ANALYSIS

It’s an odd atmosphere in the Palace of Westminster.

Politicians range from awestruck (the new ones) to weary (the not-sonew ones) while advisors just look shattered. They are the ones who run the campaigns but don’t get the adrenaline or the glory, after all.

Mainly, though, there is a sense of discontent with the result of the general election across every party bar Labour – and, despite exceeding expectations, they lost.

“This place is a mess,” said one MP in between rubbing his eyes.

It’s hard to disagree. Theresa May seems to have survived the fight for political life for now, given there is no appetite for another general election.

Yes, it is foolish to make predictions in politics any more, but the obvious question that needs to be asked is: who actually wants the UK to go back to the polls?

Not the Conservatives, who managed to throw away their majority last time and are terrified they could hand over Downing Street to Jeremy Corbyn if the Labour boss is given another shot out on the stump, where he is impressive, rather than keeping him in Westminster, where he is not.

Not the SNP, who lost 21 seats on Thursday night and have a good handful more on extremely narrow majorities. Maybe Labour, although there will be a fair few of their MPs who didn’t expect to be here who will not want to risk losing their seat following a gruelling campaign.

Plus, let’s be honest, the public doesn’t want it. It didn’t want the last one, which is probably why it was already primed against Theresa May before she delivered a stinking campaign, and it will not thank anyone getting the ballot boxes out again.

Add this into the simple fact that the fixed term parliament act means twothirds of MPs have to vote for another election before it can be called and we are in the realms of there only being another election if the Government is brought down. Of course, that is not as far-fetched as it might once have been.

The Prime Minister has pledged to clear up a “mess” of her own making but it will only take a few rebels to severely undermine her.

Repair work is currently ongoing in the crumbling Houses of Parliament.

The UK Government needs more than a patch up job if it is to survive a five-year term.