2015 UK Politics Megathread

[United Kingdom of Kent]

Voting cast in favour of UKIP, now the waiting game for the results.

Which Kent constituency?

I'm at university right now so voted here, but if I was home would have been in South Thanet.

[The Archregimancy]

The degree is formally in anthropology, but at Cambridge this required him to study both archaeology and anthropology.

And anyway, I have an anthropology degree too.

Yeah I'm doing an anthropology degree but it's in the Archaeology department at uni, it's all tied up.

Not necessarily - writing as someone who was teaching in the archaeology department of a British university until 2013, it rather depends on where you study the subject. At some universities the subjects are wholly distinct, but at Cambridge, studying anthropology would have required Clegg to also study archaeology (as we indeed know he did).

That said, it might have been more pedantically accurate for me to write "both Clegg and I studied archaeology as part of our undergraduate anthropology degrees"; unlike Clegg, I then went on to get two postgraduate degrees - this time specifically in archaeology.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Which Kent constituency?

I'm at university right now so voted here, but if I was home would have been in South Thanet.

At least that was one less vote for Nigel Farage.
Honestly, I really want him not to win South Thanet, and see if he really follows up on his promise.

[Frasers]

I'm at university right now so voted here, but if I was home would have been in South Thanet.

You could always have postal voted?

[The Archregimancy]

I know it's silly, but the one concern I have remaining about STV (and specifically STV - I'd oppose any system that would involve party lists) is that it'd in all likelihood ruin election night. But oh, well.

I have a surprising amount of sympathy for you there. I do really enjoy staying up on election night, regardless of the result (1992 was a particular low point, not just because Major unexpectedly won, but because my then-fiancee broke up with me the same day).

But my experience of living in Australia through two Australian elections suggests that the experience under systems involving fiendishly complicated electoral systems is still exciting - just different and a lot more drawn out.

Just so long as we don't import the invidious Australian senate election practice of allowing people to vote either above or below the line.

[Frasers]

Not necessarily - writing as someone who was teaching in the archaeology department of a British university until 2013, it rather depends on where you study the subject. At some universities the subjects are wholly distinct, but at Cambridge, studying anthropology would have required Clegg to also study archaeology (as we indeed know he did).

That said, it might have been more pedantically accurate for me to write "both Clegg and I studied archaeology as part of our undergraduate anthropology degrees"; unlike Clegg, I then went on to get two postgraduate degrees - this time specifically in archaeology.

I can only speak from my personal experience, and the people I know at other unis who are doing similar courses, and they're in a similar boat to me, I know one girl who's doing Archaeology and Anthropology at Bristol for example, I think Birmingham unifies the two subjects as well although I could be wrong.

I honestly had no idea Clegg had studied anthropology though, I just assumed he'd be PPE or history or something until you made your previous post.

[Greater-London]

At least that was one less vote for Nigel Farage.
Honestly, I really want him not to win South Thanet, and see if he really follows up on his promise.

He'll have to. If he doesn't UKIP loose its "Were different" "we keep our pledges" vibe. I'm curious as to whether or not Nige will win in South Thanet I don't think he will. If he does however I don't think UKIP will be going anywhere anytime soon. They've always focused on 2020 as the election where they break the mold - if Nigel and a few others get in then it will encorouge more Conservatives to switch AND come the EU referendum deffections, when the Tory top brass inevitably end up campaiging for "in"

[Frasers]

He'll have to. If he doesn't UKIP loose its "Were different" "we keep our pledges" vibe. I'm curious as to whether or not Nige will win in South Thanet I don't think he will. If he does however I don't think UKIP will be going anywhere anytime soon. They've always focused on 2020 as the election where they break the mold - if Nigel and a few others get in then it will encorouge more Conservatives to switch AND come the EU referendum deffections, when the Tory top brass inevitably end up campaiging for "in"

I can't remember if I already posted this, but South Thanet it make or break for UKIP. If Farage doesn't get a foot in the door at Westminster he has to step down as leader, then it's game over for UKIP because they are pretty much a one man party.

[United Kingdom of Kent]

I'm at university right now so voted here, but if I was home would have been in South Thanet.

You could always have postal voted?

It's my first general election so had a sort of thing about wanting to place it in the poll box myself.

[Frasers]

It's my first general election so had a sort of thing about wanting to place it in the poll box myself.

Fair enough, where you at uni? UKIP got any chance at all where you are?

[Greater-London]

I can't remember if I already posted this, but South Thanet it make or break for UKIP. If Farage doesn't get a foot in the door at Westminster he has to step down as leader, then it's game over for UKIP because they are pretty much a one man party.

True. Although I think if they did exceptionally well, say 7 or 8 seats (wont happen, but yeah) then maybe it shows that UKIP has outgrown Nigel? Also I think it depends who they get in to replace him; if they managed to make a massive first impression - as in as big a personality as Nigel then I don't see why they can't carry the flame.

[The Archregimancy]

Right, heading out to the polling station.

For those of you surprised to see me write that - yes I am in the UK right now.

[Kvatchdom]

Huh. Fairly surprised so many people here support UKIP. Guess I'm too used to left-wingers taking control of threads like these.

Anywhoo, I'd vote Conservative.

[Arglorand]

Was for the SNP

True, sadly not for Scotland though.

A flurry of political activity unforeseen and unseen before, and a fierce wish across just short of the majority of the population to do something better than the honestly crappy status quo, is a negative?

[Napkiraly]

Friend is rather miffed for whom I voted for

[Arglorand]

hell on that note

Friend is rather miffed for whom I voted for

I'm guessing Labour?

[Napkiraly]

hell on that note

Friend is rather miffed for whom I voted for

I'm guessing Labour?

No UKIP

[Arglorand]

hell on that note


I'm guessing Labour?

No UKIP

... u serious

[Napkiraly]

No UKIP

... u serious

Maxine Spencer, UKIP candidate for Holborn and St Pancras

[Arglorand]

... u serious

Maxine Spencer, UKIP candidate for Holborn and St Pancras

why

[Napkiraly]

Maxine Spencer, UKIP candidate for Holborn and St Pancras

why

For shits and giggles actually

[Val Halla]

My prediction.

Stuff is gonna be tied between Labour & Tories. Tories enter a coalition with UKIP, Labour refuse the SNP.

[Valaran]

My prediction.

Stuff is gonna be tied between Labour & Tories. Tories enter a coalition with UKIP, Labour refuse the SNP.

The Tories entering with UKIP would add under 4 seats to their total.... which would make no difference at all.

The most likeliest outcomes is either a minority government, or some unwieldy Labour informal agreement with the SNP and the lib-dems.


Edit: I also really hope the Tories wouldn't do something like that anyway.

[Atlanticatia]

I saw that final polls had a one point lead for Labour. The suspense is killing me.

[Valaran]

I saw that final polls had a one point lead for Labour. The suspense is killing me.

Its a little more complicated - the phone typically polls had the Tories leading by 1-2 points (usually about 34-35% to Labour's 32-33%) but the internet polls had them level pegging (or 1% in either direction).

But these are all well within the margins of error, and obviously it depends what happens in the marginal seats.