sadoldgit

As a liberal with a small L I think that the LibDems have had it. Game of Thrones style they got it wrong big time last time round and I think they have lost the trust of a lot of their voter base. As someone said earlier, the Tories are laughing now - they can blame the LibDems for all that went wrong in the last 5 years and take credit for anything that went right. It is very had to see how theLibDems can bounce back any time soon.

Blair turned New Labour into an orange rather than red outfit. All the parties now fight for the middle ground and you would think that would play into the LibDems hands but it has just squeezed them out. We need new Party leaders with vision and fight but all we get is the bland who can trot out meaningless soundbites and look squeaky clean on TV.

Perhaps he should join the Labour Party and stand as the next leader?

Labour must be kicking themselves now for picking the wrong Miliband. Ed seems like a decent chap but didn't have the umph to take on Cameron - and lets face it, he is hardly the toughest opponent. Still, he was "pumped up" for this so perhaps that made the difference? Boris must be licking his lips today.

I agree that they got what they deserved, but they are not the only Party to ever renege on Election promises. I guess us liberal folk take it more personally. The growth in the UKIP vote is scary.

Maybe but the other polls were indicating a hung Parliament. I have been watching the coverage on BBC and they all seem amazed that the exit polls were right. If someone asked me how I voted I would tell them something different. It seems everyone has been honest this time! When I woke up this morning I expected to see a lot of horse trading going on, not a straight off Tory win. I think it was only the exit poll that predicted this?

Harsh! She wasn't alone in thinking the exit polls were rubbish to be fair.

Only for the last 5 years the Lib-Dems have been in a position to deliver but one of the first things they did was to roll over on tuition fees.

Harriet Harman takes over for now and must have a good chance of taking on the leadership full time.

For all those celebrating this morning - more cuts in public services. More cuts to the NHS. Another 5 years of austerity. Happy days.

The Champagne will be flowing at News International.

There need to be more in the Cabinet though I think is Lou's point.

Short-termism though. The Party is now nearly destroyed.

I agree that they didn't offer anything and have been squeezed out of the middle ground. What I don't get is that many people were hacked off with Clegg with going with the Tories rather than Labour. So why then vote Tory and not Labour in protest?

I wasn't going to vote because I was unhappy about the coalition and Clegg's decision about tuition fees. I did think about a protest vote elsewhere but in the end did vote for the LibDems. I can understand why they lost their vote, what I cant understand is why the voters voted Tory. The SW used to be firmly Liberal, look at it now. Very sad day for the centre ground.

So Clegg has fallen on his sword. He made a huge misjudgement when he got into bed with the Tories and he and the party have paid the price. As a Liberal myself I am gutted. It is hard to see a way back for the Party in my lifetime.

At least Farage didn't make it.

It was a tongue in cheek remark. If more women are to run the country more women have to get involved at grass roots level and beyond. We have a very active local female Tory councillor who is very, very ambitious but it needs lots, lots more. Its not a question of heads in the sand. It is a question of women putting themselves forward and breaking the glass ceiling. Thatcher should have made a difference but she hardly brought women on herself did she - and in truth was more manly than the men in her cabinet. I am not gobsmacked because I am 61 years old and have never known anything different. Another thing I would say is that Government is one area where being a middle class man is a plus - in most other areas it is a hindrance nowadays. I have just left the CPS and I can tell you there that it is mostly run by women. The SNP is led by a woman. I wouldn't be surprised if the next Labour leader is a woman and maybe even the next Lib Dem leader.

Not sure why anyone should be gobsmacked by that, it has been the case for ever, even under Thatcher. Not saying it is right but the days when the country is run by underprivileged, black lesbians is a long way off. It is the system.

What a depressing night. Miliband has to step down and Labour need to be very careful about who leads them next. Not surprised that Clegg got a kicking after throwing his lot in with the Tories but who'd have thought the vote would go to the Tories? 5 more years without any checks. God help us.

Bloody hell, Townsend and Daltrey? I loved The Who back in the day but they really ought to call it a day now.

I haven't had that happen to me but no, it doesn't feel like that. You barely feel anything (perhaps the odd tug - ooer missus) and a nurse usually stands besides you and chats away as if nothing untoward is happening to help take your mind off it.

I have just voted although up until today I wasn't going to bother. I am in a safe Tory seat but want to do my bit to unseat them if I can. I was talking to Mrs SOG about this year's campaign last night and neither of us can but a cigarette paper between Cameron, Clegg and Miliband. They all look the same, they all sound the same. They are all squabbling over the middle ground. God help us whoever gets in although I think we are in for another coalition.

I have just voted although up until today I wasn't going to bother. I am in a safe Tory seat but want to do my bit to unseat them if I can. I was talking to Mrs SOG about this year's campaign last night and neither of us can but a cigarette paper between Cameron, Clegg and Miliband. They all look the same, they all sound the same. They are all squabbling over the middle ground. God help us whoever gets in although I think we are in for another coalition.

I wonder who Ian Branfoot's biggest influence was?