Iain Coleman: The best thing about British democracy is when the actual head of government has to stand in a leisure centre at 5 am beside a guy with a bin on his head to find out if he still has a job.

The best thing about British democracy is when the actual head of government has to stand in a leisure centre at 5 am beside a guy with a bin on his head to find out if he still has a job.

A Canadian friend texted me earlier to ask how the night was going, and I sent this picture as a response (with no explanation). I think it sums up a lot

Is that a giant Elmo I see before me?

Elmo have thee not, and yet Elmo see thee still

How embarrassing for Elmo to have to be photographed next to Starmer

They make the candidates hang out together while waiting for the results?

They all stand on a stage together while the Returning Officer reads out the results.

The British system never misses an opportunity to humble the head of government and I truly appreciate that.

We can dream about more aggressive handling of heads, but it's a start

I'm told there's a fella from Calais who's very good at that sort of work

Sunak is a squillionaire afaik which makes this Monty Python scene all the more enjoyable bsky.app/profile/osul...

There is a 7 foot tall guy behind Rishi Sunak who likely ran for office just to be able to hold a printed out L behind him during his concession speech.

Trying to re start the hundred years war are we?

God yes

I want that for us so bad

Me too

saaaaaame

This is why we sit up late to watch the results! It's an actual human event.

Here's Sunak making his speech. As you can see, several of the candidates are, um, non-conventional (Count Binface on the right hand side).

Count Binface actually had a surprisingly sound campaign platform, although he did centre it strongly around waste management.

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Nomen est - I‘ll see myself out.

Thank you for specifying, I wasn't sure if perhaps that was the name of the puppet

Meanwhile, here's our actual new PM at his count a little earlier.

I gather they do get told in advance - but then then have to stand there and have their victory / humiliation publicly announced.

Yes, the candidate's agents are informed of the result prior to the declaration, so the result is not a surprise to the candidates.

Sure, why not? The atmosphere ranges from stiffly formal to friendly to muted fury, but any actual bad behaviour gets a stern ticking off from the election officials. There's up to about 10 supporters of each in the hall with them.

So if the count is taking too long, they can set up a football tournament to pass the time, is what I'm hearing.

Does Count Binface have 10 supporters? Who are they?

Did you hear his platform? It is rock solid.

bsky.app/profile/rick...

jacob rees-mogg has to lose while standing next to a guy wearing a baked beans-themed balaclava

Suits him.

These moments give people something to live for.

If anyone was wondering what the point of a medieval jester was, this is part of it :)

American here. We are 2 party captured but are ranked choice voting curious. I think announcing ranked choice vote tallies this way can get more cranks on stage for humiliating photo ops and that's only a good thing. I suggest reality TV style elimination 1 by 1 until the final tally is revealed.

That’s the best thing? I would have thought it might have been the Prime Minister’s Questions, or maybe even the peaceful transition of power. The photo op of a joker in a Halloween costume beside the former Home Secretary would not be high on my list. But that’s just my view from Canada.

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