of the things and how they impact on you.
It has been in the hands of the UK to change some of the entitlement to benefits so that the UK was not such a beacon of hope and a utopia to people in poor countries. This would have been allowed within the EU. When Wales started giving huge grants to University students - which in effect cut tuition fees - many youngsters from the rest of UK applied to go to Welsh Universities. What did Wales do - change the rules and only the students who had been to school in Wales and still had a Welsh address qualified. That sorted it. People also wish to come to UK because of the language - English being an almost worldwide language has disadvantages!
The president of the European Union has said there will be no negotiation on terms for UK. We need to look at what the downside will be if we decide to disentangle ourselves - dearer wine might influence some!! The disappearance of a goodly number of jobs might have a bearing - and there
WILL be less as the EU is the biggest purchaser of our goods - not that we are so industrial since dear Maggie let it all go to the wall and the clever brains allowed apprenticeships to die.
I cannot understand how the mess the bankers got us into and increased our debt to bail them out is forgotten so easily. They of course still get the obscene bonuses and the government seem powerless to stop it.
The parties deserved what they got really - Labour chose the wrong brother, Nick Clegg sold out too readily just to get a bit of power and it allowed full reign to the Tories. The upsurge of the minor parties affected the outcome more than anyone really gave credence toamd also some people trying to be clever by tactical voting. Maybe the next five years will see sense prevail again.
By the way I was very surprised to hear on the BBC this morning that the Ed Balls debacle was being equated with that of Michael Portillo who has seen a great rise in his personal popularity since his demise from Parliament. Seems whatever any of us think Ed is considered to be one of the best economists about by the experts. Possibly would not have been so bad as Chancellor after all. His wife is being tipped as next leader of the Labour Party. All this upheaval will give an interesting scenario to watch.

Sorry about that long post ladies!!!

Ed Balls Yes I was amazed to hear Nick Robinson to say that he was the best economist by far in the House - pity he didn't say that before!

Well that would have been biased to say the least!

referendum - we have a UK referendum every five years, and a good job too.
We havent had a europe one for 42 years!
A bit overdue dont you think!

I think you have made some very good points in your post Bez. Although, I didn't vote Labour, I was almost sorry for Ed Balls and yes I gather he is considered to be one of the best economists around, but economics not being an exact science, there are always going to be varying opinions there.
Ed allegedly has other talents, I heard he does all the cooking in the Balls/Cooper household so if Yvette is kept too busy in whatever shadow minster's post she undertakes, she can at least expect a nice meal waiting for her when she gets home! Maybe like Miriam Clegg he could even do a cookery blog as well to keep himself busy!

After all there is life after politics, I wouldn't mind being Michael Portillo and getting to travel around Britain and Europe on trains

soon what is this referendum we have very five years? The last one I remember was about the Welsh Assembly. A Referendum is quite different to a General Election.

I would love to hear from anyone who used to be a Lib Dem supporter, but chose to vote for other parties this time due to the univesity fees issue- and now see the results. Do they truly think that university fees- and so many essential issues re the NHS, state education and social issues - will now be better with or without the Lib Debs reining in the Tories?

Diluting the vote by 'protest' voting for small parties (look at the Thanet South results, there were about 10 parties - none having any chance at all, but all taking valuable votes away from Lib Dems, and perhaps labour) in the unique First Past the Post UK system- results in what we see today.

I actually quite like the first past the post system - usually gives a result faster but lately we have had so many small one issue parties clouding things.This time I thought that no one party was really truthful at all about what they would do if they obtained power. Fear also paid a part in how people voted - I do not remember an election with such open personal attacks either - they were all saying what we would get if we voted for A B or C rather than telling us what we would definitely get if we voted for them. Surely they all knew what their party WOULD do if elected rather than what they thought the rest would.

I do enjoy the Portillo programmes but often wonder how he could have worked with Mrs Thatcher given that she had no interest in the railways; also wonder how a lot of the people he interviews feel about him for the same reason. As for Europe, I have to hold up my hands and say I don't understand the economics of it will and will take a 'better the devil' attitude and therefore vote to stay in. Dread to think how much the referendum will cost and feel that it would be better spent on schools and hospitals. And don't understand why we're told that we have such a good, strong economy these days and yet we have to make so many cuts that will affect the poorest members of society [not the richest] .

We haven't got a good strong economy. They're still working on it though. It takes time.

And in the meantime the poor get poorer.

Interesting reading all the posts, and opinions, but most of us know that the politicians promise things they will probably never be able to deliver, but I suppose they have the satisfaction of knowing they tried (or we hope they tried). There is the never ending question of where is all the money coming from - I think that is true of every party campaigning and telling us that various things would be different, but they all involved expenditure of some kind. We can now just wait and see what happens, and hope that the conservative party whatever our opinions of that party is, will be able to keep the stability they appear to have formed, and everyone will eventually benefit from that.

Well we are the third richest in Europe and the 9th richest in the world, according to one list. And yet we seem to come below a lot of countries when it comes to health care and education .

Amen to that Printmiss! Stability is a good thing to have.

As long as the least able in society don't make too many waves and those who decide so much remain full of their own importance we won't improve much. I believe that we should make it an obligation that everyone should have a job away from politics before they are allowed to stand for Parliament - so many people have no experience at all of life outside the political arena - not a good thing for the knowledge of life that they acquire Working in a factory or an office - not a top bank job! - would give much better perspectives and they would talk to the normal members of the population and maybe have a better idea of the needs of people.

Good idea Bez, but it will never happen - not now anyway.
The fact that the Conservatives have now got a good overall majority is amazing - I don't think anyone predicted that.
What worries me most is that the opposition is divided, with no one party able to wield much power. So the Govt. will be able to do whatever they like.

Well I suppose they could band together on some issues and at times there are rebels!

Bez - yes, wrong word from me.
I think that even labour are realising that they need to take more notice of small business. In essence, I dont think that many of them have experience of it, or even understand it.
Just deal with things that come your way, seems to be their answer.

Agree with you, Bez.
However, next month the least able in society, in the form of www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk are going to make waves.

What do you think about Fallon being defence secretary? Cameron didn't need to. He'll hopefully stir up a bit of discontent among his faithful followers.

Yes, I heard Nick Robinson say about Ed Balls being the best economist in the Houses of Parliament. I think he never said it earlier because he is a Tory. Good bit of bias there.

What makes you think that Labour know nothing about small businesses, soon? I ran two quite successful ones. If I can, I am sure others can.
What experience do you have of small businesses? Or do you just take notice of what you read in the papers owned by nondoms?

What labour do and dont do. What labour say and dont say.
If you have not guessed by well, my husband and I run a small business. As do many people I happen to know.

I have to say that one comment of yours this week particularly shocked me. You responded to poss GillT57 or poss gillybob, and mentioned to her about just upping her prices if she incurred more costs. And didnt seem to think about the impact of that.