The interesting thing is how even the other conservatives are pissed that "he" (well, someone in the top rank) has done it.
As a LibDem voter, I feel let down by the leadership, but not the party. It's clear to me that what the people in Downing Street want and what the rest of the parties want (both LibDem and Conservative) are two very different things, despite the happy LibDem newsletters that drop into my inbox on a regular basis, still trotting out that old 'fair change' motif. (Well, probably. I haven't actually bothered reading them in a while.)
It is incredibly wrong that the coalition is going against the core principles of both parties manifestoes - particularly when they make this one of the first cuts. If it came when all other methods had been tried, it might be more palateable. But no, first up on the chopping board are the disabled and children. That's quite a low blow, even for the tories.
Aitch - the trouble with being a LibDem is that (like any party) there are supporters and then supporters. Some agree with this aspect, some with that, but often they don't overlap completely. I voted LibDem because I agreed with the manifesto, and I believe that we need voting reform. However, I don't agree with what now appears to be Nick Cleggs vision, which has a bit of a tory slant. I accept that the nature of coalition is compromise, but this doesn't mean that LbDems need to pretend to agree with the compromises they've been forced to make. To me, they are doing their party (I'm not a member) a big disservice by pretending to be fine with it all if they aren't. I'd rather they were honest and said "We don't agree with this 100%, but we do feel that by compromising here we can advance our ideals in XYZ issue". The fact that they haven't isn't so great - either they do agree with these nuts policies, or they're under the illusion that "stability" means trotting out a false picture of unity, or they're so desperate to get that one chance at voting reform that they'll sacrifice everything else for it. If its the latter, I think the plan will backfire badly; people will only see the mess that this government has made of a coalition, not the full potential as displayed elsewhere in the world. But they probably realise now that the LibDems are finished as a political contender for a long time now, so some of the less scrupulous may be going for it while they can. Not the best timing in the world, tbh.
Actually I wouldn't be surprised if Labour conspired with breakaway tories and LibDems to get that no-confidence call at some point before the five years is up. If it's still anywhere near the 55% (can't remember) they could concievably do it given the number who seem displeased at best with their own parties.