A Peculiar Feature of British Elections

An observation about the British elections.

When the results are announced in a constituency it is done by the local election returns officer with all the candidates in that constituency right behind or beside him or her. All the candidates also wear these silly ribbons to signify their political party. The process is known as a declaration.

In most cases there are at least half a dozen candidates. In addition, to the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrat there is the UK Independence Party, the British National Party, the Green Party and various other fringe parties. I haven't seen anyone from the Monster Raving Loony Party however.

But it's something I never saw in Canada and certainly doesn't happen in this country.

Updated results:

Conservatives - 243
Labour - 189
Liberal Democrat - 39
Scottish National Party - 6
Plaid Cymru - 3
Others - 17

The Conservatives need 326 seats for a majority government. They aren't likely to get it. But I don't think Labour and the Liberal Democrats can make a go of it either. So the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the parties in Northern Ireland (Democratic Unionist, Sinn Fein, Social Democratic & Labour Party) become very, very important here.

Let me make a prediction here. If Cameron is given a chance to form a government and cannot he will resign as leader of the Conservative Party.