Voting begins in closest election in decades

THE country was going to the polls today with the outcome of the General Election expected to be a close run affair.
 
As opinion polls suggested neither of the two big parties, Conservatives or Labour, would  win an out-right majority of 326 seats, it may well be several days before the composition of the next government takes shape.

A YouGov survey of 10,307 adults on Wednesday night has Labour and the Conservatives tied on 34% of the vote. Ukip is on 12% while the Lib Dems have 10% and the SNP has 5%.

After five years where the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats proved that coalitions can be effective – it sees highly probably that another is on the cards.
 
Several unknowns are also in play though – how much the Scottish Nationalists will hit Labour north of the border, what impact UKIP will have on the Conservative vote, and whether the Liberal Democrats’ support will hold up.
 
If, as expected there is a hung parliament, as there was in 2010, there will be a flurry of meetings behind the scenes as Labour and the Conservatives try to pull together either a coalition or look to run a minority government with the support of smaller parties such as the Greens, or Northern Ireland parties.

Labour has already ruled out a formal coalition with the SNP, but there could be a looser alliance of the parties.
 
Frustratingly for businesses and the wider electorate, matters could drag on for some time.

According to guidance from the Cabinet Office, the first deadline for negotiations is Monday May 18, when the new Parliament meets for the first time.
 
The economy was at the centre-ground of a long and largely insipid campaign, while Scottish Nationalist Party’s influence on the balance of power in Westminster, was another dominant theme.
 
For businesses economic stability and clear policies to support growth and investment are essential.

Whatever happens at the polls today a speedy resolution, is the least we should hope for.