The Official UK Election Thread! 6th May it is!

[Debaser]

There was a bit of sanity on Radio 4 earlier, when it was pointed out that Birmingham is being run by a Tory/Lib-Dem coalition, which is quite successfully taking hard decisions about redundancies and controlling a substantial budget, and the city has not yet descended into anarchy (as far as one can tell in Birmingham).

Much saner than somthing I saw on the news where the chairman of the Conservative Way Forward (I think) was asking the question 'if there is a Lib-Con coalition what happens on local councils where these parties are in opposition?'.

Well, surely it's obvious. Lib-Dems and Conservatives are hereby born again as brothers and sisters, henceforth bound together, forever.

 

[Delscottio]

I cant understand how a coalition is possible between two parties so far apart in policy. I wonder what the feeling is like at the lib dem grassroots.
Interesting times ahead.

 

[andyandy]

I cant understand how a coalition is possible between two parties so far apart in policy. I wonder what the feeling is like at the lib dem grassroots.
Interesting times ahead.

It's hard to see how this will be good for the Lib Dems - they get tied to what will be very unpopular decisions, and come the next election who's going to vote for them? The electorate will simply choose Lab or Con - figuring that it's better they choose than the liberals....

it would have been better for them to let the tories run a minority government. Of course, politicians only really get into politics for the power, so perhaps it's not so surprising Clegg fancied his moment in the sun....

 

[uk_dave]

I reckon the World Cup thread will be longer.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

I have to point out that this alliance has to pass muster at two levels with both parties.

First the MP's vote on it, and if that somehow manages to pass, which I doubt, it has to pass the Executive of both parties.

 

[Debaser]

I reckon the World Cup thread will be longer.

Well that goes without saying, we'll be discussing something important then...

 

[Undesired Walrus]

I have to point out that this alliance has to pass muster at two levels with both parties.

First the MP's vote on it, and if that somehow manages to pass, which I doubt, it has to pass the Executive of both parties.

You do? I think it's a certainty it will pass. Would be political suicide to not.

 

[Ashles]

It's hard to see how this will be good for the Lib Dems - they get tied to what will be very unpopular decisions, and come the next election who's going to vote for them? The electorate will simply choose Lab or Con - figuring that it's better they choose than the liberals....

it would have been better for them to let the tories run a minority government. Of course, politicians only really get into politics for the power, so perhaps it's not so surprising Clegg fancied his moment in the sun....

Maybe they were prepared to go to these lengths to get some form of electoral reform.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Of course, politicians only really get into politics for the power,

You know that's not true.

 

[commandlinegamer]

Well that goes without saying, we'll be discussing something important then...

Yeah, now it's all over we can get back to real life.

Now, who the heck is Justin Bieber? What makes her so popular?

 

[Rolfe]

It's hard to see how this will be good for the Lib Dems - they get tied to what will be very unpopular decisions, and come the next election who's going to vote for them? The electorate will simply choose Lab or Con - figuring that it's better they choose than the liberals....

it would have been better for them to let the tories run a minority government. Of course, politicians only really get into politics for the power, so perhaps it's not so surprising Clegg fancied his moment in the sun....

I have to say I agree with you there. On the other hand, it would still have been possible to spin that as the party being irrelevant, if it's just going to sit on the sidelines if it can't coalesce with Labour. Might as well vote Labour in the first place....

Rolfe.

 

[andyandy]

Maybe they were prepared to go to these lengths to get some form of electoral reform.

I'll believe it when i see it

I think the chance of any genuine electoral reform actually being passed is slim to nil. I predict the absolute most Cameroon has committed to is to have a free commons vote on limp old AV....

and limp old AV is virtually as unrepresentative as the FPTP system we have now....

I hope the lib dems have sold their souls for a higher price than that.....

 

[Ashles]

Hang on, hang on... a horrible thought is starting to sink in..

Is David Cameron now my Prime Minister? Like as in the actual real proper Prime Minister?

No, seriously?

 

[Rolfe]

I cant understand how a coalition is possible between two parties so far apart in policy. I wonder what the feeling is like at the lib dem grassroots.
Interesting times ahead.

LibDem grassroots are one thing. LibDem politicians are quite another. Face both ways at once, all things to all men. Say whatever they think will play best on the stage they're on, and the opposite the next day.

I've been hearing a few more things about our defeated LibDem candidate here, in the past few days. I honestly thought the evil I'd heard was mainly just SNP badmouthing her over clashes in the local council. However, the subject came up at choir practice, and I've never heard such a tirade of dislike from all sides. Colour me fairly unsurprised.

Rolfe.

 

[Rolfe]

I have to point out that this alliance has to pass muster at two levels with both parties.

First the MP's vote on it, and if that somehow manages to pass, which I doubt, it has to pass the Executive of both parties.

Wake up and smell the coffee.

Rolfe.

 

[Rolfe]

Hang on, hang on... a horrible thought is starting to sink in..

Is David Cameron now my Prime Minister? Like as in the actual real proper Prime Minister?

No, seriously?

There's probably a support group you can join....

Rolfe.

 

[andyandy]

You know that's not true.

The conveyor belt of PPE Oxford graduates will be currently looking which way the political wind is blowing before deciding whether to jump into a left wing or right wing think tank prior to their ascent into politics....how many politicians have strong ideological underpinnings now? And take ideology away from politics and all you have left is a pursuit of power.....

or maybe i'm just cynical

 

[jimbob]

Hang on, hang on... a horrible thought is starting to sink in..

Is David Cameron now my Prime Minister? Like as in the actual real proper Prime Minister?

No, seriously?

That's just what my wife has said.

I for one welcome my Etonian Overloards rule10 rule10 rule10-ty-rule10

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Wake up and smell the coffee.

Rolfe.

It isn't just the Lib Dems though. I suspect there's a fair number of Conservative MP's who aren't exactly thrilled. Conservative Way Forward or whatever the Thatcherites are called for a start.

 

[Ashles]

Harriet Harman is currently leader of the Labour party... and we are under a Tory government led by David Cameron... with Boris Johnson still the Mayor of London...

Are those four horsemen I see in the distant sky... ?