Comments on: New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:23:51 +0000

His warning is daft. There are other ways of getting a majority without having to detach a portion of the Lib Dems from the coalition. How about reducing the Lib Dems as an electoral force to around a third of their size?

If any Lib Dems want to align with Labour, that’s fine. Good on them. If not, we need to stop thinking about how to attract them and start going after them for being ersatz Tories.

By: New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems « The best Labour blogs

New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems « The best Labour blogs — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:36:19 +0000

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By: Ashley Wells

Ashley Wells — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:59:57 +0000

RT @leftfootfwd: New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems http://bit.ly/an2fFX

By: Mr. Sensible

Mr. Sensible — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:59:37 +0000

The Lib Dems have sold out to the Tories on so many issues.

I’m now reading that the “free schools” shambles is to go ahead.

By: James Graham

James Graham — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:53:48 +0000

Neither Vernon Bogdanor nor @leftfootfwd appear to have heard of Godwin's Law: http://bit.ly/an2fFX NAZIS! EEK!

By: Jo Simmonds

Jo Simmonds — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:21:06 +0000

RT @leftfootfwd: New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems http://bit.ly/an2fFX

By: Rupert Read

Rupert Read — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:07:14 +0000

What Greg said.
Also: Prof. Bogdanor is wrong to say that Cable is on the ‘left’ of the LibDems. Cable is former chief economist at Shell, and a neoliberal true believer (just a more intelligent and pragmatic one).
The left of the LibDems have been shafted completely by the coalition agreement, and none of them are in the Cabinet. People like Hughes, Greaves, to some extent James Graham and Norman Baker and Shirley Williams and even Ashdown – all of these are well and truly in the cold.

By: Greg Lovell

Greg Lovell — Thu, 20 May 2010 09:51:22 +0000

It is ridiculous to assume that because there is now a coalition, the proportion of the electorate who voted Lib Dem are de facto Tories. If anything, what the election showed was that there was very little enthusiasm for a Tory government. Repeatedly we were told that the Lib Dems were to the left of Labour on many issues. There is enormous pressure on Clegg to deliver on fundamental Lib Dem “principles” – tuition fees, no-nuclear, PR – otherwise that 23 per cent of the electorate are going to wonder why they supported the Lib Dems at all. I think Cameron has worked this arrangement hugely to his advantage, using the glib and meaningless “new politics” soundbite to ensure any dissent by the Lib Dems is seen as against the spirit of the age. Unless the coalition deliver on Lib Dem aims, then they will be completely devastated as an electoral force at the next election. The question is, will Cameron risk the wrath of his party and do this, or simply be happy to try for a second term when it’s clear that a Lib Dem vote means essentially nothing?

By: paulstpancras

paulstpancras — Thu, 20 May 2010 09:45:22 +0000

New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems http://bit.ly/djKujl

By: Thomas Fletcher

Thomas Fletcher — Thu, 20 May 2010 09:29:29 +0000

RT @leftfootfwd: New warning coalition could split the Lib Dems http://bit.ly/an2fFX