Coalition to break? : Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:09 pm  

Clegg accusing the Tories of breaking the contract http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19149212 Will he and his boys walk away now? They hold the balance of power and walking away could be seen as them doing what they should have been doing from day 1, holding back the excesses of the Tories. Personally I think, as I always have done, that Clegg et al like the trappings of power too much to leave, so they'll stick it out and moan till the election.

Clegg accusing the Tories of breaking the contract http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19149212 Will he and his boys walk away now? They hold the balance of power and walking away could be seen as them doing what they should have been doing from day 1, holding back the excesses of the Tories. Personally I think, as I always have done, that Clegg et al like the trappings of power too much to leave, so they'll stick it out and moan till the election.

Re: Coalition to break? : Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:15 pm  

Not until after the Olympic bounce has subsided.

Re: Coalition to break? : Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:58 pm  

I always expected them to part company 12-18 months before the next election. If they break now the Lib Dems will have gained nothing for all of the pain they've endured. If things did start to pick up before the election they would get no electoral credit at all. They will not have a platform on which to fight the next election, will never be able to present the case for coalition government. Might as well pack up.

Their chances dont look a great deal better if they stay in the coalition, but its the only chance they've got.

Re: Coalition to break? : Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:14 pm  

If the Lib Dems do break away, surely it just consigns them to the scrap heap earlier?

Labour have already won the next election as the vast majority of people are stupid and just blame the world's woes on the current Government, without realising who caused it.

Re: Coalition to break? : Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:26 pm  

Minority coalition partners will generally be better off staying put as long as possible, as the chances of them holding the balance of power after another election are low. OTOH the Tories would dump the Libs in a second if they didn't need them.

Here in Aus we have Greens and independents propping up a hugely unpopular government. They will not walk away no matter what, because after the next election the chances are they will be out of power completely, whichever side wins. In fact if anything it could turn out to be a poisoned chalice, because the independents will be very vulnerable at the next election for supporting the government regardless.

Re: Coalition to break? : Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:09 am  

Lords reform was a bizarre policy which was on the radar just to keep the Lib Dems happy. It was simply not a priority for the overwhelming majority of ordinary voters, and Cameron only pushed it so hard to compensate Clegg for his stuffing in the AV referendum.

True, Labour have been polling well. But I think their 'real' lead is probably substantially less than figures suggest. Let's be honest, they are ahead by default. The prospect of Ed Milliband in No 10 is frightening, and I think people will realise that as the next election draws nearer.

Yes, the economy is still screwed, and will probably be for the lifetime of this parliament and the next, regardless of who is in power.

Re: Coalition to break? : Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:07 am  

Saddened! wrote:

If the Lib Dems do break away, surely it just consigns them to the scrap heap earlier?

Labour have already won the next election as the vast majority of people are stupid and just blame the world's woes on the current Government, without realising who caused it.

As far as I'm aware, greedy bankers aren't standing in the next election

Re: Coalition to break? : Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:22 am  

The Video Ref wrote:

Lords reform was a bizarre policy which was on the radar just to keep the Lib Dems happy. It was simply not a priority for the overwhelming majority of ordinary voters, and Cameron only pushed it so hard to compensate Clegg for his stuffing in the AV referendum.

True, Labour have been polling well. But I think their 'real' lead is probably substantially less than figures suggest. Let's be honest, they are ahead by default. The prospect of Ed Milliband in No 10 is frightening, and I think people will realise that as the next election draws nearer.

Yes, the economy is still screwed, and will probably be for the lifetime of this parliament and the next, regardless of who is in power.

The Lib Dems have come across as being more bothered about furthering their political ends through electoral and constitutional reform than issues that really concern people. More likely to fall out over AV than tuition fees. More concerned over H of L reform than tax changes. They seem to have completely lost their way.

Re: Coalition to break? : Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:32 am  

I think the LibDems will feel a "principled" break before the end of the full term may allow them to shore up their core support. If they do nothing they will be finished. So they may well break, but not yet.

Re: Coalition to break? : Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:04 am  

Saddened! wrote:

If the Lib Dems do break away, surely it just consigns them to the scrap heap earlier?

Labour have already won the next election as the vast majority of people are stupid and just blame the world's woes on the current Government, without realising who caused it.

People do realise who caused it, certainly wasn't any elected member who gave loans to people they couldn't afford, played pass the parcel with bundles of debt that they had no chance of recouping, lie and cheated exchange rates or p**sed it all up against the wall on bonuses and huge salaries.

Granted previous governments have made mistakes but to blame them completely for the current mess is crass stupidity.