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

Thrugelmir

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

So Clegg has offered the Tories first shot at compromising enough to get the Lib Dems support.

What compromises will the Tories accept, or the Lib Dems insist on?

Electoral reform is a big point of contention, nuclear deterrent another, budget cuts and economic policy, particularly taxation, also areas of conflict.

And if they did agree a deal, could Clegg keep control of his MP's, many of whom are very left leaning, in crucial votes for Tory driven policy in parliament?

Why not take the view that politics has moved into the 21st century?

Maybe the past 13 years has demonstrated that one party rule is unhealthy.

Personally I had issues with policies in all the main party manifestos. No single party represented 100% of my personal views and opinions.

treliac

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Personally I had issues with policies in all the main party manifestos. No single party represented 100% of my personal views and opinions.

That must be the case for 99% of the electorate.

Sir_Humphrey

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm assured by people here that it can work.

The time I was in Italy I watched things lumber a long, Prodi throwing his hands up in the air, stamping his feet and walking out when things were getting tough.

I think we are possibly more suited to PR in a ''national temperament'' but it does cncern me that we need a decisive government in ''complex times''.

The variable is the calibre and maturity of the politicians. The calibre is very poor in Italy. We will get squabbling whatever the system. FPTP is likely to throw lots of situations like these in future (unless the Lib Dems implode). The difference is that with PR, the factions squabbling reflect the will of the people.

Blacklight

Cleggs 'fair' tax system is a world away from Cameron's definition. I can't see it working.

abaxas

Blacklight wrote: »

Cleggs 'fair' tax system is a world away from Cameron's definition. I can't see it working.

Bit of an error there. What you meant to say was....


Cleggs 'fair' tax system. I can't see it working.

Jonbvn

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

The variable is the calibre and maturity of the politicians. The calibre is very poor in Italy. We will get squabbling whatever the system. FPTP is likely to throw lots of situations like these in future (unless the Lib Dems implode). The difference is that with PR, the factions squabbling reflect the will of the people.

In effect, the gov't would become very similar to this board! Somewhere, we probably don't want to go?

Sir_Humphrey

Jonbvn wrote: »

In effect, the gov't would become very similar to this board! Somewhere, we probably don't want to go?

As Vernon Bogdanor pointed out on the BBC last night, this sort of thing will become more and more likely under FPTP if you have three parties with a large share of the vote.

FPTP evolved for a two party system.

Wookster

lemonjelly wrote: »

I think PR wouldn't be a bad thing. I don't believe the tories would go for it. I think labour might.

The only reason they are interested in PR now is so that they can cling onto power. They have always rejected the idea of PR in their 13 years in office. Only now when they have lost a popular vote do they change their stance.

Blacklight

Having thought about this a bit more - Clegg couldn't really do anything else after preaching about reform for so long other than approach the party with the largest share of the vote.

There's no chance of a Lab-Lib coalition without him looking like a hypocrite. Even if by some miracle there was, his price would be PR, then there would be another election and he'd still lose.

In fact, how can Clegg not the Tories form a minority government seeing as they actually got most of the votes?

ninky_2

Blacklight wrote: »

Having thought about this a bit more - Clegg couldn't really do anything else after preaching about reform for so long other than approach the party with the largest share of the vote.

There's no chance of a Lab-Lib coalition without him looking like a hypocrite. Even if by some miracle there was, his price would be PR, then there would be another election and he'd still lose.

In fact, how can Clegg not the Tories form a minority government seeing as they actually got most of the votes?

not at all. the parties should only form coalitions with those they have a workable affinity. it doesn't matter who got the most seats. if they can't agree on policy it isn't going to work.

personally i think the lib dems are far more left than right on most policies. i can't see them working with the tories. how does mansion tax fit in with inheritance tax breaks? how do immigration caps fit with immigration amnesties? and what about the lib dem wish to break up the banks or not renew trident?

it's probably not just up to clegg either. it depends on the individual lib dem mps and where their conscience would take them on voting matters when it came to policy.

gordon brown has done absolutely the right thing in saying cameron has a right to try to form a coalition. but cameron has no right to expect lib dem support to make up for the lack of support he's managed to garner.

the point of democracy is you can support whoever you want - whether they are the most popular party or not. and that goes for inter-party co-operation.