Coallition

[ma1den]

Clegg and Cable, re-invent Judas Iscariot,and destroy the Lib Dems.Discuss

[factor-fiction]

I'm not clear what you are asking? What about the coalition? Which one are you suggesting is Judas- Clegg or Cable?

[jake-the-peg]

I'd say that Clegg and Cable have upped the ante on PR

If they deliver that then there's not much the party won't forgive them - if they fail to do so they'll get thrashed at the polls and will have to step down in favour of a more left wing candidate.

Of course there is the ironic scenario where the Labour party are in the position that the Tories were this year and up in coalition with the Lib Dems although I can't see how Clegg would survive that.

Still too early to say - post the same question in two years and see what's happened

[Gromit]

For the moment, the Coaltion suits the LibDems and the Tories, and neither party is going to break it even if some of its grassroots members would like it t.

I imagine Clegg will come under pressure when the LibDems start having disastrous by- election results. Normally they do well in By Elections, but now they are in Government they can expect not to do as well.

The forthcoming Ildham East and Saddleworth bye election will be a big test. They very nearly won the seat, but if they do spectacularly badly then the grassroot members and sitting MPs will become restless and more vocal of Clegg.

Cable will not be Judas. He knows that he is successor if Clegg has to stop being LibDem leader for whatever reason. He will not burn his bridges now, just grin and bear working with the Tories.

[WShee9]

Do you want nu-labour back or what..Grommy.Come own up...your a labour luvvie.. arent you.?

[Gromit]

No I am not a Labour Luvvie. With two parties in Government, and one party in opposition, Labour should do we (They will easily win Oldham East).

However, they appear to be doing a terrible job in Opposition and maybe do not deserve to do well. Ed Miliband is a disaster, but anything is better than the Three Stooges (Cameron, Osborne, Clegg).

[WShee9]

Anything is better ,grom...such as?

[jake-the-peg]

I do think that the coalition have made a major political miscalculation with regard to tuition fees.

There are close to 2.5 million students in the UK over the next parliament it's fair to estimate there will be say 3-4 million paying high tuition fees.

How many of those will be voting Tory/Lib Dem after being landed with an additional £30,000 bill to start their working life?

What's more every year more will be working their way though that category.

They may come to regret this

That's a big section of the vote to be annoying!

[Sqad]

WShee9

Knowing Gromit was I do, he would prefer New Labour to be in power.......the problem is that the vast majority of the electorate don´t and decidedly got rid of them in the last election.

[jake-the-peg]

"decidedly" wow I think that's the first time I heard anybody use that word with respect to the last election.

You self-prescribing or something sqad?

[Sqad]

JTH

<<<<decidedly got rid of them in the last election<<<< "the labour Party"

Look up the meaning of decidedly.

[jake-the-peg]

Don't think I need to

I'm pretty sure it doesn't say 36%

[WShee9]

I like gromits new avatar....perhaps it should be Tony Bliar as the new messiah?

[Sqad]

JTP....you seem to be "Labouring" pun intended, a very minor point.

<<<<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8088133.stm<<<



OK I take back the word "decidedly" and replace it with "historic post war defeat"

Any better?

[WShee9]

oh.well,squad.at least whats left of the labour party has got a few disillusionable idiots such as grommy and faithful to the last old jake.

[oranger]

I happen to live in the area covered by the Oldham East and Saddleworth by election and most people are fed up with it already.We had Phil" the liar" Wollyarse as he was known,who was as much use as an MP as a chocolate teapot,lying seems to be a labour trait WMD etc,i cant comment on new candidate as i dont know enough about her..Then we have Elwyn not the brightest by a long way and responsible for going through his own little rain forest with all the propaganda he issues,yes he was wronged, but put a sock in it now.The tories have not had a decent candidate since the late Geoffery Dickens,a good MP,they have now thrown Kashif Ali to the lions in an area where Nick Griffin is a hero to some.So all in all not looking good for anybody except The Flying Brick.The Tories and Lib Dems are going to have to work hard to beat labour, mores the pity.

[LazyGun]

Were I a Lib Dem activist, I would be very concerned that this coalition will be the death knell for the party - but only time will tell.

There is a perception amongst the general public and party activists that many of the distinctive political principles which made the LibDems distinctive from either Labour or Conservative have been sacrificed on the altar of power -sharing, and it is debateable that they have received anything like an equitable return on this sacrifice - The stand out concession is merely that of a referendum on proportional voting in May 2011.

Ultimately though, their long term future will be dependent upon whether the public think that the LibDems have acted in the national self interest - and that will not be clear for another parliamentary term at least.

Judging by opinion polls right now, most people think that the LibDems would sell their own grandmother for a seat in cabinet! So, short term hatred, but maybe long term salvation, if they can help steer a course through the harsh global economic realities. Almost all of the G20 countries have been guilty of a ridiculously lax approach to the regulation of the banking and financial sector, and have been far to eager to rely on borrowing to support public spending commitments - This culture has to change, so maybe this will be the LibDem salvation.

[Gromit]

Sqad,

Do you think the Tories or thebLibDems will decidedly beat Labour in the Oldham East and Saddleworth by election? Will the vast majority vote Labour out?

[Sqad]

Gromit.

Let us look at the facts:

Last couple of decades....marginal ( I think)....but Labour has "nicked it"
Lib/Dem....local election.........can,t be less popular.

Me? I forecast a handsome Labour win.

Now tell me the point of your question.

[A1Mikey]

No. Clegg is probably the start of a 30 year drift towards the two main parties being LibDem and Tory. It is very difficult to see what Labour stands for and how they will be able to talk away their 13 year record of economic mismanagement in that the gap between rich and poor has widened not narrowed. The role of unions appears much diluted from 30 years ago, and Labour cannot operate without the unions. Clegg could have stood on his principles and bleated from the sidelines, but instead he agreed a coaliation with the tories in order to have some LibDem influence in the shaping of policy to get the country out of its economic woes. Vince Cable is the brightest economist in Westminster. I have never voted LibDem but I will now.