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LibDems decimated - what next for the coalition?
// Nick Clegg is already coming under pressure to adopt a more confrontational stance towards the Tories as results show that the Liberal Democrats have taken an electoral battering in all parts of Britain. In some councils in northern England their numbers are being slashed. In Scotland and Wales the Lib Dem vote has also collapsed.
According to calculations by Sky, if these results were replicated in a general election Ed Miliband would win a majority of 341. The Tories would have 256 seats and the Lib Dems just 18. //
http://www.guardian.c...y/05/election-results
Will LibDems idly stand by and watch the party die, or will they Break the coaltion? Or something else? Is a General Election more likely or less likely?
According to calculations by Sky, if these results were replicated in a general election Ed Miliband would win a majority of 341. The Tories would have 256 seats and the Lib Dems just 18. //
http://www.guardian.c...y/05/election-results
Will LibDems idly stand by and watch the party die, or will they Break the coaltion? Or something else? Is a General Election more likely or less likely?
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If, as expected, AV is decisively rejected in the referendum, Clegg may come under irresistible pressure from the grass roots to toughen up his act or leave the coalition. He may even face a challenge to his leadership from Huhne.We live in interesting times. Despite what Cameron says, I cannot see this government lasting till May 2015.
If the liberals have the guts ( which I doubt ) to stick it out and fight for their beliefs albeit as a minority group within the government they can recover but as their conference shows they are incapable of facing reality. A general election is unlikely as we would have another indecisive result which wouldn't help anyone.
Nick Clegg, lied to the voters who supported him at the election, he compramised or downright abandonded his manifest to grab his piece of power. The result? Those voters have abandoned him, it would appear especialy the younger generation to whom he promised no rise in uni fees.
The fact that he appears to be delusional doesn't help.
"Nick Clegg says the Lib Dems are being blamed for spending cuts" funny that as the Tories don't seem to be getting to much of the voters blame.
If his party don't get rid of him, they may find they no langer have a party.
The fact that he appears to be delusional doesn't help.
"Nick Clegg says the Lib Dems are being blamed for spending cuts" funny that as the Tories don't seem to be getting to much of the voters blame.
If his party don't get rid of him, they may find they no langer have a party.
Cameron has given way far too much already. I hope the coalition collapses.
As for whether labour would win a general election, who knows. Part of me would like him to then he will see the mess the last labour Government left and he would have to sort it out - with no money. The problem is though is is too inexperienced and it would likely bring the country to its knees so i guess we just have to put up with what we have.
I doubt Clegg will last much longer though. As for the liberals chucking in their first grasp of power I cant see that happening somehow. Talk is cheap, action is not.
As for whether labour would win a general election, who knows. Part of me would like him to then he will see the mess the last labour Government left and he would have to sort it out - with no money. The problem is though is is too inexperienced and it would likely bring the country to its knees so i guess we just have to put up with what we have.
I doubt Clegg will last much longer though. As for the liberals chucking in their first grasp of power I cant see that happening somehow. Talk is cheap, action is not.
it's not surprising that voters deserted the Libdems but I'm baffled that they seem mostly to have gone to Labour. People have short memories indeed.No I don't think a general election is likely, the Lib dems willl want to hang on to this taste of power for as long as possible before they are consigned to the wilderness for a generation. Even if the coalition does collapse, it is quite plausible to go on with a minority government. Some wheeling and dealing with the minor parties would be necessary of course but a minority government has managed in the past
I don't think Labour deserve the the votes. They have been abysmal in opposition this past year, and are not ready for power again. But I don't think it is surprising they are getting the votes.
People are unhappy with the Government, and there are two parties to blame this time. That leaves the dis-satisfied voter with two choices, punish one of the ruling parties or punish both.
Besides, it was rather dishonest of Clegg to re-position his party as a right of centre party AFTER all the lefties had voted for his MPs. There was bound to be a backlash.
People are unhappy with the Government, and there are two parties to blame this time. That leaves the dis-satisfied voter with two choices, punish one of the ruling parties or punish both.
Besides, it was rather dishonest of Clegg to re-position his party as a right of centre party AFTER all the lefties had voted for his MPs. There was bound to be a backlash.
The coalition of Tories and Liberals need each other to survive like the dying rats on a sinking ship. If the Liberals now decide to throw in their lot and a general election was called Labour would sweep to power with an enormous majority and the Liberals would become extinct.
If the Tories were to relax on their policies come the next election in 4 years time the job will only be half done and the memory of redundancies and hardship will still be there.
Therefore the Tories should press ahead quickly dragging the Liberals behind them knowing any backing down will send them into oblivion.
