# 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:** 36
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/701 "2015-05-10T03:47:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Galloway is blaming his loss on “racists and Zionists”. You know, the kind of racists and Zionists who voted for a Muslim woman instead of the white Scottish man. > > Go home, George - you’re drunk. I think I have read that he doesn’t drink alcohol. but some of his outpourings are quite a bit crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/702 "2015-05-10T03:53:04Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > I think I have read that he doesn’t drink alcohol. but some of his outpourings are quite a bit crazy. I actually quite like Galloway, in spite of his fondness for Islam. And Farage, for that matter, in spite of his economics. If you could put together Galloway’s economic and foreign policy with Farage’s stance on the EU and immigration, you’d have a perfect candidate. ---
**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 10, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/703 "2015-05-10T04:51:54Z")
Paging Dr. Frankenstein… ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/704 "2015-05-10T13:33:00Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > I’m sure I WAS perfectly clear on that matter up until around five years ago. Then, over the next year or so, suddenly I became… less clear. Can’t think what could have caused that. Looks like about four and a half million people felt the same way last night. Wow! The LDs have been nuked from orbit. > > (Check out the first graph on [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2015_United_Kingdom_general_election) page. I hadn’t realised it was THAT bad) Looking at that graph it would seem that many Lib Dems defected to Labour in the first eight or so months of the coalition. This coupled with the rise of UKIP, which was though likely to appeal to people who would normally vote Conservative would have suggested a clear Labour victory, taking it as a given that despite the pre election rhetoric the SNP would have formed a coalition with Labour if required. It was obviously much more complex than that. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/705 "2015-05-10T13:37:57Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > I actually quite like Galloway, in spite of his fondness for Islam. And Farage, for that matter, in spite of his economics. If you could put together Galloway’s economic and foreign policy with Farage’s stance on the EU and immigration, you’d have a perfect candidate. A perfect candidate for what? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/706 "2015-05-10T15:13:29Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > This isn’t opposition to a policy. This is a stab against a newly-installed elected government. I can’t help but see this is a finger stabbed against the concept of elected government.\* It’s very clearly stated as opposition to the policy of austerity. If you can’t read the placards I can’t help you. Opposition as spelled out by Nobel winning Paul Klugman: > **[The austerity delusion | Paul Krugman](https://www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2015/apr/29/the-austerity-delusion)** > > The long read: The case for cuts was a lie. Why does Britain still believe it? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/707 "2015-05-10T15:15:11Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Looking at that graph it would seem that many Lib Dems defected to Labour in the first eight or so months of the coalition. This coupled with the rise of UKIP, which was though likely to appeal to people who would normally vote Conservative would have suggested a clear Labour victory, taking it as a given that despite the pre election rhetoric the SNP would have formed a coalition with Labour if required. > > It was obviously much more complex than that. All of the above is correct. It’s worth noting, despite the SNP, Labour’s vote increased at this election by 1.5% ---
**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 10, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/708 "2015-05-10T15:19:59Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > It’s very clearly stated as opposition to the policy of austerity. If you can’t read the placards I can’t help you. “Tories Out” is clearly opposition to austerity? I guess I certainly can’t read them the same way you do… ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/709 "2015-05-10T16:38:00Z")
It seems not. Which explains quite a lot. ---
**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 10, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/710 "2015-05-10T20:26:58Z")
The election results, if there’d been proportional voting: [http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW?utm\_source=indy&utm\_medium=top5&utm\_campaign=i100](http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW?utm_source=indy&utm_medium=top5&utm_campaign=i100) ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/711 "2015-05-10T21:47:20Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > A perfect candidate for what? For me to vote for. If I was an UK subject. ---
