The Front Page. - Copy 93 ( The General Election )
7 May 2010
And so this fascinating election and it's aftermath draws to a close. Top Tory Toff David Cameron has now entered Downing Street as PM, getting there only after a nailbiting cliffhanger, and of course with the substantial help of the meteoric Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats. These 'Kingmaker' Libdems have negotiated themselves into 5 cabinet positions, with Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister of this great nation of ours. Some achievement for him. It's a full coalition therefore.
Yet many in the Tory Party remain unhappy and uncomfortable with this two party association, this unholy alliance, but at the end of the day it was the only route forward and the only real and viable route into power. David Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister in 200 years, even younger than Tony Blair, so you can see the trend here....and looked immensely youthful as he snozzled affectionately with his wife on the Downing Street steps ( see picture).
But what an election! At the beginning it was feared that we would have the lowest voter participation in recent times, but after a revolutionary series of TV debates, the public pulse was re-activated and that great mass out there became involved and animated and voted in droves. Their engagement was palpable, and although we are in the age of the internet, it was all thanks to TV and the telegenic image of one man, who shook up the status quo. PB
Tuesday Night May 11:
The nation was glued to its tv screens earlier this evening as the Brown family meandered away from Downing Street for the final time. Gordon Brown partly resigned yesterday, but had planned to stay on for some six months until a new Leader of the Labour Party could be found. However the best laid plans are very often scuppered, and when he could not reach a deal with the Liberal Democrats today, tuesday, all was lost. His earlier plan was scrapped and immediate resignation kicked into play. It is also fair to say that the nation as a whole found the idea of a deal between a rainbow of parties, a rainbow coalition of losers, rather unsavoury. It was even unpalatable to diehard Labourites.
Gordon Brown once again made a fine speech though on the steps of Downing Street, ably supported by the near presence of his wife Sarah. The speech was dignified and sad and even the battlehardened media mustered a round of warm applause. At the end of the day he was a decent man, he certainly didnt get everything right, but was widely respected I think for his passionate committment to his position as Prime Minister. Downing Street has been home to the Browns for 13 years. PB
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* *
Monday 10th April:
But...not just yet!
After several days of clinging on to the Downing Street edifice by his fingernails, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has decided to step down in six months time. This it appears is in an effort to help Labour facilitate a deal with Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, so that they, Labour, can remain in power. The Conservatives who are currently negotiating their own deal with the Libdems, may well have been wrongfooted by this extraordinary move by Gordon Brown. Or in other words...this puts the cat back amongst the negotiating political pigeons! The picture above shows the beleaguered and embattled Gordon Brown talking to the cameras at about 5pm today Monday, but doing so with a dignity that befits the office of Prime Minister. But...This amazing saga is far from over yet ...as we are still a long way short of seeing the politicos forming some kind, any kind, of government. It's all so bewildering for the humble voter. So the absolute status quo as referred to below still remains..for now..PB
* *
The nation is in a state of political limbo...
The picture on the left shows Nick Clegg talking to the cameras immediately after the election. He was clearly a disappointed man and both physically and mentally exhausted, because despite his whirlwind romance with the British public, the great advance forward in Liberal Democracy did not happen at the Polls. In fact the LibDems overall lost seats...so at the end of the day it was a bit of a crushing experience for the meteoric star.
However that apart, and as everyone knows by now, we are left overall in the no mans land of a hung parliament..with everyone trying to do deals with everyone else. Seats won are as follows :
Cons 306, Lab 258, LibDems 57. 326 seats needed for an overall majority.
Nick Clegg still remains in a strong 'Kingmaker' position and is currently in early flirtation with Cameron's Conservatives, who need those 57 varieties of LibDem seats to form a new government. Talks are ongoing today Monday but so far no result. Gordon Brown and the Labour Party are waiting in the wings to seduce Nick Clegg if all fails, but clearly at this time the momentum is with the Tories. But anything is possible.
It must be disappointing for the Conservatives, who at one time expected an easy win. They preached long and hard against the dangers of a hung parliament, but alas nobody listened, and now find themselves scratching around somewhat in a frantic effort to form a government. Some could argue that their campaign wasnt all that it might have been, there have been rumblings in the blue corridors, because despite Labour guiding us through the political hell of the expenses scandal, through that horrendous global financial bombshell, and with Gordon Brown being deeply unpopular, they still couldnt win outright. Questions will be asked at Party HQ. The limbo continues...
* *
But meanwhile in Dover...
Congratulations to Charlie. He pulled off a swing of 10.4% to the Conservatives, which is quite a hefty and substantial swing. Gwyn Prosser has been defeated following a long run as our MP here in Dover. The Conservative slogan "Time for Change" has certainly rung through here, and we most definitely have change. Overall nationally we are, as we write, still in a hung parliament situation....
Local Result.
Name Party Votes (% +/-)
Charlie Elphicke Conservative 22,174 (44.0 +9.1 )
Gwyn Prosser Labour 16,900 (33.5 -11.8)
John Brigden Liberal Democrat 7,962 (15.8 +0.0)
Victor Matcham UK Independence Party 1,747 (3.5 +0.8 )
Dennis Whiting British National Party 1,104 (2.2 +2.2)
Michael Walters English Democrats 216 (0.4 +0.4)
David Clark Christian Peoples Alliance 200 (0.4 +0.4)
George Lee-Delisle Independent 82 (0.2 +0.2)
Majority 5,274 (10.5)
Turnout 50,385 (70.1 +2.8)
We have a new Prime Minister.
