If the parties finish only a couple of seats shy of an absolute majority, attention may turn instead to the minnows, such as the Scottish Nationalists or Wales' Plaid Cymru.

如果这些党派最后都只缺少几个席位就能超过半数的话，关注的焦点会转向那些不起眼的小党派，比如苏格兰民族党或是威尔士民族党。

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The prime minister has dubbed part of the Scottish Nationalists' defence policy "simply crazy".

BBC: News | UK Politics | Blair brands SNP defence policy 'crazy'

The obvious solution cutting the Scottish subsidy would exacerbate another problem, known as Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish nationalists.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

Mr Brown's Labour Party had earlier lost one of its safest seats in Scotland to the Scottish nationalists in a by-election.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week