How often do parliaments become hung? From what I've seen, that looks like the most likely outcome.
I'll be following the Election and will hope for the best for my UK friends.
Hung parliament? What do you do, hang them?
I have another question, I've seen plenty of British parties that seem like total nonsense. I'm curious how a party that's obviously nonsense is able to run for election. Can anyone just say they're running or do you have to meet certain criteria?
(04-06-2010 09:57 PM)Forbidden044602 Wrote: [ -> ]Hung parliament? What do you do, hang them?
You wish. A hung parliament (we call it a minority parliament here in Canada) is basically when no political party has no outright majority of seats (I believe you need 326 seats in the British parliament for an outright majority).
Britain hasn't had once since the mid-70s I believe. Here in Canada we've had 3 in a row, since 2004.
DarthHayley is correct.
As to how often they happen, not very often. Our general elections tend to be more decisive than yours. Even Labour's 'narrow' victory 5 years ago would be a landslide by American standards.
(04-06-2010 09:57 PM)Forbidden044602 Wrote: [ -> ]I have another question, I've seen plenty of British parties that seem like total nonsense. I'm curious how a party that's obviously nonsense is able to run for election. Can anyone just say they're running or do you have to meet certain criteria?
Pretty much anyone who is over 18, and a British citizen or Commonwealth citizen can potentially stand for election as an MP. We don't have any of that 'natural born' nonsense either. Naturalised citizens may stand.
Certain criteria apply: You may not be a member of the House of Lords or the 'immediate' Royal Family, subject of a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order or a current member of the judicial offices, civil servants or armed forces.
It costs £150 to register your new party/independent candidacy with the Electoral Commission, which gets your name on the ballot in your constituency.
This will be my first election at the age of 21 so I'm a little excited and I will be voting for Liberal Democrats.
Standing for election seems rather easy in Britain, how long are your ballots? The one we had for the last European parliament election i swear was a metre long.
I heard on BBC Newsnight that the Tories lead by at least 5 to 8 points in all the national opinion polls. So from what I've seen, I'm finding it hard to believe that Labour will remain in power and that you'll end up with a hung parliament (you have no idea how hard it is to say that without a joke).
^The question is will that 5-8% lead translates into seats in the parliament. How many seats can Labour lose and still be considered as having a majority of seats?
I will be voting either Labour or Liberal Democrat in this election. I think it would be a disaster if the Tories get in. I hope that they don't get an overall majority so Labour and the Lib Dems can block any wacky changes they try to make.
(04-08-2010 08:27 AM)Atlas32 Wrote: [ -> ]This will be my first election at the age of 21 so I'm a little excited and I will be voting for Liberal Democrats.
(04-09-2010 03:50 PM)hasman Wrote: [ -> ]I will be voting either Labour or Liberal Democrat in this election. I think it would be a disaster if the Tories get in. I hope that they don't get an overall majority so Labour and the Lib Dems can block any wacky changes they try to make.
I'll agree with both of you and be voting Liberal Democrat too. They might have a chance to take my constituency (Maidenhead).
(04-08-2010 10:57 AM)onejedi15 Wrote: [ -> ]Standing for election seems rather easy in Britain, how long are your ballots? The one we had for the last European parliament election i swear was a metre long.
From what I've seen, most ballots are no more than 5 or 6 parties long. I think we're just lazy. And too cheap to pay the £150.
Just remember all Brits should vote Saxon.
(04-07-2010 12:45 PM)JediSean19 Wrote: [ -> ] (04-06-2010 09:57 PM)Forbidden044602 Wrote: [ -> ]I have another question, I've seen plenty of British parties that seem like total nonsense. I'm curious how a party that's obviously nonsense is able to run for election. Can anyone just say they're running or do you have to meet certain criteria?
Pretty much anyone who is over 18, and a British citizen or Commonwealth citizen can potentially stand for election as an MP. We don't have any of that 'natural born' nonsense either. Naturalised citizens may stand.
Actually here the 'natural born' stuff only applies if you're running for President. Naturalized citizens may run for Congress (though they have to be naturalized for a certain number of years before they can run).
I'm interested to see if Britain does end up with a hung parliament how long a coalition would last?
(04-08-2010 06:55 PM)JediFan34 Wrote: [ -> ]^The question is will that 5-8% lead translates into seats in the parliament. How many seats can Labour lose and still be considered as having a majority of seats?
I believe it's 22 to keep a majority.
(04-13-2010 09:24 AM)DarthHayley192 Wrote: [ -> ]I'm interested to see if Britain does end up with a hung parliament how long a coalition would last?
Coalitions in other parliamentary democracies tend to only last a couple of years or less... if not months. Look at Italy. Or even Israel from time to time.
Still from what I've seen, a Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition
might work.
