# 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:** 31
**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, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/601 "2015-05-08T04:53:38Z")
Danny Alexander gone. ---
**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, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/602 "2015-05-08T05:08:36Z")
Galloway out, thank fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/603 "2015-05-08T05:24:08Z")
Popular vote vs. seats in the Parliament: SNP: 1.5M votes - 56 seats UKIP: 3.5M votes - 1 seat ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/604 "2015-05-08T06:10:02Z")
So this is it for the Fixed Term Parliament Act? And looks like curtains for the Union. And Lord Ashdowns hat? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/605 "2015-05-08T06:21:05Z")
I don’t think independence is a certainty if the Tories do offer devo max, though that would cause as many problems as it solves, namely no Scot could ever reasonably sit in the Cabinet. This is like waking up to a nightmare. Tories are on course for a straight majority. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/606 "2015-05-08T06:55:15Z")
There cannot ever be a Scottish PM or Scottish Cabinet Secretary of one of the great offices of State.I think the Union is doomed now. This is like the 1918/ 1919 election. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/607 "2015-05-08T07:25:36Z")
Ed Balls dropped in Morley. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/608 "2015-05-08T07:52:36Z")
Let’s watch what happens before prematurely assigning the Union to the dustbin of history, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/609 "2015-05-08T08:07:19Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > So this is it for the Fixed Term Parliament Act? And looks like curtains for the Union. And Lord Ashdowns hat? With a slim majority, there is no incentive whatsoever for the Conservatives to repeal the FTPA. Fucking hell, by the way. I’ll be really interested to hear an analysis of why people voted Tory. I’m assuming it’s a mix of: 1. If the SNP get in, they’ll run Westminster solely for the Scots 2. Can’t trust Labour on the economy 3. Stick with the plan but given that I didn’t find anything appealing about the Tory platform, I’m not the best person to judge. Clearly, it spoke to people. Oh well. Time to buy shares in food banks and suicide hotlines. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/610 "2015-05-08T08:20:46Z")
Ed Miliband hardly set the country alight. All I ever heard was “I just can’t see him as Prime Minister”. Salmond’s constant winding up of the English also probably didn’t help. The idea that Miliband could outwit Salmond and Sturgeon was a non-starter for many, and let’s face it, the idea of the SNP having any say in Westminster is sickening for many English people, filling them with revulsion. In hindsight, this result shouldn’t come as a surprise, though I think the UK polling industry has been well and truly shown up today. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/611 "2015-05-08T08:23:30Z")
Ed Miliband resigns. I can’t say I’m surprised - I wonder what this election would have looked like with David at the helm. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/612 "2015-05-08T08:32:01Z")
It’s testament to how weird Ed Miliband is that people think David Miliband is normal by comparison. ---
**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, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/613 "2015-05-08T08:34:38Z")
Ironically, the Conservative fearmongering about the SNP has done more to strenghten the SNP and divide the country than a Labour-SNP coalition would have. Which is not surprising since the Tories weren’t remotely genuine in their “concerns” and just wanted to beat Labour. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/614 "2015-05-08T08:39:20Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > There cannot ever be a Scottish PM or Scottish Cabinet Secretary of one of the great offices of State.I think the Union is doomed now. Cameron is a Scot, and the Tories retained one seat in Scotland. BTW it seems that the Tory vote in Scotland held up quite well. It was up 5% here, for instance. No good against the SNP tsunami, of course, but maybe next time? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/615 "2015-05-08T08:41:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Ironically, the Conservative fearmongering about the SNP has done more to strenghten the SNP and divide the country than a Labour-SNP coalition would have. I’m not sure you’re right. Sturgeon and Salmond are both very charismatic, the SNP put a LOT of effort into the election, and they are now the party of the Left up here. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/616 "2015-05-08T08:55:57Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Cameron is a Scot, and the Tories retained one seat in Scotland. He is a bastard Royal 😉 . My point was that anyone holding a Scottish seat. I’ll admit I phrased in poorly. > [@](#): > > BTW it seems that the Tory vote in Scotland held up quite well. It was up 5% here, for instance. No good against the SNP tsunami, of course, but maybe next time? Next time what? Two seats? As it is, SNP’s victory with a Tory majority means that Scotland is again ruled “by a government it did not vote for”, although admittedly they certainly got the government they voted for. Lots of seats and sweet fuck all power or influence. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/617 "2015-05-08T09:02:35Z")
I hate to say it, but **Pjen** was proved right. I am of the opinion the SNP are bad for Scotland with their la la land policies and manifestos (Oil prices will remain at $113 forever, yeah right). But they bode ill for elections elsewhere in the world (people do notice), make enough noise on social media and be and look hip, and you can promise public floggings for overspeeding, people will vote for you. ---
**Author:** ![Applecourt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@Applecourt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Applecourt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/618 "2015-05-08T09:09:09Z")
Amazing results for Scotland! 🙂 Rest of the UK disappointing, amazed so many would want to vote conservative? Maybe it was tactical voting, kissed of ex Lib Dem voters or Cameron’s misleading arguments over SNP threats to the rest of the UK. Personally I think it’s a kick up the arse Westminster needs. Going to be an ‘interesting’ next 5 years. ---
**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, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/619 "2015-05-08T09:23:27Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > I don’t think independence is a certainty if the Tories do offer devo max, though that would cause as many problems as it solves, namely no Scot could ever reasonably sit in the Cabinet. > > This is like waking up to a nightmare. Tories are on course for a straight majority. Devo max with a federal parliament instead of the Lords. The Commons would be an English Parliament ( or vice versa, Commons is the federal parliament and the Lords is replaced with an English parliament.) Two cabinets in London, one English, one British. Scots could be in either but Scots from a Scottish constituency could not be in the English cabinet in the way that someone representing an English constituency can be First Minister in Scotland. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/620 "2015-05-08T09:24:37Z")
Did I hear right that the DUP are now the fourth biggest party in the UK (by MPs)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=32)