The LibDems should think on that.
And here are another couple of comments from my readers...
"I must remember to check and see if the LibDem manifesto includes a commitment to the legalisation of prostitution." Will S
"Mandelson negotiating with Clegg; do I detect a whiff of Molotov and Ribbentrop?" Michael C
"Like Marie, I am so angry by today's developments. I voted Conservative at this past election (having voted Labour in '97 and '01, and Lib Dem in '05). My pencil hovered over the ballot paper last week, but I voted Conservative. This is all to say that I'm not a die-hard Conservative (although I am a political junkie). But if the Lib-Dems enter a coalition with Labour, my first act will be join to the Conservative Party in protest and give a substantial (or at least what is substantial for me as I'm not very well paid) donation to the Conservative Party."
Graham
20 comments:
Is Cameron on the Tory negotiating team? No.
I sense you think defeat is about to be snatched from the jaws of victory Iain.
Have the Libdems really thought it out? Proportional representation would show just how many Libdems there really are. Most LD votes are against Labour or Tory. With PR they'd probably end up with 10%.
Lords Mandelson and Adonis negotiating the lib lab deal: the unelected in pursuit of the unelectable.
You're beginning to sound a bit hysterical. Brown's resignation has really spooked you guys hasn't it.
Molotov and Ribbentrop is a good comparison. That deal, so unexpected, turned out well, eh? What might the secret protocol be this time?
Has anyone explained why the tories waited until after Brown's announcement to offer the referendum?
To think the whole country could have had Hague negotiating for it. We may have had a lucky escape.
Ian have you seen Tom Harris' post which points out what I think is blindingly obvious that Brown can't deliver voting reform and why Clegg would be crazy to do a deal with Labour
"It’s reported that “Labour” is offering the LibDems an immediate Bill to ditch FPTP in favour of AV and a referendum on further change afterwards. This cannot be delivered; Labour MPs will not support it. I do hope some senior LibDems are reading this."
How come no one at the BBC seems to have realised this?
So, whilst making public statements during negotiations with the Conservatives over the weekend, Nick Clegg was secretly meeting with Labour. That tells you all you need to know about the man.
byron9's on the money.
This king-making has gone to their head.
There is a constitutional question here as well. When it comes to Education and the NHS, will Scottish Lib-Dems and Scottish Labour go into the lobbies to prevent defeat by English Tories on purely English issues?
The Tories are in a state of panic as their ungenerous attitude to the Liberal Democrats is exposed. Get a grip Cameron if you want to be PM. The LibDems are not fools.
Giving the LibDems PR is retrospectively trying to legitimise a partnership between the losing parties. Quote Alastair Darling "the Conservatives did not win a majority in parliament". (In fact, Conservatives would have topped the poll even with STV.) But this election wasn't fought on PR. It's disgraceful watching this power grab by the losing parties in defiance of the electorate's votes.
I get the impression Miliband wants to show his hand as successor PM immediately to strengthen negotiations with LibDems.
How long does it normally take to elect a Labour leader?
So much for democracy, welcome to the People's Republic.
Sometimes, when invited to make a decision which sticks in the throat, people delay making it by calling for more and more information in the vain hope that an alternative will arise. In my view, Clegg’s party are doing this now. They are insisting that the Labour offer is crystallized before giving their endorsement to the inevitable arrangement with the Conservatives. Despite this evening’s events there is still only one possible outcome. Cameron has already offered enough. All he needs to do now is hold his nerve.
Indeed if the LDs join a coalition now with Labour I too will think seriously about joining the Conservative party.
Nick Clegg has ballsed up BIG TIME.
And I voted LibDem.
Poor old Nick.
He should know that when you play with fire (aka Lord Mandelson) you get burnt.
I've been impressed with the whole Tory party (OK, apart from Tebbit) and now regret not voting for them.
I think the LibDems are heading back to holding their meeting in the nearest phone booth.
I really don't get what all the indignation is about: the LibDems are simply looking to see which party is going to offer them the best deal. This election has shown that if they ever want to become of more than marginal importance, they need to get election reform through. You can't blame them for being annoyed that 23% of votes translates into <10% of seats, and trying to change that.
"The Tories are in a state of panic"
Let me explain. "Tories" think that any LIB-LAB will collapse leading to the biggest swing to the Conservatives since, er, the last election. What they are worried about this thing called, er, the Country, and those things, what are they called now, oh yes, freedom and democracy.
What you call "panic" is simply rage at New Labour's (and the Liberal Democrats) utter contempt for anything other than their own narrow party interest.
It makes me wonder why they bother having elections. Oh yes I remember now, they have elections because "we the people" force them (kicking and screaming) to come before the bar of public opinion.
Kicking and screaming is what politicians will be doing before long if they continue to put themselves before their country.
"I really don't get what all the indignation is about"
I believe you.
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