If you weren't why did you choose now to say that the left had lost? Surely they lost during Blair era New Labour when they ceased being left and moved over to the Centre.

TUSC are the only real national Left Winger party and even they don't represent enough seats to be anything more than a fringe party.

Voting for fringe parties isn't about winning or losing, but by showing the Major two parties there is (or isn't) a strong enough voice for or against a policy.

As you say Ukip as a fringe party have been successful as the Tories and Labour have tightened their immigration policy. But likewise, any adoption of TUSC policy, and we aren't just talking about anti-austerity here, would represent a win for the left.

To answer your question (although I'm still not 100% on what you consider left, only what I do so that is were my answer comes from) - it's too early to credit any Left wing success. The eventual (right wing) government will in their early month evaluate the governments power and need to adapt to what ever the post election left wing position/strength is and they will act accordingly. Politics is heavily skewed to the right and this will always affect left wing "wins" and they will be less instant.

TUSC is in it's infancy and operating in right wing politics (see previous point). UKIP was founded in early 90's and it then took about 20 years to have it's first real breakthrough. TUSC 5 years ago.

You're confusing Voters, with Media. Austerity is a massive issue to the voters, it's just played down through the media and by the big two as they don't want to make it a focal point of the election because it doesn't suit either of them.

I find the very notion of left/right winning and losing as being a bit playground. They both require each other and we win or lose as a nation.

I have a question for you, did you consider the result of the last election a win for the left?

Because this was started by a right winger having a pop at lefties which makes him a cnut.

And I see signs of half remembered days, I hear bells that chime in strange familiar ways

I met Amber Rudd in Sainsbury's (Sedlescombe) a few months ago.
[Link]

She was promoting the Tories at the entrance/exit.
She saw me walking out with two bottles of port in my hands , and said "Respect, a bottle in each hand !"

From that moment, I was in love.

I would definitely smash her ballot box in, but I don't live in her constituency

I disengage, I turn the page.

Surely the time has come for Proportional Representation now?

It cant be right that a party can get 20% of the vote and have less than 100th of the MPs surely.

My username has nothing to do with my religious beliefs

The main parties would never go for proportional representation, it just doesn't suit their purpose as too many smaller parties would get seats in parliament so they would feel that they would have to make too many compromises on their policies.