The patchwork election

It’s 2.45am and the TV networks are now predicting that Labour will be returned to power with a majority of 82 (having earlier predicted a majority of 66 on the basis of exit polls). Given the astonishing diversity of the results in most of the key marginal seats declared so far, and the contradictory nature of many of the outcomes, I’m sceptical of any overall prediction. What we’re seeing, I suspect, are the non-linear effects of a three-party contest in a system which has hitherto been accustomed to two-party politics. Anyway, I’m off to bed. We’ll know in the morning.