Question for David Johnson

[Zorro]

David

Got a question that might be right up your street.

When Scotland goes independent, how many seats in Parliament will labour lose? Is it a significant amount? Could it alter an election? or is it pretty minor and nothing to worry about?

Thanks in advance.

[David Johnson]

In short, Labour would lose about 41 seats that they currently hold in Scotland from the Westminster parliament if Scotland becomes independent. The Tories on the other hand would lose only one.

http://bgafd.co.uk/forum/read.php?f=3&i=262296&t=262269

[RoddersUK]

Sounds like a fair exchange to me. But then, I would say that.

[number 6]

If Scotland goes independent then basically England becomes a tory state(except on rare occasions like Blair's landslide in 97). Im pretty sure the scots will know this and won't condemn England to tory rule forever more.

[David Johnson]

God loves an optimist!

[trillery]

number 6 wrote:

> If Scotland goes independent then basically England becomes a
> tory state


I doubt that. People always need an alternative to the present government and would surely find one somehow. Expect the LibDems to carefully position themselves as a Tory alternative. One way or another those who blame the government for any woes would have to find some alternative. In a democracy a two party system always emerges somehow. I think Sweden was the only country where one party managed to stay in power for decades (44 years?)

[max_tranmere]

I think I'm right in saying that without Scotland the Tories would have been the Government in England from 2005-10 as they won the election south of the border in 05.