Should Clegg Stand Down As Party Leader?

[Swedes2]

It looks very likely we're not going to see a change to our FPTP voting system today. The decision by the "No to AV" camp, to use a picture of a shifty-looking Clegg doing deals at No 10 was inspired. The NO vote is as much a vote against Clegg as it is against a change to the electoral system.

I can't see how Clegg can carry on leading his party. Should he stand down?

And who would take over as Leader? Who would take the job of Deputy PM? Would the coalition fall apart?

You're quite right cat64, but our culture is simpy not used to the realities of coalition government. We're used to seeing one party in charge and then holding them to the letter of their manifesto promises. If two parties with different priorities share power, it stands to reason that both of them can't fulfil all their manifesto pledges. Compromise is the order of the day. I think LD voters had hoped that their team would be far more robust at watering down the less popular strategic decisions or refusing to support them all together. I also think that the LD members of the cabinet, being confronted with the details of the economic mess, have felt compelled to support measures they would normally reject.

Cat64 - Agree. Compromise in the nature of coalition politics. It's absurd that people purport to want PR (which WOULD result in more coalition govs) and yet they can't accept that there will be a mish mash of policies and lots and lots of compromise.

IMO - given the 2010 election results and their policy towards PR - the Libdem's had no choice but to form a coalition government.

And, as the Tories were the party with the most seats - they had to be the first choice.

Whether Nick Clegg has 'played his hand' well is debatable, but if he holds on (and I think he will) there is still time.

Didn't the lib dems sign a pledge to vote against a rise in tuition fees, regardless of the government?

Sounds like they lied to me.

No they were always going to become unpopular due to the cuts in spending they were going to have to implement in order to eliminate the deficit. The coalition is doing well in my opinion and are on course to put the public finances back in order

The coalition is doing well in my opinion and are on course to put the public finances back in order.

Whilst damaging the NHS for the benefit of their mates in big business, causing mass unemployment and social hardship AGAIN

Will the NHS be damaged? I don't see whats so wrong in removing bureaucracy and increasing competition within the health service.

Reducing the deficit may well see a rise in unemployment as workers are made redundant but this is inevitable the current level of public sector employment is being sustained by unsustainable borrowing on the bond market. This has no long term future and will crowd out enterprise.

The NHS should be set up as a not for profit company not a milk cow for big business to gouge.

Thatcher/Major had years to acheive full employment yet never made it below one million what makes you think the current lot will do any better.

wiko, that's the view of those who should know, like doctors and nurses.

Perhaps we should listen to them, rather than blindly follow Lansley's proposals, which seem to have been thought up overnight.

cat64 - he did lie over tuition fees. His pledge was to 'vote against any increase in tuition fees'. Nothing to do with whether they won the election or not. If they'd won the election, there presumably wouldn't have BEEN a vote to raise tuition fees. The pledge was only applicable in the event that they didn't win.

chil - they were offered a referendum on PR by the Labour party. Only Clegg didn't report that back to his party, in case they accepted it.

No, don't get rid of Clegg!
He's doing a great job - what a result!

Clegg I feel is finished, I can't see him in politics at all in a few years, or am I being harsh?
Newwave. Unfortunately for you, it was a lose, lose, night, (but you mustn't grumble).

People voted NO ..because it was cleggs pay off

says it all really

wiko - unfortunately history shows every government of whatever politicial persuasion likes to meddle with the NHS. Massive reorganisations that waste millions of pounds and distract everyone from their actual job come around roughly ever five years.

Fat chance that this lot will get rid of bureaucracy - they just want to contract the management out to McKinseys (who have won the contract to manage the whole NHS in London). While contracting out provision to the private sector. The Tories are trying to dismantle the NHS so their mates in big business can make fat profits. Profits which will come at the expense of your mum's hip replacement, or your child's SALT, or someone else's rehab after a heart attack...

btw, nurses are already being sacked under this government that claims to have 'protected' the NHS. 500 clinical posts going at St George's in Tooting alone, IIRC.

Comp,

Lose, Lose dont think so.

Tories still hated in Wales and Scotland, Clegg given a good kicking, cracks appearing in the coalition with the LD's saying "no more support for legislation that is not in the egreement"

You forget I am a left wing LD supporter and have been since the formation of the SDP. I will probably only support labour until the Orange bookers are gone.

Not to bad at all. :o

How did UKIP do :)

"agreement"

It is the way it is though ...Cleggy had to take the compromise he didn't even want AV ..people have had enough of his back tracking it was a fuck off Clegg vote ..not a vote for Cameron ..He may claim it is but we all know why its a NO vote

usualsuspect

Spot on, I voted yes through gritted teeth, I would sooner of stuffed the ballot paper down Cleggs throat than in the ballot box.

Quisling git

Newwave I don't have a clue how UKIP did (must find out) but if I was a LIb Dem supporter like you, I would want Clegg to go. Clegg does not appear strong enough to do his job, he always looks bleary eyed/red eyed. Is it because he has been 'crying to music' or has not had enough sleep? Some little shit on radio 4 today reckoned that the Lib Dems will be wiped out at the next election. I did vote no, was going to vote yes but decided to vote no, when I found out it gave more of a chance of the Labour party being in power. Whatever happens, whoever is in power, for the people things don't change they only get worse.

It's 10.10pm. Everyones gone out.......Newwave I think you go out on a Saturday night. Wish I did! Think I will retire witha hobnob and cocoa!zzzzzzzzz

CAT64 - Hmm. They are basically the same aren't they in ethos, but one might vote for individual candidates in spite of their party polics in both local and national elections.
Tory = low council tax/low spending at local gov level and low taxes and small state at national level
Labour = high council tax/high spending (sometimes on complete nonsense sometimes not) at local gov level and high taxes for the rich and large state at national level.