It's that time again... another
General Election.. this time back in dear old
Blighty.
Don't forget to click on the links!
But unlike in previous years it's
not just another predictable re-run where the incumbent gets re-elected because the opposition are even worse.
Oh no.
This time it's anybody's game. A few weeks ago
outsider Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat) was seen to be
the winner of the
first ever UK three-way (!)
pre-election TV debate,
with some journalists touting him as a British Obama. while Conservative
David Cameron has bounced back despite various gaffes and potentially embarrassing accusations.
Even
Gordon Brown, Tony Blair's successor as leader of the ("New") Labour Party has apparently
regained some lost support following his
"bigot-gate" faux pas.
The unthinkable is happening. Even
old Labour stalwarts like
"the Bard of Barking" Billy Bragg (remember
Red Wedge?)
have admitted they're turning their backs on Gordon "Bully-boy" Brown.
The internet (surprise surprise) is transforming this election, with
Labour, Tory (that's Conservative)
and LibDems all Twittering away...
David Cameron has been showing us what a regular guy he is despite his
Eton-
Oxford education
on his "pioneering" Webcameron (clever wordplay there, Dave)
since 2006 or so, when most people thought
YouTube was
best left to a plumber.
The net has also allowed the public to
"get interactive" all over the election... the best example of this featuring the amazing
"MyDavidCameron.com" where
you can make your own customised mickey-take of any of a series
of Conservative election posters, as on the right. Sheer genius... go on, have a go... you know you want to.
Also,
YouTube is a great source of information on candidates...
Cameron has his own "channel" of course, but you can also scrutinise
this revealing clip of Gordon Brown picking his nose. Nick Clegg's Spanish wife Miriam "don't call me Mrs. Clegg"
González is featured on
this clip comically entitled
Leaders' Wives.
Sky News have
the best compendium of typically savage and sarcastic election campaign posters while the good old
BBC have a great "
as-it-happens" live feed.
The Guardian have compiled the
election morning front pages (of the newspapers, obviously) here, from the former
Blarite Sun's
"In Cameron We Trust" to the Communist
Morning Star's blunt "Vote Labour".
Other election news involves
former leader of the (thankfully minority)
UK Independence Party (UKIP to its friends)
who crashed his light aircraft after it became entangled in a VOTE UKIP banner, the daft banana. Remember Rajoy,
La Espe and a helicopter? A bit like that.
As the votes slowly trickle in it seems that
Clegg-mania was over-hyped, and that
Cameron may be the biggest recipient of votes but that a
hung parliament is looking increasingly likely. However it seems that
a large turnout has lead to people being turned away from polling stations. Doesn't that happen in places like Iran and Zimbabwe?
As are endless yawnsome jokes about a
well-hung parliament.
Here is the first of what I fear may be many.
And finally... a poster to remind us to
Vote for Gordon (or not)..
Oh dear... I've just seen
Joan Collins on the BBC telling the nation that she believes
David Cameron has a "presidential look".
I honestly didn't realise she was still alive.