Made my mark yesterday. Looks like Brown will be out soon. Disappointing turnout for Liberal-Democrats, I’d rather hoped they would be better off not worse off. This limits their bargaining power with the Conservatives. Still, hopefully some of their points will be taken into account should there be a Tory/LibDem coalition or partnership.
Since the election appears to be hung, doesn’t Brown get the first shot at cutting a deal with the LibDems? Is it that likely that the LibDems won’t deal with Labour?
Gladius: Yes, Brown does in fact have the first shot at attempting to obtain a coalition partner. I would have thought a LibDem/Labour coalition was more natural despite this meaning a majority government was still not possible; and this morning that’s what I thought was more likely but as the day wore on, by late afternoon it began to be likely, by the statements made by all 3 party leaders, that a Tory/LibDem deal was being more seriously considered by the LibDems. Any deal still has to have a 3/4 approval by LibDem heavies. But the differences between LibDems & the Tories on several key points (Europe, electoral reform, defence & immigration) are so big, I was sceptical. It would be un-natural alliance. It would mean a majority government but would the coalition last? I just don’t see it lasting very long. Personally, I’d be for a Labour/LibDem deal without Brown in the picture. Who knows, perhaps no coalition is struck and the Tories go it alone which will be risky (see Kal’s cartoon) and we have new elections soon.
Meh.
From what I understand, the real sticking point for a LibDem/ Labour alliance is that they still won’t have enough seats which would mean cutting an additional deal with the Welsh/Scottish MP’s. I just haven’t seen anything concerning their position.
At least the good thing, perhaps the ONLY good thing, about a Tory government is that they’re pledged to scrap identity cards, an expensive oppressive fripperie that nobody wants and everyone will resent having to pay for. Only Labour wanted to go ahead with this mad scheme despite popular opposition. And perhaps the Libs will force through some sort of electoral reform - it’s crazy that their total vote only got them fifty-seven MP’s, compared to what a similar amount of votes earned for the tories and NuLab.
But those of us who remember the Thatcher years will not be happy bunnies tonight. How long before Cameron inflicts the same amount of needless destruction to placate the Thatcherites in his party - there are still an awful lot of them!
OmqR-IV.0 almost 14 years ago
Made my mark yesterday. Looks like Brown will be out soon. Disappointing turnout for Liberal-Democrats, I’d rather hoped they would be better off not worse off. This limits their bargaining power with the Conservatives. Still, hopefully some of their points will be taken into account should there be a Tory/LibDem coalition or partnership.
Gladius almost 14 years ago
Since the election appears to be hung, doesn’t Brown get the first shot at cutting a deal with the LibDems? Is it that likely that the LibDems won’t deal with Labour?
OmqR-IV.0 almost 14 years ago
Gladius: Yes, Brown does in fact have the first shot at attempting to obtain a coalition partner. I would have thought a LibDem/Labour coalition was more natural despite this meaning a majority government was still not possible; and this morning that’s what I thought was more likely but as the day wore on, by late afternoon it began to be likely, by the statements made by all 3 party leaders, that a Tory/LibDem deal was being more seriously considered by the LibDems. Any deal still has to have a 3/4 approval by LibDem heavies. But the differences between LibDems & the Tories on several key points (Europe, electoral reform, defence & immigration) are so big, I was sceptical. It would be un-natural alliance. It would mean a majority government but would the coalition last? I just don’t see it lasting very long. Personally, I’d be for a Labour/LibDem deal without Brown in the picture. Who knows, perhaps no coalition is struck and the Tories go it alone which will be risky (see Kal’s cartoon) and we have new elections soon. Meh.
Gladius almost 14 years ago
From what I understand, the real sticking point for a LibDem/ Labour alliance is that they still won’t have enough seats which would mean cutting an additional deal with the Welsh/Scottish MP’s. I just haven’t seen anything concerning their position.
comYics almost 14 years ago
Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.
AgProv almost 14 years ago
At least the good thing, perhaps the ONLY good thing, about a Tory government is that they’re pledged to scrap identity cards, an expensive oppressive fripperie that nobody wants and everyone will resent having to pay for. Only Labour wanted to go ahead with this mad scheme despite popular opposition. And perhaps the Libs will force through some sort of electoral reform - it’s crazy that their total vote only got them fifty-seven MP’s, compared to what a similar amount of votes earned for the tories and NuLab.
But those of us who remember the Thatcher years will not be happy bunnies tonight. How long before Cameron inflicts the same amount of needless destruction to placate the Thatcherites in his party - there are still an awful lot of them!