Lib Dem Support down to 12%....

lemonjelly

In addition, exactly what has cameron compromised on?

Jennifer_Jane

And exactly what has Clegg compromised on? Presumably his election manifesto was 'If you vote us into power, then we will abolish university fees'.

So, since he was not voted into power .... but negotiated his way into a coalition, how has he reneged on the manifesto.

I have always been a LibDem supporter, but voted Conservative last time. We always knew it was going to be difficult for us, and that the people in power would have a hard time and be unpopular. So let's just ride it out and see what happens over the next year. As someone who watches 'Parliament Live' most afternoons, I do not see a worthwhile and effective opposition in Labour, and I do see (in my view) able and committed Conservative politicians.

blueboy43

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Read New Labours 1997 manifesto pledges. Child poverty in the UK being a good example of their grand plans. Did Labour introduce policies to improve the situation? No, the figures actually got worse during the years of economic boom.

Like everything else the current situation will blow over. Once the next crisis hits.......

Labour introduced plenty of policies to attempt to alleviate child poverty - minimum wage, sure start, tax credits etc etc.

Can you name any policies were you think they set out to increase child poverty ?

Contrast that with the Lib-Dems, who actively support the removal of things like EMA which was targeted at improving the skills & education of 16-18 years olds from the poorest section of society. I'd rather have seen 3 more years of EMA funding than the poxy bank holiday next year.

blueboy43

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

And exactly what has Clegg compromised on? Presumably his election manifesto was 'If you vote us into power, then we will abolish university fees'.

So, since he was not voted into power .... but negotiated his way into a coalition, how has he reneged on the manifesto.

I have always been a LibDem supporter, but voted Conservative last time. We always knew it was going to be difficult for us, and that the people in power would have a hard time and be unpopular. So let's just ride it out and see what happens over the next year. As someone who watches 'Parliament Live' most afternoons, I do not see a worthwhile and effective opposition in Labour, and I do see (in my view) able and committed Conservative politicians.

What exactly has Clegg got out of this coalition.

Do any Lib Dems really believe Michael Gove's hare brained free schools idea are the way forward?

Their 4 key policies at the election:

Fair taxes that put money back in your pocket.
A fair chance for every child.
A fair future, creating jobs by making Britain greener.
A fair deal for you from politicians.

It's laughable.

I know there are some Lib-Dems who lean towards the Tories, but surely these are vastly out numbered by those who are more left wing or would vote Green.

You are right about the Labour opposition or lack of it though.

RJP33

Wheezy wrote: »

Pledging abolition of fees before the election...and tripling them 6 months later is not 'compromise'. It's a sell-out.

We blatantly can't afford to abolish tuition fees - there's a very big difference from being a third party which hasn't had power for 100 years (And where you can promise anything) and having an actual say in the running of the country.

Lib Dems are a junior partner and have higher personal allowance, pupil premium and the electoral reform that was so important to them,

lemonjelly

blueboy43 wrote: »

Labour introduced plenty of policies to attempt to alleviate child poverty - minimum wage, sure start, tax credits etc etc.

Can you name any policies were you think they set out to increase child poverty ?

Contrast that with the Lib-Dems, who actively support the removal of things like EMA which was targeted at improving the skills & education of 16-18 years olds from the poorest section of society. I'd rather have seen 3 more years of EMA funding than the poxy bank holiday next year.

The one thing that I would say about EMA, is the administrative cost of processing it. It is astronomical, & there is probably a lot of duplication there.

However, I am concerned that it introduces children to a benefit culture too early.

Working in a college, I see a lot of students who see EMA as their right. However, it isn't spent on educational needs, it is spent at sweetshops, off liceneces, on fags, booze, weed or in the cafe.

blueboy43 wrote: »

What exactly has Clegg got out of this coalition.

Do any Lib Dems really believe Michael Gove's hare brained free schools idea are the way forward?

Their 4 key policies at the election:

Fair taxes that put money back in your pocket.
A fair chance for every child.
A fair future, creating jobs by making Britain greener.
A fair deal for you from politicians.

It's laughable.

I know there are some Lib-Dems who lean towards the Tories, but surely these are vastly out numbered by those who are more left wing or would vote Green.

You are right about the Labour opposition or lack of it though.

Michael Gove is a contemptable liar. He has deliberately misled parliament in respect of the academies bill. He has shafted schools up and down the country by abolishing the buildings programmes. Now he wants to pretty much eliminate sports in schools.

The most decent thing to do with Gove is take the evil lying schmuck through traitors gate & finish him off in the tower.

RJP33

lemonjelly wrote: »

The one thing that I would say about EMA, is the administrative cost of processing it. It is astronomical, & there is probably a lot of duplication there.

However, I am concerned that it introduces children to a benefit culture too early.

Working in a college, I see a lot of students who see EMA as their right. However, it isn't spent on educational needs, it is spent at sweetshops, off liceneces, on fags, booze, weed or in the cafe.

Nail on head with EMA here, it should be only for the truly needy (e.g. minimum wage parents) what's wrong with good old fashioned part time work to get some additional money?

lemonjelly

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11860155

Lib Dem activists targetting Clegg.

Is this the start of the break?

StevieJ

lemonjelly wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11860155

Lib Dem activists targetting Clegg.

Is this the start of the break?

But they added: "There is one thing that sets the Liberal Democrats apart from other political parties; this is that when we say we will do something during election campaigns we then do it in government."

They are avin a larf :rotfl:

Lance

Clegg will go down in Lib Dem history as the leader who actually got to make a decision in the running of the country! He actually sat in the drivers seat when the driver was busy elsewhere. Also people and even the press are actually talking about him and to him instead of to him only as an afterthought when Labour and Con MP's are too busy to talk. As for Lib Dem activists targeting him..... that's like Ollie threatening to beat you with a wet lettice.