Labour Win Election!

Tony Blair is still our Prime Minister as we wake up today. He has been handed a historic third term by the British electorate, but received over 2,000,000 less votes than the 2001 poll.

Labour won 351 seats compared with Conservative’s 191, Lib Dem’s 59, and ‘others’ 12 seats.

The general consensus is that Blair will now opt to leave Downing Street sooner rather than later and hand over to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, a man widely credited for putting a poor early election campaign back on track.

A contrite prime minister admitted the war had been a 'divisive' issue in the country and that the Labour government will have to respond to the country's desire for a Labour government with a reduced majority.

Yeah, Labour won, but dont have a major majority in the house now. This will make parilament more tough now for Blair to get backing on certain issues he needs support on, education, health, etc. Things are going to be interesting. To me, we are seeing the last years of a labour government, i feel that labour will not win a fourth term.

Yeah very true, but who will take power next time?

Conservative? Lib Dems?

My money is on Lib Dems soon becoming Labour's main opposition.

I hope they do cause i'm sick of the two party, or even one party system we got here.

In canada there's four partys which have to potential to get into power. Now thats a real democracy. It actually keeps the politicians keep on their toes and gets them to actually do something positive for their country.

Er, hold on there folks; let's not get too carried away with this idea the majority is small and insufficient.

Labour's majority is only 'low' compared to the vast majorities racked up in 1997 and 2001.

Compared to the post war 'norms' a majority of 66 is a landslide.

For those imagining a weak or powerless Labour gov I'd suggest a wee reality check.
Maggie Thatcher's first gov in 1979 had a majority of 43.

66 is plenty enough to implement a program for gov.

Originally posted by phixion
Yeah very true, but who will take power next time?

Conservative? Lib Dems?

My money is on Lib Dems soon becoming Labour's main opposition.

not sure about Lib Dems,
there will be a government for them, but not far a long period of time.

Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
66 is plenty enough to implement a program for gov.

of course it is, but its still a low majority compared to his previous one and thats what people are talking about.

Just so that people can see how this compares -

1945 was a huge landslide with a Labour majority of 136.
1950 was a Labour majority of 5
1951 was a tory majority of 17.
1955 was a tory majority of 54
1959 was a landslide tory majority of 100
1964 was a Labour majority of 5
1966 was a landslide Labour majority of 96
1970 was a tory majority of 30
1974(1) was a hung Parliament
1974 (2) was a Labour majority of 3
1979 was a tory majority of 43
1983 was a huge landslide tory majority of 143
1987 was a landslide tory majority of 102
1992 was a tory majority of 21
1997 was a huge landslide Labour majority of 179
2001 was a huge landslide Labour majority of 167.
www.psr.keele.ac.uk...

[edit on 6-5-2005 by sminkeypinkey]

1974 (2) was a Labour majority of 3

That small!
Jesus, that must of been hard