None more so than here in Scotland!
I left the count on Friday at 4.45 am to gallows humour remarks to the centre staff, recommending that they hang on to the lanyards - even though they were printed with "General Election 2017".
I remember 1974's elections very well and Heath was punished for trying it on then. The Tories would be really caned if they tried it again now - especially with pretty well any of the current 'leadership' and Corbyn would win fairly clearly in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland would see the current result entrenched, with all the border constituencies now solidly Sinn Fein.
As to Scotland, we are back to three party politics for Westminster elections, on a seat by seat basis, and only mugs predict in those circumstances but there would be a real risk, from my point of view, of the SNP being further 'squeezed' in some constituencies. On the other hand, the tactical voting experienced last time might bring a reaction in some places and, since there are plenty of narrow majorities, also see some reversals of Labour, LibDem and Tory results.
My best conclusion is that up here it would be a case of SMS (to use the technical term) 'search-me-sunshine'!
|