Interesting times, we have no government???

[ajj1001]

The election in the the UK has returned no result so they are off preparing to make deals behind closed doors. Has there been much coverage in the US/Canada/rest of the world?

I managed watching it until 1am until it became clear that nothing was going to be clear for days. Quite a few prominent people are pushing for electoral reform as they say the system isn't working.

[Katie]

I just got up (9 am here) and missed the national news on TV, but I will listen to the National radio at 10 and catch what is being reported.

How could it possibly return no result? Unless there was a complete tie between the parties, someone should have come away with more votes. I believe that your parliamentary system is the same as ours here in Canada, or similar...I'm not sure how much we have morphed away from the 'mother land'

Interesting times. Last night on the National news it was predicted that Brown would be out, but I can't remember which of the younger fellows might be in. I'll check back soon.

[Katie]

HI Alison,

I just caught the tail end of the news and it is saying that your Conservatives have won but with a small lead, so you will be having the first minority government in a long time. That is exactly how we have been running here for a number of years, and it seems to be the best thing for us right now. No one party can run roughshod over parliament...they have to be careful in what they try to put through or be forced into another election which no one wants.

I would be ill if our Conservatives took over in a majority, to be honest. The only thing keeping them from running the country into bankruptcy is the minority status.

Hope this helps....I'll try to get more details later.

[jss]

I have never understood that process or what it means to have "no government". Does this mean that there can be no legislative issues addressed? (a thought I have relished for decades here in the US)

On an unrelated note. Why did the British not move to the euro? Did they forsee the kind of issues that are going on now?

[dalhousie]

Wow, it's all hotting up here in the UK. Our Labour Prime Minister has announced his resignation as PM & he's advising the Queen to invite the Conservatives to form a government but it's looking like a Conservative/Liberal alliance.

That's the latest anyhows!

[ajj1001]

On an unrelated note. Why did the British not move to the euro? Did they forsee the kind of issues that are going on now?

There are alot of Euro-sceptics that did not want to join the European union and want no part of European joint economic policy. Apart from the benefits that are now being seen from independance of our currency (though this has not always been the case), it is seen a symbol of the UK's identity and national integrity.

We just need to see if the Conservatives can form a government. David Cameron has moved into No 10 just in case it all works out (he'll probably not unpack until the queen's speech goes through).