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{{data.paywallPrompt.callToAction}}This was published 6 years ago
UK election: Australia should adopt this delightful but awful tradition
Australia has borrowed a lot from Britain.
We've got the same Queen, same language, same preference for beer and sausages.
But for all the appropriating, why haven't we taken the British method for announcing the outcome of election results?
On Friday, as the exit polls for the UK general election predicted a shocker for the Conservatives, we have been treated to the spectacle of individual seats being declared.
Prime Minister Theresa May (left) shares the stage with a whacky collection of candidates.
In Australia, candidates on election night are separated at individual functions. Here, they mingle with supporters, check the count and speak to the media in their own protected little bubbles.
In the UK, all the candidates for a seat gather in community halls wearing coloured ribbons that correspond with their party. They then have to line up on stage while an official reads out their individual results.
It is a little bit public hanging, a little bit primary school speech day, a little bit dog show.
Prime Minister Theresa May had to trundle on stage with not just her Labour, Liberal Democrat and Greens challengers, but a dude in an Elmo suit (running as an independent), a man dressed as a Texan Elvis, and what looked like a Ned Kelly impersonator, going by the name of Lord Buckethead.
Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron celebrates following the announcement of the results at the Westmoorland and Lonsdale constituency. Dave Thompson
It was a perfect visual representation of the opportunity and ridiculousness of democracy.
And it meant the fuss and frenzy of modern elections was momentarily paused as individuals stood up and publicly faced their opponents and voters.
Theresa May stands next to candidate 'Lord Buckethead' and Elmo as she waits for the declaration at her constituency. Alastair Grant
There is something comforting about the process. It shows us the human side of the election show: from the slightly embarrassed wave of the guy that polled just 52 votes, to the "I'm trying not to puke" look on May's face as she grappled with her political mortality (at this point in Australia, the prime minister would be hiding away in a hotel room with their advisers and would only face the media in front of a huge crowd of supporters).
So we should adopt one more thing from the Brits and take on their method of announcing seats.
Election nights would be more interesting, more human and importantly, more Elmo.