Lib/Lab coalition? UK implications?

So the party who came 3rd in the election is teaming up with the party who were voted out of power- if they were not going to listen to the peoples preferances why did they bother having an election?

I voted for the first time, took it very seriously, did lots of research- why did I bother? It all strikes to me of playground cliques.

WA - it looks like it's had the opposite effect!

Tories now offering referendum on AV

erm. . .

But ahundredtimes - more people wanted Labour out at the last election than wanted them but I didn't hear Labourites complaining about the system then....

It's amazing how an election that doesn't give you power can bring about a death bed conversion to PR

Remember - Labour promised a referendum on PR in their 1997 manifestom but 'cos they had a large enough majority fobbed the country off with the Jenkins Commission which then gather dust on a shelf

I am a lifelong Socialist who hates New Labour with a passion - they sold their soul for power. I beleive passionately in free state comprehensive education and a free NHS (it is no coincidence that my mother was a teacher and my father was a doctor - who brough me up in my socialist principles but who, like me, can no longer stomach Labour)

Fortunately I live in Scotland so I have an alternative (although not in my Westminster constituency - a monkey with a red rosette would get here).

Clegg has actually strengthened cameron by talking to Lab.

When he has to come crawling back to the Tories they can reduce what they were willing to give him

Lol @ minthumbug I like that, it could work!

I think the Queen should run the country instead.

On reflection we need short term Martial Law. Those marvellous Generals and Admirals can take over and run the country with decisive precision.

In the meantime the silly little politicians can stop sucking up to parties that they don't actually agree with and put together a fresh system.

I'm a staunch Labour supporter but I think any coalition is doomed for them

Yes absolutely WetAugust, that's perfectly possible too.

Keep believing it Ahundredtimes.

And don't forget it works both ways and it could be Labour that's out for YEARS

I think a minority Tory government will rise from the flames of these post election discussions...
Then the other 63% in parliament can deny every bill they try to pass through... Like bringing back hunting for one as well as other more important ones (important to Tories, also important to less well off folks (the denying of them I mean)

So the Tories will prove themselves for the blundering fools they are
And another election will decide the matter properly and if by some miracle the Tories do a good job, then they should be voted in on a landslide...
right off to catch that bloody pig flying round outside, while I slip on the ice of hell freezing over

Mint - I don't think your prognosis is right though.

More people want to keep the Tories out than keep them in.

Also if Labour agree to parliamentary reform within a fixed term - then they could keep the Tories out for YEARS

Labour might well just be showing greater willingness to negotiate and power share

Tories have no right to automatic power - if parliament moves in a way to form a coalition against them

Totally agree with your analysis MintHumbug.

I didn't actually vote Tory - my politics are single issue - Get us out of Europe

Because it's not most votes, it's most seats - first past the post. Did you ever think we did live in a democracy?!

As far as OP's statement - bring it on! Hopefully this will indeed divide the UK...

ahundred - but they got more than anyone else. the majority of the public voted for them, so what right do politicians have to ignore this and let someone else rule?

Well.

If they don't win a majority in the house, then they can't govern can they? And remember their vote share was 37%

The country votes in a parliament. In this case they voted in a hung parliament. Now the politicians have to work out how to make the parliament work. So they negotiate.

I don't understand why you think that undemocratic tbh

Under PR it could be the BNP / Monster raving Loonies who's now be negoiating

how can it be democratic if the party that gets the most votes doesn't get elected? how can nick clegg negotiating with labour/conservative be democratic?

wetaugust - okay, will whizz you over to Taliban-run country pronto, obviously that's hugely preferable to a democracy

And dreaming -

I think you might have missed something -

the conservatives failed to win an outright majority. They didn't win the election.

That's why they aren't currently governing

Well give me the Taliban / Kim Jong Il any day

Anyway, I don't see that it is really a mess