General election 2010: Polling stations report high turnout

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Does this mean Cameron can form a minority government?

It's intended as a concession to the Liberal Democrats, with Brown publicly on the way out it leaves the way open to a possible coalition with Labour. Still a big uphill battle as they'd still need the Scottish and NI nationalists.

Of course the Tories won't sit still for it.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It's intended as a concession to the Liberal Democrats, with Brown publicly on the way out it leaves the way open to a possible coalition with Labour. Still a big uphill battle as they'd still need the Scottish and NI nationalists.

Of course the Tories won't sit still for it.

Oh right, I mistook what was going on. He hasn't officially resigned as PM, he just that he will officially step down as party head in the near future in the hopes that the lib. dems. come to their side and form a gov. Gotcha

[Pooky 3,348]

Well, as resignations go, it's not exactly an immediate termination - I wonder who'll go for it? I wonder if the poison dwarf will have a go?

It'll be David Milliband.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

It'll be David Milliband.

God help us. This is the third time today I've heard this and it doesn't get more palatable on repeated hearings.

[Peikko 1,575]

Apparently he is the front runner.

[Pooky 3,348]

God help us. This is the third time today I've heard this and it doesn't get more palatable on repeated hearings.

Well, Ed Balls scraped in by 100 votes. Not him then.

Alistair Darling looks like someone's got their hand up the back of his shirt and is working his lips and the arms. Not him then.

And Peter Mandelson? The surest way to have a Conservative - LibDem alliance government in place for the foreseeable future.

Did I miss out any other nonentities?

[Peikko 1,575]

Apparently David has a brother who might stand - and Alan Johnson, whoever the hell he is.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Really, Alan Johnson? Interesting. He took over as Home Secretary from Jacqui Smith. Fully paid-up union man, hardscrabble background. Not my first choice, but then, I can't say I can identify anyone in the Labour Party right now I'd see as a safe pair of hands.

[Peikko 1,575]

They are names being bandied around as well as those Pooky mentioned. I am not sure anyone is really in sync with reality in politics at the moment, we can but hope

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It'll be David Milliband.

Great.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Great.

Makes your little heart sing, doesn't it?

Stupid stupid Granita pact -- it's all coming home to roost now.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well as far as I am concerned the worst of Blair's inner circle are out. I was happy to see Jacques Smith out.

Unfortunately Mandelson is still in government, the Labour equivalent of Michael Howard. At least he's only behind the scenes.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Yes, the Jacqui Smith moment the other day struck a strange note in my head that was almost reminiscent of Portillo's scalp in 1997, but without the same resonance. Totally agree with you about Mandelson. My ex's aunt knew him, vaguely, and said he was just as much of an odious toad in real life as we all suspect him to be.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yes, the Jacqui Smith moment the other day struck a strange note in my head that was almost reminiscent of Portillo's scalp in 1997, but without the same resonance. Totally agree with you about Mandelson. My ex's aunt knew him, vaguely, and said he was just as much of an odious toad in real life as we all suspect him to be.

As far as I remember Portillo took his defeat a lot better than David Mellor back in 1997.

Jacqui Smith looked genuinely upset that she lost her seat. Guess she'll have to find some other way of financing second home renovations and her husbands porn habit.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Hopes for a Lib Dem/Tory coalition still live -- rumour is Gordon will resign tonight as PM and the coalition government will be in place by Saturday. Apparently the Lib Dems could not do a deal with Labour, and as of the past hour had been in talks with the Tories for 3 and a half hours.