so now youve had chance to think about it....

I voted Lib Dem in a Labour safe seat and Labour held the seat.

I'm less unhappy with the coalition than I would have been with any other realistic outcome. I don't think that as a group any political party can be 'trusted' so it doesn't suprise me that the Tories/Coalition need watching on cuts just as much as Labour needed watching on civil liberties.

I hope that people in general and not just those directly affected by proposed legislation write to MPs, respond to consultations and support campaigns to show that some things (like making things more difficult for families dealing with disabilities or singling out rape as the only crime where the law is changed to seemingly imply that the victim isn't to be believed and the defendant deserves extra special protection) won't be accepted, or that other legislation needs to be altered to work properly, and that the coalition listen better than Labour were doing in their last term and back down when a large proportion of the public/those affected say something isn't the right path to take.

Not much paint is needed for the Prince of Darkness and the band of ghouls. Some of us remember Plunkett, a machine gun Kelly type figure. Five more years of the progressives and the Stasis may have seemed tame.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6057528.stm

I am also utterly flabbergasted by the people who paint Labour as the bad guys and sing the praises of the Tories - does no one remember the 1980's/early 1990's at all?

Well, one would get the idea that the Lib Dems supported higher education as they campaigned against tuition fees in the 2005 general election and over turned majorities in several university towns (bristol, cambridge and a few others).

There are so many flaws re: graduate tax. Like unseen says, graduates won't be liable to pay tax if out of the jurisdiction, although would like to think that most graduates wouldn't leave the country for the sake of tax (Boston Tea Party anyone?)

And what about EU students? They won't have to pay a tax, so would they simply pay tuition fees? International students? What happens if one never earns more than the threshold keeping in mind that over a career, income can be variable. How long is one liable for the tax?

What about these 2 year degrees though? In my day, a two year degree was called a HND and was not the same as doing a degree. Plus the graduate tax - that is clearly such a good idea when all the talented high earners will simply relocate to the states, Australia, New Zealand or elsewhere in Europe. I am shocked, I always thought Lib Dems supported higher eduaction (or am I naive?). When I was a student (early '90s), they were the only ones who supported retaining the student grant.

Sorry, rant over...

I voted LibDem, having been a Labour voter up till now. I'm kind of unhappy although most of the options were bad IMO. I'd decided I simply could not vote Labour again as they were becoming more and more mad. Didn't much want the Tories either so went with the LibDem surge in the hope that either they would get in outright (I know, I know ) or they would get a strong enough vote to form a coalition with Labour and that would force a change of leadership and rein in some of the worst Mandelsonisms. But then, that's how the system works - I honestly voted for what I thought at the time was the best choice. Hindsight is 20/20.

Annoyingly, it made no difference for me anyway since my seat is ultra-safe Labour, and I knew that ahead of time.

voted labour and happy with that

I was going to vote Tory, but in the end couldn't bring myself to do it and voted Lib Dem (as usual). I am also appalled. This Vince Cable is a short-sighted idiot (to put it politely). Will never vote Lib Dem again.

I voted Lib Dem and am appauled.

That's true Giddy and i think also explains why they seem to have given up so much in terms of their policies- to prove PR / coalitions can work

I guess why I feel betrayed is that every policy of theiors I liked has gone by the wayside and what ahs emerged in no way represents the sort of coalition we'd get if it happened.

It's something that was discussed on another thread but LD seem to have lost teir identity; if you equate it with a marriage- both aprtners still ahve a public individual eprsona, viewpoint; anything else tends to be regarded as verging on the abusive

Yet where are LD? Where is the voice of dissent? There must be one- i;ve read Vince's autobio; unless he's had a personality transplant he must be betraying a lot of his beliefs- remember he started political life as a Labour Councillor
Nick Clegg- he looks as if has been crying half the time!

I am not surpised we got this (though wish we had not) but am surprised at the totality with which LD's has been handed to the Tories

I think I will vote Labour next time.

I usually vote labour but I voted lib dem - they were saying vote lib dem get labour. Obviously I agreed with much of the lib dems ideas or I wouldn't have. But yes, I regret it.

if i voted lib dem i would be effing livid quite frankly

I voted Lib Dem to keep out the Conservatives in this constituency. Feel totally betrayed and let down. Will not vote LD again.

I voted Lib Dem, still got a Labour MP but this is a VERY Labour safe seat. I wouldn't change the way I voted. Voted with my heart and for what I believe in, would do the same again definitely.

Sorry... I meant to say they couldn't have joined with labour and formed a MAJORITY.

I voited LibDem and no, I'm not 100% happy with what the coalition is doing but what else could the lib dems have done but got into bed with the tories? Under our current voting system and the way things worked out, they couldn't have joined with labour and formed a minority - they would have had to have EVERY other party bar the conservatives on side as well, and there's no way that would work.

I'm not against coalitions and agree that the presence of the lib dems will hopefully soften the blow a bit, but probably not much. I think the tories are playing up the big bad wolf aspect of their policies to make themselves seem decisive and not Labour, but at the end of the day things couldn't carry on the way they were and I really don't think Labour would be doing anything so very differently.

voted lib dem work in public sector - totally betrayed!!!

I voted labour and I would again.

My husband (who is as left-wing as me, if not moreso) voted lib dem and I think he was betrayed - but he feels that his vote did good by at least putting a spoke in the Tories' wheel.

I voted LibDem, as I always have, but never again As a LibDem supporter I feel utterly let down by the decision to get into bed with the Conservatives - it comes across as desperation to get into power no matter the cost, rather than sticking to their beliefs and integrity.

I think gtreen was your best bet with those ideals

I like green sopcial policy and considered them but joined up for a while and Oh! The local infighting! No thank you. PLus the local chaior is the least charismatic person I know- monotone voice dpwn teh phone and calls go like this

'CAn we ask uou for more contribitions please?'

'No I am sorry'

'Why'

'Because I am a carer and on a limited income'

'But surely you can manage a tenner'

I wonder if he contributes 1/5 of his weekly income