# 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:** 32
**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, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/621 "2015-05-08T09:25:17Z")
> [@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. > > This is like the 1918/ 1919 election. Under the current system, no. But under a federal system, yes. ---
**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, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/622 "2015-05-08T09:27:03Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > 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? Cameron is not a Scot. He is English by birth but eligible for any future Scottish Passport by descent. ---
**Author:** ![RiCu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RiCu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiCu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/623 "2015-05-08T09:31:45Z")
[quote=“Stanislaus, post:609, topic:716612”] 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 [/ QUOTE] All of this. I think there’s a feeling that the economy has been run very well for the last 5 years - amongst my peers and I, this is probably our number one priority. Additionally, I’ve spoken to a lot of lifetime labour voters (of which I’m not) who have said they just couldn’t see Ed operating convincingly on a world stage, so they’ve had to vote elsewhere. Personally I’m pleased. I don’t see that the Conservatives offer the perfect package, but I think they are the closest to what we need right now. ETA: Cons now only need another 2 seats (of the 14 remaining) for a majority. ---
**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, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/624 "2015-05-08T09:32:18Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Did I hear right that the DUP are now the fourth biggest party in the UK (by MPs)? Joint fourth on 8 seats with the Liberal Democrats at this time. ---
**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, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/625 "2015-05-08T09:38:50Z")
And how did CISTA do? 🙂 ---
**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, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/626 "2015-05-08T09:39:40Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > Under the current system, no. But under a federal system, yes. Under a Federal system, it would be the same. Traditionally in Federal systems, people (when voting for a primarily regional based party) split the vote, regional party for the regional assemblies and national parties for Federal elections, and regional parties often enter into alliances (formal and informal) with national parties for the Federal elections. Having a regional party dominate the vote for a region in Federal elections is a good way to lose all influence in the Center, unless they enter into coalitions (the informal alliances I mentioned). Of course the SNP is complicated by being avowedly secessionist. ---
**Author:** ![RiCu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RiCu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiCu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/627 "2015-05-08T09:45:26Z")
Breaking news. Farage does not get Thanet South. ---
**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, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/628 "2015-05-08T09:49:35Z")
> [@RiCu](#): > > Breaking news. Farage does not get Thanet South. Nation Of Oog got 30 votes. ---
**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, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/629 "2015-05-08T09:54:14Z")
HEY! That’s the nation of Ooog - splitter! ---
**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, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/630 "2015-05-08T09:58:59Z")
I wish Louis Armstrong could have been the Thanet South returns officer, just to hear him say “Zebadiah Abu-Obadiah”. ---
**Author:** ![RiCu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RiCu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiCu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/631 "2015-05-08T09:59:08Z")
Cons now have 323 seats, which I think is what’s needed for a majority. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/632 "2015-05-08T09:59:14Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Privatise isn’t a synonym for destroy. And no, they haven’t. > > I’ve had my share of benefit issues, but they come from the system and the rules not being applied properly. And no government has successfully dealt with that bureaucracy. > > All that said, I don’t believe that the Tories will have it as easy as the exit poll suggests. Privatise means “make it not the NHS any more.” That does actually mean destroying the NHS. It also means greater costs to the public purse even when it looks like the NHS is costing less - private companies will want paying, and paying well. It also leads to less efficiency - the last couple of times I was in hospital, the nurses and even a doctor ended up pushing my bed from ward to theatre because the porters were off somewhere or other and their manager couldn’t be found. The porters are all privatised and the nurses and doctors have no say over what they do. The porters also get paid shit wages and have no job security so don’t care about their job as much. The bed I was in was also monstrously hot. My temperature could not be reliably monitored because it was so hot that anyone, even healthy, would have been slightly feverish. My blood pressure is usually very low and was in the older parts of the hospital, but here it went to normal levels because my body was struggling to cope with the sauna. But this was a PFI hospital and the doctors and nurses had no access to temperature controls, and there were no windows to open. A PFI hospital paid for by the public