SNAP Election - impact on tourists

Don't know about this election but I was in Scotland on the day of the Brexit vote and there was nothing unusual (at least to my tourist like eyes.)

Same for me, In London for a meeting on the day (and week) of the Brexit vote. Actually the day of the vote was quieter than the days before (lots of people handing out handbills and campaigning) and the days after (Well, everyone was in shock). But no other different level of activity.

No reason to think tourism will be affected by the day's election. But it will be interesting to watch the returns that night, maybe a chance for your teenagers to see how another kind of democracy works.

Agree with Dick on this. We've been there twice during the elections and it was fun and educational to be a part of the process. EVeryone was more than happy to talk about the elections, the significance their preferences. It gives you more insight than just hearing it filtered through our media. Everyone was very civil.

No need to change plans, there won't be any unusual congestion or anything like that. In cities, poling stations are mostly within walking distance and most people vote on their way to or from work. In 2010 they got the logistics wrong and there were queues outside some poling stations. That won't happen again--most people are fed up with elections and referenda--and even if it did, it wouldn't be an issue for visitors.

You should not encounter any problems. It will also be interesting to see how elections are played out in the UK. If the Prime Minister were to lose the election, they virtually have to leave 10 Downing Street straight away to allow the new PM to move in. The UK has a system whereby people are voting for the political parties rather than the system in the USA where people vote for a president. (The leader of the winning UK political party becomes the Prime Minister).

"(Well, everyone was in shock)"

Not everyone, don't forget that a majority voted to leave the EU, it didn't happen by accident.

will make no difference to tourists unless they are trying to visit Downing Street and the houses of Parliament where there will be a larger than normal media presence .If watching any televison it will however be dominated by the election.

You might get accosted by some TV crew asking your opinion on some election issue, but saying you are foreign gets you out of it (Well it happened to me once in Vancouver!)

When they had the 2011 referendum on proportional representation we were visiting a small town near Chester and wandered into a near-empty polling place, had a great conversation with the not-busy poll workers about how they do elections, count votes, etc. You may get to see a polling place or two as you sightsee, though probably the workers will be too busy to talk!

Congrats to Marco on his restraint in not commenting on a Canadian election. I'd probably go ahead and comment with my fake British accent, see if I could fool them. Not much hope, though! ;-)

Thanks for the replies all! We are looking forward to see an alternate democracy in action. :) We will likely plan to do Westminster on a different day than the election day.

Don't miss the early part of the election TV coverage at least, with such comments as 'if the whole of the country swings like Houghton & Sunderland South the result will be ...'

Not everyone, don't forget that a majority voted to leave the EU, it didn't happen by accident.

Not in Scotland. They voted to stay in the EU. For the Scots, it was a shock.

Paul wasn't talking about Scotland, he was in London at the time.

Getting the result you voted for doesn't preclude being shocked by the result you know ;)

And as far as the idea of "the people having spoken" goes; the size of the plurality was the same as the usual swing in US presidential elections. Of course you all love Trump because (a plurality) of the people have spoken! Ditto for Obama and so on.

The lesson for a tourist is don't jump in feet first and assume people's views. Even in a "remain"area two fifths of the people probably didn't care enough to vote and of the rest half of them voted the other way.

Because of election law in the UK, the actual day can be quiet as campaigning is banned on it.

We were in Scotland on the day of the Referendum, interesting to watch on TV but no problems. In June we will be on Merseyside, I don't think that the election should affect us in any way.

My wife and I will be in London during the election as well. Fortunately for us, we will be on our day trip to Stonehenge that day. My wife is more concerned with security that day than anything else. We fly out to Spain the next afternoon so hopefully there will not be anything going on to prevent that.

Why would your wife be concerned with security on election day? This is what happens on our General Election days (which is always a Thursday). Some kids get the day off if their school is used as a polling station. No political opinions expressed on TV or radio for one blessed day. People meander to vote at their local polling station often on their way to or from work. Polling station is quiet as the tomb, usually with a couple of elderly ladies crossing our name off a list. We go into a booth and make a cross with a blunt pencil. The results come in over night and if anyone is particularly interested they watch the television to see how its going. Next morning someone drives to see the Queen, and the removal vans get to work in Downing Street - or not if the result is no change. That's it.