Jeevan A. Robinson
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
The Tories have captured the House of Commons with an assault so deadly it has left casualties aplenty in its wake.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has reappointed senior members of his Cabinet after winning what many are calling a surprise victory in Britain's just concluded elections.
But was Cameron's victory truly a surprise? Or did the polling companies get it horribly wrong, and are now left with nothing short of egg on their faces?
During the campaign, Cameron, many a time appeared flustered and in some ways unsure. He looked to excuse himself from a leaders' debate, but then eventually succumbing - but not to the full slate of debates. He spoke of the achievements under his government, but due to his coalition with an increasingly unpopular Liberal Democrat party, the election results pre polling day on Thursday May 7, 2015, were less than assured. Polls and pundits alike called it a knife-edge election. It turned out not to be anything even close to such.
The election campaign ran by the Tories stoked fear of what a Labour victory may have meant for the UK, but offered scant details on new policy drives going forward that would have been different from the last five years. It was a rather safe way of campaigning for the Tories, who were uncertain of their popularity outside of their base support.
What does the Prime Minister's victory in such a resounding manner mean for Britain, and by extension the wider United Kingdom?
There are many issues that are on the table, and Cameron will move forward with his plans in a bold manner, as he has been given a mandate by the electorate with such a clear majority victory. He has rendered to waste his faltering opponents and has cast them as ineffective to challenge his party's power and policy ideology in taking the UK forward.
What has happened in the wake of this victory is rather remarkable. They all thought they had him. But now Labour Leader, Ed Miliband, has resigned with his brother David Miliband who now calls the United States home – one who many thought should have rightfully been leader of the party - expressing sympathy for Labour's woes post election.
Ed Miliband in the wake of defeat stated; “I take absolute and total responsibility for our defeat. I am so sorry for all of those colleagues who lost their seats.”
His brother David chimed in as he took to twitter and tweeted that his heart "goes out to great colleagues who lost seats" and "of course to Ed."
Would the Labour faithful place their trust in another Miliband and welcome David back to the fold to challenge the dominant Conservative Party?
Odds at this point seem against this, as the next Labour Leader may well be - if reports are to be believed, the names up for leadership contention are shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna; the shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham; the shadow health minister, Liz Kendall; and the shadow justice minister, Dan Jarvis.
Further casualties of Cameron's assault on the House of Commons include, Nick Clegg, the one time Deputy Prime Minister from the Lib Dem/Conservative coalition - who now stands shamed having not gotten anything to show for his party signing up with the Tories after the last elections. Many will say fair game, as he should have perhaps joined instead with Labour last election to form the new government, but today Clegg stands defeated and has tendered his resignation as leader of the Lib Dems.
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has also called it a day and has stepped aside as leader of his lot.
So how will Prime Minister Cameron govern in this his second term? Looking at the numbers, he took 36.9% of the vote, 331 seats – to Labour’s 30.4%, 232 seats.
One of his key mentions during his speech outside 10 Downing Street saw him state; “I want to bring our country together, our United Kingdom together, not least by implementing as fast as we can the devolution that we rightly promised and came together with other parties to agree both for Wales and for Scotland. In short, I want my party, and I hope a government I would like to lead, to reclaim a mantle that we should never have lost – the mantle of One Nation, one United Kingdom,”
The one United Kingdom mantra will be severely tested however, as the Scottish Nationalists were always a key faction to watch during the election campaign. They themselves are rejoicing having captured almost all 59 seats north of the English border.
Is this an indictment that Scotland's vote for “No” to leave the UK, a vote held within the last year - could be put to the test once again? Some analysts are of the view that the Scots' resounding success could present an omen towards the weakening of Scotland's union with England, now in its 308th year.
What about the NHS and the welfare system that the Conservatives have cut back on and made fundamental changes to during the last five years?
The last five years saw the term austerity being the order of the day as the coalition government chopped and changed, but in some ways I feel they may have held back their hand due to many in the Lib Dem camp not in favour of some cuts that were proposed. Now this threat is lifted with a clear majority election victory - will Cameron take his hatchet and go after more of the NHS and the benefits system? Many will be watching closely to see the policy moves in these areas.
What is notable also from this victory, as was pointed out to MNI Alive today by an observer, is that despite the shocking success of the Tories, London mainly went to Labour. In spite of a Tory Mayor, in the flambouyant personality of Boris Johnson. Of the 73 seats available in London, the Lib Dems took only one; Labour has 45 seats, and the Conservatives, 27. London's polling results came in as a good night for Labour. ‚Ä®
Prime Minister Cameron has however, chosen safety and continuity as latest reports are showing that he has kept many of his previous Cabinet in place.
Philip Hammond remains as foreign secretary and Michael Fallon to continue as defense secretary. George Osborne has been re-appointed as Treasury Chief and Theresa May to home secretary, responsible for law and order.
Osborne was also made First Secretary of State, effectively the equivalent to deputy prime minister, the most senior Cabinet minister beneath Cameron.
David Cameron has come away from these elections looking an even more powerful man. His mandate is assured, and he has delivered the victory he first craved five years ago.
International aid, relationships with Britain's overseas territories, as well as the much-touted relationship with the United States are all factors under watch as Cameron prepares to govern for another five years.
Labour meanwhile, licks its wounds and retreats to plan a comeback strategy to challenge the might of Cameron these next five years.
