Star comment: Just voting is a tribute to war veterans
Through a coincidence of circumstances, the general election results began to flood in during the early hours of the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
There is a connection that can be made between them. The war against Fascism was fought for freedom, which included the freedom to vote for parties of widely different ideologies, the freedom to criticise those in authority, and the wider freedom of being able to live in a country without fear of arbitrary arrest or state killing.
Dictators do not like the ballot box. From their point of view, the results are so unpredictable. They like order, control, and the stability of keeping themselves in power. If they do allow elections, they are sham elections, rigged to give the correct result.
Even those who fought in World War Two who were young soldiers, sailors, and airmen at the time peace came to Europe on May 8, 1945, are now at the very least approaching 90.
The sun is setting on that generation and as those shadows grow longer, living memories disappear. Eventually there will be just a handful of warriors who are feted, as they will represent the exploits and self-sacrifice of an entire generation, and the modern generation will only have them thro
ugh whom they can express their gratitude.
There has been a worry that people have become disconnected from politics, as evidenced through low turnouts in elections. Had the turnout in the general election held on the eve of the VE Day anniversary been particularly poor, it would have been unfortunate, at a time when veterans were remembering their fallen comrades. It would have smacked of ingratitude, or of taking the privilege of voting for granted.
Happily what seemed to have been a modern trend of increasing apathy has shown signs of being reversed. Overall turnout was better than in 2010, and over 70 per cent in Scotland – and over 80 per cent in two Scottish seats.
We best honour our war veterans, not with parades and ceremonies, but through having a society which is true to the ideals which led Britain and Britons to fight.
Those who were defeated on Thursday accepted the will of the people. However mighty they were, however important they hoped they were, they bowed out with good grace.
Seventy years on, Britain enjoys peace and freedom, and is a country where no one person and no system is more important than the people themselves.
This is the proud legacy of those VE Day veterans.
New dawn for national politics
Now the dust has settled, we can reflect on that election result which is extraordinary for all sorts of reasons.
It feels as if there was a Conservative landslide. Three demoralised party leaders have thrown themselves on their swords in despair. David Cameron is triumphant.
With an overall majority of only a handful of seats – it would have been seen as scraping home in past elections – he has scored a huge psychological victory.
The key to why that is, is the ballot box in Bannockburn in Scotland, where the scale of the SNP victory represents a de facto second vote on independence – this time in favour.
Tories were virtually wiped out as a force in Scotland years ago – and have never recovered. Now Labour has been crushed.
Labour's shutout in Scotland, and failure to make headway elsewhere, helped hand the keys to Downing Street to David Cameron.
The Scottish lion is roaring and rampant. David Cameron is smiling. The Union is creaking. Labour faces being in permanent opposition.
This is not an election result to be compared with any other.
It is a far-reaching, seismic change in the political landscape.