OK - So how is this going to work

[BertiWooster]

The lib/dems are now in a coalition government with the tories .

There are ideological diferences between the two parties , which have not suddenly dissapeared , but rather will lie simmering in the background .

Differences in immigration , War in Afghanistan , Europe springs to mind .
Not to mention the thorny issue of the voting system .

1.Now that Nick Clegg is deputy PM - what happens when he has to take to the despatch box at prime minister's questions ;to answer questions by the opposition on one of the above
subjects ,when he knows that the opposition points are akin to lib/dem beliefs . Is he going to defend the tory line ?

2. What happens when there is a by -election - are there going to be tory and lib/dems fighting the same seat ?

3. Is there going to be a lib/dem conference ?

4. The Tories have promised a referendum on VR
Are we going to see Cameron campaigning against PR while Nick Clegg is campaigning for PR?

5. Most important of all - what is going to be the mix of guests on the question time
programme .
Labour v Con Lib v A N Other v A N Other ?

Interesting times ahead - Eh what ?

[LazyGun]

As you say, interesting times ahead.

I would have thought that the teams of negotiators would have thought about such issues and party conferences and by-elections, but I cannot think how they will resolve such issues - possibly who has the biggest electoral vote in a particular constituency stands unopposed by the partner in government?

It may well be big, short term gain for the Lib-Dems, but it may prove their long term downfall too, losing their independent identity, and if anything reinforcing the traditional Labour vs Conservative loyalties amongst the electorate.

As you say, the chasm between the Conservatives and Lib-Dems over particularly PR and electoral reform, and also Europe, seem very very difficult to reconcile.

[olddutch]

Glib answer - with difficulty

My guess - assuming honourable fair play:-

1 No not the Tory line - the agreed Coalition line
2 No -one coalition candidate only
3 Yes - with appropriate deference to coalition needs
4 Yes - there will be opposing campaigns
5 One Coalition Candidate per programme - Tory and Lib Dem Coalition MPs to alternate each week

Interesting to see if it all works out - and for the full term

[MarkRae]

> The Lib/Dems are now in a coalition government with the Tories.

That's true.


> There are ideological [diferences] differences between the two parties, which have not suddenly [dissapeared] disappeared, but rather will lie simmering in the background.

That's also true.


> 1.Now that Nick Clegg is deputy PM - what happens when he has to take to the despatch box at prime minister's questions ;to answer questions by the opposition on one of the above subjects ,when he knows that the opposition points are akin to lib/dem beliefs . Is he going to defend the tory line ?

Highly unlikely that he will ever do this. The leader of the house will usually stand in for the PM during PMQT when the PM is unavailable...


> 2. What happens when there is a by -election - are there going to be tory and lib/dems fighting the same seat ?

Of course not.


> 3. Is there going to be a lib/dem conference ?

For heaven's sake! The two parties have not become one...


> 4. The Tories have promised a referendum on VR
Are we going to see Cameron campaigning against PR while Nick Clegg is campaigning for PR?

There may be a coalition, but Cameron is PM. The coalition will not last the year. There will be no electoral reform.

[R1Geezer]

This is a coalition not an Alliance.