[Archived] Election

[American]

Although I am depressed and appalled that the Tories are back in power a Lib - Lab coalition was not a realistic proposition and and the country must learn to live with the a squeeze on the most vulnerable in society and inevitable cuts to vital public services that the Tories will no doubt slash with their customary relish while giving tax handouts to their rich friends and corporate supporters. Thankfully the planned rise in the IHT threshold to £1m has been dropped after pressure from Clegg.

Labour election campaigners say the constant message on the hustings was that the public had no problem with the government but were intent on removing Gordon Brown from office. Politics is a brutal business and it was sad to see a man who has devoted his lifetime to public service removing his belongings from Downing St last night. Gordon did many fine things for this country but a hostile right-wing media ensures that history is unlikely to be kind to him. One term out of office will give the Labour party the chance to renew itself. The party is still brimming with vigour and contains within its ranks outstanding young men of stature and talent who will be standing for the forthcoming leadership battle and likely to become the next prime minister.

I didn't know you were right wing. You sure can be hostile though.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

[only2garners]

To add to the list it is reported that the Lib Dem policy on airline passenger duty will be introduced i.e. the tax will be on empty seats on planes and not a per passenger payment.

Full details on the coalition arrangements to be made public at 2.00 pm.

[SouthAussieRover]

Not if he really believes that it is for the good of the country and that he is putting the good of the country before himself and the party. Anything else in his motivation and I agree.

I agree with you there.

No problem with his motivation if it's as you hope.

[JAL]

Although I am depressed and appalled that the Tories are back in power a Lib - Lab coalition was not a realistic proposition and and the country must learn to live with the a squeeze on the most vulnerable in society and inevitable cuts to vital public services that the Tories will no doubt slash with their customary relish while giving tax handouts to their rich friends and corporate supporters. Thankfully the planned rise in the IHT threshold to £1m has been dropped after pressure from Clegg.

Labour election campaigners say the constant message on the hustings was that the public had no problem with the government but were intent on removing Gordon Brown from office. Politics is a brutal business and it was sad to see a man who has devoted his lifetime to public service removing his belongings from Downing St last night. Gordon did many fine things for this country but a hostile right-wing media ensures that history is unlikely to be kind to him. One term out of office will give the Labour party the chance to renew itself. The party is still brimming with vigour and contains within its ranks outstanding young men of stature and talent who will be standing for the forthcoming leadership battle and likely to become the next prime minister.

Your party Jim, allowed the buy to let market to flourish thus ..

driving up property prices.

driving up rents.

taking homes away from the needy thus creating a bit of a housing shortage in certain areas.

driving up borrowings to what are now unsustainable debt levels.

All whilst under the New labour government or should we use that term government loosely.

[only2garners]

Nick Clegg has sold himself and his party out. I hope he finds it embarrassing, given the heated exchanges regarding immigration policy in the TV debates.

I don't see why he has. The Conservatives' cap idea was just a ploy to reassure their supporters and that was the point Clegg was making. A cap on non-EU immigration will make very little difference to total immigration numbers - the great majority move within Europe, which they can with no limits and will still be able to.

[grizfoot]

I think this has the potential to work. Like as already mentioned a coalition shoud help ensure that the extreme views from both the Tories and Lib Dems won't be put into action. Not overly happy by this but they do't have to do much to improve on the previous government, hopefully Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems will help keep the Tories in check.

[berkshireblue]

Looks like Gordon's decision to step down is clearing the way for a Lib - Lab pact. Marvellous news if it could come about - the country could yet be saved from a Tory government. With more than 50 per cent of the vote at the elction a Lib - Lab govt would be perfectly legitimate. You have to congratulate Gordon on the timing of his bombshell but not for newspaper production rooms which will be in meltdown about now.

Jim - ANy thoughts 2 days on ?

You were getting quite excited at this non event

Booked your flight to Cuba yet?

[cletus]

i had to laugh when during todays 'love in' on the Downing St lawn, BIG Dave was reminded of a question he was asked a couple of weeks ago. He was asked "What`s your favourite joke?" to which he replied "Nick Clegg". A rather embarrassed BIG Dave said "err, yes i did say that didn`t i "

I`m not a Tory fan & i think BIG Dave & Osbourne are complete effin idiots......but for the sake of the country i truly hope they`re not as incompetant as they look. There`s already 2.5 million on the dole. The last time the tories got in unemployment went through the roof & Britain stopped making things. The ONLY thing that stopped the country going under & exploding into complete chaos was the very lucky & timely arrival of north sea gas & oil......which filled the coffers. This time round, there`s no massive influx of oil revenue to mask the tories incompetance.

GOD HELP US ALL!!

