Well, it is still early stages and we don't yet have any meaningful results in yet, and none at all from the Scottish Councils and Welsh Assembly. However, Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell has held onto his seat with a reduced majority, and a swing to SNP of just under 7%.
In England, we have only had 2 councils change hands, both from No Overall Control. One has gone to the Liberal Democrats, and one has gone to the Conservatives. However, Labour have gained more councillors overall, than the Lib Dems. Bit of a mixed picture so far. We'll have to see if it stays that way.
Friday, 4 May 2007
Super Thursday: The Turnout
Turnout in these elections has been reported to be high in both Scotland and Wales, but much lower in England. However, that's a trend that's not being repeated everywhere. In the Sidford ward in Sidmouth, Devon, the turnout there was reported at 100%!
Super Thursday: Conservatives Gain A Council
Yep, the Tories have actually made a gain. Okay, only from No Overall Control, and they were the largest party anyway, but this is the district council in Chester, and it has been NOC since the Tories lost control in 1986. Now, they have control back.
Super Thursday: Scottish First Minister holds seat
Some news just in, and it's good news for Labour, as the current Scottish First Minister, Jack McConnell has held onto to his seat in Motherwell & Wishaw.
But his majority was down to 5,938, and the SNP saw a swing to them from Labour of 6.9%.
Early days, but an interesting result.
But his majority was down to 5,938, and the SNP saw a swing to them from Labour of 6.9%.
Early days, but an interesting result.
Super Thursday: Headlines from the early declarations
There isn't enough data yet to establish any kind of a trend, but there are one or two interesting stories emerging.
In the Welsh Assembly elections, a polling station in the constituency of Newport East experienced such a huge turnout, that they actually ran out of ballot boxes.
In the district council of Broxbourne, the British National Party lost the only council seat they had there, to the Conservatives.
And in the council of Tunbridge Wells, Labour lost their only councillor there to the Conservatives.
In the Welsh Assembly elections, a polling station in the constituency of Newport East experienced such a huge turnout, that they actually ran out of ballot boxes.
In the district council of Broxbourne, the British National Party lost the only council seat they had there, to the Conservatives.
And in the council of Tunbridge Wells, Labour lost their only councillor there to the Conservatives.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Super Thursday: State of Play at 0000 UK
It's the early stages of the election night. There are 312 English Councils, 32 Scottish Councils, 129 Scottish Parliamentary seats and 60 Welsh Assembly seats up for grabs.
So far, just 3results in, but we have our first change. Liberal Democrats have taken control of Kingston-Upon-Hull. The other two were held by Labour and Conservative, so not enough info to form any kind of trend, yet.
So far, just 3results in, but we have our first change. Liberal Democrats have taken control of Kingston-Upon-Hull. The other two were held by Labour and Conservative, so not enough info to form any kind of trend, yet.
Super Thursday: BBC Parliament
Whilst BBC1 in England and Northern Ireland will be following the broader picture, BBC1 in Scotland is hosting it's own coverage of the Scottish Parliamentary Election. For viewers outside Scotland, the coverage can be seen on BBC Parliament. BBC1 in Wales also has it's own separate coverage of the Welsh Assembly Elections.
Sky Digital viewers can also watch the coverage on Channels 971 and 972.
Sky Digital viewers can also watch the coverage on Channels 971 and 972.
Super Thursday: What to watch out for.
There isn't much to look out for in these elections. But there will be one or two interesting pointers.
In the English Local Elections, what will be of most interest will be the turnout, which is traditionally very low in local elections anyway, but could be even lower this time. This will probably be an indication that possible Labour voters stayed away. Also, look to see how many councils change control, from and to Labour and Conservatives. The expectation is that we might see Labour lose councils and Conservatives pick up a few, but don't expect to see any swing directly from Labour to the Conservatives.
The thing to watch in the Scottish Parliamentary elections is to see who forms their next government. My belief is that it will go from being Labour to a combination of the Scottish Nationalists and the Liberal Democrats. But with Conservatives potentially on an upswing as well, the Scottish result is going to be the most interesting.
Sky News have started their election programme, as have BBC Wales. BBC Scotland begin theirs at 2305 UK.
