Give Cameron/Clegg a chance

[Trufflehound]

Tax relief on truffles is of course a bonus.

Excellent. What do I get? First I've heard of it...

 

[Man of Harveys]

The LibDems are screwed at the next election. Massively screwed. Clegg will go down in history as the man who destroyed the party.

People have been going on and on about a 'mandate to rule', etc. What Clegg absolutely did not have, was a mandate to missappropriate the entire LibDem vote and hand it over to a party diametrically opposed to almost everything his party stood for.

It is truly shocking what he has done, in return for personal advancement.

Depressing times.

This. And I'm not even a LibDem supporter. Desperate, desperate stuff - I know they were always going to be the junior partner but...Europhobe weirdo Hague as foreign secretary? I doubt the Liberals have bent over this much since Jeremy Thorpe.

Alistair Campbell keeps tweeting that LibDems are joining the Labour party in droves. Despite that, I suspect it might well be true.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

This. And I'm not even a LibDem supporter. Desperate, desperate stuff - I know they were always going to be the junior partner but...Europhobe weirdo Hague as foreign secretary? I doubt the Liberals have bent over this much since Jeremy Thorpe.

Alistair Campbell keeps tweeting that LibDems are joining the Labour party in droves. Despite that, I suspect it might well be true.

I'm also no LibDem. Its all just about what is RIGHT and PROPER.

What was right and proper for the Tories was a chance to have a go as a minority government - they earned that.

What was right for the LibDems was to hold the swing vote in Parliament. They would have got more out of it ultimately, without shitting on their supporters, and wiping out the party's credibility in a handshake.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I bet Murdoch is f***ing LOVING this.

 

[withdeanwombat]

The LibDems are screwed at the next election. Massively screwed. Clegg will go down in history as the man who destroyed the party.

People have been going on and on about a 'mandate to rule', etc. What Clegg absolutely did not have, was a mandate to missappropriate the entire LibDem vote and hand it over to a party diametrically opposed to almost everything his party stood for.

It is truly shocking what he has done, in return for personal advancement.

Depressing times.

Oh,for heaven's sake !

Stop telling the truth.

 

[The Ringleader Returns!]

Cameron? Pah I prefer Morcco

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

The LibDems are screwed at the next election. Massively screwed. Clegg will go down in history as the man who destroyed the party.

People have been going on and on about a 'mandate to rule', etc. What Clegg absolutely did not have, was a mandate to missappropriate the entire LibDem vote and hand it over to a party diametrically opposed to almost everything his party stood for.

It is truly shocking what he has done, in return for personal advancement.

Depressing times.

But what was he supposed to do?

LibDems have been plodding along, going nowhere for as long as we can all remember.

Last week, the LibDems LOST seats, yet suddenly found that they were Kingmakers in a hung Parliament.

Because the Maths simply didn't add up to get into bed with one one Party who did actually LOSE the Election (Labour) and he would have been seen to support a defeated Labour Government he really had no choice but to go with the Tories.

The LibDems were NEVER going to win the Election, but having lost seats they find themselves with 5 Cabinet Ministers and several of their key Policies being implemented.

It may or may not work long term, but I for one am pleased that some of the Tories more right wing Policies will now be watered down, or abandoned all together.

A Lib/Lab Coalition was never going to happen - so Clegg's alternative was to see a Minority Conservative Government, probably with another Election within a year - at which time the LibDems would have been wiped out because the Electorate wouldn't want another 'hung Parliament'

 

[pork pie]

This could be a damn good coalition government. Cameron and Clegg could make a great partnership, Hague as Foreign secretary is also very good.

Osborne as Chancellor , well I would have given it to Cable or Clarke but lets see how it pans out first and then slag them off if it goes tits up.

I am quite excited for a brighter future.

Agreed to the point of Chancellor. How can you give the purse-strings of the nation to a junior member of the coalition? Clarke is a Wet and too pro-europe to be trusted.

 

[Woodingdean Gull]

I was very undecided on how to vote in this election and I don't propose to go into the why's and wherefore's at this stage.

However, having read the previous threads I find myself in total agreement with what HKFC has posted.

Thanks Hans, saves me having to type it all in.

 

[Acker79]

There's an episode of The West Wing where they manage to get two seats on the supreme court, and rather than putting two lame liberals, President Bartlett decided to put up one Extreme Liberal and one Extreme Conservative, so that the two would have great debates about the case they sit on, and all points would be covered.

