Quizzes & Puzzles0 min ago
The last 19 seats!
According to the bbc website, 627 of 646 have been declared. I understand that in the 647th constituency, sadly one of the candidates died and there will be a by-election soon. Does anyone know what is going on in the last 19 seats? Why is there a delay?
Thanks!
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There's one result in England that won't be known til Saturday. The Returning Officer in Harlow stopped a second re-count because the staff were too tired. I know because I have a bet on the Lib Dems having 62 seats or fewer and that is what they have at the moment, if they win Harlow, I lose the bet.
There are only 646 constituencies. Your question should have referred to "627 of 645" and "the 646th".
Incidentally, the delayed election in Staffordshire South constituency will not be a "by-election". It is still authorised by the same writ, and will still be part of the general election; it will not count as a by-election. The other candidates remain validly nominated, and may be joined by other candidates when the nominations are re-opened.
Incidentally incidentally, the delaying of a general election in one constituency (due to the death of a candidate) previously happened in 1951, 1950, 1945, 1929, 1923 and 1918.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/default.stm
Like I said, "according to the BBC website"... I was quoting from the link now copied out for your benefit above. I do now understand that Staffs South was included in the 646, so thanks for pointing that out bernardo.
The quote below is from this page. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4472293.stm#two
"Due to the death of Jo Harrison, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Staffordshire South, no election will take place there on 5 May.
This means that the election result will be made up of a total of 645 seats, not 646.
A by-election will be called in Staffordshire South after the general election has taken place. "
Bernardo you may well be correct, but where are you getting your facts from please? Thanks.
I am definitely correct, and I have already emailed the BBC three times over the last week to alert them to the fact that the election in South Staffordshire will be the general election and not a by-election. Unfortunately they do not seem to be very good at correcting their mistakes.
I am getting my facts from an entire lifetime of having been an elections junkie and anorak :-), and having read billions of reference books about the subject.
e.g. "British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949" by F.W.S. Craig (page xvi) says "Postponed polls at General Elections due to the death of a candidate are indicated in footnotes. It should be noted that postponed polls are not considered by-elections but are part of the General Election, no new writ being issued".
I read that the sitting MP, Patrick Cormack, will lose his chance of becoming Father of the House because this constitutes a break in his continuous service. But surely that can't be right if he's still up for election under the same writ? Bernardo?
It wouldn't be a "break in his continuous service". I'm not sure who came up with that idea.
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