Cameron has Guts!

I wouldn't say that.

Brown has just offered the Lib Dems a single referendum.

Cameron has offered Lib Dems a chance to participate in government, and real policy influence. That is serious stuff.

Despite the Lib Dems doing disastrously compared with expectations, and compared with last time round, they could have a genuine chance to implement their ideas.

Abs - that's so apt!

Cadders - I really don't dispute that! But we don't have it....so voting for policies in this election didn't work.

DC does have balls.... He was the only leader to fight the entire campaign on the basis that he wanted to be the outright winner. He never backed down from that. Labour saw the writing on the wall enough to beg people to vote tactically for the LDs. (Ouch) The LDs couldn't convert leader popularity to wholehearted support at local level.

And if anyone thinks that PR would have made today any different, they're deluded. Conservatives would still hold the biggest number of seats. The numbers would have been different and there may be more people involved (BNP, UKIP, etc) but they'd all still be huddled over telephones making deals with each other into the night. If we get PR we'll have to get used to this

I personally loved Caitlin Moran's description of him as "a giant smooth buttock with two eyes".

In fact wasn't there some talk of Brown becoming an Elvis impersonator in the future, just like the one that appeared at one of his photo ops? I hope that Brown and Subo don't do any duets, he's already inflicted enough suffering on the country.

"Camoron has guts" ...

He certainly resembles a colon.

I'm the only one who read the thread title and thought:

'yes he has guts, but does he have any bollocks?' aren't I?

We don't know what the conversation behind the scenes was but if Clegg accepts anything less than the promise of a referendum for electoral reform, I'll be very disappointed.

In any case, sorry guys but the ball has set rolling now, we're no longer a two party country. And hurrah for that!

2His immediate job is to engage with the British public, not the rest of the world. I'm sure Barack Obama and Angela Merkel etc will decide how they want to engage with him without the need to spell out his share of the vote like they/we are simpletons."

He has more work to do than appealing to the leaders he's likely to meet personally. That speech will be watched by businesss-people and market traders who need to feel confident in the UK market to invest. Also remember that not everyone in the UK is as well informed about the election as many members of MN are and really do need to hear it spelt out. His immediate job is to do what is right for Britin and projecting a positive image is undeniably part of that.

Overall I can't fault the structure or delivery of his speech. What I feel about his policies is a different matter but I think it was brave and honest.

AbsOfCroissant, portly would be a kinder way to describe him. I have heard that just like "the King", Brown is partial to the odd peanut butter and banana sandwich.

TooPragmatic - I agree.

In some areas a Lib Dem vote is a wasted vote. FPP relies on the politics in a constituency not nationally. If you think LD has the best policy nationally but you live in a Tory/Lab marginal then you're better of voting for someone who's the best of a bad bunch and deciding who is better for your area.

His immediate job is to engage with the British public, not the rest of the world. I'm sure Barack Obama and Angela Merkel etc will decide how they want to engage with him without the need to spell out his share of the vote like they/we are simpletons.

Its the tone I dislike. Same as the questions point - I don't have a problem with him saying its not appropriate to take questions from the press until further negotiations have taken place with the other parties, but he comes across as arrogant instead by saying he is too busy.

Well no...as Lib Dems had a good chance here given council elections...Conservatives had no chance.

I voted for the person I believed in. No tactical voting...what would be the point...

TDWP, anyone who voted LibDem yesterday must surely have known they were voting for a hung parliament. I refuse to believe otherwise. Unless people really don't know how first past the post works.

Are you saying he's fat?

preggers - that speech is being broadcast throughout the world. Cameron is being very, very clever by spelling things out to the rest of the world so if he should end up as Britain's PM he has set out his 'right' from the very beginning and appears to be someone that the rest of the world can engage with. Brown doesn't have a positive image, Blair had a reputation for talking round in circles, Cameron's speech avoided all those pitfalls.

Nobody voted for a hung parliament...surely

He was right not to take questions, just as Brown and Clegg were right not to take questions.

This is what happens when you vote for a hung Parliament. It actually disenfranchises the voters because all the deals are now thrashed out in back rooms and the electorate have no say.

unfortunately a little bit older than 18

Are you 18, claig? is this the first time you've engaged in politics?

If I was a Tory I wouldn't want Osborne anywhere near a top job. Coming from a 22 point lead to where they ended up suggests he's not up to it.

"The only reason he didn't want to take questions was in case he was asked whether he would accept a deal on PR. Or any other tricky questions for that matter."

pereggerspollsred, you're basing your opinion on what Brown was like. Cameron is different, a new broom, a breath of fresh air. Brown has left the building and he has taken the cynicism, spin and lies with him.