Author Topic: UK General Election 2015 Live Thread (Read 3864 times)

EC · « **on:** May 07, 2015, 12:04:21 pm »

Since we don't have one and today is the day, lets drop it all in here.

Summary so far: Labour and the Conservatives are neck and neck, with neither set to obtain an outright majority in the House of Commons. The SNP is going to totally destroy Labour in Scotland - the most conservative estimates bandy about the idea of them taking every single Scottish seat. Lib-Dems are likely to lose a lot of seats and influence, so they'll be a definite minor partner in any coalition. UKIP will probably flame out hard on the day itself, being lucky to retain their two seats (both of which they obtained through defections from other parties, not elections).

When I find a good live report site (probably the BBC) I'll put it in thread, and post twitter updates as I can - I'm signed up for results by seat as they come in. Counting starts at 22:00 BST (21:00 GMT) and the first results are normally in by midnight, with all bar 5 or 6 results in by 04:00.

EC · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2015, 12:12:43 pm »

A couple of random fun facts:

The entire election will be determined by 11,000 people in 24 swing seats.

The Queen has the right to refuse any Prime Minister and government he may create.

Taking selfies inside a polling station is an arrestable offense.

EC · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2015, 12:30:41 pm »

Metro ‏@MetroUK 4m4 minutes ago

It's #ElectionDay but one in four people still don't know who to vote for #GE2015 #PollingDay http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/07/general-election-2015-its-polling-day-but-one-in-four-still-dont-know-who-to-vote-for-5184897/ …

That is a cheering thought.

DCPatriot · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2015, 12:43:02 pm »

Quote from: EC on May 07, 2015, 12:30:41 pm

Metro ‏@MetroUK 4m4 minutes ago

It's #ElectionDay but one in four people still don't know who to vote for #GE2015 #PollingDay http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/07/general-election-2015-its-polling-day-but-one-in-four-still-dont-know-who-to-vote-for-5184897/ …

That is a cheering thought.

Seems like those are voters who aren't engaged in the process. Maybe they'll stay in the Pub all day instead.

flowers · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2015, 02:55:31 pm »

thanks for this thread EC

EC · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2015, 08:38:20 pm »

Polls aren't closed yet, and I'm bored of the speculation going on.

Our polling station:

I was not a poll watcher this year (thought I was going to be elsewhere for the election so turned the task down this time).

Went to vote about 20:00, and there was a small but steady stream of people coming in to vote, roughly a person every 15 seconds or so. It's the most popular time of day for voting since work is finished, dinner has been eaten. Since our ward only had one item to vote on - the MP - it was quick. Go to the desk, hand over your polling card, state your name and address. You are crossed off the electoral list and then you are given your polling slip - paper. Take it to the booth, mark your choice (we had 6 options this year, listed in alphabetical order by surname) and fold it. Put it in the ballot box under the watchful eye of one of the poll watchers, to make sure only one vote goes in per person. Nice and simple and pretty fraud proof. Proxy voting is permitted, but you must have the persons polling card as well as your own and it must be signed by the voter, with YOUR name and address clearly printed as proxy.

mystery-ak · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:03:54 pm »

General Election 2015: Constitutional crisis after closest vote in decades could force rival claims
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/general-election-2015-constitutional-crisis-5655400

EC · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:25:03 pm »

Quote

Telegraph News @TelegraphNews · 46s 46 seconds ago

#Labour wins second seat of the night - HOLD Sunderland Central http://t.co/MhMoaoGL3Mm #GE2015

No surprises. Something like a 15,000 vote cushion.

EC · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:26:14 pm »

Exit polls are putting the Conservatives to finish with 315 seats - that is completely out of nowhere and 45 higher than the entire run up suggested.

truth_seeker · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:35:15 pm »

Quote from: EC on May 07, 2015, 10:26:14 pm

Exit polls are putting the Conservatives to finish with 315 seats - that is completely out of nowhere and 45 higher than the entire run up suggested.

That means they easily form the government and rule?

EC · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:36:32 pm »

Live results as they come in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/election-2015-32594267

240B · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:41:50 pm »

If it is anything like in America, the Left will demand recount after recount ad-infinitude until they manage to "find" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) enough vote to win. That's how they do it over here anyway.

That how several Dem congressmen have 'won'.

EC · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2015, 10:50:45 pm »

Nope - that foolishness is not permitted.

Ballot boxes are transported to the counting station in police cars, accompanied by BOTH duty poll watchers. Recounts are automatic if there is under (I think) 300 votes between the top two candidates. Any ballot not clearly marked - you put a single X on the paper, nothing more - are checked by count watchers from at least two parties before being declared valid or spoiled.

