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

Congratulations

I always wanted a Labour government with a much reduced majority, and thanks in part to you guys, we seem to have achieved that.

I'm happy with the Green party's performance here in Brighton - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/96.stm - where they've come a strong third position, taking votes from both the Labour and Tory parties. My feeling is that with the increasing influence of the Green party in politics at a local level, that they have a damn fine chance of taking the seat next time around.

Yeah, a terrific Green result there. As you say, it does make a Green MP look a distinct possibility next time round, given a good campaign - and I'm sure a lot of Green activists will fancy a south coast holiday.

Hopefully, the worst excesses of New Labour authoritarianism will be curbed by the smaller majority. Backbench revolts will really matter now.

Hey Om.
I was very pleased with how well your man Kennedy did. I've been watching the various interviews and he has been the only one from the big 3 to carry himself and his party with dignity and humour. I think that was reflected in the very strong showing at the polls. The swing to the liberals is brilliant - it's only a pity that we don't have PR and the nations vote isn't adequately represented.
Anyway, congrats on your party's strong result.
I'm very proud of the way Britain has acted in this election - we have cooperated as a nation to keep our chancellor but immasculate Blair. I imagine you must be as thrilled as I am.
take care
kim

Cool.

Does anyone know how Demon Drawer got on?

, kim!

I'm still happily buzzing from our Leeds North West win. It really was against the odds. Labour's constituency HQ was a specially rented shop in the main street in Headingley. Ours was a party member's home in a terrace house, accessed via a back alley and situated over a disused off licence. Which some might say was rather apt, given Charlie Kennedy's reputation!

Seriously, I agree that CK conducted himself admirably, and I'm glad that he's planning to stick around for another General Election, unlike Messrs Blair & Howard.

Demon Drawer did well, coming a very honourable third in Linlithgow & Falkirk East. He got 7,100 votes, pushing the Tory into fourth place and increasing the Lib Dem share of the vote by 5.2%. For full details, see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/714.stm .

I personally wonder if CK is still the right man to take them forward.

Whilst this result is undoubtably good for the Libs I cannot quite escape the feeling that it is also a missed opportunity. Given the political climate I could a couple of months ago have seen them getting in the region of 80 odd seats and that just has not materialised.

Also whilst the result was pretty much a disaster for the Tories they have moved forward. If this translate to an invigorated performance generally in the commons against the govt. then by nature this marginilises the third party.

I also feel that the Libs failure to make real inroads into the Tory seats weakens their argument to be the "real opposition". I rather think the Tories will paint the fact that they held firm against the Libs as showing that they are the opposition and the Libs are an offshoot of the progressive vote (I am not saying I think that just how I expect the Tories to play it).

I think the Libs do have one significant problem (aside from our biased electoral system) is that for them to make real gains the Tories have to be margionalised nationally. This means they need progressive voters to vote tactically against the tories wherever it is a two horse race with the Tories involved. In three way margionals or Lib-Lab seats they need people to vote solidly but in said seats they need tactical voting.

The trouble is to be seen as a credible national party of government you cannot publically advocate tactically voting for one of your opponants. However for my thisd is crucial to the Libs success. Yes they need to win more seats, but the also need the tories to do badly, if this happens then they can genuinly be in a posistion to be the "proper" opposition. If they manage that then who knows.

However if the Consevatives continue to improve then the Libs chances of seeming credible decrease.

Moral of the story is that if you are left leaning and progressive vote tactically where every you can, despite what central parties tell you. If more people had done so we might have had joyous scenes of Letwin, Davis and May joining Tim Colins at the job centre.

I don't agree ferret - I think Kennedy is the man for the job. His best and most defining characteristic is his normality. He laughs and drinks and smokes and calls his wife 'the missus'. The British public are totally fed up of spin. I don't think more than about a quarter of the labour voters actively support Blair. Kennedy's integrity has shone through and his popularity is great - unlike the other two. In just about every labour seat, there was a swing to the liberals. What we need is electoral reform. In Scotland, where we have a regional pr system, we have a great showing for the libs in our devolved parliament. More people will vote for alternatives if their vote will be represented properly. I think Kennedy's the man for the job.