Pacts And Deals

[Quizmonster]

“The prime minister rejected calls from Eurosceptic Tories to form a pact with Ukip before next year's general election. He told Sky News: "We are the Conservative party. We don't do pacts and deals.”
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/23/ed-miliband-labour-ukip-change
How did he manage to get into No 10 other than by doing just that?

[Gromit]

A pact with UKiP before the election would mean they would not stand against each other in key seats. The problem is, the Consetvative and UKiP are both after the same voter, not like say a pact with the LibDems who might pick up some left leaning voters.

A coalition is a different thing. It is making the best of poor results.

I can imagine a secret Conservative/UKiP pact but I doubt it would be in either party's interest to make it public.

I don't think pre-election pacts are in the electorate's interest. It is for party strategists and is slightly cheating your voters.

[mikey4444]

QM...not sure of the relevance of your link, as your question appears to be about a pact between dave and UKIP. But you are right of course, in that he is only ensconced in Number 10 because of the support a few dozen LibDems MPs.

As it looks increasingly unlikely that he will win an outright victory next May, unless he does do a deal with someone, he is going to go back on the back benches. My money is on the Unionists from NI. He gave a very lavish reception for them a few days ago, for no other perceptible reason than to butter them up. They are a natural ally to the Conservative Party in the best of times.

Watch this space !

[naomi24]

As Gromit says, two different things entirely.

[Zacs-Master]

I doubt that the majority of the electorate can distinguish between a pact and a coalition, so Dave's comments have probably not come across too well. However, I doubt that the majority of the electorate have heard this 'gaff', so probably irrelevant.

[mikey4444]

Labour are used to being in opposition but the Tories aren't, and they bl**dy hate it ! The memories of all those years in the wilderness, with such charismatic Leaders like Hague, IDS, and the truly awful Howard, will remain with them for a long time yet. So who can blame them if they are panicking right now, and talking about pact with UKIP ?

I have commented on the length of the spoon needed by Cleggie, when he decided to sup with the Devil in 2010, but I doubt that there is a spoon long enough for dave in 2015, if he is contemplating sitting at the same dinner table as Farage.

[Zacs-Master]

So you think, despite DCs fairly unequivocal statement, that they might be thinking of a pact?

[mikey4444]

Zcas...what choice does he have ?

[Gromit]

If there is a hung parliament don't rule any pacts/alluances/coalitions out. Neither Cameron or Miliband are publicly stating who they will and will not do deals with. In 2010 the idea of the LibDems supporting a Conservative led Government was preposterous.

In their endevour to grasp power, any preposertrous grouping should not be ruled out.

I cannot see how a handful of Ulster Unionist could keep Cameton in power. If the result was that close, the a re-election would have to happened quickly.

[Zacs-Master]

Erm....to not form a pact with a party that every right thinking, semi literate voter mistrusts with every fibre of their being?

[mikey4444]

Don't get me wrong Zcas...it appears that we are as one when it comes to the awful UKIP !

But the Tories dislike being Her Majesty's Opposition so much, that they may be tempted. After all, as Gromit has said, who could have predicted that Cleggie and dave would be sitting down at the same table, in the lead up to the 2010 Election ? Coalitions are mainly an anathema to us Brits, and I think that we were all surprised by what happened 4 years ago.

Another aspect to consider is the background of UKIP. Farage was a Tory MP until 1993, when he left to form UKIP. Other UKIP activists have a similar history. To join up with dave would be like coming home to many of them.

UKIP only have one policy, and that is to withdraw from the EU. Their members would find many of the same mind amongst the Tories. Already Tories like Rees-Mogg are clamouring for a pact, and there will plenty of others hiding in the tall grass, who have yet to identify themselves.

So, in many ways, a UKIP/Tory pact might not sound so daft after all.

[weecalf]

You can't believe any thing a politition says until its been denied three times in parliament .

[Svejk]

farage was a tory mp.
he kept that quiet.

[mikey4444]

Not sure he did Svejk, although I suppose he hardly stood on a chair and yelled it around the room. All the gory details are here ! :::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage

[Svejk]

I don't need to go to google/wiki to know you're totally wrong,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,again.

[Gromit]

Mikey

Farage was never a Tory MP. He wasn't even a Councillor. He was just a grassroots member before slinging his hook after Major signed away our Soverenty at Maastrict.

[Farriercm]

Thought Cameron said UKIP are a load of fruit cakes,?

[Svejk]

the politically well informed labour zealot strikes again.
if you deployed your brain and an open mind now and again, you wouldn't keep shooting yourself in the foot, fool.
spin that.

[Peter Pedant]

QM you will be more sensitive to politicians putting their foot in it

In looking up Dan Quale-isms I was drawn to a list of famous people who opined: During George Bush's presidency, there was no terrorist attack on mainland America..... [excuse me what was that.?]

and here is one from DC to match

Generally speaking politicians will deny making a deal with another party before an election as the silent message carried, is: " why dont you just vote for party X, rather than me who will then deal with X ? "

[Farriercm]

Love it.

[mikey4444]

I was going to apologise for my Wiki mistake Svejk but your descent into personal abuse now prevents me from so doing. Why can't you debate without this nastiness ?