Scots Taffer on 11/5/2010 at 23:56
Quote Posted by inselaffe
People are not jealous, they just object to protecting the rich and exploiting the poor. Something you clearly have no qualms with.
Yeah, well I prefer a government that looks after the people who pay the bills and taxes first instead of the leeches and welfare abusers - an unsustainable economic outlook is something you clearly have no qualms with.
Anyway, I will be watching the LibCon government with interest from afar - however I am quite pleased by the outcome.
Brian The Dog on 12/5/2010 at 00:05
I'm quite chuffed with how it's turned out - this election I was a floating voter between Conservative and Lib Dem, so both my potential choices got in! The mix of Tory economics and Lib Dem social justice and morality is probably the best of both worlds - the main question is whether you actually CAN mix these things without making one or the other tiny. I guess time will tell on this. Cameron would probably like an election in a year or so's time to have a full majority on his own, but I think the coalition agreement says that's not an option.
Al_B on 12/5/2010 at 00:22
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Yeah, well I prefer a government that looks after the people who pay the bills and taxes first instead of the leeches and welfare abusers
Not sure if this was exactly the angle he was coming from but the major UK parties in the last year have all had members who have taken advantage of allowances that are above those that most people would consider 'reasonable'? I'm not saying that people who contribute to society should be disadvantaged by those that take advantage of the system, but the political parties in the UK have not exactly been without blame by similar measures.
SD on 12/5/2010 at 02:44
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
Where is Stronts? I'd be interested to hear what he's thinking about this - is he rejoicing at being in power after 90 years away, or is he burning his membership card after feeling sold out?
No, I was at a post-election function tonight with fellow members of my local party executive :)
I am cautiously optimistic about this, it seems like the Tories have given us a fair amount of ground, and I do believe that progressives will find a lot to admire in the plan of action from the new coalition government.
A deal with a Labour was a non-starter, partially due to arithmetic, but mainly due to their intransigence. The Labour idea of coalition appears to be that the junior partner should slavishly prop up the senior partner's manifesto and get fuck all in return.
What we have now is the best option that was on the table, for both parties and the country.
Oh, and for the first time in a generation, a government has moral legitimacy, insofar as a real majority of voters actually voted for it! That's got to be worth celebrating surely?
steo on 12/5/2010 at 03:30
Quote Posted by R Soul
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.
So, to be pedantic, only 38% of the population eligible to vote, voted for them.
SubJeff on 12/5/2010 at 06:26
Snap Brian.
Cripes, SD and I in total agreement on politics!
It's the dawning of a new era
And for the country too!
Namdrol on 12/5/2010 at 07:29
Quote Posted by steo
So, to be pedantic, only 38% of the population eligible to vote, voted for them.
While this is true, excepting the people who tried to vote and were disenfranchised, if you don't vote, screw you.
Brian The Dog on 12/5/2010 at 08:00
Quote Posted by Brian The Dog
I was wondering why no-one mentioned "trying out" electoral reform e.g. AV, PR etc on the House of Lords - they're not tied to one particular geographical area, so don't need to represent constituents.
Turns out there will be full PR for a fully elected House of Lords - I never thought I'd see the day the Conservatives agreed to this!
LibDems have indeed got Environment Minister, and Michael Gove has honourably given up his cabinet seat, as he said he'd be prepared to do, to a LibDem minister.
d0om on 12/5/2010 at 08:17
PR for the house of lords would be awful, at the moment there are loads of independents in the house who are there due to their legal or political skills. If we have PR with a party list system then you will just get party toadies selected which will lead to the Lords being used like the US senate to filibuster bills rather than to amend the flaws in bills.
I really don't think an elected house of lords would be good. Lords should NOT be whippable, which means they shouldn't have to rely on parties to get reselected.
Brian The Dog on 12/5/2010 at 09:37
Yep, I'd want on the voting form to have an "Independent" or "Industry Sector Specialist" who is on a list provided by the relevant Select Committee of the House of Commons - so the (inter-party) committee recommends a certain number or people who are experts in their area of government. I'd definitely not want it to be just Party people, and I also wouldn't want to see Lords individually scrabbling for votes like our MPs do.
If the Lords is going to stay as a reviewing body for legislation, then it shouldn't just have party people in it - otherwise they'll just go with their parties and it becomes a waste of time.
