All right, English and Scottish, what the hell happened?
I know what happened. The Tories won a slight majority, which they may or may not be able to increase before the dust really settles.
It was not supposed to happen.
The Liberals were supposed to get whacked, and they obliged, but 49 seats? Did they even bother to try? Come on, show a little pride. The Liberals were once a great party. The Tories were supposed to pick up a few seats. Labour was supposed to pluck more, but not enough to take the plurality from the Tories. Then Labour would form a minority government by securing an alliance with the Scottish National Party.
That was what was supposed to happen. That was what we all knew would happen.
I think many people on the fence, or even with a slight preference for Labour, where just to concerned about how reckless the economic policies of Labour really are. The jumped right. The real thunder, however, was in the North. Scotland, a traditional stronghold of Labour, kicked everyone out and elected a nearly entirely Scottish National Party delegation to parliament. Labour and the Tories each hold a single seat in Scotland. That is another way Labour was hurt, Certainly, they thought that they would hold a lot of seats in Scotland. The wave of socialism and nationalism from Scotland brushed aside almost all opposition.
Also, the UK Independence Party won one seat, which is one more than they were supposed to.
This is what I believe happened. We know further, that the polls before the election, were wrong. I would like to hear from the people who lived it. The polls told us that Ed Miliband would burst into 10 Downing Street and yell "Out, Cameron! Right now!" Instead, David Cameron was screaming "Suck it, Red Ed! My house! My house! Shouldn't you be looking for a job?"
Perhaps that was not an accurate representation of what was said after the election.
What PM Cameron needs to do it to get his cabinet and advisers to Chequers Court (the British version of Camp David, the Prime Ministers country house) and figure out how to press their advantage, the potential Scottish independence, an pressure to withdraw from Europe. Among other issues. This is a historic opportunity for the Tories. As a conservative myself, and a student of conservatism, I know one fundamental truth.
Conservatives never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Winter is coming.