Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
1) The polls were wrong
Practically every pollster failed to predict the result. The Conservatives were understated by polls while practically every other party was overstated, especially Labour.
2) The Lib Dems were obliterated
The scale of the Lib Dem collapse far outstripped the party's expectations. The liberals had sight of private polling that showed they would retain their seats: the polling was wrong. Lib Dem MPs didn't benefit from the incumbency factors they had hoped.
3) Ed Balls losing was a huge shock
Probability of Ed Balls winning: 1/33
Bookies failed to clock Ed Balls losing his seat, perhaps assuming that the Shadow Chancellor would get the best pick of Labour's activist resources.
4) Every Lib Dem cabinet minister lost their seat
% of Lib Dem cabinet ministers who lost their seats
The only Liberal Democrat remaining in the Cabinet is Nick Clegg: all of his ministers lost their seats. Vince Cable, Danny Alexander, and Ed Davey all got booted out by their voters.
5) The SNP destroyed Scottish Labour
The SNP recorded the sorts of swings ordinarily only found in by-elections, except across Scotland. Scottish Labour's historical heartland turned pure yellow.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments