Give Cameron/Clegg a chance

[Simster]

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 too voted Lib Dem, and my opinion is that this was, on balance, the right thing to do - providing he gets some key concessions.

I'm not happy about Hague and Osborne being given some of the top jobs, but on the positive side, it should deliver a fairer voting system (which is great in the long run), it has delivered the £10k income tax threshold, and has prevented the outrageous inheritance tax threshold increase that the Tories proposed (whilst slashing public spending).

I think it's a bold move by Clegg. You're right in that it will take a decade to rebuild support for his party, but when he does so, at least it'll be fairly reflected in the vote. Besides which, this country needs to get used to coalition governments, because it is the way forward IMO.

 

[Don Quixote]

I am disapointed by the new Home sec. So ugly. I do not want to even look at that horrific face.

 

[Hannibal smith]

I'm no Tory or a Lib Dem particularly either but so far so good with this coalition. Some of the more disagreeable Tory policies have already been watered down (Inheritance tax) and the removal of the 10K tax band is a policy I'd never thought I'd see under a Tory government minority or otherwise. Whether this continues I will wait and see.

Whether this is good for Cameron in the long term I very much doubt. With no majority the Tory right will be much more loud mouthed and difficult to keep quiet. People like Tebbitt will be coughing up his lobster. The lib dems meanwhile have more influence than they have had for 60 odd years. How Clegg plays this hand will judge him in the long term.

I'd bet we will see an election in 18 months. It could all play into the hands of a Milliband led Labour. Whoever is in power was never going to be popular taking an axe to spending.

 

[Mileoakman]

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.

Absolutely right. The Tories have already said they will campaign against AV and Labour are bound to now the Libs have caved in and joined the blues. After 6 months of the disaster coming up, people are going to say we don't want one of these again and will stick to the First past the Post.

 

[Simster]

Being positive, it seems to me that Cameron is the moderate face of his party, and seems a very personable bloke to do business with.

Oh, and I absolutely agree with this:

How Clegg plays this hand will judge him in the long term.

I just don't see many people remaining angry with Clegg for getting into bed with the Tories, as long as he delivers reform and tempers some of the worst excesses of conservatism. And I genuinely think he will do, as long as a moderate such as Cameron is running the Conservative party.

 

[strings]

A question was asked at the Lib Dem meeting last night - "what happens when Cameron goes on paternity leave" - the answer; Nick Clegg becomes acting Prime Minister.