In the English Local Elections, what will be of most interest will be the turnout, which is traditionally very low in local elections anyway, but could be even lower this time. This will probably be an indication that possible Labour voters stayed away. Also, look to see how many councils change control, from and to Labour and Conservatives. The expectation is that we might see Labour lose councils and Conservatives pick up a few, but don't expect to see any swing directly from Labour to the Conservatives.
The thing to watch in the Scottish Parliamentary elections is to see who forms their next government. My belief is that it will go from being Labour to a combination of the Scottish Nationalists and the Liberal Democrats. But with Conservatives potentially on an upswing as well, the Scottish result is going to be the most interesting.
Sky News have started their election programme, as have BBC Wales. BBC Scotland begin theirs at 2305 UK.
UK's Super Thursday!
There's many elections happening all over the UK today.
First we have the local elections for district councils across England. Many local councils are re-electing the whole council, whilst some are electing just a third of the council.
Then we have elections to the Scottish Parliament. 129 seats in Holyrood are up for grabs. The BBC is webcasting the election programme online from 2305 GMT. BBC Radio Scotland's election programme is also being webcast from 2200 GMT.
And finally we have the elections for the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff. Again, the BBC are webcasting coverage, this time from BBC Radio Wales. Also, S4C will be webcasting coverage produced by BBC Wales Cymru on their own site.
This is going to be the biggest test of political opinion since the 2005 general election. The results are going to be worth watching.
First we have the local elections for district councils across England. Many local councils are re-electing the whole council, whilst some are electing just a third of the council.
Then we have elections to the Scottish Parliament. 129 seats in Holyrood are up for grabs. The BBC is webcasting the election programme online from 2305 GMT. BBC Radio Scotland's election programme is also being webcast from 2200 GMT.
And finally we have the elections for the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff. Again, the BBC are webcasting coverage, this time from BBC Radio Wales. Also, S4C will be webcasting coverage produced by BBC Wales Cymru on their own site.
This is going to be the biggest test of political opinion since the 2005 general election. The results are going to be worth watching.
Biased News on NPR? I don't think so!
There is a blog which purports to monitor "...rightwing, pro-government and corporate bias..." on the programming of National Public Radio News, called NPR Check. The reality is that this is a blogger that is looking for a news service to be explicitly liberal, in the same way that Fox News Channel is explicitly conservative.
Thankfully, for people like me who are fed up with biased news, from any source, liberal or conservative, NPR News is not biased, but sticks very closely to just reporting the facts. I have listened regularly to NPR's top shows, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and I find it to be very fair, airing reporting that is based exclusively on fact rather than even the slightest agenda.
Most blogs which attack the public service broadcasters (NPR, PBS, BBC, CBC, RTE, ABC Australia etc) are run by bloggers with a conservative political bent. This one is decidedly liberal, proving that the anti-public service broadcasting community comes from all sides and colours of the political spectrum.
For crying out loud, people STOP TRYING TO FORCE EVERY NEWS ORGANISATION TO MATCH YOUR POLITICAL BENT! If you want BIASED news, there are plenty of newspapers and websites out there with enough bias to fill the Pacific Ocean!!!
Let those of us who would actually PREFER some unbiased news, some sources like the BBC, NPR, RTE etc.
Thankfully, for people like me who are fed up with biased news, from any source, liberal or conservative, NPR News is not biased, but sticks very closely to just reporting the facts. I have listened regularly to NPR's top shows, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and I find it to be very fair, airing reporting that is based exclusively on fact rather than even the slightest agenda.
Most blogs which attack the public service broadcasters (NPR, PBS, BBC, CBC, RTE, ABC Australia etc) are run by bloggers with a conservative political bent. This one is decidedly liberal, proving that the anti-public service broadcasting community comes from all sides and colours of the political spectrum.
For crying out loud, people STOP TRYING TO FORCE EVERY NEWS ORGANISATION TO MATCH YOUR POLITICAL BENT! If you want BIASED news, there are plenty of newspapers and websites out there with enough bias to fill the Pacific Ocean!!!
Let those of us who would actually PREFER some unbiased news, some sources like the BBC, NPR, RTE etc.
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