We're almost done with the politics stuff, viewers. Normal WoSblog service will be resumed shortly, but first I thought I might as well share with you an email I received this morning.
Back on Monday, when uncertainty still ruled as to who'd be forming the next government, the website 38 Degrees invited its users to send emergency emails to Labour MPs, urging them not to block any potential "progressive alliance" by vowing to vote against electoral reform, as many threatened to.
The momentum behind a Lib-Lab coalition seems at the time of writing to be slipping away, as one braindead Labour MP or grandee after another comes out to argue against it in front of an eager media. If Labour's 1983 election manifesto was the longest suicide note in history, today's collected BBC News interviews could be among the shortest.
Because here's what happens if Labour retards like David Blunkett, John Reid, Tom Harris and Wee Dougie Alexander scupper this agreement.
1. That the Tories hadn’t offered the Lib Dems anything on electoral reform. The sudden, desperate and resentful least-possible offer of a referendum on the absolutely useless AV (which does almost nothing for the Lib Dems) was a panic reaction to Brown’s game-changing resignation.
At least, it’s statistically probable that you do. The majority – 53% – of votes cast by the British electorate last Thursday were worthless, because they were cast for candidates who didn’t win, and are therefore simply thrown in the bin by the First Past The Post electoral system.
So if you were one of the thousands of people locked out of polling stations across the country on Thursday night, don’t fret too much. Your vote would probably have been completely ignored anyway.
Because the aim was a hung parliament, and we got just about the hung-est parliament possible. The Tories need the Lib Dems to form a majority, Labour needs nearly everyone to form a majority, and the smallest parties could yet have the crucial say. Wow, that's hung. But what now?
I haven't been to bed yet. I may be cranky. But with over 90% of results in, it's not really possible to draw any conclusions from last night's election other than (a) almost everyone in Britain is a pathetic, brainless cretin, and (b) everything about our "democracy" is a sick black joke at our expense.
With just two days until an election that could mark either one of the greatest days in British political history or one of the blackest, we're all a bit nervous about the future. But one thing that's great for easing tension is free cash, and that's what appears to be on offer from Stan James this week.
The terrifying image above is Ladbrokes' predicted map of the UK come Friday morning. (You can find much more detail on it here.) It makes a few questionable assertions and contradicts itself in a number of places (eg Glasgow East), but where's the money?
So the debates are over. We've heard at great length from three right-wing politicians, offering us three slightly different flavours of right-wing policies. No alternative voices were permitted.
And the really troubling thing about this election is that that means NOBODY is speaking for the majority of the British population. It almost certainly means that nobody is speaking for you. Which, you might think, is a pretty odd way to be running a supposed democracy.
Xaracen on Narrowing the options: “And what on earth makes you think that we can’t build a case around Alf’s stated theft of £150+Billion per…” Jul 5, 10:28
Xaracen on Narrowing the options: “But that ‘reality’ is unlawful and unconstitutional precisely because of those ‘musty 300 YO documents’, Hatey. Even merry old England…” Jul 5, 10:10
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “As I’ve just said to Xaracen, beats me how you can’t leverage that claim, if it’s true, into a slam…” Jul 5, 09:54
lothianlad on Narrowing the options: “Glad the Scottish establishment is being held to account.” Jul 5, 09:52
DavidT on Narrowing the options: “Operation Branchform uncovered embezzlement but was primarily an investigation into fundraising fraud following a complaint about the handling of a £667,000 ring-fenced…” Jul 5, 09:38
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “Not compelling. Not persuasive. Not practical. Not aligned with reality. Find something else. For example, Alf’s claim that Scotland loses…” Jul 5, 09:36
Alf Baird on Narrowing the options: “Aye Hatey, they are well worth their £2 billion budget for “those who are working for the security services” to…” Jul 5, 09:29
Xaracen on Narrowing the options: ““I’m struggling to identify a single SNP MSP or MP who I would trust to organise a piss-up in a…” Jul 5, 08:47
Xaracen on Narrowing the options: “James, it wouldn’t matter even if Article XVIII (and/or the Tenor attached to Article XXV by the Scottish parliament) didn’t…” Jul 5, 08:42
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “@Andy Wasn’t it Elkins who proved that in a colony, everybody not working for the security services actually is? Plus,…” Jul 4, 23:18
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “One thing you may have missed is the recent call by one of the more outspoken spokesmen for the religion…” Jul 4, 23:05
sam on Narrowing the options: “Caveman’s a fool. Knows nothing about the case. Opens his gub with nothing to say.” Jul 4, 21:46
Captain Caveman on Narrowing the options: “Sam is a pronouns kinda guy.” Jul 4, 21:22
Andy Wiltshire on Narrowing the options: “That’s just what you would say if you were working for MI6, which I think we can all agree proves…” Jul 4, 21:09
Hatey McHateface on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: ““Colonialism eventually eats itself” Care to put a date on that, Alf? Currently, you’re claiming colonialism is eating us to…” Jul 4, 19:55
Insider on Narrowing the options: ““James” Che… Have your carers walked out on strike and left you alone with the computer ?” Jul 4, 19:53
Doddsotheglen on Tuning In The Shine: “Apart from talking down Scotland and Scotgov and SNP the BBC in Scotland is very controlling of it’s journalists and…” Jul 4, 19:40
James Che on Narrowing the options: “The decision on wether we are in treaty of Union with England may or not may come a lot quicker…” Jul 4, 18:05
James Che on Narrowing the options: “Fearghas, The private rights of the Scottish people would include mums and dads in Scotland, It would also include wether…” Jul 4, 17:47
Captain Caveman on Narrowing the options: ““Like Roddy, QC, there will be plenty of pro British people united with us pro Indy/Scottish types, so the reach…” Jul 4, 17:44
James Che on Narrowing the options: “The Bank of England? Obviously not the Bank of Scotland, the Bank of Ireland, or the Bank of Wales. Perhaps…” Jul 4, 17:32
Willie on Narrowing the options: “And whilst we are on tbe subject of politically corrupt colonial police doing how many folks have heard of Home…” Jul 4, 17:29
Willie on Narrowing the options: “4nd whilst we are on tbe subject of politically corrupt colonial police doing how many folks have heard of Home…” Jul 4, 17:25
crisiscult on Narrowing the options: “Regularly drop by, but rarely post. I’ve been a frequent visitor here since 2012. I used to subscribe, then stopped…” Jul 4, 17:23
sam on Narrowing the options: “My apology Fearghas. It is a discrimination and harassment claim which has been running for several days and reported by…” Jul 4, 16:49
Alf Baird on Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along: ““if London wasn’t a colony?” The collaborating elites/bourgeoisie of hundreds of ex colonies are forced to head for the metropolitan…” Jul 4, 16:41
Mark Beggan on Narrowing the options: “A Bank of England note please. Can’t trust those Reichsmarks. Very volatile exchange rate.” Jul 4, 16:33
Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Narrowing the options: “Thanks. A bit of context from you would have helped. I read through the whole thing to my bemusement. I…” Jul 4, 16:04
Hatey McHateface on Narrowing the options: “I have a brand new, crisp, uncirculated Bank of Scotland £20 note that says the legislation won’t be applied to…” Jul 4, 14:55