If the Tories were to relax on their policies come the next election in 4 years time the job will only be half done and the memory of redundancies and hardship will still be there.
Therefore the Tories should press ahead quickly dragging the Liberals behind them knowing any backing down will send them into oblivion.
The problem for the LibDems is that the majority of their policies were never going to make it past an essentially Tory administration. It is no use their supporters moaning that they have been “let down”. The country did not vote for a LibDem government, it has not got one and they are in no position to enact their proposals.
The plain fact is that the LibDems are not, never have been and never will be in a position of outright power. The spare keys to No. 10 that Clegg, Cable and Co. have been handed as a result of a hung Parliament are theirs just to enable them to go in and feed the cat and water the plants whilst the owners are on holiday.
Their Utopian dream of voting reform is (thankfully) now firmly in the long grass (in fact, worse than that, it has sunk into the bog). If there was to be a General Election tomorrow I doubt that the LibDems would win 20 seats.
The Coalition will probably stumble along for a while. Although he will not I believe Cameron should call a General Election now. If the Tories are thrown out so be it (though I doubt they would be) but anything must be better than the ridiculous charade we are enduring now.
The plain fact is that the LibDems are not, never have been and never will be in a position of outright power. The spare keys to No. 10 that Clegg, Cable and Co. have been handed as a result of a hung Parliament are theirs just to enable them to go in and feed the cat and water the plants whilst the owners are on holiday.
Their Utopian dream of voting reform is (thankfully) now firmly in the long grass (in fact, worse than that, it has sunk into the bog). If there was to be a General Election tomorrow I doubt that the LibDems would win 20 seats.
The Coalition will probably stumble along for a while. Although he will not I believe Cameron should call a General Election now. If the Tories are thrown out so be it (though I doubt they would be) but anything must be better than the ridiculous charade we are enduring now.
If the Lib-Dems went now, they would be massacred. Labour have not provided a worthwhile offering - look how the Tory vote held up, largely.
I agree that it would be likely Tory in terms of a majority, but the fear would be the rise of the BNP etc.
The best policy for the Libs is to pray that there is a serious economic turn-around, and on the very large assumption of major global or EU economic disaster, I feel that this is not far off and we will shortly see a move to major economc advance. What is going on now is the last rites on cleaning up the balance sheets before really adding the value to reflotation over the next two years.
One fact that I picked up on....Q4 GDP in decline (just - and re the weather). Tax revenues in Jan up 16% over forecast......odd and incongruous perhaps to what is really going on.
The old saying of "watch this space" and they may not like it, but the Lib-Dems have to be committed to making the coalition work, and overall they together are not doing a bad job of sorting out the mess that Brown/Blair/Darling and their mates left the UK's "credit card" in. (Not saying that it is perfect and that it could not be improved but a damn sight better than Labour performance, especially in their 'latter' years.
I agree that it would be likely Tory in terms of a majority, but the fear would be the rise of the BNP etc.
The best policy for the Libs is to pray that there is a serious economic turn-around, and on the very large assumption of major global or EU economic disaster, I feel that this is not far off and we will shortly see a move to major economc advance. What is going on now is the last rites on cleaning up the balance sheets before really adding the value to reflotation over the next two years.
One fact that I picked up on....Q4 GDP in decline (just - and re the weather). Tax revenues in Jan up 16% over forecast......odd and incongruous perhaps to what is really going on.
The old saying of "watch this space" and they may not like it, but the Lib-Dems have to be committed to making the coalition work, and overall they together are not doing a bad job of sorting out the mess that Brown/Blair/Darling and their mates left the UK's "credit card" in. (Not saying that it is perfect and that it could not be improved but a damn sight better than Labour performance, especially in their 'latter' years.
good question alexandered - David M to the fore and get rid of the neo-Kinnock and somebody more to the centre of the Party in charge. Bet Cameron and Clegg wouldn't like DM at the helm. (Though to be fair, I have no idea of DM's views on AV and at this time of the evening I am not going to google it).
"AV would never have helped the BNP"
I disagree. There are those who are sympathetic to the BNP and UKIP but would not vote for them as it would be considered a wasted vote. Under AV they might well vote thus as their first choice and a mainstream party as second. Even if not reflected in terms of seats it would give them an influence disproportionate to their numbers, just one of the arguments against AV.
I disagree. There are those who are sympathetic to the BNP and UKIP but would not vote for them as it would be considered a wasted vote. Under AV they might well vote thus as their first choice and a mainstream party as second. Even if not reflected in terms of seats it would give them an influence disproportionate to their numbers, just one of the arguments against AV.
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