Election produces no clear winner

by Veronika Leitner

The morning after polling day sees the Tories in the lead, but so far without the sufficient majority to form the next UK government.

Twelve hours after polling stations around the country closed, the Conservatives have so far won a total of 301 seats, closely followed by 255 Labour MPs. The Liberal Democrats secured 56 seats - a lower number than first predicted so far - but 11 constituencies are still left to confirm their results.

Already in the early evening, rumours were spread across the country that numerous polling stations were struggling to deal with the unexpectedly high voter turnout, currently reported to be 65.2 per cent.

Later on in the evening it became clear that voters waiting outside the polling stations in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield, Ealing and parts of London had been turned away at 10pm.

It also appears that a shortage of ballot papers caused what BBC Presenter, David Dimbleby, called “an absolute disgrace from beginning to end” and a “third world democracy.”

Challenge

Labour’s Harriet Harman told the BBC that the results might be “legally challenged” and Lord Mandelson was “worried for Labour voters not being able to vote''.

He went on to state that Tory supporters traditionally vote earlier in the day, while Labour voters tend to go to the polls later in the day.

In a BBC interview, Jenny Watson, a spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission stated: “The law on voting is extremely clear.

"The doors of the polling station must be closed at exactly 10 o’clock, anybody who has been issued with a ballot paper by 10 o’clock must be allowed to vote and nobody may be issued with a ballot paper after 10 o’clock even if they are inside the polling station."

The Commission has assured voters a “thorough review” would follow.

At sites in Lewisham and Brockley, London voters who made it inside the polling station by 10pm were still issued with ballot papers - and could place their vote until half an hour after the official deadline.

At the same time voters-to-be were turned away in Hackney and expressed their anger by organising a sit-in outside the building.

Students in Ranmoor, Sheffield have set up a Facebook group after the queue had been split up in favour of residents, preventing many young people from voting.

Swing Votes

A positive surprise for one of the smaller parties came from the constituency Brighton Pavillion, where Caroline Lucas won the first ever seat in Parliament or the Green Party.

She told Jeremy Paxman that the result “reflects the fact that the people are fed up with the tired old parties, they do want something new, they do want something different”.

Regarding the three main parties, the Conservatives benefited from a 5.1 per cent swing from Labour, giving them an additional 92 seats. Labour lost 86 mandates and the Liberal Democrats a total of six.

Last night’s BBC/ITV/Sky exit poll suggested that Britain would wake up to a hung parliament after election day.

'Kingmakers'

The Conservatives were predicted to fall short of 21 seats for an overall majority of 326 in the House of Commons.

Labour was expected to win 255 seats and the Liberal Democrats were hoping to score 61 what left the smaller parties with 29 seats in Parliament.

Should these predictions come true, Britain’s political landscape might see the first coalition government since 1974.

However the so-called "kingmaker", the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, has maintained his pre-election position that the party with the largest majority of seats should have the first say in trying to form a government: "It is now for the Conservative Party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest," he said.

Prime Minister Gordan Brown has stated that he ''respects'' the Lib Dems' right to potentially talk to the Tories about forming a government. Brown also stated that he is ''willing to speak with any party leaders.''

Hung parliament

At the moment is looks as if there were two possibilities: if the Tories win the 306 seats predicted by the exit-poll, David Cameron would have to take up talks with one of the smaller parties which would have to add another 20 seats to form a coalition majority.

If Labour liaise with the Liberal Democrats which would still leave them around short of 10 seats short of the number needed to form a majority government.

As the incumbent Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has the constitutional right to remain in power until a clear decision has been made.

As the last party in power, Labour would have the prerogative to try and form a government first although David Cameron is expected to fight hard for a position in power.

Given the current results he stated that: "The Labour government has lost its mandate to govern our country."

With a record number of postal votes still to be counted and a few constituencies left to confirm their elected MP, the country will have to wait a little longer for a definite and final result.