This blog will be silent until May 14th. I am off for a few days in the sun (I am not resigning!).
Meanwhile I am still somewhat seething at the horlicks made by the pollsters, which caused people like me to write a whole lot of rubbish because Labour and the Tories were nowhere near neck and neck for quite a few days before polling. I suspect it swung to the Tories after Milliband failed to give a proper defence to Labour’s alleged overspend on the Question Time for the three leaders and as the impact of the various scare stories about the SNP etc began to take effect. It is disappointing that Cameron stooped to that level of fear and I suspect a rather unworthy campaign may come back to haunt him. By then its architect will be back home on the other side of the world.
Looking at the percentages of increased vote share over 2010, not surprisingly the Lib Dems are worst at minus 15.2. UKIP are top at plus 9.5, but in 2010 they were very much a minor player, SNP next with 3.1, then Greens at 2.8, Labour at 1.5 and the Tories last at just 0.8. That is very interesting. It seems to suggest that the collapse of the Lib Dems and the negative impact of UKIP on Labour in Labour/Tory marginals was the source of the victory for the Tories. It also explains why Labour were making some random gains as well. But the big story remains Scotland.
I may have a few more thoughts later next week after chilling out at sunny beech bars for a spell. By then the talking point may be Greece.