tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post1060776261756967596..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Which LibDems Would Serve in a Con-Lib Cabinet?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74332588767745543012010-05-09T14:43:34.388+01:002010-05-09T14:43:34.388+01:00A minor post the LDs must get is Scottish Secretar...A minor post the LDs must get is Scottish Secretary since, with only 1 seat no Tory could hold it credibly.<br /><br />During the LibLab pact all the ministers were Labour but their shadows had full access & the de facto right to veto things. That may be better way to go than merely looking at the numbers in a conventional cabinet.<br /><br />The thing that really worries me is the LDs "low carbon economy" ie windmillery. Cameron's willingness to offer that without prompting shows he wanted to do that anyway so a stand alone Tory government would be no better. However we are heading for massive blackouts & already have most of the world's most expensive electricity because of this windmilling cross-party Luddite lunacy. Oh well one problem at a time.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-5537954621860186002010-05-09T13:45:24.550+01:002010-05-09T13:45:24.550+01:00Clegg, Huhne, Laws, Cable would surely be top 4.
...Clegg, Huhne, Laws, Cable would surely be top 4.<br /><br />It might be sensible to have someone from the left of the party too - Farron, Webb, Featherstone, Hughes or<br />Heath would all make excellent ministers, if not cabinet. Jeremy Browne would be very acceptable to the Tories, while Jenny Willott is excellent but underrated.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03296689597053219759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24747527052651924682010-05-09T12:36:11.066+01:002010-05-09T12:36:11.066+01:00Steve Webb should be a definite. If I were David C...Steve Webb should be a definite. If I were David Cameron, I should probably want to give him Health rather than Employment, but he'd do an excellent job (and take a lot of the inevitable blame) in either post.<br /><br />But I think you are being optimistic with four. I think we're looking at five or possibly six to make the deal look good enough. I'm suspecting something like this:<br /><br />DPM and Lord President: Nick Clegg<br />Home Secretary: Chris Huhne<br />President of the Board of Trade: Vince Cable<br />Health (or Employment): Steve Webb<br />Scotland: John, Viscount Thurso (or maybe Wales: Jenny Willott)James Dowdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058389162481491681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47875287981322803032010-05-09T12:04:16.089+01:002010-05-09T12:04:16.089+01:00Thinking about the jobs rather than the people.
I...Thinking about the jobs rather than the people.<br /><br />If there is a deal on PR, then a Lib Dem as Leader of the House of Commons to steer the legislation through?<br /><br />Would there be two Government Chief Whips? Can't see the LDs accepting whipping from a Tory, or vice-versa.<br /><br />Lib Dems would be very nervous that Tory back-benchers would try to kill the legislation on PR by parliamentary maneouvering and would want control of the process.Richard Gadsdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10545595590359552775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-40938205548853994412010-05-09T10:03:57.925+01:002010-05-09T10:03:57.925+01:00Well, there's surely going to be a vacancy at ...Well, there's surely going to be a vacancy at the Home Office...<br />http://tinyurl.com/3x9w4u2Nigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171835878570773595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16691470992377099972010-05-09T01:13:31.411+01:002010-05-09T01:13:31.411+01:00Not a LibDim commenting but there is local interes...Not a LibDim commenting but there is local interest here for me. I live 10 miles from Yeovil and am not a fan of David Laws; he's OKish but there's something about him i can't quite put my finger on that doesn't quite add up somehow. My own MP still is David Heath. Who? The LibDims shadow Leader of the House. He has a good record as a conscientious parliamentarian and is squeaky clean on expenses. Ms Rees-Mogg was unlucky to be on the receiving end of Heath's doubling his majority - to 1,600 only - this time; that's 4 losing Tories on the trot I've voted for!<br />Heath would be a safe pair of hands, reliable but he is an inveterate fence-squatter particularly over country matters. Despite living in a village which does not have mains water and his apparent countryside credentials he is not a countryman. Even so i would prefer to see him in the Cabinet to Laws.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15333501249832195399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83724776018577858932010-05-09T00:55:23.019+01:002010-05-09T00:55:23.019+01:00I think Clegg should go for the Foreign Office, ju...I think Clegg should go for the Foreign Office, just as the FDP normally do in Germany. The Home Office would just create endless problems.<br />The Scottish Office should definitely go to a LibDem, simply to make Scotland respect the new government -- the Tories can't do that.<br />Apart from that, I don't mind too much. Perhaps Transport, perhaps Environment, perhaps Justice.Thomas Widmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14481786791740154131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76360615600377499362010-05-09T00:46:15.589+01:002010-05-09T00:46:15.589+01:00Steve Webb is very talented and knows the DWP brie...Steve Webb is very talented and knows the DWP brief inside out and back to front. <br /><br />Chris Huhne has real ability<br /><br />I think you underestimate Norman Lamb. <br /><br />Vince Cable for BIS, if George is Chancellor? Not sure what happens to Clarke, but Vince as a cutter at BIS would be in line with Con policy and LD policy?Tim Leunighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08930175702683617125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49437597944272393062010-05-09T00:38:12.627+01:002010-05-09T00:38:12.627+01:00"There was some talk that the LibDems would a..."There was some talk that the LibDems would argue that seats in the Cabinet should reflect the proportion of the actual national vote."