As a result of yesterday’s election in the UK:
- The Conservatives vastly underperformed and lost their majority.
- Labour overperformed, but is still nowhere close to winning a majority even after seven years of opposition. They are also saddled with a leader who is almost universally viewed as being unfit for high office.
- The SNP lost seats. Scottish independence seems a long way away.
- The Lib Dems lost their chance to become the primary opposition to the Conservatives.
- UKIP no longer has representation in Parliament.
- The UK will have a weak government at a time when it cannot afford one.
- Merkel and Macron will not have a reliable partner with whom to negotiate.
- Donald Trump’s best friend in Europe (other than Putin, of course) has been badly weakened, and may have to resign.
I don’t see any winners here, except possibly Putin and Xi, who don’t care that much.