All has changed, changed utterly as General Election implications transform UK political parties
THE SHOCK Tory majority government, coupled with the Scottish landslide for the Scottish National Party, continues to create political fall-out the week after the UK went to the polls.
CommonSpace provide a round-up of what has happened since the historic 2015 General Election.
1) Calls for Jim Murphy to resign grow
Scottish Labour remains in crisis mode after trade unions, campaigners and former MPs have demanded the resignation of defeated leader Jim Murphy.
Murphy, who lost his seat in East Renfrewshire, was challenged by Pat Rafferty of Unite, Kevin Lindsay of the ASLEF union and Labour’s Campaign for Socialism to step down. Neil Findlay MSP resigned from Murphy’s shadow cabinet.
Murphy will face a vote of no confidence this Saturday if he doesn’t resign. (Click here to read more)
2) Nicola Sturgeon challenges David Cameron to improve devolution package
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon spoke with Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss extending the powers for Scotland including in the Smith Commission proposals.
The SNP wants business taxes, the minimum wage, employment legislation and extra social security powers included to provide Scotland with greater economic control.
Cameron has so far only promised to implement the Smith proposals, while other Tories such as Boris Johnson have called for a “federal” offer to be made.
3) Blairites try to seize control of the Labour Party
The leadership contest in the Labour Party has an early front runner in Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary who is on the right of the party.
Tony Blair also intervened, claiming that Labour has to be a more pro-business party to succeed.
4) The SNP #Team56 head to Westminster
Scotland’s largest ever block of pro-independence MPs have set off for Westminster.
The party, now the UK’s third largest in membership and members of Parliament, will be led by Angus Robertson MP.
Already the team has taken over the offices previously used by the Liberal Democrats. The SNP will have an enhanced status at Westminster in terms of time allocation, resources and representation on parliamentary committees.
5) Petition for North of England to join independent Scotland
Last year Hunters Bar in Sheffield started a campaign called #TakeUsWithYouScotland, so left-wing people in the North of England could escape from the Tories.
Following the General Election, a new petition has been launched to “allow the North of England to secede from the UK and join Scotland”. (Click here to read more)
6) David Cameron says ‘No’ to future independence referendum
Prime Minister David Cameron has ruled out another independence referendum, despite no current mandate from the Scottish Government for such a vote.
Cameron said: “There isn’t going to be another referendum.” The SNP may choose to include such a vote in its 2016 manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections.
7) Caretaker leaders take over Westminster parties
Harriet Harman, Sal Brinton & Suzanne Evans now lead Labour, LibDems & Ukip as care-taker leaders.
Each party is preparing for leadership elections.
Six of the seven main UK political parties are now led by women.
8) Alex Salmond says abolish the Scotland Office
The UK Government’s office in Scotland – which deals with engaging the Scottish Government – should be abolished, according to former First Minister Alex Salmond.
Writing in The Courier he said that continuing with business as usual at Westminster would be an “insult to the country”.
Picture courtesy of CommonSpace