<br /><br />The Cabinet itself should be smaller in any case. Start as you mean to go on. I thought Liberals liked decentralisation, which must surely mean central government doing less, needing fewer cabinet ministers (also doing less).<br /><br />Also, return to giving cabinet posts sensible names once more, rather than the weird Eastern Bloc style ("Children, Schools & Families").forsythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00068719978877211213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78988331288306348042010-05-08T23:45:57.380+01:002010-05-08T23:45:57.380+01:00which dum lubs???????..you are joking Iain..they d...which dum lubs???????..you are joking Iain..they dont have policies just wish lists...the thought of being propped up by the likes of Red Vince is truely nauseating...Mirtha Tidvillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940977481295375071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26927753872542557002010-05-08T23:29:57.701+01:002010-05-08T23:29:57.701+01:00Nobody has mentioned health. Now the election is o...Nobody has mentioned health. Now the election is over Cameron can forget his devotion to the hugely expensive and inefficient NHS and let Norman Lamb et al let rip by getting rid of strategic health authorities and other useless quangos.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01536080469186800888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25825657099766380612010-05-08T23:28:45.279+01:002010-05-08T23:28:45.279+01:00I blogged this earlier today (6.30 am) here http:...I blogged this earlier today (6.30 am) here http://sean-haffey.blogspot.com/2010/05/diy-tips-how-to-build-cabinet.htmlSeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234085314662011091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33130922274263641592010-05-08T23:19:54.419+01:002010-05-08T23:19:54.419+01:00Cable is an over-rated windbag. A genius in his o...Cable is an over-rated windbag. A genius in his own mind (and the BBC) only.<br /><br />Home Office - Clegg<br /><br />Chief Secretary - Laws (I hadn't thought of this one, but it is a great idea: binds the LibDems into the cost cutting)<br />Welfare - Hammond: too good to lose & he deserves a promotion<br /><br />Try bringing in Adonis at Transport (would he count as a LibDem?)<br /><br />Alternatively, perhaps put one in at Justice and give them a mandate to pursue a liberty aagenda. Can't think of anyone else with the common sense and credibility thenCharleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05944402323068719550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58171593288922024512010-05-08T22:53:54.953+01:002010-05-08T22:53:54.953+01:00@ trevorsden
"You forget Laws was an investm...@ trevorsden<br /><br />"You forget Laws was an investment banker. He could go to the treasury somewhere."<br /><br />You forget that investment bankers create problems for the economy rather than solve them.tory boys never grow uphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11172736984147732661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83471171738266492152010-05-08T22:41:35.235+01:002010-05-08T22:41:35.235+01:00I think that Lord Lester of Herne Hill should be S...I think that Lord Lester of Herne Hill should be Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor.<br /><br />Surely the Tories are not seriously considering giving the post to Dominic Grieve?jailhouselawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03795278184797990706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56069660896195258602010-05-08T21:39:51.831+01:002010-05-08T21:39:51.831+01:00I'd give David Laws something decent, Clegg so...I'd give David Laws something decent, Clegg something that sounds fancy but isn't (Vice PM) and Simon Hughes can clean the toilets. Ming is past it and the rest were never up to it.ArthurBeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05689747347609126399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-37649772198473290692010-05-08T21:37:39.038+01:002010-05-08T21:37:39.038+01:00Oops! Missed that paragraph for some reason. I tho...Oops! Missed that paragraph for some reason. I thought it was an odd omission!Mark Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11540921816711929852010-05-08T21:22:02.122+01:002010-05-08T21:22:02.122+01:00By all means put Clarke and Cable together if you ...By all means put Clarke and Cable together if you want to --- but at Business, not the Treasury. You forget Laws was an investment banker. He could go to the treasury somewhere. But Hammond has been a good performer for the Tories.<br /><br />Given that the executive is drawn from the parliamentary party then in a Cabinet of say 20 you would expect say 4 LDs in Cabinet at the most.<br /><br />Given the position we are in, and whilst it might be better to start from somewhere else, the nation needs stability, certainly for 3 years at least. We do not need another election in 6 months, during which time nothing will be done.<br /><br />As for the tory performance in the election: it has won more seats than for 80 years and Labour have lost more seats since basically for ever. Its a great performance and we can thank UKIP for it not being better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1696072693858993682010-05-08T21:14:49.841+01:002010-05-08T21:14:49.841+01:00Sarah Teather actually deserves a cabinet position...Sarah Teather actually deserves a cabinet position. And muppett James Wallis can't have ever actually met her.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08958017158439422953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89140128221711412942010-05-08T21:00:34.443+01:002010-05-08T21:00:34.443+01:00What Ollie said.
