The Politics Thread

[Worthy4England]

bags being loaded into gvt cars at the back of number ten, ministers heading into number 10 (a farewell?), Prescott calling for an alliance with the liberals (something he has campaigning against forever), labour ministers and lib dem negotiators/spokespersons saying that labour aren't offering a viable alternative to the tory offer.

Bell tolling.

Apparently the bags don't belong to Brown or Darling, but the police. Presumably the new team brings its own force in?

Well, if its looking the way its looking, at least my 'team' (yellows) have finally made power, albeit with the team (blue) I like least. But the Labour deal wasn't a runner in any way shape or form. I suppose many of the blue team proposals I dislike most might be checked. We'll see; it won't be dull, however long it lasts.

Cabinet rumours are six Lib Dem ministers with Nick as deputy PM. I've got images of St Vince running rings around poor little Osborne if they're in the Treasury together.

Just don't leave me with 5 years of having to listen to Michael Gove please.

[Verbal]

So no one's been chatting about Brown's resignation and Cameron becoming our new Overlord?

[a1]

So no one's been chatting about Brown's resignation and Cameron becoming our new Overlord?

this is better

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ ... 675355.stm

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Just don't leave me with 5 years of having to listen to Michael Gove please.

I actually quite like Gove the smart arse... I do believe him to be genuinely passionate about schools.

Have you ever noticed how much he blinks, though?! It's so distracting once you have....

[thebish]

Just don't leave me with 5 years of having to listen to Michael Gove please.

I actually quite like Gove the smart arse... I do believe him to be genuinely passionate about schools.

Have you ever noticed how much he blinks, though?! It's so distracting once you have....

'tis rumoured that education might go to the liberals though....

[Worthy4England]

It's certainly been an hugely interesting day politically.

You couldn't really see a Lib/Lab pact coming off - Brown as a lame duck, would never have been able to carry it off - I actually doubt "him upstairs" could have got the Labour Party to join that coalition.

But a Con/Lib coalition - that's just a huge change from politics as I've ever known it (given that the Liberals are historically left of centre) - and it looks like there's significant concessions to the Libs. That said, they have a big majority between them, so assuming they can keep the coalition stuck together - they should have no problems getting any of their Bills through the HoC. I think it might be an interesting ride, so I'm going to hold tight.

[Worthy4England]

Just don't leave me with 5 years of having to listen to Michael Gove please.

I actually quite like Gove the smart arse... I do believe him to be genuinely passionate about schools.

Have you ever noticed how much he blinks, though?! It's so distracting once you have....

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me...

He's like a nearly grown up version of Tory Boy...

[Verbal]

It's certainly been an hugely interesting day politically.

You couldn't really see a Lib/Lab pact coming off - Brown as a lame duck, would never have been able to carry it off - I actually doubt "him upstairs" could have got the Labour Party to join that coalition.

But a Con/Lib coalition - that's just a huge change from politics as I've ever known it (given that the Liberals are historically left of centre) - and it looks like there's significant concessions to the Libs. That said, they have a big majority between them, so assuming they can keep the coalition stuck together - they should have no problems getting any of their Bills through the HoC. I think it might be an interesting ride, so I'm going to hold tight.

At the end of the day it'd become clear that the Conservative's offer was the only viable choice, politically and professionally.

I'm none too optomistic about the length of this upcoming Government. Though like all marriages I expect it to have its honeymoon period, because I'd think that they have (broadly) a similar view on what is to be done with the economy. I only feel that as time goes on, policy differences between the two will become a lot more noticeable...Europe should be interesting when that comes up. And tuition fees...etc

[Worthy4England]

It's certainly been an hugely interesting day politically.

You couldn't really see a Lib/Lab pact coming off - Brown as a lame duck, would never have been able to carry it off - I actually doubt "him upstairs" could have got the Labour Party to join that coalition.

But a Con/Lib coalition - that's just a huge change from politics as I've ever known it (given that the Liberals are historically left of centre) - and it looks like there's significant concessions to the Libs. That said, they have a big majority between them, so assuming they can keep the coalition stuck together - they should have no problems getting any of their Bills through the HoC. I think it might be an interesting ride, so I'm going to hold tight.

At the end of the day it'd become clear that the Conservative's offer was the only viable choice, politically and professionally.

I'm none too optomistic about the length of this upcoming Government. Though like all marriages I expect it to have its honeymoon period, because I'd think that they have (broadly) a similar view on what is to be done with the economy. I only feel that as time goes on, policy differences between the two will become a lot more noticeable...Europe should be interesting when that comes up. And tuition fees...etc

Bill Cash had some very conciliatory words to say around compromise on Europe...

As for it being the only move politically, the Lib Dems in a lot of areas are further left than Labour.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

As for it being the only move politically, the Lib Dems in a lot of areas are further left than Labour.

Assume he's just talking about the numbers.

[William the White]

My guess is 18 months before a LibDem split, as Clegg is stuck very uncomfortably with a governing party very likely to be at war against its people, quite possibly with tear gas in the streets... and the liberal portion of his party deserts him...

The LibDems incredibly stupid to turn away from the best chance their party had to attain their policy of 60 + years... but got to give it to Cameron, he's obviously good at schmoozing and Clegg at swooning...

