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# Britain's election: backing into the future
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/britains-election-backing-into-future/
- Published: 2010-05-03T23:05:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-23T00:44:02.000Z
- Description: A contest made thrilling by the spectacle of three middle-aged white men in suits is open to the end, says David Hayes in Australia's Inside Story.
- Author: David Hayes
- Tags: Europe, #Migrated, Politics & activism, United Kingdom, democracy & power, globalisation, institutions & government, International politics, UK, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:02, #appended-excerpt

When visiting journalists first encountered the bewildering complexities of Northern Ireland’s politics at the height of the “troubles”, a kindly piece of advice was on hand from local informants: “If you’re not confused here, you don’t really know what’s going on.” The same pithy wisdom offers a useful working guide to anyone seeking to make sense of the 2010 general election in Britain. For this month-long campaign has been an exercise in glorious confusion that, even in its final days before voters go to the polls on 6 May, resists any certainty about the outcome.

It was not supposed to be like this...

\[to read on, click [here](http://inside.org.au/backing-into-the-future/?ref=opendemocracy.net) \- \] 

A contest made thrilling by the spectacle of three middle-aged white men in suits is open to the end, says David Hayes in Australia's [](http://inside.org.au/backing-into-the-future?ref=opendemocracy.net)*Inside Story*.