Latest on the UK elections (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)
650 parliament seats were up for grabs. The party that wants to form the new government would need at least 326 seats (half of 650 plus one seat). With only one more seat to be counted, the Conservatives have 306 seats against Labour’s 258, Lib Dem’s 57, and 28 ‘others’. This means no one has the majority to form the new government.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
This ‘hung parliament’ was already expected. Everyone was talking about it. It looks like the British voters do not want to give any one political party the majority in parliament. At best they can form the new government with the largest minority or what we would call a minority government.
The Conservatives can always form the government with 306 seats (20 short of a simple majority) and hope that in the coming parliament session at the end of this month they would not suffer a vote of no confidence. Alternatively, they can form a ‘unity government’ with Lib Dem and control 363 seats in parliament. Then, in two years time, they can dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections.
Lib Dem indicated earlier it might team up with Labour but their 57 seats with Labour’s 258 gives them only 315, which is still short of the 326 majority, but more than Conservatives’ 306. However, Labour will have to first agree to Lib Dem’s reform program, which includes electoral reforms.
We can understand why Lib Dem wants electoral reforms. Although they won 23% of the votes, they won only 8% of the seats. Conservative won 36% of the votes but 47% of the seats while Labour won 29% of the votes but 40% of the seats.
Does this not sound just like Malaysia where Barisan Nasional can win only 50% of the votes but almost a two-thirds majority in parliament?
The Queen has said she will stay out of this and will let the politicians decide on what to do. Lib Dem is certainly the ‘third force’ and the ‘kingmaker’ in this entire scenario. Remember I said in an earlier article this week that this is my dream for Malaysia? (Read An exercise in maturity here).
It has happened in the UK. It is time we did the same thing in Malaysia.
Yes, neither Barisan Nasional nor Pakatan Rakyat should get a two-thirds majority in parliament. Whoever forms the government should be reduced to a simple majority. And we should be allowed to change governments every two or three terms. And there must be a third force in Malaysian politics that can play the role of kingmaker and be instrumental in the change of government every two or three terms.
Anyway, read the various media coverage on the UK elections below to get a better idea of the issues.
Yeap, my doctor told me I need to lose at least 8kg, especially the paunch around my stomach
The voting is for both the parliament and local council candidates (what we want to see in Malaysia)
And our family gave five votes to…well…undi rahsia, is it not?
UK election results map http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/interactive/2010/may/06/uk-election-results-map
Q&A: Hung Parliament – what happens now? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119936.ece
UK election results: Clegg – deal or no deal? http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/uk-election-results-clegg-deal
Hung parliament: Nick Clegg forced to play fair maiden as suitors bow http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/07/hung-parliament-nick-clegg-decides
Liberal Democrats: Nick Clegg ponders rival offers to prop up government http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/liberal-democrats-nick-clegg-rival-offers-government
Cameron’s ‘big, open, comprehensive’ offer to Lib Dems http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7120178.ece
Blairites rally round Brown in desperate effort to keep Tories out http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7120179.ece
How Cameron’s secret kitchen cabinet had to rethink plans for power http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7120180.ece
Getting on with the job: the PM who refuses to leave No 10 – yet http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7120170.ece
The Queen keeps her distance as leaders jostle for power http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119976.ece
Translated into Chinese at: http://ccliew.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-post_3133.html
