Scotland has been ripped asunder from the UK in political representation. No UK-wide party has more than a single seat north of the border; there were swings of up to 39 per cent in one case and the huge SNP majorities could stand for generations.
The union is at risk if we blunder on with a Westminster hegemony the nationalists will claim lacks legitimacy in Scotland. A proper federalised solution with full fiscal autonomy - including the corollary £8bn budget black hole for the SNP - must now be pursued.
This should all be done slowly and carefully, however. There is no rush and a clumsy solution to the West Lothian question would make matters worse. The Tories have made positive noises on engagement in recent hours and should seek cross-party talks on a comprehensive new settlement.
3. It’s still the economy stupid.
Labour thought they could fight this election without giving a comprehensive response to their peceived economic failings. They were wrong - and the much-maligned Tory campaign strategist Lynton Crosby was right.
I’ve got into rows on this before and will steer well clear, but I will say whatever you think about the Labour record it did not either defend it well enough or own up sufficiently to errors. It also tacked well to the left and preached interventionism, a stance which hasn’t won an election since the 1970s.
4. Lib Dem future in doubt.
Will the Lib Dems exist as a party for much longer? Nothing can be certain after this result: they’ve hemorrhaged councillors, been reduced to a largely irrelevant rump in the Commons, and are now fourth in the popular vote and pegging with peripheral regional parties in terms of MPs.
Clegg has gone as leader. Most senior figures - including Danny Alexander, Vince Cable and the extremely well regarded pensions minister Steve Webb - lost their seats. I don’t see the party remaining any kind of force in politics, which is a shame for one that contributed effectively to government.
5. This majority will be anything but ‘clean’.
We may have a majority, but it’s not going to be as ‘clean’ as you might think. With only the most slender of leads the Tories will be in the pocket of their own frequently insubordinate backbenchers, who will be ready to rebel over issues such as Europe.
Hostilities were ceased during the campaign, but there are still a number of Tory MPs that have no love for Cameron and Osborne. A victory won on the back of the failings of others might not convince them otherwise.
ashley.wassall@ft.com
