The morning after the day before
I think that in what is one of the most interesting and complex elections for a generation, the BBC have severely let themselves (and therefore us) down with their coverage. Frivolous, inaccurate, overblown, inconsistent and uncoordinated (website and TV calling some seats in different directions!) Andrew Neil wasted on a D-list celebrity barge. Graphics that would have been rejected as too ludicrous by The Day Today.
There were, however, a few highspots. First, David Owen taking Paxman to task for this frivolity, and making the first grown-up assessment of the situation without mindless spouting of a party line. Of course, they cut away from this.
Second, David Butler. (Who was sadly inaudible owing to the BBC's Sky feed being all buggered up this morning. I'm now watching on the internet.)
On the political front, I'd shout out to Margaret Hodge. Well done to her for taking on and thoroughly defeating the odious Griffin, and addressing this in her speech. While I'm congratulating people who wear the other coloured rosettes, I was also pleased to see Rushanara Ali win in Bethnal Green and Bow. In blue, Chloe Smith, Justine Greening and Priti Patel are my top wins. All three of these will be in ministerial jobs very soon, if everything works out as I hope that they will.
Looking forward, I reckon a reformed second chamber, elected on some form of PR, a reduction of the number of MPs and a consequent package of boundary change are the likely consequence of the current situation - maybe even a PR option, with a referendum ultimately wrapping up the whole reform package. But this is likely to take several days (if not longer) to resolve. The Turnip Taliban will kick and scream about this, I have no doubt, but I think the centrists will carry the day. Expect much hyperbole and blood letting from has-beens and no-hopers in all parties trying to drag themselves into the limelight at this time. The role of the Orange Book LDs will be critical, and how they relate to the (general much more left-ish) LD activists.
I also expect a lot of disgruntled activists from all parties complaining about how the *national* campaigns were run. I don't think this is fair to any of the party leaderships. Personally I think that Labour's national campaign (I speak not at all of the local activists) was very nasty, but actually quite effective in protecting 10-15 key seats. The Tories did not "throw away" the lead during the campaign - the drift had happened from Christmas to March, and we actually gained ground during the campaign. The LDs never had the breakthrough they trumpeted, and suffered the classic squeeze - only marginally improving their vote share; but their campaign actually prevented a total meltdown which was certainly on the cards. It is only the difference between expectation and reality that makes this seem so disappointing for them.
And still the local elections to come!
There were, however, a few highspots. First, David Owen taking Paxman to task for this frivolity, and making the first grown-up assessment of the situation without mindless spouting of a party line. Of course, they cut away from this.
Second, David Butler. (Who was sadly inaudible owing to the BBC's Sky feed being all buggered up this morning. I'm now watching on the internet.)
On the political front, I'd shout out to Margaret Hodge. Well done to her for taking on and thoroughly defeating the odious Griffin, and addressing this in her speech. While I'm congratulating people who wear the other coloured rosettes, I was also pleased to see Rushanara Ali win in Bethnal Green and Bow. In blue, Chloe Smith, Justine Greening and Priti Patel are my top wins. All three of these will be in ministerial jobs very soon, if everything works out as I hope that they will.
Looking forward, I reckon a reformed second chamber, elected on some form of PR, a reduction of the number of MPs and a consequent package of boundary change are the likely consequence of the current situation - maybe even a PR option, with a referendum ultimately wrapping up the whole reform package. But this is likely to take several days (if not longer) to resolve. The Turnip Taliban will kick and scream about this, I have no doubt, but I think the centrists will carry the day. Expect much hyperbole and blood letting from has-beens and no-hopers in all parties trying to drag themselves into the limelight at this time. The role of the Orange Book LDs will be critical, and how they relate to the (general much more left-ish) LD activists.
I also expect a lot of disgruntled activists from all parties complaining about how the *national* campaigns were run. I don't think this is fair to any of the party leaderships. Personally I think that Labour's national campaign (I speak not at all of the local activists) was very nasty, but actually quite effective in protecting 10-15 key seats. The Tories did not "throw away" the lead during the campaign - the drift had happened from Christmas to March, and we actually gained ground during the campaign. The LDs never had the breakthrough they trumpeted, and suffered the classic squeeze - only marginally improving their vote share; but their campaign actually prevented a total meltdown which was certainly on the cards. It is only the difference between expectation and reality that makes this seem so disappointing for them.
And still the local elections to come!