New Statesman General Election Weblog

Michael Howard is apparently to sleep on whether to stand down or not - while over the last decade it’s been tradition for Conservative leaders to quit the day following elections, and although at 63 he’s probably too old to be Prime Minister now, some in the party apparently feel that it may be in their best interests to end their habit of switching leaders every time the mood takes them.

Should he quit, though, there is a way he can follow in the footsteps of other Tory greats such as Michael Portillo and Anne Widdecombe and find new fame through the medium of his own reality TV show. Surely it’s time to deal with that great unanswered question of the campaign - just how hard is it to keep a hospital clean? One man - one mop - one challenge.

If that’s a success, perhaps he could try imposing discipline in schools, or fleeing opression to a strange country where the media will stir up deep suspicions about his intentions. We could have a six part series on our hands.

The chaps at MySociety have been busy during the night too. Not satisfied with simply having us make our mark in the ballot booth they have created a site to enable voters to let their new MPs know what they expect from them, called I Voted For You Because. Simple.

Thanks Tom for spotting that.

The PDF edition is already up, and we’re putting the finishing touches to the HTML version of this week’s issue. We thought you might appreciate David Simonds’ leader cartoon as a sneak preview of this week’s magazine - and of course, a free gift to all you eagle-eyed blog readers.

Sitting next to Nick Cohen over breakfast (a choice of cooked or continental) we began comparing notes about our respective evenings. Nick bashing away at his computer, me bashing away at mine inbetween phone calls and production of the online election issue. I invited Nick to make an entry on our weblog - a final few words before leaving. His response? “I’ve written enough nonsense today already”. You may wish to check out his ‘nonsense’ later on today in the magazine. In fact, anyone with a PIN or subscription code will soon be able to download the PDF - give us half an hour.

Through the night the office has had three major news sources on constantly. Editorial favoured the BBC1 television coverage; almost everyone was using the BBC election website with its handy arrays of scorecards and maps; and in the online corner, we chose the calmer option of Radio 4.

Radio 4 was a breath of fresh air, all told: calm, professional, and non-sensational, it combined strong live interviews with carefully planned programme-segments (the half-hour womens’ special presented by Jenni Murray was one particular stand-out). It never felt like there was desperate padding whilst waiting for results.

BBC1, by contrast, seemed a lot more excitable and bit shallow. In the studio, a whole host of experts were standing by, but in the early hours seemed to have little to do. That didn’t stop Peter Snow from dancing around in front of his newly-upgraded swingometer and rattling off reams of statistics, though. David Dimbleby did the usual Dimbleby-brother-routine, but was perhaps just a little too suave in his role as anchor. But easily the weakest element of their programming was their outside broadcasts, where hordes of journalists quizzed members of the public, asked them to paint their own election maps, and generally to fill time as best possible. As a result, the coverage veered from the serious to the almost-trite, and the seriousness of the subject matter seemed in danger of being lost in a sea of vox-pops, infographics, and hysteria.

Perhaps my overall preference also came down to the fact that, for someone who has been awake for a very long while, Radio 4’s coverage was a relaxing and informative experience. BBC1 was just a little too exhausting to watch for very long. The special coverage is now over, and the reins have been handed over to the breakfast slot staff. Not too long before everything’s back to normal, then.

The South Dorset result has just come through and with 20,000 votes or so, Jim Knight, the Labour Party candidate has narrowly scraped past the Tory, Ed Matts; it’s some achievement, in such traditionally, Tory heartland territory.

If the Labour Party had decided to remove the candidate in West Dorset, then they could be looking at another anti-Tory blow with the 8,000 or so votes they managed to find, depriving a much stronger candidate, that narrowly led to a Tory Letwin win.

David Marcesi, of the Socialist Labour Party, must be extremely disappointed with only 25 votes counted in the whole constituency: the ballot paper, omitting the Party he was representing, leaving a blank square with no information at all, where, clearly there should have been stated ‘Socialist Labour Party’ - a courtesy afforded to all the other candidates, with their names and the relevant Party shown distinctly - must have contributed to the diabolically low vote.

It’s very disappointing and quite outrageous for such a mistake to be made, or overlooked, by those responsible for ensuring a fair election. Surely, Mr Marchesi and the SLP should at least have their deposit waved, with assurances that the SLP candidate will be given fair representation at the next election.

5.45 am and there’s light at the end of the tunnel (and, indeed, out of the window). That light comes in the form of an approaching print deadline, and breakfast.