**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 10, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/712 "2015-05-10T23:25:53Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The election results, if there’d been proportional voting: [http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW?utm\_source=indy&utm\_medium=top5&utm\_campaign=i100](http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW?utm_source=indy&utm_medium=top5&utm_campaign=i100) I suspect under PR we’d still be under a Tory government right now. But it would be buttressed by UKIP MPs, and possibly DUP and UUP as well. I am not sure that’s necessarily better! ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/713 "2015-05-11T08:09:31Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > For me to vote for. If I was an UK subject. In the interest of fighting ignorance, it is incorrect to refer to the citizens of the UK as UK or British Subjects. That is an outdated title which now refers to a very small, select group of people. The term you are looking for is “British Citizen”. ---
**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 11, 2015, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/714 "2015-05-11T08:22:30Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > I suspect under PR we’d still be under a Tory government right now. But it would be buttressed by UKIP MPs, and possibly DUP and UUP as well. > > I am not sure that’s necessarily better! You can’t just transfer the votes across from a FPTP election to a PR election and say nothing changes. Under PR there’s absolutely no reason to vote tactically, for a start, and small parties are no longer “wasted votes”. ---
**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 11, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/715 "2015-05-11T09:01:51Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > This isn’t opposition to a policy. This is a stab against a newly-installed elected government. I can’t help but see this is a finger stabbed against the concept of elected government.\* > > \*saving acknowledged criticism of FPTP. But real change only comes from within, not from looking like sore losers. This is _entirely_ opposition to policies. Or did you miss the fact that the Conservatives started announced massive cuts to disability benefits mere hours after the election result (an announcement they steadfastly refused to make before the election)? Or that they’re considering increasing the disastrous “bedroom tax”, scrapping statutory maternity pay, and making fitness-to-work tests even more draconian (because that was working so well in the past)? It’s only going to get worse. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/716 "2015-05-11T09:18:20Z")
I’m rather late to the thought that TFTP - at least in the UK - is a very nuanced and subtle system. As in 2010, tactical voting seemed very powerful, allowing not just regional variations but even single seats to contribute to a national result the majority could live with. The 2010 result is the classic for me - the _public_ trusted neither Gordon Brown or the Tories, but preferred a constrained Tory ideology in those particular circs. This time has been so interestingly varied; Labour gaining in London and losing in the Midlands, Tories gaining outside London, the non-Metro population showing emphatic concern for EU immigration and SNP influence … etc. It looks like very readable messages to me. ---
**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 11, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/717 "2015-05-11T09:54:48Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I’m rather late to the thought that TFTP - at least in the UK - is a very nuanced and subtle system. > > As in 2010, tactical voting seemed very powerful, allowing not just regional variations but even single seats to contribute to a national result the majority could live with. > > The 2010 result is the classic for me - the _public_ trusted neither Gordon Brown or the Tories, but preferred a constrained Tory ideology in those particular circs. > > This time has been so interestingly varied; Labour gaining in London and losing in the Midlands, Tories gaining outside London, the non-Metro population showing emphatic concern for EU immigration and SNP influence … etc. > > It looks like very readable messages to me. TFTP? FPTP? On a tangent, someone did an overlay of the electoral map with where the coalfields historically were. It looks like there’s still a strong Labour voter base in those constituencies. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/718 "2015-05-11T10:23:13Z")
FPTP - sorry, pretty sure I am a bit dyslexic. ---
**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 11, 2015, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/719 "2015-05-11T10:59:49Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > TFTP? FPTP? > > On a tangent, someone did an overlay of the electoral map with where the coalfields historically were. It looks like there’s still a strong Labour voter base in those constituencies. Those are pretty much urban centres though. A similar map will show the Labour voters leave the lights on at night. It’s less to do with a core working class culture bringing the Labour vote and more to do with the greater diversity of cities vs affluent, older “middle England” in the shires. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612/720 "2015-05-11T12:54:46Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Those are pretty much urban centres though. A similar map will show the Labour voters leave the lights on at night. [Obligatory XKCD comic](http://xkcd.com/1138/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-general-election-may-2015-population-share-version/716612.md?page=37)