Comments on: The Lib Dems in a hung Parliament

By: John B Dick

John B Dick — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:27:02 +0000

The Lab-SLD coalition lost only a hadful of seats after two terms and if that is a “disaster” as Mike Richarson says, then most governments in my lifetime have been a disaster and our democracy badly needs fixing.

The coalition ran its course and it was time for another grouping. If the electoral arithmetic worked out that way, do you think we could have a Lab-Con coalition or would the Westminster politicians rather see an SNP government than that?

Donald Dewar explained to me half a century ago that in his vision for a Home Rule parliament coalition would alternate with minority government, that both had potential for consensus and the implementation of more thoroughly worked out policies with broad support, more effective implementation in practice and a better chance of enduring.

I’m pleased that we have the second option to try out. Ms Goldie, the SNP and the Greens seem to understand how it works, but the LibDems oddly enough given their self image as star coalition players havn’t, and parts of Labour are still too hurt by defeat to act responsibly.

I think I prefer it so far.

By: promsan

promsan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:05:19 +0000

(Mentioned by me elsewhere) The Lib Dems seem to have established a post-war pattern of a gentle bulge in support roughly every 10 years:

Yet, they can’t seem to keep their heads above 20% for any length of time… and seem to blow it when they are about to make a breakthrough.

If this pattern continues to 2013, then I see little chance of the LDP doing anything next year other than losing a few seats in the election; and picking them up again mid-term as they reach their habitual periodic apex of support.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:40:55 +0000

I agree with Andy Stidwill, Lib Dems have always stuck to their own principles, they arnt going to side with Labour in order to stop total Tory control, nor will they side with the tories in order to make themselves more popular, they will take the route they have always taken and vote on a policies own merits rather than who is supporting it, Lib Dems are not as low as the other parties to do anything otherwise.

By: Cllr Peter Cairns (SNP)

Cllr Peter Cairns (SNP) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:48:10 +0000

I suspect that in the event of a hung parliament a lot of people will, for want of a better term, look at the Scottish model, which is itself I believe the New Zealand model.

Instead of a formal coalition the largest party ( expect a debate over seats or votes if one party doesn’t have both) is backed by one or more of the smaller parties to form a government but after that each bill is judged on it’s merits.

Even if the Libdems/SNP/DUP etc. vote a bill down they can still vote for the government to stay in any vote of confidence.

It means a lot of horse trading but i suspect the parties would prefer it if they thought that being in coalition might mean a loss of identity or be seen as them compromising there principles for power.

Clearly something like closing 2,500 post offices wouldn’t get through and electorally it might let the Libdems avoid any debate/questions on who they favour by declaring ” it will be the peoples choice and we will allow the largest party to attempt to form a government.

Peter.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:11:30 +0000

Has anyone else been surprised by the lack of any Lib Dem bounce in polls as a result of Cleggs election as leader?.

I still beleive they will suffer a substantial third party squeeze at the next election. With the Iraq war not being the issue it was and also tactical voting unlikely to be used as it was in past.

My constituency is Salisbury and I am very confident the Tories will take the 2 neighbouring constituencies of Romsey and Wichester from the Lib Dems at the next election.

By: Toby

Toby — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:58:58 +0000

There’s only one group of voters for whom talk of a hung parliament may make them more likely to vote LibDem – that’s those who sympathize with the party’s policies but are disinclined to vote for them because they feel it would be a wasted vote. Talk of the LibDems being powerbreakers could make the vote seem a little less wasted.
Protest votes, however, as has already been said, make up a large proportion of LibDem support; if a hung parliament with the LibDems propping up Party A or Party B looks feasible, such voters will want to take their protest elsewhere rather than run the risk of helping out the very party they want to protest against.

By the way Mike Richardson: if Nick Clegg is to be believed [insert remark of choice here], David Cameron is already making attempts to form an alliance with the LibDems in advance of the next election…

Finally, is anyone else as amused as me at the idea of “soc**list” now being considered an offensive word by spam filters?

By: Bystander

Bystander — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:46:39 +0000

Isn’t Ian Dale a defeated Tory candidate? It would be in his interest to recycle out-of-date polling info that Lib Dems are more inclined to do a deal with Brown rather than Cameron wouldn’t it?

By: John C

John C — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:36:08 +0000

The most famous oracle in history – at Delphi – was noted for giving sententious, misleading and ambiguous answers. The Conservative Prime Minister of the day, following the General Election of February 1974, made the strongest overtures to the Liberals to keep him in power. They rejected his courtship summarily. There are areas to-day – I live in one – where Conservatives are sharing power with a poitical party of a different hue in order to retain office.

By: Anthony Wells

Anthony Wells — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:27:39 +0000

Mike – I think they got caught in the spam trap because “socialist” includes the word cialis, which is some sort of viagra-ary thing that spam messages are always pushing.

By: stuart gregory

stuart gregory — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:51:26 +0000

why should i trust the LD’s they do not know weather they are coming or going most of the time, and in the most upto date polling about the ld’s it shows most people do not know what they stand for and people who voted for them at the last election that would have voted conservative are now saying they will be voting conservative at the next election, thats around 3-4% that would be cut from their shere of the vote or around 18-19% after the next election more likely the lower figures.

i won’t be hear for a few days finaly going on holl’s for a long weekend in norfolk.