# UK General Election May 2015 (Population Share Version) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 2, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612 "2015-04-02T10:29:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/541 "2015-05-08T01:45:34Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > Andrew Marr says Wikipedia says youngest since the seventeenth century. Right. In the 17th century, there was a 13 year old who was MP. Youngest post-Reform Act MP, until tonight, was 21, an Irish MP elected in the 1880s. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/542 "2015-05-08T01:47:48Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > I am a long term supporter of federalism. > > I moved to Scotland because of Scottish politics to bring up a young family. > > I am totally against petty nationalism. Fair enough. In some ways I think an independent Scotland would bring England and Scotland closer together. ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/543 "2015-05-08T01:48:28Z")
Motherwell 41st out of 53 targets goes massively to SNP with a swing of 34%. That implies a clean sweep. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/544 "2015-05-08T01:48:51Z")
How many deposits (is it still £500 if you don’t get 5%?) have the Lib Dems lost tonight? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/545 "2015-05-08T01:51:29Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Fair enough. In some ways I think an independent Scotland would bring England and Scotland closer together. Much as I think independence would harm both sides, a Tory government or coalition with Scotland completely full of SNP MPs could cause more harm. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/546 "2015-05-08T01:52:22Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Three now. and a third lost Lib Dem deposit (out of three declarations). They didn’t lose any last time. American here. What does it mean to lose your deposit? ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/547 "2015-05-08T01:53:29Z")
Gordon Brown’s seat goes on a 35% swing! ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/548 "2015-05-08T01:55:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > American here. What does it mean to lose your deposit? If you get less than 5% you lose the required deposit of about £1000 (I think). It is meant to stop fringe candidates but has not really done so. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/549 "2015-05-08T01:58:17Z")
Much as I dislike him, Alex Salmond is giving Paxman as good as he gets. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/550 "2015-05-08T02:01:38Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > American here. What does it mean to lose your deposit? Candidates must post what is effectively a bond of £500 in order to get on the ballot. If you get less than 5%, you don’t get it back. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/551 "2015-05-08T02:05:40Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > Gordon Brown’s seat goes on a 35% swing! If Gordon had stood again, he’d have kept the seat, and might have ended up the de-facto leader of Scottish Labour by default! ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/552 "2015-05-08T02:07:57Z")
“A few seats short of an outright majority” is the new “One sandwich short of a picnic” ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/553 "2015-05-08T02:10:52Z")
Jim Murphy goes. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/554 "2015-05-08T02:11:49Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > If you get less than 5% you lose the required deposit of about £1000 (I think). It is meant to stop fringe candidates but has not really done so. Thanks (and to **Baron Greenback** ). Any serious proposals to hike it to discourage the nutjobs? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/555 "2015-05-08T02:13:39Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > If you get less than 5% you lose the required deposit of about £1000 (I think). It is meant to stop fringe candidates but has not really done so. Only £500. There’s a Twitter account called [LibDem Deposits](https://twitter.com/LibDemDeposits/status/596442404921704448)keeping tabs on how much they’ve collectively lost. Up to **£16,000** now. ETA: Now up to £25,500 within the edit window! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/556 "2015-05-08T02:15:38Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Right. In the 17th century, there was a 13 year old who was MP. Youngest post-Reform Act MP, until tonight, was 21, an Irish MP elected in the 1880s. Well, there was [this guy](http://blackadder.wikia.com/wiki/Pitt_the_Even_Younger)… ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/557 "2015-05-08T02:19:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Thanks (and to **Baron Greenback** ). Any serious proposals to hike it to discourage the nutjobs? Pretty sure the £500 _was_ a hike! Behold the majesty of Lord Buckethead, a member of the Gremloids, who opposed Margaret Thatcher. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lZ0o84yyutQ/hqdefault.jpg "Declaration at Finchley constituency 1987 General Election - Margaret Thatcher.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ0o84yyutQ) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/558 "2015-05-08T02:32:58Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Pretty sure the £500 _was_ a hike! Wasn’t it some trivial amount, but you needed a higher percentage to get it back? ---
**Author:** ![Pjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/559 "2015-05-08T02:38:16Z")
Marr and Dimbleby suggesting rumours of Cameron considering Home Rule for Scotland, an English parliament and a federal structure. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/560 "2015-05-08T02:40:51Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Exit poll has to be bollocks - it would mean all polls leading to this were totally wrong excepting one outlier. Makes no sense. Tactical/regional voting will kick in. So it’s your assumption… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=29)