Rumous that Clegg will be deputy?

So, three men - Blair, Brown and Mandelsohn are so powerful that they can "squash" all opposition? I realise that pressure can be brought to bear but I think Labour members would have realised that Mr Brown was the best choice regardless of previous conversations between he and Mr Blair.

Prolesworth I know that, but they were elected by their party - Major certainly was, I have no idea what the process was in the 60's.

GB was not elected by his party, it was a back-room deal and any opposition was squashed.

Yes I do - all the members are balloted for the final decision, and in the preliminary rounds the whole PCP have a vote.

Electoral reform, which means PR for a lot of people asking for it = more coalitions

how do coalitions represent the votes MORE if parties that got less can get into a leading majority over parties that got more votes than them?

you could have a leading coalition where parties voted 4th most popular hold lots of cards and bargaining power, without the parties with the 2nd and 3rd most votes being in the leading majority and having much power at all. A leading coalition could theoretically be made up which EXCLUDES the party that got the most votes couldn't it?

The handover between Blair and Brown left a bad taste in my mouth and was the final blow to my loyalty to Labour. I've been a Tory voter ever since.

do you think that the way the Tories elect a leader is fairer and more democratic?

"not fair that the party with the 3rd most amount of votes gets the 2nd most power"

Perhaps it is unfair but that is the current system in place and there is no way the rules should be changed without proper consideration and legislation.

By this very statement you are advocating voting reform.

The Tories did not win this election. They have to have a coalition to get into power. They have no "moral" authority to rule the U.K.. Under the current system they did not win enough seats (despite having such strong media support - amazing really!).

They obviously do not want to deal with Labour so they obviously have to deal with the LibDems. It's the way it is.

You want fair? You vote for a fair voting system that really represents the choice of the British people. You won't get the Tories in again though.

Winky I don't have a problem with it as such, but the assumption is that the political parties are all democratic institutions in themselves and so the leader (who may then end up PM) has been chosen through democratic process.

The handover between Blair and Brown left a bad taste in my mouth and was the final blow to my loyalty to Labour. I've been a Tory voter ever since.

yip, I think people get mixed up between presidents and PMs in that respect

unless you live in their constituency you never vote for any PM, you vote for the party and/or the local MP

No, not quite accurate. Gordon was nominated by a sufficient number. I forget how many. No one stood against him. Yes he was supported by Tony Blair but it was a proper legitimate process under the rules of the Labour Party

But don't you vote for party policy rather than leader? I mean, of course leader has some sort of influence but ultimately, isn't it what their manifesto says the most important thing?

I'm not massively concerned with this unelected leader thing as long as the policies I voted for are continued.

Otherwise it's a little bit X Factor, don't you think?

Harpsichord - GB was not elected by his party. TB formally transferred power to him, and they shipped Mandy back into the Cabinet to quell the coup that was coming.

Agree with you Harpsi.

I want to know What Clegg has over Cameron for him to gain so much power from the Tories. Talk about Dis-proportionate representation!!!!
(Am pretty party neutral but am desperate to know specifically what kind off arrangement we are now governed by)

ah so let me see:
Gordon Brown as PM when not elected by the country (although elected by his party) = TERRIBLE TRAVESTY
Nick Clegg as Deputy PM when not elected by the County and indeed REJECTED by the vast majority and only 10% of the seats = PERFECTLY DEMOCRATIC
ha don't make me laugh.

I think backbenchers are rumbling, but I think it is fair enough actually. It could end up being a fairly meaningless post but it will have allowed the Tories to get what they wanted on Europe and Trident.

best argument against PR and lots of hung parliaments!
not fair that the party with the 3rd most amount of votes gets the 2nd most power

It has been confirmed that Clegg will be deputy Priminister, what do the Tories think about that? it seems incredible, but true.

I wonder if Huhne will get Justice and Gove will get Home Sec to make room for David Laws at Education.

Danny Alexander confirmed as Scotland Sec.

Yeah, just popped back to express disappointment that the marriage tax stays. A sop to Cameron's right wing I guess. Any danger there's enough libertarian-leaning Tories to vote it down?

got it wrong, marriage tax will be tabled (with LDs abstaining). Don't cancel your weddings.

A lib Dem as home secretary? no sentences under six months...? bet they didn't get that past the Tory committee (but oh, how I would laugh)

Hmmm, perhaps that will be one of the first public sector jobs to go?

He doesn't get any extra money for it, according to Wikipedia...

Huhne for Home Secretary apparently?

like keith harris and orville?