A simplistic question perhaps.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

But how did almost every pre-election poll or prediction get it so wrong?

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Brentwood]

[Witharby 2-3 weeks]

I would say embarrassment factor but they had UKIP spot on. Maybe UKIP voters are too stupid to be embarrassed.

Last minute jitters about Labour?

They did not talk to any Scots?

[Pokster]

Tory's got 36% (polls had around 34). Labour have lost votes to UKIP from what the original polls said (that is the shock as most assumed UKIP would take votes off Con)

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Very few would admit to liking them (or voting for them) but almost every time the public are asked to endorse them they always come out with flying colours.

[modd]

south of england. many on phones or online don,t like to admit their tory.

[Rich]

surveys are probably the minority that want change from the economic recovery we're beginning. The people that are happy probably don't bother voting.

However, you can always rely on the Tories to come out on election day and they certainly didn't let the party down this time.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I will admit that my exposure to it all was limited but I do strongly recall all and sundry suggesting it was simply too close to call and that neither party would get a majority resulting in days or weeks of negotiations and political squabbling (this was an exact quote I heard yesterday during the day).

Then I awake this morning to find Dave does not even need to arrange for his credit card bills etc to be re-addressed.

[Pokster]

[Classic Jorge]

The polls werent that far off vote share but that's not what decides it.

[Rich]

been gleeful.

The Tories have out-thought Labour, have better policies for the majority of the country and, most importantly, instill confidence in the electorate.

Labour simply cannot be trusted. Just look how badly they messed it up last time. Thankfully the rise of UKIP and the SNP should ensure that we never have to see a Labour government again (I hope).

The Tories won fair and square, J. They'll try to help you if you let them.

[Classic Jorge]

You do understand the differences in methodology between a phone poll (with roughly a 6k sample size) and an exit poll with aournd four times the sample size, dont you?

I think I'm pretty much on record as saying we need electoral reform for as long as I've been posting here. Lord knows, I've been rabid enough about reforming everything else.

[Rich]

left and right you'd never get anything voted through.

Labour have had their chances at the end of the day. If they hadn't made such a pigs ear of it then maybe they'd get another chance. Although I'm not sure how you lot would have won the Scots over.

[redgunamo]

[Classic Jorge]

You do realise your political father/spirit animal has just proposed redrawing boundaries above, arent you?

[Luis Anaconda]

Including Germany, the economic powerhouse of Europe. Angela Merkel would be a bit surprised to learn that it is impossible to govern tbh

What your argument fails to take into account is the fact that our system doesn't necessarily make it easier to govern, it just shifts the deal-making from a more public arena to the backrooms of the two major parties which are hardly united forces but broad coalitions of very different opinions in their own rights

[redgunamo]

Oh, I see what you mean. Sorry :homer:

[Luis Anaconda]

[Pokster]