What I think I've learned so far

As the events of the election are unfurling so far I believe that

• The "Leaders debates" did not have much influence on the way people voted, but the fact that they took place, and the way they were constructed  and advertised by the media was influential in marginalising smaller parties. 

• The influence of television and radio is much greater than the newspapers and it  was these who were instrumental in the bubble that was "Cleggmania". 

• That Cleggmania  was a bubble is evident, but the Jury is out on why it failed to materialise in the final days. Some commentators blame it on the exposure of the Lib Dem's position on Immigration , Defence and Europe. However I tend to agree with a friend's observation in that the initial positive response to Clegg after the first leaders debate included those who had no real intention of voting.

• The results of the council elections in England in which Labour did well points to the possibility that some of their supporters who might not have voted answered Gordon Browns last minute plea to "come home."

• That a Party with 37% of the vote can hardly say it had a mandate to run the country and if it does it should not be allowed to call a election when the polls favour it or more importantly when it has built up a substantial war chest.

• There should be an investigation in how much was spent by each party in every constituency and any correlation between how much was spent and the vote pointed out. 

• This should include any money spent by each Party in the period leading up to the election. This could include constituency Parties publishing annual accounts via the returning officer. He/She should rule whether this should be included as election expenses.

• The queues and problems associated with a late surge of people trying to vote must lead to a call for elections to be held on a weekend, If you are working all day the your window to vote can be reduced considerably.

• The possibility of "Tory England"  bring ruled a progressive alliance of MPs from outside exposes the Unionist argument that the UK is  a Union of equals. I have sympathy with English people in this but it is up to them to solve either by having a English Parliament or devolving power to its regions,

• Publicity can be damaging as Lebit found out.