ChatterBank8 mins ago
Is this the end of the coalition?
19 Answers
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No Lords reform = no support for boundry changes
Does this mean Cameron is now leading a minority government?
With their current popularity I can't see Lib Dems supporting a no confidence vote - but do we now have a "lame duck" Prime Minister?
No Lords reform = no support for boundry changes
Does this mean Cameron is now leading a minority government?
With their current popularity I can't see Lib Dems supporting a no confidence vote - but do we now have a "lame duck" Prime Minister?
Answers
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Nick Clegg hapless and helpless, with any luck it breaks up this unhappy alliance, then perhaps call a snap general election, and we should get the result we wanted, which wasn't an alliance with the Lib Dems.
I would rather Cameron had stuck to his guns and lost, than to throw out all the principles he originally stood for. Now no one know what he does stand for, so we are back where we started. Politics is a stupid business..
I would rather Cameron had stuck to his guns and lost, than to throw out all the principles he originally stood for. Now no one know what he does stand for, so we are back where we started. Politics is a stupid business..
When the LibDems start to not support Conservative policies, then the 91 backbenchers who rejected Lords reform will be mad with rage. They still do not appear to know what a coalition is.
The Government is now dysfunctional and it will be hard to maintain the harmony that they have shown for the last 2 years. Governing will get a lot harder and behind the scenes there will be warfare.
I have always thought the Government would go the full term because the 2 parties need each other, but I am now thinking it could all get very messy and bitter and break up sooner.
The Government is now dysfunctional and it will be hard to maintain the harmony that they have shown for the last 2 years. Governing will get a lot harder and behind the scenes there will be warfare.
I have always thought the Government would go the full term because the 2 parties need each other, but I am now thinking it could all get very messy and bitter and break up sooner.
Quite Sandy ^.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer for both of them as long as they can I think.
The mechanics would be interesting though. I doubt the opposition could muster the required majority for a no-confidence vote, which still just leaves the possibility of a rearranged, further co-alition. But there might come a point where rank and file disaffection in both Lib Dem and Tory parties would make a vote for an early doors election before May '15 a possibility.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer for both of them as long as they can I think.
The mechanics would be interesting though. I doubt the opposition could muster the required majority for a no-confidence vote, which still just leaves the possibility of a rearranged, further co-alition. But there might come a point where rank and file disaffection in both Lib Dem and Tory parties would make a vote for an early doors election before May '15 a possibility.
As Gromit says, Tory Backbenchers "still do not appear to know what a coalition is", fondly imagining that - since they are the larger party - what they say should go.
The ConDem alliance was a prostituted one from the start. I've pointed out here before that a Times' cartoon at the time showed the front of LibDem HQ with a red light glowing above the door. The caption read, "Knock three times and ask for Nicki."
It's generally true in life that neither '***' nor 'customer' can hope for more than a temporary conjunction!
The ConDem alliance was a prostituted one from the start. I've pointed out here before that a Times' cartoon at the time showed the front of LibDem HQ with a red light glowing above the door. The caption read, "Knock three times and ask for Nicki."
It's generally true in life that neither '***' nor 'customer' can hope for more than a temporary conjunction!
And now a tricky bye-election in Corby and East Northamptonshire. Before Louise Mensch won by less than 2,000 the seat had been Labour's for thirteen years.
Labour could win back the seat. And the LibDems could lose their deposit. If we get that result it could mean this rowing couple will have to patch things up.
Labour could win back the seat. And the LibDems could lose their deposit. If we get that result it could mean this rowing couple will have to patch things up.
Cameron could use this as an excuse for a snap general election I guess.
He won't because unlike Em he's read the opinion polls and knows right now he'd lose.
Clegg and Cameron seem to be trying to tie these two issues together in some sort of "tit-for-tat tie it up and move on" sort of way.
But has the damage been done? Will the Tory back benchers try the same thing again?
I suspect if they do that'll be the end of the coalition
That'll leave Cameron trying to do a deal on each issue as it comes - everything will slow to a crawl and he'll look hapless and out of control as he stumbles towards 5 years and anihilation at the polls.
I think I may have answered my own question - I think Camerons political future depends on keeping his back benchers in line
I wonder if they've worked that out?
Tory back benchers are known for many things - loyalty in the face of weakness isn't one of them!
He won't because unlike Em he's read the opinion polls and knows right now he'd lose.
Clegg and Cameron seem to be trying to tie these two issues together in some sort of "tit-for-tat tie it up and move on" sort of way.
But has the damage been done? Will the Tory back benchers try the same thing again?
I suspect if they do that'll be the end of the coalition
That'll leave Cameron trying to do a deal on each issue as it comes - everything will slow to a crawl and he'll look hapless and out of control as he stumbles towards 5 years and anihilation at the polls.
I think I may have answered my own question - I think Camerons political future depends on keeping his back benchers in line
I wonder if they've worked that out?
Tory back benchers are known for many things - loyalty in the face of weakness isn't one of them!
"Calling a snap election" is no longer in the gift of the Prime Minister.
Under the Fixed Term Parliament Act (sponsor for the Common, N Clegg) the term of the Parliament is set at five years (+/- 2 months). Parliament can only be disolved earlier by either a vote of No Confidence (unlikely) or if two-thirds of the House of Commons vote in favour of dissolution (most unlikely).
So, because of one of the most ridiculous and ill-conceived pieces of legislation to spew forth from this administration (the sole purpose of which was to enable the LibDems to retain their unexpected power for as long as possible) the Coalition will have to limp on for almost three more years. During this time the in-fighting will increase and the "government" will not be worthy of the title.
Under the Fixed Term Parliament Act (sponsor for the Common, N Clegg) the term of the Parliament is set at five years (+/- 2 months). Parliament can only be disolved earlier by either a vote of No Confidence (unlikely) or if two-thirds of the House of Commons vote in favour of dissolution (most unlikely).
So, because of one of the most ridiculous and ill-conceived pieces of legislation to spew forth from this administration (the sole purpose of which was to enable the LibDems to retain their unexpected power for as long as possible) the Coalition will have to limp on for almost three more years. During this time the in-fighting will increase and the "government" will not be worthy of the title.
Holding a vote may be possible, but winning it would be a different matter. By definition it is the majority who are in power and they have little to gain by voting against the government; even if the two halves on the alliance are not happy. Things need to have deteriorated a long way before that. And as I recall it was a single vote that brought Callaghan down, so these things clearly don't succeed too often.
The Liberals are now getting in bed with Labour and secret meetings have been held. As mentioned above fixed term parliaments are now with us.
So like you say the Tories are dead men walking until the next election. They may try to put policies forward but will be blocked by the Liberals.
The Liberals should never have joined the coalition with the Tories as they are to the left of Labour now so this divorce was always on the cards.
So like you say the Tories are dead men walking until the next election. They may try to put policies forward but will be blocked by the Liberals.
The Liberals should never have joined the coalition with the Tories as they are to the left of Labour now so this divorce was always on the cards.
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