[Worthy4England]

As for it being the only move politically, the Lib Dems in a lot of areas are further left than Labour.

Assume he's just talking about the numbers.

You could do, but that would be mathematically rather than politically.

[CAPSLOCK]

My guess is 18 months before a LibDem split, as Clegg is stuck very uncomfortably with a governing party very likely to be at war against its people, quite possibly with tear gas in the streets... and the liberal portion of his party deserts him...

The LibDems incredibly stupid to turn away from the best chance their party had to attain their policy of 60 + years... but got to give it to Cameron, he's obviously good at schmoozing and Clegg at swooning...

The Liberals hardly had a choice if their public pronouncements that Labour were a set of wankers with no desire for partnership are to be believed

[Worthy4England]

My guess is 18 months before a LibDem split, as Clegg is stuck very uncomfortably with a governing party very likely to be at war against its people, quite possibly with tear gas in the streets... and the liberal portion of his party deserts him...

The LibDems incredibly stupid to turn away from the best chance their party had to attain their policy of 60 + years... but got to give it to Cameron, he's obviously good at schmoozing and Clegg at swooning...

What have they turned away WtW? Had to switch off my news coverage...

I think it's all a little strange - if I was Tory, I'd be looking to go back to the polls fairly soon to see if I could improve on what I had...

[Worthy4England]

My guess is 18 months before a LibDem split, as Clegg is stuck very uncomfortably with a governing party very likely to be at war against its people, quite possibly with tear gas in the streets... and the liberal portion of his party deserts him...

The LibDems incredibly stupid to turn away from the best chance their party had to attain their policy of 60 + years... but got to give it to Cameron, he's obviously good at schmoozing and Clegg at swooning...

The Liberals hardly had a choice if their public pronouncements that Labour were a set of wankers with no desire for partnership are to be believed

I'm not sure who thought Brown or anyone else would be able to get a vote through the Labour Party back-benchers.

Any how at least they're now in bed with people they've known are a set of wankers for 40 years or more.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Any how at least they're now in bed with people they've known are a set of wankers for 40 years or more.

Cameron's only 44!


(Was he, one wonders, a precocious wanker at the age of 4? )

[William the White]

My guess is 18 months before a LibDem split, as Clegg is stuck very uncomfortably with a governing party very likely to be at war against its people, quite possibly with tear gas in the streets... and the liberal portion of his party deserts him...

The LibDems incredibly stupid to turn away from the best chance their party had to attain their policy of 60 + years... but got to give it to Cameron, he's obviously good at schmoozing and Clegg at swooning...

The Liberals hardly had a choice if their public pronouncements that Labour were a set of wankers with no desire for partnership are to be believed

Labour had made the offer clear - AV now and a referendum on full PR (my pref!).

Some labour has-beens start the grumble, stupid bastards, in alliance with scots who hate the SNP... and give Clegg the excuse to embrace his chosen new squeeze... Their statement is simply to justify a choice they will regret as it tears their party apart...

I'm looking forward to welcoming the decent people misled into an unprincipled alliance...

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Did enjoy this from yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gkHwU4DRA8

Adam Boulton shows himself to be a complete nice person, yet again.

[Worthy4England]

My guess is 18 months before a LibDem split, as Clegg is stuck very uncomfortably with a governing party very likely to be at war against its people, quite possibly with tear gas in the streets... and the liberal portion of his party deserts him...

The LibDems incredibly stupid to turn away from the best chance their party had to attain their policy of 60 + years... but got to give it to Cameron, he's obviously good at schmoozing and Clegg at swooning...

The Liberals hardly had a choice if their public pronouncements that Labour were a set of wankers with no desire for partnership are to be believed

Labour had made the offer clear - AV now and a referendum on full PR (my pref!).

Some labour has-beens start the grumble, stupid bastards, in alliance with scots who hate the SNP... and give Clegg the excuse to embrace his chosen new squeeze... Their statement is simply to justify a choice they will regret as it tears their party apart...

I'm looking forward to welcoming the decent people misled into an unprincipled alliance...

The Parliamentary Labour Party (having already resigned themselves to a period in opposition) were never going to buy it - as I mentioned Monday night (said he smugly). Anyone seriously thinking different probably needs their bumps feeling.

It is entirely possible that Labour (Gordon - outgoing Leader) made the offer fairly independently of any understanding as to whether he could carry a party vote on it, as a negotiating tactic, to up the ante on the Tories and that there was never really any substance behind it - which seemed to be what the LibDems were saying after the meeting this morning.

Whilst being particularly funny, a Lib/Lab coalition would have been viewed at least as "not fair play" by most of the electorate (IMO) and at worst hugely divisive - which could have led to a lifetime on the oppo benches - especially given the current financial position isn't likely to improve in the time it would have taken for the two sides to break off the engagement.

It's certainly got to be even funnier to see Libs and Cons in bed together - I think they're genuinely going to try and work it - but they're ideologically way further apart than Lib/Lab.

[Worthy4England]

Any how at least they're now in bed with people they've known are a set of wankers for 40 years or more.

Cameron's only 44!


(Was he, one wonders, a precocious wanker at the age of 4? )

You and I both know, Mummy, that at the age of 4 he wouldn't have been doing his own wanking. He would have had his own nanny (probably not paid the national minimum wage) to do it for him.