Tom Richmond: Yorkshire's fortunes hang in the balance

Even though this region returned 50 MPs, they are likely to have to play second fiddle in a hung Parliament that is likely to ill-serve English MPs.

As the party leaders came to terms with the consequences of the electoral deadlock, all the talk was about possible deals that could be formed with an assortment of Unionist and Nationalist MPs from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

In other words, political interest was being put before public interest.

For closer analysis of the election result reveals that Labour was soundly beaten in England – its losses here were comparable to the humiliating defeat of 1983 – and Gordon Brown only had a chance to cling to power because his party retained its power base in Scotland and Wales.

It's a particularly difficult conundrum for David Cameron who, in the past, has raised the notion that English MPs should exert greater influence at Westminster over their Celtic counterparts.

Yet, when the time comes for Cameron or Brown to piece together a government, they will inevitably find themselves beholden to the financial wish-list being put forward by the likes of the DUP, Plaid Cymru and the SNP, none of whom made spectacular gains on an unprecedented day of electoral intrigue.

It makes it even more important, therefore, that the role of Yorkshire Minister is retained for the foreseeable future – and that the Department of Business is remodelled to take account of the democratic deficit that has now emerged.

Rosie Winterton may have her faults – there have been occasions when her blind loyalty to Labour has been infuriating – but she has been a dogged advocate of this region, and played a key role in kickstarting Yorkshire's carbon economy that will be so critical to the future of manufacturing locally.

Ms Winterton has shown that this role can work with enthusiasm and commitment – and the need for MPs prepared to champion Yorkshire is going to be paramount in these turbulent times.

Furthermore, this result shows that it is even more important for Yorkshire Forward to be retained – and left to focus on the region's economic recovery. This is the most pressing issue as Europe heads for financial paralysis. Yet you wouldn't have guessed this, judging by the way that the fringe parties are now being courted.

YOU can tell which politicians are flavour of the month by their number of TV and radio appearances during the election.

The Tories tried to minimise George Osborne's appearances – he ducked out of the Question Time programme that followed the last debate

between the party leaders. I can understand why. One Eurosceptic Conservative MP, safely returned in these parts, told me: "I didn't realise that George was so disliked until I started knocking on doors four weeks ago. It was his inexperience – and people respect experienced campaigners."

David Cameron must, therefore, rue his decision not to have made

greater use of Ken Clarke's expertise – Clarke was, after all, the Chancellor who led Britain out of the last election – and to leave Osborne to run the Tory campaign.

Likewise, did you notice how Labour's Jack Straw, a Cabinet stalwart since 1997, was anonymous – and not even used to defend Gordon Brown? I'd almost forgotten what his voice sounded like until his victory speech in Blackburn.

PERHAPS the most pertinent point about the NHS – the non-subject of this election campaign, despite its budget implications – was made by James Cracknell, the global explorer and two-time Olympic champion. In declaring his support for David Cameron, he said that it was wrong that the NHS spends only one per cent of its budget on promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

He says this is a "false economy" – and he's right. It's one priority that has to change as a new government looks at the future funding of the NHS, one of the issues that the parties were so reluctant to discuss.

ONE reason Labour lost the election was because of Gordon Brown's inability to relate to ordinary people.

Take this eve-of-polling-day letter sent to me in Brown's name: "Sarah and I have been overwhelmed by the reaction we have received on the road."

Interesting. Brown was actually a couple of streets away at one point from Richmond Towers. But he never came to ask the views of voters in my street – because he decided he was better off having a cup of tea with a lifelong Labour supporter daft enough to tell him what he wanted to hear.

THE election has clearly taken its toll on Ed Miliband, even though his Doncaster constituency is one of the safest Labour seats in the country.

During a Newsnight interview, a considerable number of grey flecks were clearly visible in his hair, despite it being carefully manicured.

It's obviously a consequence of working for Gordon Brown. Will they now be airbrushed out in time for the Labour power struggle?