Over here in The UK, it will be once again impossible for a party to form a majority government at this year's election because people are less inclined to be taken in by empty promises ... Interesting times...

Quite so, as far as interesting times is concerned. I'm not *quite* so sure about the empty promises bit: I'm certain people have always been suspicious of that. I think what has happened is that while we have been a two and a bit party system for a long time, with tribal loyalty a big player, the big three from last time have all grown so similar and are held in such low regard that we are now entering a seven-or-so party system, and no-one has any idea how that will play out. In particular, the 'vote-for-who-you-dislike-least' group has probably almost disappeared, changing into a vote for one of the other parties.

My guess? There is a fair chance that no two parties will be big enough to form a majority [unless we had a Lab-Cons pact], and that it will take three or more to do it. However, to treat my guess with the contempt it deserves, I had expected there to be a substantial swing to LibDem last time, whereas it was near enough unchanged from the previous election.