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Original poster

LibDems holding balance of power 'would lock Murdoch out of UK politics'

30 replies

policywonk · 19/04/2010 09:08

If you need another reason to hope for a hung parliament

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Bumperliouzzzzzz · 20/04/2010 21:48

LOL!

Cleggy is going to be under an awful lot of pressure to perform again. Probably part of the reason he did so well 1st time was because there were no expectations. Makes me think of that West Wing espisode where Leo Mcgarry leaks that he is going to do really crap in the debates but surprises every one, or something like that. If only politics was really like the West Wing

I don't have sky so will have to listen on R4, but maybe that will make me actually judge on what they say rather than shallowly comment on their sweat and suit choice

Original poster
policywonk · 20/04/2010 21:22

Ah good. R4 is covering the debate again - heard a trailer this morning and thought of you!

Wonder if the whole thing will be a massive let-down (debate not baby)

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Bumperliouzzzzzz · 20/04/2010 21:18

Hi policywonk, the bump is ever expanding, and just starting to get to that weird stage where it moves around and you feel like you have an alien inside you. Thanks for asking though

Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 22:01

Hello bumper (how's the bump?) I'm sure it will be on the radio somewhere

I think Brown and Cameron are trying not to be too negative, while licensing their underlings to rip Clegg's throat out

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Bumperliouzzzzzz · 19/04/2010 21:26

I'm actually starting to get a little excited about this election. We've had a lib dem MP for over 10 years but are apparently still a key marginal.

I didn't hear anything of what DC said today but heard a bit of GBs press conference, they were going a bit negative on Clegg. Is that really the best strategy. I heard that DC had been warned not to go negative on him.

Is the next debate on Radio 4 too?

vesela · 19/04/2010 21:15

the viewing figures will prob. be low, but the Tories/Labour/Murdoch media/rest of the crew will be trying to use the soundbites that come out of it any which way they can the next day to portray Clegg as deranged!

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 19/04/2010 17:13

As a scientist who used to live in Evan's constituency, i think he's awesome... but I can see how those of the 'woo' persuasion might disagree on that!

I have a suspicion the viewing figures will be lower for the next debate, d'you think? Firstly, it's on Sky, and secondly it's about foreign policy etc, isn't it? I'm assuming the Daily Mail contingent aren't that bothered about foreign policy, and that's why it only prints about half a page of foreign news...

Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 16:16

Most of my favourite MPs are LibDems, as it goes - Norman Baker, Evan Harris spring to mind.

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Chil1234 · 19/04/2010 15:02

Trouble is that this isn't a presidential election. We don't vote for Clegg, Cameron or Brown we vote for a local MP and some of them leave a lot to be desired. Rock and a hard place sitution in my constituency. A sitting Tory MP that was implicated in the expenses scandal but still managed to get selected as the parliamentary candidate... Second-best a Lib Dem candidate who has been exposed as a bare-faced liar in his 'what I've done for the community' leaflets. And no-one around here is going to vote Labour come hell or high water.

Cable has National Holy Man status but pretty-boy Clegg's got to do a lot more than take easy pot-shots at the big two to win the day. When Paxman and the rest start exploring the Lib Dem strategy towards Europe it will be especially interesting.

icantbelieveimnotbitter · 19/04/2010 14:32

I'm quite excited about voting Lib Dem for the first time.

Unfortunately it won't be the revolution i'd like it to be as we already live in a strong Lib Dem seat.

Bugger. Bugger. Bugger.

Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 14:25

Zeph, you need this site

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vesela · 19/04/2010 14:20

all the best to your blisters, heathen. I'd be doing the same if I were in the UK. It all comes down to pairs of legs for the LDs in the end, doesn't it?

ZephirineDrouhin · 19/04/2010 14:10

I'm feeling more optimistic by the second. It's an odd sensation.

Makes tactical voting tricky though. I think I still need to vote Labour but I'm no longer quite so sure.

Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 13:36

I nevy you? I envy you

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Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 13:35

Good link vesela, thanks

I nevy you heathen - I'd love to be in the middle of a Tory marginal fight! True blue country round here, and not an election leaflet in sight.

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vesela · 19/04/2010 13:22

Luckily we can rely on the Telegraph to keep a stiff upper lip:

Hung Parliament - markets say "so what?"

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 19/04/2010 13:22

If this is an 'inept' Tory campign, I'd hate to be up against a good one...

Our constituency is one of the tightest Lib Dem/Tory fights in the country, I'm helping out with the LD campaign. And you can clearly tell which party has the cash to flash - they've got posters, placards, glossy mailings, the lot. DH got yet another shiny leaflet today (I seem to have been dropped from their mailing list ) through the post. THE POST! Ours are crappy newsprint, and do you have any idea how far I've walked delivering them?!

Still maybe expensive =/= effective. Hopefully.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 19/04/2010 13:05

...missed that vesela!

Was talking about the one, 'If there's a hung parliament, we're all going to DIEEEEEEE!!!'

vesela · 19/04/2010 12:50

That David Yelland article is fascinating.

Heathen, was the Times' twisted-knickers article Camilla Cavendish's pathetic "this isn't terribly grown-up"?

Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 12:20

Yes, I know what you mean about weeping.

I honestly don't know. At the moment, presumably, the Murdochs are on the back foot as they weren't expecting this (no-one was expecting this). If Clegg actually ends up with some power - would the LibDems be able to resist the lure of Voldemort in a way that neither Labour nor the Tories have managed - I just don't know. I guess the LibDems would be in a position to say 'we got here without help from Murdoch, so why should we court him now'. But OTOH Murdoch is a wily old fox.

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animula · 19/04/2010 12:06

snort @ muesli.

animula · 19/04/2010 12:06

I'm at the point that I am going to weep if it's not a hung parliament.

Do you think PR would mean a more dispersed political base, thus leading to a situation where someone like Murdoch will find it v. difficult to infuence the political agenda?

That would be utterly, utterly fantastic.

[animula hugs self, and dreams]

morningpaper · 19/04/2010 11:52

generally I shave it first thing on a monday

Original poster
policywonk · 19/04/2010 11:35

Guardian - check
Muesli - check

How's the beard?

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morningpaper · 19/04/2010 11:02

I read this over my morning muesli and snorted