General Election 2017

[Angus French]

[Mike Basman] seems confident that it will reach double figures.

He made it into triple figures with 100 votes (68 behind Chinners of the Monster Raving Loony Party).

[Roger de Coverly]

A familiar scene when coverage of the Hastings count came up.

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/ ... -1-8000889

I wonder if a chess event has ever needed to be postponed or cancelled because the premises were needed for a polling station or election count.

[MartinCarpenter]

Turns out this really was a good joke overall. Potentially hugely problematic for the A50 negotiations of course but I haven't stopped laughing yet

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Agonisingly close for the Lib Dems in seats like Richmond Park (lost to Conservative Zac Goldsmith by 45 votes) and Fife North East where the SNP retained the seat by 2 votes! One result still to come in Kensington where Labour might take it, but the counters were getting visibly tired after several recounts, so the count was suspended. Never seen that happen before.

Two results stood out for me. The Conservatives taking Mansfield (which had been Labour since 1923), and Labour taking Canterbury (which had been Conservative since 1918).

[Jonathan Rogers]

Surprisingly high young person turnout for labour resulting in a hung parliament.

Whats my prize? I'll take a labour government!

Well done! I am at least delighted about being so far wrong on my own prediction.

[NickFaulks]

Tories apparently want to avoid a bitter and divisive leadership contest at this point. Why is it better to have it in a few months' time?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

DUP as kingmakers

[Jonathan Rogers]

Tories apparently want to avoid a bitter and divisive leadership contest at this point. Why is it better to have it in a few months' time?

to give time for an alternative to Boris Johnson to emerge?

[NickFaulks]

DUP as kingmakers

"Other clues to what the DUP might demand can be gleaned from their manifesto, which includes retaining the "triple lock" on pensions, cutting VAT for tourism businesses, abolishing Air Passenger Duty, and reviewing the price of ferries between Northern Ireland and Great Britain."

I wouldn't have a problem with any of that, although I have always felt that the triple lock is technically wrong.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

One of the problems is that if there is no power-sharing agreement at Stormont, apparently emergency legislation would be required to take Northern Ireland back under direct rule. It could all get very messy.

[Jonathan Rogers]

It strikes me as a very dangerous game. Brexit might require a hard border being reintroduced in Ireland. Sinn Fein and you know who would be strongly opposed to that at the best of times, let alone at a time when the DUP is supporting the government which allows it.

[NickFaulks]

to give time for an alternative to Boris Johnson to emerge?

I'd say that Davis and Rudd have already emerged.

[LawrenceCooper]

to give time for an alternative to Boris Johnson to emerge?

I'd say that Davis and Rudd have already emerged.

Jack?

[NickFaulks]

Jack?

I'm sure he would be great, but sadly you have to be an MP. That little detail almost tripped up his namesake.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Round-up of the reaction from abroad: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-40215432