Thoughts on UK Election Results

David Cameron is now prime minister. I’m annoyed, confused, bemused and anxious all in one go.

I made it no secret that I voted for my local Liberal Democrat candidate. Not only did I feel she had the most to offer my constituency but I also support the Lib Dem party on the whole. I voted the same way in the last election, too. I’m not stupid, I was under no illusions about the likelihood of Nick Clegg getting into power on his own. Nonetheless, it was more than a little frustrating for the Liberal Democrats to get a similar percentage of the votes to the Labour party and yet a fraction of the seats. Definitely not keen on our First Past the Post system.

Anyway, so… Cameron. I’ve blogged about Cameron before. He’s made several statements about unmarried families, broken homes etc. In his eyes, unless you’re married you’re not contributing to society. I don’t like this viewpoint, not least because I’m not married myself. It’s ridiculous stereotyping, and I know for a fact that I have and will provide for Isabel better than some married couples I know provide for their children.

All of our local Conservative MPs have voted against equal rights for gays. In fact — and this is why I’m bemused — I find it quite ironic that I’ve seen several people online quite loudly supporting the Conservatives and yet joining pro-Gay facebook groups. Hello, can’t have your cake and eat it. I don’t know how anyone can find it acceptable to support a homophobic party, personally.

I wasn’t keen on the Lib Dems forming a Lib/Con coalition. Firstly, because I don’t see how 2 parties with very different policies can work together. Secondly, because I have a feeling that the next 5 years are going to be hard going, and I didn’t want the LDs’ chances of actually getting in and forming their own government at some point to go out of the window as a result.

I’m willing to hold off judgement on Cameron’s suitability for the job until he’s been doing it a while, but given that I disagree with most of their manifesto, and dislike most of their MPs, I don’t see how anything positive will come out of this election for me.

10 comments so far

  1. Amelie said:
    On 12 May at 8:31 am

    I am definitely happier that the LDs are in and it’s not a 100% tory government, but the problem with that is that I think it’s going to tarnish the LDs’ reputation. Everyone is going to think they are just like the tories, or that they are too easily manipulated because of the government they created together (which from what I’m reading is actually mostly tory ideas, with a lot of LD ideas shelved in order for the deal to go through)… Still, I hope that with them in some sort of power, they will oppose some of the more stupid ideas that the tories have, including those you mentioned about gay rights and married couples.

    I too feel as you do, disappointed and annoyed… However, we have to wait and see what happens, I suppose. Let’s hope that Cameron is true to his word and will rid the UK of its ‘benefit culture’ and the LDs help to bring some element of balance to everything. If not, we’ll be back in the 80s as with Thatcher and we’ll look very stupid for the next 5ish years. :P

  2. Nellie said:
    On 12 May at 10:23 am

    I’m going to be entirely optimistic here and say that the influence of the Lib Dems might soften the Tory stance on social issues and you could end up with something close to a libertarian government.

    Wishful thinking? Probably.

    Do you know what system the UK would change to if an electoral reform happened?

  3. Mumblies said:
    On 12 May at 10:54 am

    The problem with politics is although they make a whole bunch of statements and promises 99% of the time once they get into power they change all that and come up with entirely new agendas to shove in our faces. All I can offer on the homophobic stance is that they appear to have divided opinions on that http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-418.html/ so it’s anyone’s guess what will really happen once they get settled in and start making changes.
    I think the only certain thing is, that no matter who runs this country they do so with one target in mind…to line their pockets as quickly and as fully as possible with taxpayers being the poor fools that fund it.

  4. Han said:
    On 12 May at 11:45 am

    I would have voted for lib dem if I had been in the county! I was quite annoyed that I wasn’t.

    I completely agree with you about the first past the post system, in my eyes its just not fair! surely whoever gets the most votes wins!

  5. Manda said:
    On 12 May at 3:00 pm

    Issue of which party got voted in and who is the new prime minister aside, I can’t stop marveling at the rapid turnover speed of the prime ministers. Newly elected US presidents are president-elects for two and a half months before being sworn in!

  6. Kerry said:
    On 12 May at 3:43 pm

    I’ll admit that I didn’t vote because I was confused as to who to vote for this year. What I didn’t like though was a lot of the things that Cameron was proposing. It was a bit of a shocker to turn on the telly for Eastenders and see all of this happening.
    Perhaps the coalition with the Lib Dems will soften Cameron’s policies. The one thing that I appreciate about the Lib Dem policy is the idea that university education should be free. I guess if this ever happens though I’ll be out the other side with thousands of pounds worth of debt.

  7. Audrey said:
    On 12 May at 5:28 pm

    I like how your remarks are layout. You state your concerns and points of interest, but do leave room for the person to prove themselves. That’s a lot more sensible than many others are being. I am with you on all opinions here, and also hate how hypocritical people are involving political support versus their other public supportings.

  8. Dan said:
    On 13 May at 8:52 pm

    I don’t vote, and I never will. I don’t see why I should have to take my own time just to choose who’s going to mess up our country next..

    But I am glad Nick.. Sorry.. "Mister Long Leggy Cleggy Weggy" didn’t get it, just did not like him at all..

    I was more concerned they cancelled Eastenders ¬_¬

  9. Shola said:
    On 15 May at 3:15 pm

    Cameron doesn’t not represent my needs, nor my family’s needs. Having him as PM for myself and my family is completely useless. But I will hold off judgement as the LibDems are in there too, let’s see, s’only half a decade, right?

  10. Stephen said:
    On 16 May at 6:56 am

    Don’t lose heart: you could say it’s the best outcome that was realistically possible. Look at it this way: the lib dems were never going to get in on their own, and labour is so hated that there was a good chance the tories would get a straight-up majority.

    Instead, the lib dems have a voice in government for the first time. No matter how the government does, people will now see them as a much more serious party instead of as a bunch of unelectables. They’ve even got a chance to prove themselves and win even more credibility. Plus, the tories can’t go ahead and do whatever they please: that’s got to be a Good Thing :P