And no Cable not no way not neve...What Ollie said.<br /><br />And no Cable not no way not never. He is a flipflopping, vain old faker who belongs in the Labour Party but not on its right wing and not at its top level because everyone in Brown's cabinet is sharper than he. And that includes the postman. <br /><br />And why does an economist with a PhD insist on the 'Doctor' thing? Half the Commons have PhDs, including Brown. It's undignified. Still, I suppose it impresses the fans of Strictly Dancing The Light Fandango and that's what counts when you are a political never-was-has-been who's looking for a regular fee from HIGNFY.Prodicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024865482933469271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26799948999195059912010-05-08T20:52:27.911+01:002010-05-08T20:52:27.911+01:00The news is that Clegg is cleared to have further ...The news is that Clegg is cleared to have further talks. I am glad on the Tory side there is Osborne, Haig and Letwin -very sensible men. I also would like Ken Clarke as the Chancellor of exche and Osborne as the business secretary. No problem with Clegg for Home, Paddy Ashdown for NI, Simon Highes for Culture and Huhne for Transport. The purpose of the DC and his team is to sink the Labour for ever so that Campbell and Lord Sleaze are banished and Brown returns to scotland. Labour will implode-post Foot failed election like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38706775725742711852010-05-08T20:51:07.520+01:002010-05-08T20:51:07.520+01:00Clegg for Chancellor please. Think about it.Clegg for Chancellor please. Think about it.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15252054403352395221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25229298162812942132010-05-08T20:47:18.368+01:002010-05-08T20:47:18.368+01:00Hi Ian
Crikey the thought of Lynne Featherstone in...Hi Ian<br />Crikey the thought of Lynne Featherstone in any cabinet post is frightening. Have you heard her interviewed she can barely sytring together a coherent sentence. Watched her on Sat Newsnight before election she was a joke. Cable, Laws possibly but any other are likely to be minor posts<br />MartinUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128212166008290609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30462364942643093852010-05-08T20:33:57.256+01:002010-05-08T20:33:57.256+01:00My guess is that the Lib Dems will get areas that ...My guess is that the Lib Dems will get areas that they agree on with the Tories - specifically the "orange book" liberal wing of the LDs.<br /><br />My guess is that you will see LDs in positions like health, education and work & pensions - this ties into the "broken society" meme of Cameron, which a lot of LDs agree with.<br /><br />As for the chancellorship, I think Ken Clarke would be offered as compensation for Cable not getting it, but with Cable working closely with Clarke in a Chief Sec role.<br /><br />We have to think long term here - my guess is that Cameron is thinking of the very very long term - in terms of transforming our entire society into a naturally centre-right society and to confine Labour socialism to the dustbin of history.<br /><br />I think Cameron knows deep down that a true "Liberal Party" would be incredibly better for the country than a socialist Labour Party. He's aiming for the natural order of things to swing between Tory governments and true Liberal ones.John Trenchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18212068575561254839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48899325839277503132010-05-08T20:26:15.571+01:002010-05-08T20:26:15.571+01:00Iain - If the boundry system didn,t favour the Lab...Iain - If the boundry system didn,t favour the Labour party, would the Conservatives have had 326 seats?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com