Breakfast in this case is being cooked by our delightful editorial assistant, Rosie, who’s a dab hand in the kitchen, and kindly volunteered to cook for us. This is what cooking breakfast for 12 hungry journos at six in the morning looks like:

Hard at work

Lots of eggs

Lots more mushrooms

A gallon of beans

And of course, a glass of radioactive wine to wrap up with.

I’m refreshed and restored after an hour and a half’s nap, and a fourth cup of tea, and the online magazine is not far off completion.

Blair has won what will be termed everywhere as an “historic” third term. I’m actually quite fed up of this word at this stage of the night. Some originality of phraseology would be very much appreciated. Yes, commentators are, like us, tired, but if you’ve been playing the BBC’s election night Bingo you’ll be wishing that the word had appeared on all your cards.

So I’ve taken the liberty to pick up a thesaurus to see what alternatives are available:
Significant
Momentous
Remarkable
Extraordinary
Notable
Earth-shattering

Brian Perkins has just used “unprecedented” on Radio 4, but if anyone else can add to this list please do so by making a comment to this post.

A tired, but dedicated, Brighton Blogger has called in with observations from the Hove count.

After two re-counts Respect, amongst others, were apparently not respectful of Celia Barlow’s success at winning Hove, booing and barracking her whilst she was on stage.

Although the Conservatives ran a clever campaign in Hove, in what should have been a Tory win, the BB reckons that times have changed. “The Conservative base is dying”, he told me, “They should have been able to strike against an unknown Labour candidate from outside the local area.”

The selection of Celia Barlow was made from an all woman shortlist, and it seems that this issue (thanks to the results in Blaenau Gwent) may prove to be more controversial than in the past.

BB, like others now confident of a Labour victory (however close), has now retired to bed.

Thanks BB.

Contrary to the indication of remaining loyal to Jim Knight (Labour) in the election poll that the New Statesman held by e-mail for their readers, I could not, for the first time in a lifetime, vote Labour (although, by voting for the Socialist Labour Party I felt exonerated and relieved to have a credible alternative that provided an outlet for a socialist vote of principle).

However, after lodging a complaint in concern to our ballot paper, omitting the fact that David Marchesi is the candidate for the Socialist Labour Party, and that the ballot paper failed to represent the SLP on an equal footing with all the other candidates - that clearly had stated the Party they stood for, and correct logo next to the appropriate names - to the representatives of the Returning Officer - I was given the reply that “the information must have been omitted”.

None of the representatives present (three in total) new that David Marchesi represented the Socialist Labour Party; if this is the case then how do potential voters know that Mr Marchesi represents the Socialist Labour Party, other than those like me who are aware of the SLP candidate?

The omission of the Socialist Labour Party name, clearly stating the representatives Party, undermines the potential for vital votes in a constituency that would obviously attract votes for the Socialist Labour Party from vintage labour voters that would support the growing development of the SLP in Dorset South.

Especially, when considering that every other candidate had their own political party, clearly stated, so that voters new exactly what and who they were voting for, drew even greater attention to the void left by the blank space by Mr Marchesi’s name.

It seemed offensive to me that such a basic error could be made when all the literature that I have read clearly states that David Marchesi represents the SLP, yet, the actual ballot paper failed to represent the SLP and their candidate correctly. Perhaps there were other reasons as to why, but it does seem frustrating talking to one or two people who had no idea that he was a candidate of the SLP - “was he representing a Party? Oh, that’s a shame, I’ve just voted and didn’t realise…”

The turn out on Portland has been extremely high apparently higher than the 97 and 2001 elections.

All the best for your election special - looking forward to receiving it.

Ashley Reed

That’s it. I’m going to have to cheat and take a tactical nap. Will be back in a bit over an hour, I guess, but right now, my productivity best maintained by shut-eye, not caffeine. Have no fear, I’ll be back in a bit; I’m sure Kathryn and the rest of the election night bloggers will keep the blog well-stocked with content in my absence.

Labour holds Hove, Dover and Birmingham Northfield - three constituencies that were expected to be tough for reasons that variously included the immigration issue and the collapse of Rover respectively.

The loss of Ilford North to the Tories, however, will upset some: my girlfriend, in particular, is likely to be cheesed off as she lives there.

Reg Keys has failed to dislodge Blair.

On that note, I’m going to bed. Wake me if anything shocking happens, won’t you?

You can keep your Paxmen, your Dimblebies and your Snows - it’s Marr for me all the way.

I’ve had a soft spot for him ever since I saw him speak at a sixth form politics conference when he was editor of the Independent. The next day, he was editor no longer - something that had presumably been uppermost in his mind during his speech. Yet there he was, looking a little flustered, but dealing deftly with both questions and unexpected requests for work experience from memebers of the audience. His career was in chaos, but he made time for a bunch of overheated 17 olds all the same. Tony Blair, in contrast, cancelled with no notice, and sent John Prescott instead.