[berkshireblue]

Although I am depressed and appalled that the Tories are back in power a Lib - Lab coalition was not a realistic proposition and and the country must learn to live with the a squeeze on the most vulnerable in society and inevitable cuts to vital public services that the Tories will no doubt slash with their customary relish while giving tax handouts to their rich friends and corporate supporters. Thankfully the planned rise in the IHT threshold to £1m has been dropped after pressure from Clegg.

Labour election campaigners say the constant message on the hustings was that the public had no problem with the government but were intent on removing Gordon Brown from office. Politics is a brutal business and it was sad to see a man who has devoted his lifetime to public service removing his belongings from Downing St last night. Gordon did many fine things for this country but a hostile right-wing media ensures that history is unlikely to be kind to him. One term out of office will give the Labour party the chance to renew itself. The party is still brimming with vigour and contains within its ranks outstanding young men of stature and talent who will be standing for the forthcoming leadership battle and likely to become the next prime minister.

Stirring speech, you sound like one of the great PM's WInston Churchill

Jim and a TOry in the same sentence

[Eddie]

The Liberal Democrats have sold their soul on this one. They've traded their principles for a few seats in a cabinet and not much power. For a party that essentially relies on voters to side with their ideals rather than pragmatism I can't think of a a more emphatic way in which they could have stuck two fingers up to the British public.

[tony gale's mic]

The Liberal Democrats have sold their soul on this one. They've traded their principles for a few seats in a cabinet and not much power. For a party that essentially relies on voters to side with their ideals rather than pragmatism I can't think of a a more emphatic way in which they could have stuck two fingers up to the British public.

What other options did they have?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

The Liberal Democrats have sold their soul on this one. They've traded their principles for a few seats in a cabinet and not much power. For a party that essentially relies on voters to side with their ideals rather than pragmatism I can't think of a a more emphatic way in which they could have stuck two fingers up to the British public.

Couldn't agree more Eddie, recent events have proven that the Lib-Dems are just "Orange Tories" as I always said they were. I for one welcome the return of the two party system Tory-Lib-Dems on one side and Labour on the other, at least centre-left voters know the score now. No excuses anymore.

To Jim , Cheer up mate , we lost but we retained our core vote in spite of the media/city onslaught. We'll be back and my betting is it won't take 5 years either.

[BuckyRover]

The Liberal Democrats have sold their soul on this one. They've traded their principles for a few seats in a cabinet and not much power. For a party that essentially relies on voters to side with their ideals rather than pragmatism I can't think of a a more emphatic way in which they could have stuck two fingers up to the British public.

Yeah and by "selling out" they have given the lowest earners in the country a financial boost (income tax threshold) , enacted a good number of policies in their manifesto, raised their profile and given themselves the chance to prove that PR, their main election pledge, actually works in practice.

Absolute sell outs.......

[LeChuck]

The Liberal Democrats have sold their soul on this one. They've traded their principles for a few seats in a cabinet and not much power. For a party that essentially relies on voters to side with their ideals rather than pragmatism I can't think of a a more emphatic way in which they could have stuck two fingers up to the British public.

Funny, the only people I've heard saying this are obvious non-Lib Dem voters.

I, and others I've spoken to who voted Lib Dem, can see sense in what is happening; how many of their policies would have become reality had they backed down from a coalition government?

[cletus]

What other options did they have?

Just out of curiosity.....what would`ve happened if they`d decided not to join up with anybody?

[American]

Just out of curiosity.....what would`ve happened if they`d decided not to join up with anybody?

Cameron still would have led a minority government with a new election later this year, after which the Lib Dems likely would have gotten nothing.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Just out of curiosity.....what would`ve happened if they`d decided not to join up with anybody?

Conservative minority government that likely wouldn't have lasted long and meant an election in the autumn.

I'm happy to see the Lib Dem's and the Conservatives put some of their party interests aside in order to try and create a stable government. With the dire economic situation we are in we need a stable government that will last several years, we will have to see if that will be the case but its far more likely than if the Conservatives went at it alone.

If it does work then it could be something great, a return to 'one-nation conservatism'.

[1864roverite]

Tyrone, its going to be at least 5 yrs before trhe next election due to the coalition agreement.

Jimbo, as depressed as you are be grateful. the first thing the Tories have promised is to look after the elderly so chin up pal.

Nice speech though by the losing and loser gORDY bROWN. He finally admitted that he had trucked up once too often and that ultimately is what cost hinm.

The promise of a referendum for our people then taking the promise away will haunt him forever. That single point proved beyond doubt that Labour was nothing but lies and deceipt.

[Mattyblue]

Couldn't agree more Eddie, recent events have proven that the Lib-Dems are just "Orange Tories" as I always said they were. I for one welcome the return of the two party system Tory-Lib-Dems on one side and Labour on the other, at least centre-left voters know the score now. No excuses anymore.

