The people of Bristol West made a clear choice on Thursday May 6

to re-elect Lib Dem Stephen Williams as their MP, who was returned with an

increased majority and more votes than his Labour and Tory rivals put together.

Unfortunately the picture nationally wasn’t so clear and as

everybody must know by now we are currently 'enjoying' the first hung Parliament

since 1974.

Of course there is acres of coverage about this at the moment

and I’ve noticed a fair few commentators trying to make out that the electorate

are to blame for being so indecisive. But if ever you needed an example of the

system not working then surely this is it.

The turnout was higher than normal so you can’t blame apathy

and people went out and voted for who they wanted as their local MP. It’s

really not our fault if the system says one party needs a certain amount of

seats to govern. Under first past the post, this was always going to be a

possibility at any election, so perhaps the Lib Dems are right to put electoral reform at the

top of the agenda. Or should we get on with the business of sorting out the

economic mess first?

Clifton People went out and about to try to gauge the

mood of the electorate in what is officially the country’s most intellectual

seat, populated by more people with degrees than anywhere else.

I think it’s fair to say there was a general mood of

resignation, many expecting a second election before the end of the year but at

the same time wishing for a speedy resolution.

Jim Williams, of St John’s Road, said: “I think people want

something different, especially after the expenses scandal. Labour has lost the

backing of a lot of people over the past couple of years, but I really don’t

think Cameron’s lot are the answer.

“I’ve voted Lib Dem the past couple of elections since

living here and that’s as much to do with Stephen Williams as anything, but I

definitely didn’t vote Lib Dem so they could help the Tories into

Government.”

Stephen Williams, ( no relation to Jim), has

said himself that he is delighted by the scale of victory in Bristol West, but is remaining tight-lipped about what he would like to see happen next as he is involved in the current negotiations with the Conservatives.

He added: “I know that me and my Lib Dem

colleagues must play our hand very carefully in the national interest and with

the objective of real reform.”

Labour’s Paul Smith, who had expected to give

Mr Williams a closer run for his money, was also concerned about the prospect

of a Lib/Con alliance. He is also hoping to get re-selected to stand in Bristol

West for the Labour Party to fight the next general election, whenever that may

come.

Mr Smith said: “I was mainly affected by

Labour supporters voting Lib Dem tactically to get PR (they have been telling

me) and the postal vote mess which cost me several hundred votes.

“Also there was a dramatic collapse in the

Green vote which appears to have gone entirely to Stephen Williams, again

probably to get PR.“However there is no point or merit in

complaining the majority was huge, however I wonder what the result had been if

people realised that the Lib Dems really might do a deal with the Tories.”

But the prospect of a Lib/Con alliance may in fact appeal to

business in the area after a poll conducted by a Clifton-based business

information website, FreeIndex, showed more than half of businesses polled

thought Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had the best policies to help foster growth.

The results of the poll were issued on April 23, before

the country went to the polls or the prospect of a Lib/Con alliance was on the

cards. Fifty three per cent of those surveyed said Nick Clegg was the man who would help their business most, while 31 per cent backed David Cameron’s party and a meagre 16 per cent supported

Gordon Brown’s policies.

Martin Turner, FreeIndex managing director, said: “The

Liberal Democrat's manifesto on small business issues, which includes

intentions such as simplifying the corporate tax system and making cut backs on

red tape, appears to be sitting well with business owners.

“Nick Clegg was also widely seen as coming out of the

leaders’ debates as a strong candidate and this has seemingly not gone

unnoticed by the business vote.”

As the high-level talks between the three main parties continues

to excite television journalists who finally have something to fill their 24

hours of news coverage, people continue to get up and go to work, the world

moves on and life doesn’t stop happening. So does it even matter which party

finally takes over the reins, because as somebody once said, the Government

always wins anyway.