#GE2015: final election results (and in Lego)

The turnout was 66.1%. Just under 30.7m voted and just over 15.7m didn’t. The Conservatives won 51% of the seats with 11.3m votes, or 34% of those who voted (24% of the electorate). In Scotland, the turnout was 71%. 2.9m voted, 1.2m didn’t. The SNP won 95% of the seats with just under 1.5m, or 50% of those who voted (36% of the Scottish electorate).

Just over 250,000 people voted for parties that won no representation – no transferable votes for them. As we pointed out earlier our electoral system has created a massive mismatch between share of votes and share of seats. Now all the results are in, we can see how this plays out across the UK.

We now have two distinct political settlements. Conservative (60%) hegemony in England, predominantly in the south and rural area, and SNP (95%) hegemony in Scotland. Governing as a ‘one nation’ Tory will be challenging for even the most diplomatic of politicians.

Pollsters will be hanging their head in shame and taking along hard look at methodologies.

Meanwhile you can see Parliament in Lego here and Downing Street in Lego here.

Photo: tonyhall via Flickr

Further reading:

#GE2015: Greens retain seat but criticise voting system

#GE2015: Lib Dem Energy and Climate Change Secretary loses seat

#GE2015: share of votes, not seats, should confer a government’s #legitimacy

#GE2015: Vote for Policies ‘exit poll’

Sustaining the UK’s Future: Environment and Sustainability at the Heart of Decision Making