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.
Fair enough. In some ways I think an independent Scotland would bring England and Scotland closer together.
Motherwell 41st out of 53 targets goes massively to SNP with a swing of 34%.
That implies a clean sweep.
How many deposits (is it still £500 if you don’t get 5%?) have the Lib Dems lost tonight?
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.
American here. What does it mean to lose your deposit?
Gordon Brown’s seat goes on a 35% swing!
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.
Much as I dislike him, Alex Salmond is giving Paxman as good as he gets.
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.
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!
“A few seats short of an outright majority” is the new “One sandwich short of a picnic”
Jim Murphy goes.
Thanks (and to Baron Greenback). Any serious proposals to hike it to discourage the nutjobs?
Only £500.
There’s a Twitter account called LibDem Depositskeeping tabs on how much they’ve collectively lost. Up to £16,000 now.
ETA: Now up to £25,500 within the edit window!
Well, there was this guy…
Pretty sure the £500 was a hike! Behold the majesty of Lord Buckethead, a member of the Gremloids, who opposed Margaret Thatcher.
Wasn’t it some trivial amount, but you needed a higher percentage to get it back?
Marr and Dimbleby suggesting rumours of Cameron considering Home Rule for Scotland, an English parliament and a federal structure.
So it’s your assumption…