Are you looking forward to the election?

[Gromit]

in 6 months time?

[petal54]

have we to wait t h a t long!!!

[China Doll]

Hopefully they'll get round to sending me one of those election forms so I can vote this time! :c(

[Seadragon]

I'm finding this one exciting Gromit. Don't know what's going on though, seen bits and pieces of the news. Clegg coming true on his word and reaching out to Cameron. I think that's the right thing - people's votes have shown a moral victory for tories and I hope Cameron and Clegg do form a coalition and govern in the 'national interest' instead of in the name of party politics.

Gordon Brown is so stubborn though, he is not going to resign easily.

[Gromit]

// Clegg coming true on his word and reaching out to Cameron. //

Not sure that is what is happening. Clegg has given Cameron (by virtue of the fact the Tories have more votes and seat than Labour), first refusal on a deal that Cameron cannot really accept. Clegg wants Electoral change and Cameron doesn't. The Lib/Dem's natural ally is Labour, so Cameron will try to go it alone without the Lib/Dems.

[Gromit]

// Hopefully they'll get round to sending me one of those election forms so I can vote this time! :c( //

I think you have to ask for one.

[funnygirl]

We've gotta vote AGAIN???????

[Seadragon]

I think it depends on whether Cameron accepts a minority government and then calls for election later as you say in 6 months. It is clear that the people have not voted anyone outright so hopefully what will be considered is the nation and not the politics. The Lib Dem natural ally might be Labour but Brown is not an ally, even Clegg suggested that.

[jake-the-peg]

Not quite sure I buy that interpretation Seadragon.

It will be interesting though - can't wait for the first vote on a Europe issue - it'll all fall apart like a house of cards

[Seadragon]

I think there will be more referendums Jake.

If Brown resigns then there may be a Lib-Lab coalition. But bully Brown is not going easily.

[jake-the-peg]

I think you're right that no government now's going to last another 5 years but - I think you're wrong about Gordon Brown desperately clinging to power.

Right now it's too close and the political blocs are evenly matched

Everybody needs to see how these last seats come in and who wants to deal with who.

Cameron sounds as if he's thinking about trying for a minority coalition. If Clegg does nothing and lets him do that he'll be passing up the best chance his party's had in 80 years but he can't appear too ready to be the wrecker.

The other way of looking at this is that 52% of the country has voted for a left-of-centre agenda and Cameron is ignoring this and trying to seize power.

He may get away with this but only if he persues a more moderate agenda - I doubt though that the Jon Redwoods of his party will let him though.

If he can't get Clegg on board it'll all fall apart at the first budget

[China Doll]

I did! I think it's something to do with live in the nursing accomodation, everything is included so we don't pay council tax (well we do but it's all out of one lump sum)... Anyway, I asked about it a few months back and then admittedly forgot to follow it up. Just sort of expecting one of those 'register your voice' type cards to appear as normal.

Hopefully I'll have moved in six months anyway so won't be a problem.

[Seadragon]

Jake, hope you heard Cameron's speech - he made offer to Clegg to do 'the best for Britain, put the national interest first, create a new government of action, strong and stable.' He wants to compromise with Clegg and said he would give him ground. He spoke like a confident new tory leader. We will have to wait and see but this is all new stuff. Got to go.

[Quinlad]

Said he'd give him ground them proceeded to give almost zero. Great start.

[mike11111]

"He made offer to Clegg to do 'the best for Britain, put the national interest first, create a new government of action, strong and stable.' He wants to compromise with Clegg and said he would give him ground..."

I think that Cameron is playing the long game here. I could be wrong, but I think that such an offer has been made in the hope and expectation that it will be rejected. This can only increase Cameron's street cred. He has made the offer, which , if rejected, enables him to occupy the moral high ground. The alternative is a lab-lib government, tainted with electoral failure, which inevitably will pay the high price. Two more years (max) in opposition, with the Tories needing only another 20 seats for an absolute majority, seems a price worth paying.

[boxtops]

seadragon I love your avatar, they are such wonderful beasties....

[ttfn]

It's not until after the next DFS sale? Don't think I can contain my excitement that long

[Seadragon]

Ahh thank you Boxtops, I like your sleeping feline!

I don't think Cameron is playing a game at all although he is saying that he will keep the bulk of his policies, he will compromise on others and I think he is saying it seriously.

The thing is though that the tories under Cameron will I think benefit the Lib Dem party more than Labour under Brown. At least they are negotiating, which is what the public have voted for. Although I heard from afew friends in the Midlands that when they went to vote, they were told that their votes had already been cast?

[Seadragon]

P.s - I do think you're right Jake in that Cameron might have to 'persue a more moderate agenda'. It depends on whether he is more loyal to his party or to the voters?