Pass the crisps: UK Election watch

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  • Rich Lock,

    What the hell is the UK independence party?

    UKIP are a bunch of John Bull Englishmen, who look across the channel at Johnny Foreigner, and think that although all of this European integration thing might be alright for the Frogs, the Hun, and the Eyties, they'll stay out of it, thank you kindly.

    The sort of people who look upon any external attempt (by Europe) to 'interfere' with the way the UK is run internally as incontrovertible proof that the hand of the devil is at work. Or if not the devil, at least some sort of socialism. And that's the same thing, really.

    Oddly enough, although the very mention of 'Europe' is enough to bring them out in a bad case of hives, mentioning the increase of US meddling on those fair shores has, if anything, the opposite effect.

    They are of the opinion that the 'Great' needs to be put back into Britain. Things started going downhill when The Empire was lost.

    Crudely speaking, they want to 'unsign' Britain from any sort of EU treaty that's been signed in the last 30-40 years.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Charlie Brooker just described Gordon Brown as looking like "a haunted elephant". Brilliant.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    You can view the live Channel 4 "alternative" coverage featuring Brooker, David Mitchell, etc, by going here, copying the appropriate IP address (right-clicking didn't work for me, I had to select the dotted decimals and copy that) and using "open network" in VLC Player to view.

    Working extremely well for me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Zach Bagnall,

    I trust Brooker's piece will be on youtube by morning. It's past midnight here and I'm hitting the sack. Haunted elephant made me choke!

    Colorado • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    From Bagehot who is live blogging for the Economist
    * May 6th 2010, 20:53 by The Economist | LONDON

    00:18: Another view from the southern hemisphere: a correspondent appeals for Britons to learn from New Zealanders. Yes, really. "I've been very surprised since the beginning of Cleggmania that more has not been made in the British press of New Zealand's experience. Yes, laugh all you like. It's a small country, far away with lots of sheep. It also happens to be something of a laboratory for economic, political and social experiments. First country to give women the vote, first to introduce large scale welfare state, and in many ways went much further than Thatcher in a swing to the right in the 1980s. By the 1990s the people were fed up with their politicians and ready to punish them (sound familiar). In a referendum voters rejected the British-style first past the post system and supported a German-style form of Mixed Member Proportional Representation." My suspicion, given tonight's swing to the Tories, is that the lessons from New Zealand may be neglected for some more years yet.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    They are of the opinion that the 'Great' needs to be put back into Britain. Things started going downhill when The Empire was lost. Crudely speaking, they want to 'unsign' Britain from any sort of EU treaty that's been signed in the last 30-40 years.

    I read something about a political figure in Britain who had "the right attitude towards nukes, Europe" and I wondered for a minute if it meant he planned to nuke Europe.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I trust Brooker's piece will be on youtube by morning. It's past midnight here and I'm hitting the sack. Haunted elephant made me choke!

    It's ironic that your TV coverage is timed sweetly for us.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    At least for those of us who don't have real jobs, ay?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • recordari,

    At least for those of us who don't have real jobs, ay?

    I object! We can multi-task. It's a global conspiracy to state otherwise.

    In related news from the Beeb;

    Just looking at shots of David and Samantha Cameron going into a pub in the Tory leader's constituency of Witney in Oxfordshire. They're heading to the count later, but he obviously fancies a pint first. He's said before that Guinness is his tipple of choice.

    Shouldn't he be in Bootle?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    the animuswell hillbillies...

    Charlie Brooker just described Gordon Brown as looking like "a haunted elephant". Brilliant.

    more bestial(hilar)ity?

    but if he can form a gov't with Clegg
    (the wild kingmaker)
    he could be a "possessed pachydem"!
    ...otherwise he'll be leaving on a Brown Bier!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Matt Swinson,

    Moving from Channel 4 to BBC, Sinn Fein winning the West Tyrone seat was met with a "umm... well... that's, er, good".

    london • Since Mar 2007 • 17 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    At least for those of us who don't have real jobs, ay?

    Oi. I have worked all my life to not have a proper job.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Mike Graham,

    On BBC Andrew Neil has just described the UK electoral system as 'the most sophisticated in the world'!!!

    I think that he needs to get out more.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • Josh Addison,

    Charlie Brooker just described Gordon Brown as looking like "a haunted elephant". Brilliant.

    I always liked Frankie Boyle's description of him as "looking like someone drew a sad face on a scrotum"...

    Onehunga, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I always liked Frankie Boyle's description of him as "looking like someone drew a sad face on a scrotum"...

    Actual LOL from me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • BlairMacca,

    Peter Robinson, Northern Ireland's first minister, has lost his seat, Belfast East.

    Robinson was beaten by the Alliance candidate, Naomi Long, who won the seat with a 22.9% swing. It's the first time the non-sectarian Alliance party (which is allied to the Lib Dems) has won a Westminster seat in Northern Ireland.

    Probably not huge in the large scheme of things, but a massive development for Peter Robinson (First Minister of NI) to lose his seat. And even more astounding to lose it to the Alliance which is a non sectarian party and their first seat. Maybe things have really turned a corner there.
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/06/uk-election-results-2010-live

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    a massive development for Peter Robinson (First Minister of NI) to lose his seat

    Well, Peter Robinson's had a bit of a rough time lately.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • BlairMacca,

    Well, Peter Robinson's had a bit of a rough time lately.

    Yup a pretty big scandal, like was said before we don't come close to anything like that here. Very, very funny really.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    About a week ago, DougJ over at Balloon Juice posted a thread asking how the domestic American media would spin any result of the election as a "lesson" for Obama.

    I for one am looking forward to the predictable Republican insanity that will occur over the next few days.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I for one am looking forward to the predictable Republican insanity that will occur over the next few days.

    Well, considering Cameron might as well be a Maoist as far as the Tea Baggers are concerned, they won't learn a damn thing if he's Prime Minister this time next week.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    they won't learn a damn thing

    If we take the definition of 'won't' as 'refuse to', then I should say that's business as usual, then.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • FletcherB,

    Thanks Russell for the info on how to watch UK TV on my computer.... I knew there'd be a way to get around their trying to limit it to UK viewers only I just hadnt got around to figuring out how...

    Interesting to note from watching BBC1.... their election night coverage is EXACTLY the same, in 2010 as depicted by parodies by the Goodies in the 70's and The Young Ones in the '80's....

    picture: a small town-hall stage, four or five hopefuls standing in line with different coloured rosettes and some boring dignitary announcing the vote count in front of them .... swap to next.... followed by....

    Do they have a camera in all 600+ electorates to catch the talley? And they've been doing it the same for at least 30+ years? wow!

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Jake Pollock,

    On BBC Andrew Neil has just described the UK electoral system as 'the most sophisticated in the world'!!!

    The Beeb certainly has some neat graphics. Swingometer!

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    "Speaking on the BBC election boat, property guru Kirsty Allsopp says she thinks David Cameron will become prime minister, but doesn't want to work for him."
    I'm sorry, the what now?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

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