International Socialists

The UK has just finished its election season with the Conservative Party (Tories) coming out ahead as the largest party.

A quick rundown of the results-

Tories - 306
Labour - 258
Lib Dems - 57

Interesting changes-

Lib dems - down 5 seats, but up 1% on 2005
Ulster Unionists - Lost only seat
Democratic Unionists -8 seats, but lost one
Sinn Fein, stayed the same.
BNP, no seats, but about 1% increase in vote.
Respect - Lost their only seat.
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (SWP's supported) 12,275 votes (new party)
Greens gained their first seat ever.

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What this means in terms of the Government is still up to debate. In order to have an overall majority, a government has to have at least 326 seats. Since no one party has this, there are a few possibilities.

Tories and Lib Dems coalition, with an absolute majority

Tories on their own, with a minority govt.

Labour and Lib Dems would be larger than tories alone, but would be a minority government still. They could get over the threshhold with other, minor parties.

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 In terms of analysis, while the Tories may be the biggest party, this has still been a defeat for the right, especially the hard right. The Fascist BNP, despite being treated as a normal party by the media, have not only failed to gain a parliamentary seat, they lost over half their council seats. This can be put down quite easily to the efforts of the activist left, who's main goal has been to keep the Nazi's out of power.

Even more, the Unionist parties in Northern Ireland have lost out as well, losing seats. 

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Council seats are far more important in the UK then in NZ. They are party-based elections, however, unlike with parliament, the local parties are run from the grassroots. Labour's massive victory in Local Council elections -is- a victory for the left, as the local labour groups are hugely more left-wing than parliament. The UKIP, another xenophobic group, lost seats as well, while the left, the Respect Coalition and the Residents Association (Similar to RAM) have kept steady.

So in conclusion, the elections, while perhaps dissapointing, have not been the right-wing victory posited by the media. The actions of the left in stopping the Nazis and Fascists get into power are applaudable.