Lib Dems & Tories... Can they work together?

Soubrette

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I guess re-looking at it, a lot are saying the tories lost, rather than specifically "labour won". There were so many threads on the election and who won on DT, it's hard to find the correct ones, but many of them said the same thing

Thanks for your honesty, most people would have just ignored my post

There is a difference between saying that a campaign was more or less successful than another party's and that a party has won.

People are also pointing out the Conservatives have won the biggest swing since godaloneknowswhen - but of course they started from a very low point.

Sou

tomterm8

Soubrette wrote: »

. In terms of expectation of performance the LibDems lost the most.

Er, the Tory's had a 24 point lead in the poll couple of months before the election. I expected them to win with a majority of more than 100. Most commentators did too.

Lib dems is an odd one. They increased their share of the vote a little, lost some seats, and gained the power to chose who will be the next prime minister. We have a really odd system.... So, they kind of won, even though the electorate didn't like them at all.

Soubrette

tomterm8 wrote: »

Er, the Tory's had a 24 point lead in the poll couple of months before the election. I expected them to win with a majority of more than 100. Most commentators did too.

Lib dems is an odd one. They increased their share of the vote a little, lost some seats, and gained the power to chose who will be the next prime minister. We have a really odd system.... So, they kind of won, even though the electorate didn't like them at all.

The LibDems were hoping that this was going to be their break through election, that they would become the legitimate opposition or at the very least a respectable proportion of it. It never happened PR in itself does not seem to have increased or decreased support so it's hard to claim that the country supports (or doesn't support) it so even getting a referendum doesn't guarantee them anything. Also if they had more seats they might well have been the king maker - as it is they can make Cameron King or they can join an allsortment of parties to make Gordon (or his replacement) King - they don't have a straight choice.

The lead of the incumbent government always seems to increase as the polls get nearer - people start to worry about inexperienced hands maybe? I'm not saying the Conservatives did a great campaign but I think losing alot of ground in the polling stations was disappointing but they live to fight another day. For the LibDems - this is the best they've ever got and it may well be a poison chalice for them.

Sou

mitchaa

Lib Dems actually increased their votes..

2005 = 5,985,414 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/scoreboard.stm
2010 = 6,827,938 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/

+842,524

They lost 5 seats though.

lostinrates

Quoteing from ''Dave's'' email.

So first, I want to make clear that I do not believe any future government should give more powers to Brussels, be weak on immigration or put the country's defences at risk. So we will stand firm on these issues.
But I also believe there are many areas of common ground between us and the Liberal Democrats - such as the need for education reform, building a low-carbon economy, reforming our political system, decentralising power, protecting civil liberties and scrapping ID cards.
There are also areas where I believe we in the Conservative Party can give ground, both in the national interest and in the interests of forging an open and trusting partnership. For example, we want to work with the Liberal Democrats to see how we can afford to reduce taxes on the lowest paid. Of course, we hope to see a similarly constructive approach from the Liberal Democrats - not least on the urgent issue of tackling the deficit.

if any one is interested and doesn't receive I don't see why I can't quote the whole thing...?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

mitchaa wrote: »

Alex Salmond...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/scotland/8668114.stm

As of today he's calling for a "progressive alliance" of Labour, Liberals and SNP/Plaid.

That is the message coming from the leader of the Scottish National Party, Alex Salmond. He's calling on the Liberal Democrats to join him and Plaid Cymru and Labour in a "progressive alliance" instead of doing a deal with the Conservatives.

Mr Salmond says: "The assumption of a Tory/Liberal Democrat pact is not correct. There are alternative and more progressive options available if politicians have the will to seize the moment. The SNP and Plaid are indicating that we do."

tomterm8

lostinrates wrote: »

Quoteing from ''Dave's'' email.



if any one is interested and doesn't receive I don't see why I can't quote the whole thing...?

I think it's ok... I would like to read it.

lostinrates

tomterm8 wrote: »

I think it's ok... I would like to read it.

OK, here you are.

From the bottom of my heart - thank you.
Thank you for voting Conservative on Thursday. Every vote counts and you helped Britain vote for change.
More than that, I want to thank you for fighting and campaigning so hard for the past few weeks. I know how hard every supporter, member and activist worked during this campaign. I know how tough and gruelling it was. I know how tired you all feel now. You'll have blisters from all the pavements you've pounded; paper-cuts from the envelopes you've stuffed; bruised knuckles from the doors you've knocked on.
But I don't want you to doubt for one minute that it has been worth it. First of all, we should be proud not just of how hard we fought, but the way we fought. Our campaign was unremittingly positive and optimistic - and that's just what our country needed.
Second, we should be proud of the results we achieved. We gained more seats than at any election since 1931. We became the largest party in the House of Commons by a considerable margin. And we got two million more votes than Labour - and indeed, more votes than Labour did when they won in 2005. The swing we achieved was massive by historic standards.
By any measure, these are really impressive results and I, the Shadow Cabinet, our MPs old and new, and all our candidates owe each and every one of you a huge thank you.
But however much pride we can take in the enormous advance, we have to accept that we fell short of an overall majority. I know how much you wanted one - I wanted one too. But now we have to work with what we have. As I have been saying these past couple of days, it is vital Britain gets strong, stable and decisive government. The challenges we face - a war in Afghanistan, the debt crisis and an economy that is stuck, deep social problems, political crisis - call for nothing less. So it is in Britain's national interest that the Conservative Party rises to this challenge and works to secure good government for our country.
That's why yesterday, I made a big, open and comprehensive offer to Liberal Democrats. I want - and I believe the country expects - our two parties to work out how we can deliver strong and stable government to tackle Britain's big and urgent problems. Right now, talks are underway. Inevitably, there will be masses of unfounded speculation in the press, but I wanted to tell you my thinking directly, and I hope I'll be able to give you direct updates as we move forward.
So first, I want to make clear that I do not believe any future government should give more powers to Brussels, be weak on immigration or put the country's defences at risk. So we will stand firm on these issues.
But I also believe there are many areas of common ground between us and the Liberal Democrats - such as the need for education reform, building a low-carbon economy, reforming our political system, decentralising power, protecting civil liberties and scrapping ID cards.
There are also areas where I believe we in the Conservative Party can give ground, both in the national interest and in the interests of forging an open and trusting partnership. For example, we want to work with the Liberal Democrats to see how we can afford to reduce taxes on the lowest paid. Of course, we hope to see a similarly constructive approach from the Liberal Democrats - not least on the urgent issue of tackling the deficit.
Inevitably, these negotiations will involve compromise. But that's what working together in the national interest means. I hope we can sort things out as quickly as possible, for the good of the country. But we won't rush into any agreement.
We've got to make sure that anything that results really is the best possible outcome for Britain - that it really is in the national interest. After all, that's what this party has always been about. That's what I'm about. And I know that's what you want, and what the country wants right now too.

Thank you.

silvercar

Odd, it went straight to my junk mail folder, none of his previous emails have done that.

(Still don't know where he got my email address from.)

tomterm8

conservative_home wrote:

Knock, knock...

"Who's there?"
"David."
"David who?"
"Gordon, get out of my bloody house."

/....................................................