Editorials

GE 2015: The Aftermath

8 May 2015

By Lauren E. White

Last night became one of the most unprecedented nights in the history of British politics. For weeks we had been gossiping about the ever-so certain hung parliament that we’d be faced with today, but after the exit poll indicated that the Conservatives would win an overall majority, the country was thrown into a state of confusion.

After Ed Balls saying it was ‘early days’ and Harriet Harman claiming the poll ‘may not be correct’, it was this morning that we had all the confirmation we needed. The Conservatives will govern us for another five years and it will more than likely be another five years of the same old, same old.

However, it is not just the Tory majority that has caused ripples in the political world, it is the three resignations that have followed.

 

Labour

After winning 232 seats, Labour was dreadfully defeated. They lost 48 seats, 40 of which were lost to the SNP and the other eight to the Conservatives. There was speculation as soon as the exit polls were released about the Labour leader Ed Miliband and at lunchtime today, the speculations became the truth. Mr Miliband resigned and thanked Labour Party members as well as ‘the most unlikely cult of the 21st century: the Milifandom’.

 

Liberal Democrats

After a coalition with the Conservatives, the Lib Dems have sacrificed over 40 seats, managing to pick up only eight in the election. As a result of that, Nick Clegg has announced he will resign after one of the most ‘cruel and painful’ defeats for the party.

 

UKIP

Picking up a mellow one seat was UKIP. The party that was supposed to make waves did quite the opposite and lost its leader. Nigel Farage, one of the most controversial leaders ever, has announced he will step down as UKIP’s leader after he failed to win the South Thanet seat last night. However, it is not certain he’s gone for good – he has said he may reconsider in September.

Walking around today and talking with people of all ages and occupations, it is very clear that most are extremely worried about what this Conservative majority has in store for the country. The privatisation of the NHS, education reforms and the increasing need for food banks in modern-day Britain is most certainly on the minds of all as the Prime Minister David Cameron has said he ‘truly believes we are on to something special’.

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