Those results in full ...

[shinytoaster]

Esher & Walton. Con Hold.

Ian Taylor, Conservative, 21,882 45.7% -3.3
Mark Marsh, Liberal Democrat, 14,155 29.6% +7.1
Richard Taylor, Labour, 9,309 19.4% -4.2
Bernard Collignon, UK Independence Party, 1,582 3.3% -1.6
Chinners Chinnery, Monster Raving Loony Party, 608 1.3% +1.3
Richard Cutler, Socialist Labour Party, 342% 0.7 +0.7

Majority 7,727 16.1%
Turnout 47,878 62.2% (+0.3 on 2001)

Swing: 5.2% from Con to LD

This is not really a surprise, this is very safe Tory territory.

Although nobody thought to point out that the UKIP candidate appears to be French; 'Collignon, big moron' as the Amelie subtitles would have it.

To sum up the election for me, I think that on the evidence of the swings we saw last night, the Liberal Democrats may indeed be on the verge of making a serious challenge. We have to wonder, however, how many of these Liberal voters were disaffected Labour voters, and how many of them will drift back to Labour next time round. Tony Blair was sent a message - now it has been sent, whither the Liberal Democrats? We need, I think, to see some serious policy wonking during the next parliament, and certainly a leadership challenge; Charles Kennedy is not now, and never was, the man to lead the country. He's done a good job, but I can't believe him as Prime Minister. Someone else needs a crack of the whip, and personally, my money would be on Menzies Campbell.

I am not at all disappointed with the national result, and I think that's pretty good.

Coincidentally, my old constituency, Brighton Pavillion, stayed Labour, but the third place party was the Greens, with which I am most impressed.

Comments

[owlman.livejournal.com]

We need, I think, to see some serious policy wonking during the next parliament, and certainly a leadership challenge; Charles Kennedy is not now, and never was, the man to lead the country.

Very much so. This was a fantastic opportunity for the LDs. They were the party to oppose the war. They are in a position to offer a viable alternative to the main two. However, while they took a few notable scalps with large swings, in this election they made only a small overall gain. They may be saying this result was a stepping stone, but I can easily see this being the high point and them slipping away.

[zorac.livejournal.com]

how many of these Liberal voters were disaffected Labour voters, and how many of them will drift back to Labour next time round

Indeed - there's certainly evidence this time of voters who were disaffected with the Tories and voted Lib Dem at the last couple of elections drifting back to the Conservative fold this time.

[pinguthegreek.livejournal.com]

The trouble with Menzies Campbell is that he is quite old and I believe was quite seriously ill during the last parliament. However, I would quite like to see him as leader too.

[catlily.livejournal.com]

Totally agree, on Menzies Campbell - he's the kind of man that everyone seems to have respect for (even Jeremy Paxman). I actually said on Thursday night that the Lib Dems would be doing much better now if he was leader rather than Charles Kennedy.

[prettyveela.livejournal.com]

I just have to say that I hope you make more political posts, I commented on another political post you made a long time ago.

I love fandom, but I love real life and the issues people face today 10x more than a fictional universe. You always have something interesting to say in these posts *nods*.

Uh, that's it. :)

[titanic-days.livejournal.com]

Appreciate the sentiment and I'm glad to hear it, too - if you were waiting for any fandom posts you'd be waiting indefinitely.

[prettyveela.livejournal.com]

if you were waiting for any fandom posts you'd be waiting indefinitely.

*laughs* Well the fandom is getting on my last nerve lately and I hardly read fanfiction(which is interesting since half my flist are fanfic writers).

I've always been into politics. 2004 was a depressing year, I wanted to make a public apology to the world for failing them. :(

I hope you don't mind if I pop up from time to time when you make a political post. I hear your name mentioned once in a while on my flist, so I decided to check you out, *waves*.