Toby Atkin-Wright

I’m looking forward to election day. Every general election, I host a party from 10pm — the time the polls close — to watch history unfold through the night as the results come in. As usual we’ll be watching the BBC all the way; familiarity with their correspondants and their ridiculous election graphics help to make up for the annoyances.

Kate is unimpressed by the thought of watching politics and politicians on TV so she'll be having an early-ish night, but I should be joined by Andrew, Emma, and Mary. And election-themed nibbles.

Does any one else fancy a night of politics in reasonably social company?

While watching the 2005 coverage, Beth, then a very small baby, put one finger around my glasses and pulled them apart. From that point onwards the evening was a blur.

Take the Who Should You Vote For? Scotland quiz

Conservative				65
Liberal Democrat				15
UK Independence				7
Green	-13
Scottish National Party	-17
Labour	-45

You expected: CON

Your recommendation: Conservative

Click here for more details about these results

Take the Who Should You Vote For? Scotland quiz

Conservative				65
Liberal Democrat				15
UK Independence				7
Green	-13
Scottish National Party	-17
Labour	-45

You expected: CON

Your recommendation: Conservative

Click here for more details about these results

• Multi-way interviews are a poor-way to express policies and for the interviewer to challenge the interviewee. I think politics is better served by one-on-one interviews, like Paxman’s Panorama specials.


• The format includes a mixture of English-only and UK-wide issues. It doesn’t feel good for Scotland, Wales and NI to be told that the next question doesn’t apply to them.


• A UK general election is about choosing a local representative. Many candidates are from smaller parties, or independent, who are ill-served by the national media concentrating on Lib/Lab/Con party politics.

• Multi-way interviews are a poor-way to express policies and for the interviewer to challenge the interviewee. I think politics is better served by one-on-one interviews, like Paxman’s Panorama specials.


• The format includes a mixture of English-only and UK-wide issues. It doesn’t feel good for Scotland, Wales and NI to be told that the next question doesn’t apply to them.


• A UK general election is about choosing a local representative. Many candidates are from smaller parties, or independent, who are ill-served by the national media concentrating on Lib/Lab/Con party politics.