I do have a more topical reason for being pleased with the guy. Two weeks into the campaign, the Today programme ran a segment in which three or four cynical creative types mocked all three parties in equal measure, laughing happily at buzz phrases such as “all the same” and “only out for themselves”. When the programme cut to Marr for the next section, he began by taking the panel to task for this lazy, easy cynicism that could no longer believe a politician might want to make the world better. Any journalist who can follow politicians that closely and yet still stay hopeful gets my vote.

On the beeb a few minutes ago, as Teresa May held Maindenhead on an increased majority despite the LibDem “decapitation” startegy, he described it as “more of a haircut really”. Skeptical, not cynical; jaunty, not jaded - I give you, Andrew Marr: national hero.

Simon Wright, the Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, believes that the massive turn out for Iain Duncan Smith in the constituency is due to both new voters voting for the first time and Conservative voters who didn’t vote in 1997 and 2001. The Tory campaign in this safe Conservative north London seat has focussed heavily on immigration and played up to the prejudices of many voters.

However, considering the territory, how many other Labour seats have resulted so far, and the well known name of Iain Duncan Smith Wright is very pleased with his clear second place. Andy Partridge, Simon’s press secretary noted how IDS had blanked Simon and would not speak to him even out of courtesy, a sign in itself he believes that Simon was being taken seriously. Speaking to Simon on the phone he seemed very happy with the reactions of voters in the constituency and that, all in all, his campaign had been successful.

Results from Hove have just been announced. Labour have managed to scrape through against Tory, Diesel jeans wearing, Nicholas Boles. We’ll bring you a comment from the Brighton Blogger as soon as possible.

Today my MSN name has been the not-nearly-as-provocative-as-I-had-hoped “Gentleman, place your bets.” Except for those who wanted to know what I was blathering on about, my fellow UK nationals ignored it.

Three Americans, however, dropped me a line to predict a Labour victory and, tentatively, express support for Tony Blair. The way the PM is viewed in the US contrasts somewhat with his reptuation back home. The Democrats, it’s true, are confused by the support of a progressive politician for President Bush and the invasion of Iraq.

Republicans, on the other hand, love him for his loyalty and support (check out www.thankyoutony.com, if you really want to go through the looking glass). The apolitical, too, seem to like him - partly for his friendship to the US, but also, according to one American, “just because he’s well spoken and comes across really well. My aunt,” he added, “loves him.”

Talking to Americans about Tony Blair is reminiscent of talking to the British about Bill Clinton today: unpopular in their own country, adored by many across the Atlantic, at least partly because of unflattering comparisons with George W. Bush. The grass, it seems, is always greener.

As I write, Labour have just held Birmingham Edgbaston, with a swing to the Conservatives of only 3 percent, more in line with the exit polls. The fear abates a little.

Two slightly disturbing sights in Peterborough. Firstly, an Asian returning officer with an Indian accent announcing the number of votes for the British National Party, who cheered like crazed banshees.

Secondly, a 7 percent swing to the Conservatives. This is in line with the 6 percent swing to the party in Putney, the only other Labour-Tory marginal to declare thus far. If this is reflected in all seats, we could be on for a hung parliament. The fear is setting in.

Things are looking far too close for comfort. Jack Straw was very fortunate that the opposition vote split or he would have been in serious trouble. I was about to say that the Lib Dems are holding their own against the Tories and they’ve just lost a seat to them……….

As the tiredness set in, so does the madness. It’s 1am on Friday and already I’ve poured cold water onto a teabag (before promptly filling up the kettle and boiling it). That was for my second cup of tea in that hour; my total tea-count is currently on 3.

It’s not just me, either; I’ve already corrected a few spelling errors that I’m sure Kathryn would normally have noticed herself. She’s also lost a phone number and, in trying to find it again, woken some poor soul up. All in the call of journalism, of course.

We’ll keep tabs on the situation. I might need to take a tactical nap at this rate. Still, work has begun on producing tomorrow’s online issue, which should be up later this morning, towards 10am.

I’ve just come off the phone from a former Labour member who lives in the Streatham constituency, to try and sense the mood in south London. The overall feeling, he reports, is one of resignation; that Labour will inevitably win but that only because there were no credible alternatives. To use the cliche: better the devil you know.

Although this voter is dissatisfied about Iraq and does not agree with the reasons that Blair went to war, he does agree with the overall direction and vision of the Labour party in comparison with the Lib Dems and the Tories.