UK: London voters express their dissatisfaction with hung parliament

Record ID: 859328

  • Title: UK: London voters express their dissatisfaction with hung parliament
  • Date: 8th May 2010
  • Summary: HEADLINE IN THE CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTING DAILY EXPRESS READING "BROWN IS ON THE WAY OUT" HEADLINE IN THE CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTING DAILY MAIL READING "HAND ME THE KEYS TO NO 10" HEADLINE IN THE LABOUR SUPPORTING DAILY MIRROR READING "SWINGING IN THE WIND"
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2010 13:00
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  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAV6NKABLN5KK4NRKUGPUMCA6D
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  • Story Text: Britain's opposition Conservatives became the biggest party in parliament on Friday (May 7) in a bitterly fought election, but were set to fall short of a majority, leaving it unclear who would run the country.
    With 46 of the 650 seats yet to be announced, the centre-right Conservatives led with 287 seats, ahead of ruling Labour on 239 and the Liberal Democrats, deflated after a surprisingly poor showing, on 51.
    Prime Minister Gordon Brown has the right to try and form a government first, potentially opening the door to a period of political horse-trading.
    He could struggle to form a coalition with the Lib Dems, however, since their combined forecast seats would still be short of the 326 needed for a majority in parliament.
    With the world's media gathered outside No. 10 Downing Street, the prospect of the first inconclusive election result since 1974 and a hung parliament left voters in London voicing their unhappiness.
    "The population is not quite sure what to think," said one man outside Westminster tube station.
    "Not happy. It'll cause chaos I would have thought. Too many bosses, you just need one person in charge," said Richard Harris.
    Sandy Nightingale was left confused by the uncertainty.
    "I think everyone expected a bit of a change really and I'm not sure if that's been delivered, not so far. I don't know what the result is now, I mean, what is the result now," he asked.
    In the Canary Wharf financial district the results were not finding favour.
    "I think it's a dreadful outcome, I was really quite surprised by how few people appear to have voted for the Conservatives," said Jonathan Leitch.
    "I really thought they might have done a bit better. It's no surprise the outcome of the Liberal vote, I think people have made up their minds by the time of the polling booth."
    Janet Parker was sympathetic towards Brown.
    "I actually feel quite sorry for the fella, I don't think the problems that have happened in the country are not necessarily of his making, I think he was stuffed, he inherited a bit of a poisoned chalice," she said.
    But the possibility of a beaten Brown trying to form the next government angered Richard Elson.
    "Insanity. I can't imagine why he'd want to do that in the wake of what was effectively a defeat," he said.
    The prospect of a "hung parliament" and uncertainty about who would form the next government hit already febrile financial markets.
    The centre-right Conservatives were forecast to win around 305 seats and Labour 255 seats in the lower House of Commons. The Lib Dems were a distant third with an expected 61.
    The next government will have to deal with a record budget deficit running in excess of 11 percent of national output, and demands for political reform following a parliamentary expenses scandal last year that left Britons disgusted with lawmakers.
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