And so this fascinating election and it's aftermath draws to a close. Top Tory Toff David Cameron has now entered Downing Street as PM, getting there only after a nailbiting cliffhanger, and of course with the substantial help of the meteoric Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats. These 'Kingmaker' Libdems have negotiated themselves into 5 cabinet positions, with Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister of this great nation of ours. Some achievement for him. It's a full coalition therefore.
Yet many in the Tory Party remain unhappy and uncomfortable with this two party association, this unholy alliance, but at the end of the day it was the only route forward and the only real and viable route into power. David Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister in 200 years, even younger than Tony Blair, so you can see the trend here....and looked immensely youthful as he snozzled affectionately with his wife on the Downing Street steps ( see picture).
But what an election! At the beginning it was feared that we would have the lowest voter participation in recent times, but after a revolutionary series of TV debates, the public pulse was re-activated and that great mass out there became involved and animated and voted in droves. Their engagement was palpable, and although we are in the age of the internet, it was all thanks to TV and the telegenic image of one man, who shook up the status quo. PB
It's All Over for Gordon.
Tuesday Night May 11:
The nation was glued to its tv screens earlier this evening as the Brown family meandered away from Downing Street for the final time. Gordon Brown partly resigned yesterday, but had planned to stay on for some six months until a new Leader of the Labour Party could be found. However the best laid plans are very often scuppered, and when he could not reach a deal with the Liberal Democrats today, tuesday, all was lost. His earlier plan was scrapped and immediate resignation kicked into play. It is also fair to say that the nation as a whole found the idea of a deal between a rainbow of parties, a rainbow coalition of losers, rather unsavoury. It was even unpalatable to diehard Labourites.
Gordon Brown once again made a fine speech though on the steps of Downing Street, ably supported by the near presence of his wife Sarah. The speech was dignified and sad and even the battlehardened media mustered a round of warm applause. At the end of the day he was a decent man, he certainly didnt get everything right, but was widely respected I think for his passionate committment to his position as Prime Minister. Downing Street has been home to the Browns for 13 years. PB
See all the comments below. Add yours too. No membership required.
* *
Monday 10th April:
Gordon Bites the Bullet..
and Resigns.
But...not just yet!
After several days of clinging on to the Downing Street edifice by his fingernails, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has decided to step down in six months time. This it appears is in an effort to help Labour facilitate a deal with Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, so that they, Labour, can remain in power. The Conservatives who are currently negotiating their own deal with the Libdems, may well have been wrongfooted by this extraordinary move by Gordon Brown. Or in other words...this puts the cat back amongst the negotiating political pigeons! The picture above shows the beleaguered and embattled Gordon Brown talking to the cameras at about 5pm today Monday, but doing so with a dignity that befits the office of Prime Minister. But...This amazing saga is far from over yet ...as we are still a long way short of seeing the politicos forming some kind, any kind, of government. It's all so bewildering for the humble voter. So the absolute status quo as referred to below still remains..for now..PB
* *
The nation is in a state of political limbo...The picture on the left shows Nick Clegg talking to the cameras immediately after the election. He was clearly a disappointed man and both physically and mentally exhausted, because despite his whirlwind romance with the British public, the great advance forward in Liberal Democracy did not happen at the Polls. In fact the LibDems overall lost seats...so at the end of the day it was a bit of a crushing experience for the meteoric star.
However that apart, and as everyone knows by now, we are left overall in the no mans land of a hung parliament..with everyone trying to do deals with everyone else.
Cons 306, Lab 258, LibDems 57. 326 seats needed for an overall majority.
Nick Clegg still remains in a strong 'Kingmaker' position and is currently in early flirtation with Cameron's Conservatives, who need those 57 varieties of LibDem seats to form a new government. Talks are ongoing today Monday but so far no result. Gordon Brown and the Labour Party are waiting in the wings to seduce Nick Clegg if all fails, but clearly at this time the momentum is with the Tories. But anything is possible.
It must be disappointing for the Conservatives, who at one time expected an easy win. They preached long and hard against the dangers of a hung parliament, but alas nobody listened, and now find themselves scratching around somewhat in a frantic effort to form a government. Some could argue that their campaign wasnt all that it might have been, there have been rumblings in the blue corridors, because despite Labour guiding us through the political hell of the expenses scandal, through that horrendous global financial bombshell, and with Gordon Brown being deeply unpopular, they still couldnt win outright. Questions will be asked at Party HQ. The limbo continues...
* *
But meanwhile in Dover...We have a new MP - Conservative Charlie Elphicke.
Congratulations to Charlie. He pulled off a swing of 10.4% to the Conservatives, which is quite a hefty and substantial swing. Gwyn Prosser has been defeated following a long run as our MP here in Dover. The Conservative slogan "Time for Change" has certainly rung through here, and we most definitely have change. Overall nationally we are, as we write, still in a hung parliament situation....
Local Result.
Name Party Votes (% +/-)
Charlie Elphicke Conservative 22,174 (44.0 +9.1 )
Gwyn Prosser Labour 16,900 (33.5 -11.8)
John Brigden Liberal Democrat 7,962 (15.8 +0.0)
Victor Matcham UK Independence Party 1,747 (3.5 +0.8 )
Dennis Whiting British National Party 1,104 (2.2 +2.2)
Michael Walters English Democrats 216 (0.4 +0.4)
David Clark Christian Peoples Alliance 200 (0.4 +0.4)
George Lee-Delisle Independent 82 (0.2 +0.2)
Majority 5,274 (10.5)
Turnout 50,385 (70.1 +2.8)