There is very little room for fraud in our system, apart from postal voting, which are counted at the same time and cross checked with the physical voters list. If your name has been crossed off, your postal vote is destroyed without being counted.

240B · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:03:46 pm »

Well, it is not anything like that over here. Voter fraud is rampant and is in many ways institutionalized.

It is expected and tolerated by both parties.

There was a case where hundreds of Republican ballots were found in the trunk of a Democrat operative. And nothing happened.

In another case, a woman in Cincinnati was caught voting for Obama at least 7 times that they could prove. She did a few days in jail and was released by the Fed to a cheering hero's welcome outside the jail.

There are countless known individuals voting in multiple States. Sometime the Dems will even bus out of State voters in to a close election. It is crazy.

Every year the politicians make voter fraud more and more easy. Now, Obama wants to let all the illegals vote, and they are pushing for 'internet voting', which is of course, insanity. And I am sure the Pubs will not do a damn thing about it. They never do.

In America, voter fraud is an expected and known part of any election. And nobody cares. It is so blatant that there is a saying in America, "Vote early and often.", and everyone laughs and laughs.

kevindavis007 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:05:20 pm »

Go David..

Right_in_Virginia · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:05:30 pm »

Liberal dems predicted to lose 47 seats (BBC)

Conservatives will be the largest party just short of the majority.

Turnout was "very high".

EC · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:40:28 pm »

Quote

Metro ‏@MetroUK 7m7 minutes ago

NAP ALERT: we're not expecting anything interesting until Nuneaton at 1.30 so if you're already flagging, go have a lie down now.
19 retweets 15 favorites

The British approach to elections.

EC · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:43:43 pm »

I'm seeing some seriously high voter turnout numbers being thrown around - over 75% in some seats. 58% in the young voter bracket (18 to 25).

EC · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:46:11 pm »

Quote

Sky News Elections ‏@skyelections 16s16 seconds ago

Labour hold #Washington & #SunderlandWest #GE2015.
0 retweets 0 favorites

Sky News Elections ‏@skyelections 17s17 seconds ago

Labour hold #SunderlandCentral #GE2015.
0 retweets 0 favorites

Sky News Elections ‏@skyelections 17s17 seconds ago

Conservative hold #SwindonNorth #GE2015
0 retweets 0 favorites

Sky News Elections ‏@skyelections 22s22 seconds ago

Labour hold #Houghton & #SunderlandSouth #GE2015.

No surprises thus far. The Ulster Democratic Unionists have held a seat too, but no one cares about what happens in Northern Ireland.

EC · « **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2015, 11:55:46 pm »

Quote

The Independent ‏@Independent 3m3 minutes ago

Police investigate fraudulent vote allegations in Glasgow http://ind.pn/1F8HPzv

Ref 240b, up thread - that's how suspicion of electoral fraud is handled here. The cops are called in at once.

EC · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2015, 12:07:18 am »

Quote

Breaking News UK ‏@BreakingNewsUK 4m4 minutes ago

Conservatives hold Putney with 23,018 votes to Labour's 12,838 and Liberal Democrats on 2,717 http://www.breakingnews.com/t/We3

It'll be safe seats for a while yet - most of England and Wales are safe seats, so there shouldn't really be changes. Scotland is a different kettle of fish - seems all bar one seat are likely to be swept by the SNP, which is a huge hit against Labour.

The Lib Dems are doing abysmally, even by their standards.

kevindavis007 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2015, 12:08:26 am »

Quote from: EC on May 08, 2015, 12:07:18 am

It'll be safe seats for a while yet - most of England and Wales are safe seats, so there shouldn't really be changes. Scotland is a different kettle of fish - seems all bar one seat are likely to be swept by the SNP, which is a huge hit against Labour.

The Lib Dems are doing abysmally, even by their standards.

So did Cameron win??

jmyrlefuller · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2015, 12:22:57 am »

How is UKIP doing?

EC · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2015, 12:24:32 am »

Won't know til about 7AM. IF the exit polls are right - big if, since it is way different to the polls in the run up - the Tories will have the most seats, but be about 10 shy of an absolute majority.

Gives them two options really - they are close enough to form a minority government and spend the next few years not getting anywhere, or they can strike deals with the little parties, like they did last time.

EC · « **Reply #24 on:** May 08, 2015, 12:26:17 am »

In terms of actual votes so far UKIP is doing surprisingly well. Doesn't mean a whole lot - there are no prizes for coming second. In terms of seats - meh. They'll have two or three at the most.