h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The problem as I understand it this morning is that no party would be big enough in any sane or at least sustainable coalition either.

Plus the Brits are dead against coalitions generally. We think it doesn't make for strong govenment. Personally, I am not convinced by the desirability of strong government myself. Means you don't have to listen to anyone from the sections of society other than the ones who electred you, but still. Interesting times coming up.

*Tries to restrain herself from rubbing her hands together gleefully* I am such a chaos junkie.

According to the list in my dictionary we had coalition governments in 1783, 1852-55, 1916-22, and 1929-45 (and you couldn't really call the WWII government weak). We also briefly had a minority Labour government in 1974, but they soon held another election. I suspect there'll be calls for a new vote this time too, especially since many were turned away from the polling stations.

Apparently, the King had to get involved to bang a few heads together and get a working arrangement in the 1929 one though. I am paraphrasing the beeb here.

I think it is due to the more adversarial nature of UK politics. The house sits across from each other and they get up and shout about things just look at Prime Ministers questions. It's not sitting in a nice circle and talking calmly to each other.

Morning All,

Will be following the aftermath on the news over the next few days as events unfold, hyperbole is spoken in public and grudging agreements are made in private. Interesting times indeed.

Happy Birthday Hyp It's a clever little device that balances out your garden pest/predator count. Care with the orange button.

MC

Glad I watched channel 4 last night. Completely abusive to MP's and pretty hilarious throughout.

It's certainly going to be interesting the next few days.

Phil - We should probably be glad they keep two sword-lengths apart.

Well, well, well - interbreeding between Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis - who'd have guessed?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8660940.stm

Toe the line!

I think that is rather splendid, Titania - especially given that the only "true humans" are Africans.

Sol, I'm with you, I'm a chaos junkie, so this is what I wanted. I also believe that politicians should have to work for consensus rather than being able to surf a huge majority to impose bad law.

I can't say I've ever understood why a hung parliament is supposed to be bad - surely if there isn't a majority it'll mean people will actually have to debate a law and get it passed, rather than just force it through on majority? But, given the amount of back-biting and politica manouvering that goes on they may not actually be voting on issues at all.

Maybe I've just watched too much 'Yes, Minister'. There was a superb clip up on the BBC FP this morning about what you can tall about voters by what paper they read. It's a shame it's gone now.

Well, over the they're surely not hung - they're just coalition or minority governments. No big fussing deal, rather the norm...

kelli, you are a brilliant mum. And T'boy's voting has put a big smile on my face. Quite a few small people were posting the ballot papers in the box yesterday and I thought it was good, that they were getting that experience at such a young age. (Also, it meant that the right coloured paper went in the right box, as children are much better at that sort of thing than adults ). *Because* we had a *lot* of people who arrived at the polling station saying they had never voted before - and they weren't all in the 18-23 age bracket, either

Hypatia, belated birthday greetings. I'm giving you a magic wand. When faced with an impossible situation, simply wave it, and everything will be sorted out. I'm not sure how you recharge the batteries, though.

Not sure if I'll make it to the meet on the 15th, I know right now I'm not seeing things properly because of exhaustion - but DH's mum has deteriorated (I'm not sure of the details but I think she has had another stroke) and, well, you know how it is.

Phil: I totally agree about the layout of the House of Commons. No modern chamber is built that way, and the confrontational layout simply encourages the appalling behaviour which, if it were being displayed by children in school, would probably result in a fixed-term exclusion. How can any government in this country talk about neighbourhood co-operation, working together for children, and partnership arrangements, when the seat of government itself is incapable of fostering that way of thinking?

Mol

>> How can any government in this country talk about neighbourhood co-operation, working together for children, and partnership arrangements, when the seat of government itself is incapable of fostering that way of thinking?

2 hours of coughing and one hour of sleep does not equal a safe 4 hour drive tonight.

I'm off for some prophylactic s

Oooo, it will now be able to rent one of the church ruins on Sweden's biggest island Gotland for weddings and such, that is (they're very beautiful):
http://www.thelocal.se/26496/20100506/

I love "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" too, VIP - definately compulsive viewing for the moment.

*Puts v/_\3 on*

<BB<

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Morning all.

What Mol said.

Right. Must get on. Unfortunately, I have no milk, which means I can't make what I'd planned to for the Star's lunch and our interrupted night means I have got precisely nothing of use done today. On the other hand, I am due to go and meet Russian mothers and children later for the Star to get some Russian input. On the downside, it could me me, a nanny and one other kid there judging by the lack of whelm from the flurry of emails I've been sending around to the group that we've just set up.