What U.K. win means worldwide
CAMERON STAYS AT 10 DOWNING STREET
Conservatives won 331 seats in the House of Commons (Britain’s Parliament), more than the 326 needed for a majority. That keeps Cameron in power as prime minister without having to enter into a coalition with another party as he needed to in 2010.
Five years ago, Britain formed the first formal coalition government since World War II: an alliance between the right-of-center Conservative Party and centrist Liberal Democrats.
THE OUTCOME TRUMPED POLLSTERS
All the polls leading up to Thursday’s election showed an extremely tight race and a statistical dead heat between Cameron and the Labour Party’s Ed Miliband. Neither party was expected to win a majority, meaning the party with the most seats might have been unable to form the next government.
The process of trying to form a coalition with smaller, minority parties could take days, if not weeks. Negotiations could have run until May 27, when Queen Elizabeth II is required to give a speech reflecting the new government’s legislative priorities.
LEADERS OF THREE PARTIES RESIGN
Miliband joined United Kingdom Independence Party leader Nigel Farage and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg in giving up the leadership of their respective parties as it became apparent that Cameron would have a second term as prime minister.
In his resignation speech, Miliband said: “I take absolute and total responsibility for the result and our defeat at this election.”
Clegg, 48, who served as deputy prime minister in the previous coalition government with the Conservatives, narrowly avoided being unseated in Sheffield, in northern England. His centrist group won just eight seats in Parliament, down from the 57 seats it previously held.
VOTERS DIDN’T ELECT CAMERON DIRECTLY
Britain has a parliamentary system with each of its 650 geographical areas containing about 60,000 voters. Each area elects its
The United Kingdom’s first general election in five years on Thursday produced a stunning result: Not only did Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party come out on top, but his party also gained enough seats for an outright majority. Here’s what you need to know about the election that polls originally suggested would be one of the closest — and most difficult to predict — in British history.
own member of Parliament, much like U.S. congressional district elections.
Under the British electoral process, voters don’t directly choose the prime minister. The leader of the next government is chosen by the members of Parliament. However, the influence of U.S.-style elections with a focus on personalities often prompts voters to elect a local candidate representing the party whose leader the voters prefer.
THERE WILL BE A VOTE ON EXITING THE EU
The Conservative Party promised to hold a referendum on whether Britain should exit the European Union, a move opposed by business leaders. tional And Party gains mean by the it Scottish could again Na-seek independence for Scotland despite last year’s referendum vote to remain part of the United Kingdom. The party took 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland. Voters outside Scotland could not vote for the party.
EXPECT LITTLE IMPACT ON U.S. RELATIONS
Britain’s “special relationship” with the United States is not likely to change. The close economic, military and political ties between the two allies across the Atlantic have been durable for two centuries.
One possible change, however, is that Britain may become a less active U.S. partner in military operations around the world as it continues to make deep cuts in its defense budget that have taken place under Cameron’s tenure.
U.K., EUROPEAN MARKETS UP ON CONSERVATIVE WIN
Stocks markets in the the United Kingdom and across Europe surged Friday on news that Cameron had been granted a second term. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rose 1.9% and the British pound was up against the U.S. dollar by nearly 2 cents.
Although the Conservative Party is seen as the most business-friendly, its commitment to hold a referendum on European Union membership had unsettled the business community, which sees value in being part of the world’s largest, single common market.