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.
WhoRattledYourCage on Before Action: “Saluting Trainspotting The Musical. 🙂 https://whorattledyourcage.blogspot.com/2026/08/overdosing-trainspotting-part-1.html” Aug 22, 22:56
Young Lochinvar on Before Action: “Well that’s it, I’ve done it and waded through watching the 3 hour plus movie “Odyssey” at the local pictures.…” Aug 22, 22:39
willie on Before Action: “Ah well that’s the end of that then Northy. Do you really think so, I see the Standards Commission and…” Aug 22, 22:09
Ex President Xiden on Before Action: “Exactly.” Aug 22, 22:06
Red on Before Action: “Nicola Sturgeon is the Jason Arday of politicians. Everybody knows she’s a liar, but her lies are convenient to the…” Aug 22, 20:01
Saffron Robe on Before Action: “You’re exactly right, James, it’s “through the backdoor”. In other words, we (by which I mean Scotland) are getting royally…” Aug 22, 20:01
agentx on Before Action: “It’s strange – as of 19.14 on 22 Aug this blog article has 124 comments. The article in The National…” Aug 22, 19:18
gm on Before Action: “Alf Baird says: 22 August, 2026 at 2:21 pm ‘And at the top of the colonial pile the Permanent Secretary’s…” Aug 22, 17:13
Just Asking on Before Action: “Thanks Robert. Assuming it wasn’t simply incompetence, but a deliberate decision by people who knew the money had been ring-fenced,…” Aug 22, 16:14
Hatey McHateface on Before Action: “Mark Any idea if he’s built his first affordable house yet? I’m assuming that’s why he fucked off on holiday…” Aug 22, 16:00
Northcode on Before Action: “For those who don’t appreciate poetry (or poetic justice) and my nine line non-Spenserian stanza version of the Dean’s opinion……” Aug 22, 15:25
Northcode on Before Action: “Scots criminal law attaches embezzlement to individuals, not organisations. This means that embezzlement is a personal crime. In short, embezzlement…” Aug 22, 15:02
Northcode on Before Action: “I asked myself this question: What are the risks to individuals working for COPFS and Police Scotland who are found…” Aug 22, 14:37
Young Lochinvar on Before Action: “HMcH Hopefully they have the sense to drink Highland Spring bottled water..” Aug 22, 14:34
Alf Baird on Before Action: “” I follow the argumentthat the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General are in the Scottish government and are subordinate…” Aug 22, 14:21
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “Come on Northy it’s Saturday. Take a chill pill. Peace and love to all mankind.” Aug 22, 14:08
Iain Ross on Before Action: “The police assertion that no new evidence has come to light would suggest that they already knew that the SNP…” Aug 22, 14:03
gm on Before Action: “The SNP elite needed money, they always needed money. The gang that lead the SNP had and have no interest…” Aug 22, 13:05
gm on Before Action: “For years. Up until very recently I would not have believed it possible, Northcode. For a lad of your stripe…” Aug 22, 12:48
gm on Before Action: “That makes sense to me. COPFS are blocking it not the police (The top Polis seems to be hiding btw).…” Aug 22, 12:17
100%Yes on Before Action: “James, its below. https://www.thenational.scot/news/26483678.wings-blogger-threatens-police-legal-action-snp-600k-fund/” Aug 22, 10:50
Northcode on Before Action: “COPFS and Police Scotland might well have identified the individual responsible for the illegal diversion of SNP ringfenced funds, but…” Aug 22, 10:32
Northcode on Before Action: “That’s actually a polite, intelligent and respectful response to James Che’s comment. And the gentle humour at the end perfectly…” Aug 22, 10:29
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “That should have read; Don’t rape women, men, children or animals. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Editor” Aug 22, 10:09
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “Billy Bus Ticket is having a hard time as boss. He has aged incredibly in such a short time. By…” Aug 22, 10:04
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “I still think my Time Machine plan is the only feasible way to solve this conundrum.” Aug 22, 09:59
Hatey McHateface on Before Action: “So it’s open season on the 50% who aren’t women? Or is Burnham in the grip of the trannies, trying…” Aug 22, 09:50
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “Neither would I. As long as they don’t shit in parks.” Aug 22, 09:47
Mark Beggan on Before Action: “Andy Burnham s pamphlet; Don’t rape women. Don’t try to swim with your clothes on. Welcome to Britain!” Aug 22, 09:37
Hatey McHateface on Before Action: “Sorry, James, but I don’t think you and I share a common definition of “officially”. More generally, I think you…” Aug 22, 09:31
