Voted in the NI Assembly election at 7.10 this morning, really sets you up for the day.

I only had a PCC election today. For the first time in my life I spoilt my ballot paper. I had a choice between the Independent incumbent (who made some highly illiberal comments shortly before announcing he was standing for re-election), a Tory, UKIP and Labour. I didn't have any wish to vote for any of them, but I still felt an obligation to turn up.

I only had a PCC election today. For the first time in my life I spoilt my ballot paper. I had a choice between the Independent incumbent (who made some highly illiberal comments shortly before announcing he was standing for re-election), a Tory, UKIP and Labour. I didn't have any wish to vote for any of them, but I still felt an obligation to turn up.

 

Yes I was rather peed at the lack of representation for my views too. In the end I went for Labour as they stand no chance of winning. Hopefully the other 3 will all be neck and neck and fail to impress anyone.

I only had a PCC election today. For the first time in my life I spoilt my ballot paper. I had a choice between the Independent incumbent (who made some highly illiberal comments shortly before announcing he was standing for re-election), a Tory, UKIP and Labour. I didn't have any wish to vote for any of them, but I still felt an obligation to turn up.

 

I sometimes wonder whether it would be worth introducing a RON (re-open nominations) option in elections if there are no candidates worth voting for, although one suspects than even if it was introduced, there likely wouldn't be many cases where it would gain the most votes.

The Lib Dems are ahead in the Scottish Parliament, having won all the seats declared so far. All one of them.

Looking like a mixed bag north of the border tonight.

 

LibDems are on a bit of a fight back in four places but will possibly just miss out on the two of those that are on the mainland (having already taken the northern isles). Labour look to be completely collapsing in some places but there are messages that they are holding up in others. SNP should take every Glasgow seat and look like a reasonably good bet to hit the magic 65. Greens are supposedly second in Glasgow Kelvin, which would be a f***ing outstanding result from them, and look likely to pick up a few list seats also. Word is that if UKIP are to get a seat they'll take a Highlands and Islands list seat for that abomination that is an MEP. Given that EURef is weeks away this was their best chance to actually break through here and I'm proud that it's only a few racists in the part of the country that either a) has f*** all immigration or b) used to be Norwegian that have voted for them. (And given that part of the country is home to all of 304 people there will probably only be about 24 people to round up and have deported to England and/or shot)

I've seen rumours on Twitter that the Lib Dems could (re)gain Fife NE from the SNP.

That along with Edinburgh Western (possibly Eastern, I can't quite remember which of the two) are the two mainland ones they are hoping for.

 

NE Fife going SNP last time really summed up the mood towards the LibDems. The message I was brought up on was you vote LibDem to keep the tories out, not to go into coalition with the f***ers. I've seen a lot of talk on my Facebook feed today of tactical voting by Tory voters so when that count comes in, probably around 5am - for a region so bloody small it's an embarrassment that it takes so long to count - it could be quite an outlier in the overall results with a Tory fall feeding a LibDem gain.

 

Personally i think voting tactically is for c**ts but if we lose the seat we'll take a list seat instead for Mid-Scotland & Fife so it's going to make no difference to either party's total seat numbers for the region as a LD win will come at expense of a list seat.

 

My mother was my proxy and because of circumstances, she's also in England at the moment so I didn't get a vote this time as Fife council refused to grant an emergency proxy. However our votes would cancel each other out.

 

 

I am loving how much my constituency is being mentioned on the TV coverage. Mighty Ming being on at the start of our coverage helped as well so a close battle will just keep attention on the area which is only a good thing.

After 16 it's 13 to the SNP, 2 to the LibDem and a Tory.

 

Main pattern seems to be Labour down, SNP consistent, Tory up and LibDems irrelevant on the mainland.

Apparently the Lib Dems are set to win Edinburgh West, another seat lost in the general election last year.

Disappointing to see the tories on the up in Scotland.

 

I actually expected a further SNP landslide.

I've seen rumours on Twitter that the Lib Dems could (re)gain Fife NE from the SNP.

 

Tories 5,646

SNP 11,463

Labour 2,026

Lib Dems 14,928

 

:o

 

LibDems have taken my seat back!

If the Lib Dems can add Edinburgh W to Fife NE, that will count as a rather better result in Scotland than expected.

 

It is indeed depressing to see the Tory vote well up north of the border.

Mostly to do with Ruth tbh.

 

Plus I think we're getting some tactical voting here.

A Lib Dem gain in Edinburgh W now confirmed. The real shift in votes is from Labour to Lib Dem with the others basically unchanged.

Edinburgh West goes LibDem!

Kezia Dugdale's vote in Edinburgh Eastern is down 7%. Bit of an embarrassment for her to lose directly to the tories (who are up 8% with no change for SNP)

And with that, Ruth Davidson herself wins her Edinburgh seat.

 

The Greens coming a very sold 4th there, at the expense of the SNP.

A spectacular Lib Dem win in Brecon and Radnorshire. The Lib Dem results in Wales have been mostly awful, but this is one bright spot with an easy win.