purse but not actually owned by us; we paid for the building of it and still have to pay to rent it too. That’s what you’ll get more of with the party you just voted for. Agreed that a lot of benefit problems come from the system, but the Tories really have pledged to cut benefits for everyone except pensioners and unemployment benefits, though I’d hazard a guess that really they mean short-term unemployment benefits, which are really very low already. And they have pledged to fix those benefits rather than reduce them. That was a key election pledge - you can’t have missed it. That only leaves disabled people, carers,\* and children. There isn’t anyone else in the welfare state left to take money from, and the Tories have pledged to take money from the welfare state so they _will_ take money from disabled people, carers and children. You just voted for people who are going to take money from you and if you’re on benefits it’s not like it’s money you can afford; it’s not like a high taxpayer voting for higher taxes on the part of their income above an enormous amount because the effect on you will be so much bigger. They also actually increased the bloody national debt - they’re not going to be better for the country as a whole. I laud the idea of voting for the party you think will help the whole country but the Tories do not have a good record on this. I voted LibDem last election (thankfully, in a safe Labour seat - though if it weren’t I would have voted Labour) so I will have some sympathy for you when you change your mind after seeing what a clusterfuck the Tories make of the country and your own life. \*Do you know how much money you get as a carer? By carer I mean a person who looks after a disabled person for at least 35 hours a week - said disabled person must have passed govt assessments to qualify them for the middle rate of DLA care component, which is not that easy. Those carers are not allowed to earn more than £120pw without losing their entire benefit. [£62.10pw.](https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/overview) This is in line to be reduced. ---
**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, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/633 "2015-05-08T09:59:27Z")
> [@Aro](#): > > HEY! That’s the nation of Ooog - splitter! Og forgive me for the omission of an o. ---
**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, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/634 "2015-05-08T10:17:31Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Under a Federal system, it would be the same. Traditionally in Federal systems, people (when voting for a primarily regional based party) split the vote, regional party for the regional assemblies and national parties for Federal elections, and regional parties often enter into alliances (formal and informal) with national parties for the Federal elections. > > Having a regional party dominate the vote for a region in Federal elections is a good way to lose all influence in the Center, unless they enter into coalitions (the informal alliances I mentioned). Of course the SNP is complicated by being avowedly secessionist. I was responding to the statement ‘There cannot ever be a Scottish PM or Scottish Cabinet Secretary of one of the great offices of State.’ Regional parties can have ministers in the great office of state under a federal position. The CSU used to have such influence in alliance with the CDU in Germany. ---
**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, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/635 "2015-05-08T10:21:32Z")
Ooog forgives you, Ooog [salutes](https://www.facebook.com/alzebabistnationofOOOG/photos/pb.861712863858093.-2207520000.1431078660./1058838377478873/?type=1&theater) you! ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/636 "2015-05-08T10:29:29Z")
The Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol party garnered 8,419 votes. Of course, under proportional representation that mneans thy wld hv gaynnd gddhu kjh7y vfdr heeheeheeheeheeheeheehee. oooooh, creme egg ---
**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, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/637 "2015-05-08T10:38:41Z")
Clegg resigns. ---
**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, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/638 "2015-05-08T10:40:06Z")
Why would the Tories offer anything? They have an absolute majority in the Commons. It might be interesting for them to pit Salmond against Sturgeon by abolishing the regional parliaments and transferring their powers and responsibilities to the Westminster MPs. ---
**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, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/639 "2015-05-08T10:45:42Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Why would the Tories offer anything? They have an absolute majority in the Commons. > > It might be interesting for them to pit Salmond against Sturgeon by abolishing the regional parliaments and transferring their powers and responsibilities to the Westminster MPs. No. Cameron lives in the real world. He knows the Tories have no legitimacy to rule in Scotland and punishing Scotland would drove people onto the separatist camp. Offering a new settlement buys off independence for a generation. ---
**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, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/640 "2015-05-08T10:58:26Z")
A generation is roughly 5.5 months these days from the looks of it. If you have investments in Scotland, you might want to get out now. [QUOTE=Pjen] The CSU used to have such influence in alliance with the CDU in Germany [/QUOTE] In allience, they CSU was in many ways the Bavarian franchise for the CDU in W Germany. SNP is toxic outside of Scotland, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=33)