What makes you think Labour will want it?

The slaughtering in Scotland gives them a hell of second places without any seats. STV suddenly looks very good for Labour.

Labour aren't that short term in their thinking. FPTP has favoured them more so than any other party in the past and will do so again.

I'm happy for Vince. Now he can finally go on Strictly Come Dancing.

Bloody hell...

Cable's gone.

And no, Octavious. In the past FPTP favoured them, but the SNP aren't going to disappear. They're here to stay. STV hurts the Tories more than it hurts Labour.

Oct, did you not say that 45% of scots voted for independece and that same percentage could win them virtualy every seat.

Are you now saying that an even higher % voted SNP? And why??

https://twitter.com/LibDemDeposits

And will/can other parties take the SNP tactic of making regional politics the method for pushing the big two parties out? (Again outside of Wales and NI, can they do it in London or Cornwall?)

@ ora

What?

As I've said earlier, I suspect a lot of people in favour of the Union have voted SNP because the SNP will get their constituents the best deal. Or at least that looked most likely at the time. It will be interesting to compare how many people actually voted Yes to how many people voted SNP. I suspect more people voted Yes in the referendum.

Bloody hell again! The Lib Dems have lost Bath!

Probably, but if this is a successful tactic for smaller regional parties, can other parties do the same?

Really disappointed to see Lynne Featherstone lose her seat.

Will always have enormous thanks and respect to her for pushing for, introducing, and ensuring the legislation of equal marriage for gay couples in the UK

Possibly, but the SNP leadership have been exceptional. That counts for a lot.

No doubt you were delighted that the aged white male of Vince was replaced by the fresh faced female Tory ;)

Shame Clegg held his seat. The one Lib Dem I wanted to lose.

Judging by the expression on his face Clegg wanted to lose as well. Poor sod... I have a huge amount of respect for Cleggy. He doesn't deserve this.

A jump up off my seat, a fist pump and a yes!

And the first Conservative scalp of the night, shame really for Esther McVey, she seemed genuine and passionate.

Labour hold Edinburgh South!

When did that happen?!?

Also...

Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale
CON HOLD

Huzzah! The Tories have a Scotland Secretary!

Liberal Democrat
, with candidate Nick Clegg
, have the following results:

22,215 total votes taken.
40.0% share of the total vote
-13.4% change in share of the votes

Labour
, with candidate Oliver Coppard
, have the following results:

19,862 total votes taken.
35.8% share of the total vote
+19.7% change in share of the votes

Conservative
, with candidate Ian Walker
, have the following results:

7,544 total votes taken.
13.6% share of the total vote
-9.9


With those figures, I do wonder if the rumours you heard might have been right Octavious. I find that really interesting -- where did you hear that from? Do you have any sources I could read?

It's similar to the cross-party campaign to unite under the Conservative candidate to stop Nigel Farage.

@ wjessop

Just grapevine chatter, sadly. I've not seen anything written down, although I dare say there may be something somewhere.

Are you a Conservative party member?

For my sins, yes

There seems to be one Lab, and one Con elected in Scotland (along with a Lib Dem elected in Orkney and Shetland)

wiki.alternatehistory.com/lib/exe/fetch.php/resources/2015_general.png

Looks like I might be standing in 2020, anyway.