Cleggs crocodile tears

[pdq1]

Has Clegg redeemed himself by saying they should never have gone along with tuition fees before the election? Alright but he wasn't to know at the time they would get in bed with the Tories.

But what about the millions of students and their families who voted Liberal in the hope tuition fees would not be on the agenda? Labour has said if Clegg was genuine he would support their policy of reducing student fees and vote for a new motion. Has Clegg made himself non electable for his weasel words?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-politics-19646731

[factor-fiction]

Well this may actually be the thing that saves him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp6r8eC0zDA

[jno]

quite likely. He made the promise to win votes, never thinking he'd win so many he would be in a position to actually do something about it.

But he still had a choice: keep his promise or break it. He chose wrong.

[askyourgran]

There is something about Nick Clegg that doesn't ring true at all. I find him wet, the Liberal party seems to be teetering on the brink of indecision all the time. Threats to join the Labour Party are an everyday occurance. I don't think he'll last much longer.

[joeluke]

He's never convinced me, and has made himself look an even bigger prat by alloing that video to be aired

[sir.prize]

Just a few more that the coalition planned to tackle.

There were plans to 'force' the energy companies to play 'fair'. FAIL

There were plans that the true oil prices would be reflected at the petrol/diesel pumps. FAIL

There were plans to tackle immigration. FAIL.

There were plans to deport Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada. FAIL.

There were plans to extradite British businessman Christopher Tappin. SUCCESS.

It's not just Clegg - it's the other two dandies as well, Cameron and Osborne.
THREE FAILURES

[Duncer]

Plus it has taken him quite a while to decide that he is sorry.

[modeller]

At the time of the election he knew that both Labour and the Tories said that Uni fees would have to go up.
He also knew that the Lib/Dems would at best have to go into coalition with one or the other. Therefore there was no way he could reduce the fees . Vince Cable said today that he and others had their doubts about making the pledge in the first place. Labour has now said they will reduce fees and want Clegg to join them but they would say that now they are in opposition.

[askyourgran]

^^But just in time before the party conference.

[Gromit]

This is not an apology to the people who voted for The Liberal Democrats or he would have apoligised long ago.

The timing is significant, shorty before his party's Conference. It is directed at disaffected LibDems and its aim is to quell their anger. It is a plea not to give him a hatd time and not to plot to remove him as party leader.

The LibDems face electorial oblivion and I'm not sure that sacrificing Clegg before the next General Election would do them any good. They should do it for the fun of it though.

[jake-the-peg]

I think the LibDems need to have a hard look at the polls and think about where they are.

Nick Clegg is irredeemably electorally toxic (he has very little credibility now even within his own grass roots let alone with swing voters) and unless he goes they will be crucified at the next election.

Vince Cable probably has the most credibility and would give them the best chance, although whether he can actually win is aother matter.

I suspect they know this though - it's probably a matter of timing making sure a new leader has a chance to cement his position without being too entangled in the coalition.

I suspect the caolition will be dissolved 6 months before the next election and Clegg will stand down at that time

[pdq1]

///I suspect the caolition will be dissolved 6 months before the next election///

Yes I suppose they will have to do this as they cannot fight for a coalition to be elected. So I suppose the LIberals will come out with their own policies again. Voters will need to consider by voting Liberal its a wasted vote because they will throw their lot into either Labour or Tory whoever gets the most votes.

After all the shambles of the last couple of years maybe we should return to two part voting. Sitting on the fence by voting Liberal has been very painful.

[chaptazbru]

Close the door on your way out Mr Clegg .......