In U.K. election’s wake, questions on E.U., Scotland
Dan Balz, Griff Witte and Karla Adam
Following predictions that the post-election maneuvering to form a government might take days if not weeks, the Conservative Party’s big victory produced a quick end to speculation about what or who would be in charge.
But if the election produced an unexpectedly clear outcome, it may only have heightened the degree to which the country faces a period of internal debate, inward-looking politics and potential instability, with questions about the durability of the United Kingdom and its place in both Europe and the world still to be answered.
Cameron will have to find a way to manage resurgent Scottish nationalists who are demanding more powers and possibly another referendum on independence. Further, his pledge to hold a referendum to determine Britain’s future in the European Union will continue to raise uncertainty about the country’s commitments and reliability there.
Barely two weeks ago, Cameron was under pressure to step up his performance on the campaign trail. On Friday, he took a ritual trip to Buckingham Palace for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who asked him to form a government. Minutes later he was back outside 10 Downing Street promising to bind up a nation that had come under significant strain during a campaign that inflamed the passions of nationalism,
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