june gloom on 10/5/2010 at 17:03
So I was explaining to my mother what I knew about British politics (which admittedly is not much) and I pointed out that UK has 650 constituencies versus the US having only 435.
Her response?
"Well England has been socialist a lot longer than we have."
AAAAAAAAAAAGHGHGHGHG:LSKFJ::LKFSD
Namdrol on 10/5/2010 at 17:10
Well, Tony Blair was slightly more socialist then good old Maggie (slightly being the operative word mind)
Yup, so Gordon grew a pair and fell on his sword.
Seems like the parliamentary liberal party refused to have anything to do with the Tories.
I think Nick Clegg's playing a damn good game.
I don't think there was ever a chance of any true union with the right, electoral reform always being the sticking point.
But he has obviously tried, so he has an excuse for when the whole thing fucks up later.
I reckon we'll back at the polls in 6 months.
Brian The Dog on 10/5/2010 at 17:10
Brown's not going anywhere quickly, Labour usually need about 3-4 months to elect a new Leader. Brown has said he wants a replacement by September. Cameron also didn't know that Clegg was informally talking to senior Labour people behind his back. A LibDem-Labour-SNP pact is looking more likely, but this would be bad for them in the long run - they'd have a PM who wasn't elected for the 2nd time running, and having to make seriously unpopular decisions on the economy - if they don't then the financial situation will make it for them. If they pull it off, then it'd be great, but more likely it goes pearshaped and they get clobbered by the electorate in the next election. In which case they'd need to introduce PR to keep their seats in Parliament :)
Matthew on 10/5/2010 at 17:33
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
Cameron also didn't know that Clegg was informally talking to senior Labour people behind his back
But if he didn't at least suspect it, he's a numpty. :p
Vernon on 10/5/2010 at 17:41
Quote Posted by dethtoll
So I was explaining to my mother what I knew about British politics (which admittedly is not much) and I pointed out that UK has 650 constituencies versus the US having only 435.
Her response?
"Well England has been socialist a lot longer than we have."
AAAAAAAAAAAGHGHGHGHG:LSKFJ::LKFSD
chip off the old block tbh
SubJeff on 10/5/2010 at 18:07
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
Brown's not going anywhere quickly
As quick as he can it seems. He's stepping down as party leader. \o/
Now lets get that ConDem union in there!
Ulukai on 10/5/2010 at 18:17
Hmm. Nick Clegg, Nick Clegg, whatcha gonna do?
He's got a choice of allying himself with a party with very dissimilar policies which isn't keen on PR, or one which will inflict another unelected, potentially very unpopular Labour prime minister on us which will be inevitably seen as a coalition of losing parties.
Of course, he could decide not to go with either party, but I hardly think he's going to pass up the opportunity to see some Lib Dem polices having a chance of becoming reality for the first time in 90 years.
Tough call.
dvrabel on 10/5/2010 at 18:19
Conservatives have now offered a referendum on the Alternative Vote system.
jay pettitt on 10/5/2010 at 18:33
Something that's interesting, is that First Past the Post - the system that Tories defend because it allows the electorate to 'kick out' unpopular governments and that Lib Dems have campaigned against for as long as anyone can remember has briefly made third place Nick Clegg the most powerful player in British Politics and might just cost Cameron his shot at forming government.
R Soul on 10/5/2010 at 19:38
It's worth noting that the turnout was a mere 65%, so the Tories only represent 23% of the population, Labour 19% and the Lib Dems just 15%. The phase "in office but not in power" springs to mind.