If this coalition works, it could be very similar, with the LibDems bringing one side of the argument, the Conservatives bringing the other and all points get raised and covered and we get a better government that serves more people.

 

[Pantani]

There's an episode of The West Wing where they manage to get two seats on the supreme court, and rather than putting two lame liberals, President Bartlett decided to put up one Extreme Liberal and one Extreme Conservative, so that the two would have great debates about the case they sit on, and all points would be covered.

If this coalition works, it could be very similar, with the LibDems bringing one side of the argument, the Conservatives bringing the other and all points get raised and covered and we get a better government that serves more people.

Shame the West Wing isn't real.

I do get what your saying though, it remains to be seen if they will be sensible enough to have disagreements without spitting their dummies out.

 

[thejackal]

Hague as Foreign secretary is also very good.

 

[Pantani]

He didn't have to do a deal with either. If he'd said no to both, then the Tories would have been able to form a minority government, as was their right. The LibDems would have had the balance of votes on almost everything going through parliament, but would have been able to freely chose what to support or oppose, in line with the wishes of those who voted for them.

I agree with this. This would have been the most sensible way forward for the Lib Dems. However, I don't feel that the coalition will necesarily lead to the end of the Lib Dems as many are predicting. The AV system will strengthen their hand if it goes through, why do you think they have been banging on about electoral reform for decades.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Has the full cabinett been announced yet? If he isn't chancellor, I hope Cable takes a Lord Mandleson-esque business tzar type role.

That's exactly what looks like happening. Personally I think having Cable deal with the banks is a far better option - he's not going to let them off the hook !

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I'm also no LibDem. Its all just about what is RIGHT and PROPER.

What was right and proper for the Tories was a chance to have a go as a minority government - they earned that.

What was right for the LibDems was to hold the swing vote in Parliament. They would have got more out of it ultimately, without shitting on their supporters, and wiping out the party's credibility in a handshake.

A minority Tory government was never going to work. We are is a deep financial crisis - we need some stability. I think the parties have done the best of a bad job.

Also I don't see the Lib Dem credibility as wiped out. They get to be a part of a government. They may build credibility.

 

[Spiros]

I'm also no LibDem. Its all just about what is RIGHT and PROPER.

What was right and proper for the Tories was a chance to have a go as a minority government - they earned that.

What was right for the LibDems was to hold the swing vote in Parliament. They would have got more out of it ultimately, without shitting on their supporters, and wiping out the party's credibility in a handshake.

I think you're looking at this in a 'glass half empty' kind of way. OK the Tories could have tried to make a go of it as a minority government but this would not have given the stable government everyone is saying we need. Also the LibDems would only be able to react to Tory proposals - not make policy themselves. Under a proper coalition they get to shape the proposals before they go to Parliament.

Also it seems that where the 2 parties disagree strongly about something - such as voting refomr - they will put it to a referendum and let the people decide. Surely that's better than the shambles Labour gave us with the Lisbon treaty?

 

[Tubby Mondays]

But what was he supposed to do?

LibDems have been plodding along, going nowhere for as long as we can all remember.

Last week, the LibDems LOST seats, yet suddenly found that they were Kingmakers in a hung Parliament.

Because the Maths simply didn't add up to get into bed with one one Party who did actually LOSE the Election (Labour) and he would have been seen to support a defeated Labour Government he really had no choice but to go with the Tories.

The LibDems were NEVER going to win the Election, but having lost seats they find themselves with 5 Cabinet Ministers and several of their key Policies being implemented.

It may or may not work long term, but I for one am pleased that some of the Tories more right wing Policies will now be watered down, or abandoned all together.

A Lib/Lab Coalition was never going to happen - so Clegg's alternative was to see a Minority Conservative Government, probably with another Election within a year - at which time the LibDems would have been wiped out because the Electorate wouldn't want another 'hung Parliament'

Stick to his principles?
Stand by the manifesto and thereby the voters that had supported him rather than sell them out?

And theres no way any of the Tories policies will be watered down by this. Its a trojan horse.

 

[Giraffe]

Cameron perfect
Clegg - it will do what does the deputy PM do anyway, can't do much damage other than when Cameron is on paternity leave
Hague - absolute legend, intelligent and funny. Will do very well for the UK abroad
Osbourne - just looks odd. But then most chancellors do. Jury is out I think

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Osbourne - just looks odd. But then most chancellors do. Jury is out I think

I think they have legged it.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The LibDems are screwed , I wouldn't be surprised if the referendum on PR returned a NO decision. At least the next election will be down to a 2 horse race.