The results for the Scottish National Party (SNP) might possibly be described as a '1997 moment'. In the 1997 General Election the Tories (Conservative Party) were 'wiped out' in Scotland and most of the anticipated rise in the vote for the SNP stalled and went to the Labour Party, but it was the extent to which electoral support in England turned to the Labour Party that resulted in a Labour Government.
A rise in the number of Tory MP's and the corresponding fall in the number of Labour MP's in England has resulted in a 'hung parliament' (no single Party has an outright majority) necessitating the need for an accommodation with the Liberal Democrats (LD) in order to get a majority and form a government. To get a majority and form a government a Party or a combination of Parties must have at least 326 seats.
In Scotland there is an automatic fear of a Tory government (especially because of the depredations of Tory governments in the 1980's and early 1990's) and this fear is often used by the Labour Party to persuade people that they should vote for it - even though doing so would not have any effect on the outcome of an election where Tory gains in England were greater than the number of Westminster seats in Scotland.
'Darling concedes cuts could be tougher than 1980s
Alistair Darling has conceded that if Labour is re-elected public spending cuts will be "tougher and deeper" than those implemented by Margaret Thatcher.'
"There may be things that we don't do, that we cut in the future."
| PARTY | SEATS | SEATS% | VOTE% |
| CON | 306 | 47.2 | 36.0 |
| LAB | 258 | 39.7 | 29.0 |
| LD | 57 | 8.8 | 23.0 |
| OTHER | 28 | 4.3 | 12.0 |
| TOTALS | 649 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
NOTE: Election in 1 constituency has been deferred until 27 May due to death of a candidate.
| PARTY | SEATS | SEATS% | VOTE% |
| LAB | 41 | 69.5 | 42.0 |
| CON | 1 | 1.7 | 16.7 |
| LD | 11 | 18.6 | 18.9 |
| SNP | 6 | 10.2 | 19.9 |
| OTHER | 0 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| TOTALS | 59 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| PARTY | RECALCULATION | SEATS |
| LAB | 258 - 41 + 59 = | 276 |
| CON | 306 - 1 = | 305 |
| LD | 57 - 11 = | 46 |
| OTHERS | 28 - 6 = | 22 |
| PARTY | NOTIONAL | ACTUAL |
| LAB | 50 | 68 |
| CON | 21 | 20 |
Whilst the Conservatives could obtain a majority with the support of the Liberal Democrats, Labour would require the support of the Lib Dems AND other Parties to do so. A Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition would have a greater majority than a Labour/Liberal Democrat/Others one would. A pact would not enable a majority government to be formed but would be an arrangement, in return for certain concessions, whereby junior parties to such an arrangement would abstain from parliamentary votes in which a minority government faced possible defeat.
Currently the election of an overall majority of SNP MP's to Westminster in a UK General Election would constitute a mandate for the negotiation of the withdrawal of Scottish MP's from Westminster and the dissolution of the Treaty of Union of 1707 resulting in Scotland regaining its independence. The current number of MP's elected from Scotland is 59. A mandate for Scottish independence would be gained with the election of 30 SNP MP's.
