Foreign Perspectives

As I write this it looks like the Conservatives will finish up with around 309 seats ie around 16 or 17 short of an overall majority.

As always in times like this, the Liberal Democrats are likely to be courted by Labour (less likely with the Conservatives) although even that would only bring them up to around 315, more than the Conservatives but not a majority government. To get that critical majority they’d need to bring on board at least one other party.

The last Lib/Lab coalition doesn’t bode well for another one this time around. Just as with the last time the UK finances aren’t in good shape and that coalition managed to run the country into the ground, finishing up with power cuts, widespread strikes and bankruptcy of the country. Still, at least it was followed by a massive victory for the Conservatives who tidied the mess up, but do we really need that painful period yet again?

Barring an unexpected swing in the remaining results it seems likely that we’re in for a week or more of horse trading before Brown admits defeat and leaves. Or, at least that’s what should happen: in reality he’ll probably try to hang on regardless and do whatever it takes to allow him to do that which doesn’t bode well for the UK.

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