Election Night

Yesterday was election night, but what will the results mean for the country?

There are a number of different elections going on across England, Wales and Scotland (no voting in Northern Ireland). What the majority of people consider the most important is the mayoral election in London. The mayor of London is arguably the most powerful politician outside of the cabinet in the UK and so it is very important to both Labour and the Conservatives. Last time Boris Johnson won due to his “doughnut strategy” this was whereby he targeted the London suburbs where there are more Conservatives to be found. Now aware of this strategy Ken Livingstone has also targeted these areas, his promise to cut rail fares pleases many voters in places such as Bexleyheath.

Outside of London there are also very important elections in Birmingham and Glasgow. Currently one party does not control the Birmingham city council; instead it is ruled by a coalition between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. To win Birmingham outright Labour need a swing of just 2.5%, for the Labour Party this would be particularly important as it would send out a message that the tide is turning against Conservative-Lib Dem coalitions. The results in Glasgow could be extremely important, if the SNP manage to take control of Glasgow, or at least make sure no party gets an overall majority, then it would prove a devastating blow for Labour. It would also be a phenomenal victory for the SNP and give them hope for the 2014 referendum.

Wales is looking likely to go Labour’s way, Labour hopes to prise the likes of Swansea away from the Liberal Democrats and outright win Cardiff, Labour has called on the Welsh people to “send the vicious government a message”.

If the elections were to be a great night for Labour, they’d win London, Glasgow, Birmingham and Wales outright, on an alright night they might lose London and on a bad night Birmingham would not fall there way. If Glasgow or Wales were not to vote for Labour it could mark the beginning of the end for Labour, if an alternative party were to rise.