To Jim , Cheer up mate , we lost but we retained our core vote in spite of the media/city onslaught. We'll be back and my betting is it won't take 5 years either.

Think we best wait until this government gets the debt down from almost one TRILLION before we let them get their hands on the tiller again.

Every Labour govenment leaves office with the economy in tatters.

[jim mk2]

, a return to 'one-nation conservatism'.

"One-nation conservatism" is fine in theory but does not work in practice because sooner or later the nasty face of the party reappears in the form of the Thatcherite loony right. You only had to watch some of the post-election interviews with party activists to see their discomfort at working with the Lib Dems to know that 1 ) this coalition will fall apart 2 ) the ugly face of Toryism will reassert itself. The core of the Tory party is one of the most virally rightwing parties in western capitalism, along with the US Republicans. The last Tory prime minister to espouse one-nation conservatism was Edward Heath. Enough said.

[Glenn]

I think that's a bit naive, LeChuck. The Lib Dems will get their referendum on AV, as agreed, but remember in this coalition that there are two vastly differently-minded political parties.

This is going to be a real test for the Lib Dems. How far are they prepared to go with the Tory policies to get their referendum? I certainly don't wish any malice on the new Government because that would be a bit selfish but I can't see this working.

It is fairly obvious, though, that non-Lib Dem voters (Tories aside as they are the current beneficiaries) are viewing this as a sell-out. They've had to drop their policy stance - that's a very high price when it comes to serious politics.

You've plainly not been watching this afternoon's news. As a lib dem member, I've seen more Lib Dem policies put forward this afternoon they I expected to see implemented in my life time.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Tyrone, its going to be at least 5 yrs before trhe next election due to the coalition agreement.

Jimbo, as depressed as you are be grateful. the first thing the Tories have promised is to look after the elderly so chin up pal.

Nice speech though by the losing and loser gORDY bROWN. He finally admitted that he had trucked up once too often and that ultimately is what cost hinm.

The promise of a referendum for our people then taking the promise away will haunt him forever. That single point proved beyond doubt that Labour was nothing but lies and deceipt.

You think the Lib-Dem-Tories will stay together for a whole five years in the circumstances ? I don't think so Matey.

MattyBlue , Only one name for you- Norman Lamont. What was it Black Wednesday ? Black Monday ? Every bloody day was Black under your team of wasters.

[Mattyblue]

You think the Lib-Dem-Tories will stay together for a whole five years in the circumstances ? I don't think so Matey.

MattyBlue , Only one name for you- Norman Lamont. What was it Black Wednesday ? Black Monday ? Every bloody day was Black under your team of wasters.

Black Wednesday was horrific but ironically leaving the ERM helped the economy to recover through the 90s and early 00s until Brown squandered it.

I raise you Gordon Brown selling our gold reserves off at their lowest price in 20 years. Also, wrecking the private pensions of millions of private sector workers.

Of course, it shouldnt have mattered because he had 'eradicated boom and bust from the economic cycle'

Total buffoon.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Black Wednesday was horrific but ironically leaving the ERM helped the economy to recover through the 90s and early 00s until Brown squandered it.

I raise you Gordon Brown selling our gold reserves off at their lowest price in 20 years. Also, wrecking the private pensions of millions of private sector workers.

Of course, it shouldnt have mattered because he had 'eradicated boom and bust from the economic cycle'

Total buffoon.

Well we've nowt to fear now. The economic giant formerly known as The Bullingdon boy, Wee Georgie Osborne will have the job sorted out tout sweet.

[1864roverite]

Having watched, listened abd read what the coalition aim to do I have to believe they will go the full 5yr term or at least the 3 budget scenario that has been reported.

I doubt any party will ever come of worse than Labour did with the current deficit we have and the high taxes we pay.

Brown and his cronies have almost ruined us financially, have handed lots of power to Brussels whilst they have not sstood up to the pc brigade who have been allowed to wreak havoc in the courts. Immigration is out of control whilst the benefits system is abused more than one of Fred West's children.

I dont expect this coalition to work miraqcles overnight, what I expect is common sense politics, tough decision making, the deficit to be shortened, the Armed Forces backed with the correct equipment, the justice system to be taken back from medling judges and poor case management, a total overhaul of the HRA and immigration to be taken more seriously.

Its time for proper leadership and a positive change of the beaurocratic system.

I wouldnt even mind if some of Labours so called bright sparks from the think tank were also involved in the tough decision making because many hands make can make light work. Just as long as Darling, Brown and Straw are nowhere near and trhe likes of Ainsworth and Balls are shot !