The UK holds elections on Thursday, and it looks to be a very close contest with a lot at stake.  In fact, when politicians invoke the old cliche that it could be “the most important election in a generation”, they might actually be telling the truth this time.  At stake, UK unity and UK membership in the European Union.

While Labour and the Conservatives are running neck and neck – with an ever-so-slight advantage seen for the Tories – the biggest winner could be in Scotland.  Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish National Party are predicted to wipe out all opposition in Scotland and become the United Kingdom’s third biggest party.  With 50 or more seats in Parliament, the SNP will emerge as an influential player.  The Conservatives have sought to exploit that by suggesting that Labour leader Ed Miliband would be ‘held hostage’ by the SNP, which might move to hold another independence referendum.

“We could see over the next five years Scotland going for a referendum for independence again,” said Joe Twyman, head political and social research at the public opinion research firm YouGov.  But if the pendulum swings to the right again, and especially if the anti-Europe UK Independence Party (UKIP) has a strong showing, “We could see a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, which might result in Britain leaving Europe,” he added.

The biggest loser could the Lib-Dems and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, scorned as sell-outs by the Left.  When Clegg entered into a coalition with the Tories five years ago, the one-time kingmaker said he did so with the promise he’d temper the Conservative lust for budget slashing.  That hasn’t happened.  What is happening is a tactical shift of Tory voters in Clegg’s constituency, abandoning their own candidate to rescue the weakened and oft-sidelined Clegg.

Labour leader Ed Miliband got an unexpected boost from Russell Brand, of all people.  The comedian who previously dismissed the idea of voting is now encouraging Brits to vote for Labour after meeting with Miliband.  “What I heard Ed Miliband say is that if we speak, he will listen.  So on that basis, I think we’ve got no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party,” Russell said.  “David Cameron might think I’m a joke but I don’t think there’s anything funny about what the Conservative party have been doing to this country and we have to stop them.”