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Original poster

Anxious Conservatives thread!

628 replies

VicToryA · 06/05/2010 19:27

As the lefties have one, we need one too.

I have everything crossed for them to win, by however small a margin, and red wine and arsenic ready in case they lose...

I daren't stay up as my nerves can't take it. I just desperately want to wake up to a Conservative government tomorrow morning.

Lefties, please don't intrude. I have deliberately started this thread so as not to pester you on your anxious thread. It feels mean and unnecessary to tell you why you are wrong on your own thread.

OP posts:
Cartoose · 07/05/2010 17:22

"According to Sky, Cons want to seal deal with Libs by Sunday night - before markets open on Monday"

Suits me.

Cartoose · 07/05/2010 17:25

I think it will mistletoe. Both DC and NC have said publicly that they are heading toward a lib dem/tory coalition. I'm not sure what labour can actually do about it.

Strix · 07/05/2010 17:38

Labour doesn't have enough votes to form a coalition with Lib Dem. They would need all the small parties on their side. Seems a very tall order.

Cartoose · 07/05/2010 18:00

Yes Strix, would be impossible I think.

Cyclops · 07/05/2010 18:06

It's good to see this thread, evens things up a bit on MN

I was gutted that it wasn't a clear blue win today....however, let's home that Clegg is indeed a decent type and stands by his word to serve the electorate (and not himself) but time will tell on that score.

If it comes to another GE being called within the year or so, then I think Boris Johnson should become Conservative leader.

Cartoose · 07/05/2010 18:23

Hi Cyclops. Really? Why not Cameron?

DavidHameron · 07/05/2010 18:32

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Boris?!

sethstarkaddersmum · 07/05/2010 18:42

really Cyclops?

Cyclops · 07/05/2010 18:43

I think Boris has a more general appeal than does DC. Don't forget he managed to wrestle away the Mayorship from Red Ken

It would be preferable for there to be no leadership change but if it came to it, then better Boris than the other main blue players.

BeenBeta · 07/05/2010 18:48

As Fraser Nelson is saying on Sky. Maybe Cameron is being clever here and making a big open offer to the Lib Dems but knowing the members of the Lib Dem party will not accept it. The Lib Dem party is very democratic and any agreement with the Tories will have to be put to the party vote and likely be rejected.

At that point Cameron will throw up his hands and say I tried and then walk away. Then Lib Des join Labour, and Cameron will wait for it all to collapse and walk to a massive General Election victoy next year even if it is a proportional representation one.

Agree with nikki/strix/VicToryA - it is almost as if actually getting in to power now guarantees a defeat next time round. Just like the 1970s when I was growing up. A truely terrible decade.

blondecat · 07/05/2010 19:16

So are we tactically hoping for a failure in forming a govt now so that we can govern tomorrow. I use we as a figure of speech of course. I'd be happy not to be sick tomorrow.
I agree daveC made a good speech but will it be good enough. Also bear in mind the next election after LibLab will be a different system - Tories would need 45% or a coalition with UKIPor some other new small centre-right party under PR.
Speccie have afantastic picture of Gordo claiming squatters rights on Down ing St btw

PS German keyboard as stuck at airport, sorry for strange typos

sethstarkaddersmum · 07/05/2010 19:24

Is anyone else feeling all nervous and jittery because of not knowing who the government's going to be?!

Quattrocento · 07/05/2010 19:28

I'd feel nervous and jittery if the Labour government had a majority. Ditto the tories.

I'd prefer not to seesaw between two parties anyhow. Quite comfortable with a hung parliament.

BeenBeta · 07/05/2010 19:28

That is about the size of it.

The tactic of both Labour and Tory party is perhaps to appear ever so reasonable in their public utterances to invite the Lib Dems to come and discuss coalition. Meanwhile, secretly hoping the Lib Dems will join the other party after hard behind the scenes 'take it or leave it' type negotiations.

Cartoose · 07/05/2010 19:37

No I'm feeling fine actually. We're better off then we were before either way.

Strix · 07/05/2010 19:41

I think the Lib Dems would be silly to not take DC's offer. They could get ministerial posts, which they are not likely to get through their own general election majority. I think this is a real opportunity for them. Perhaps Cameron's best strategy is to have a coalition with them and not call the next general for five years, when he will have fixed much of the mess Brown created, and can then run on his successes?

mistletoekisses · 07/05/2010 19:42

Stock markets don't feel that way. Sterling falling. FTSE falling. Dow Jones tumbled..

I dont think a hung parliament is good for anyone. The Economy really doesnt need it..

Alibabaandthe40tories · 07/05/2010 19:48

Seth - I do, feels very strange. A lot of it is that I didn't go to bed until 7am and had to get up again before 11 so I'm all cold and tired and shivery, but I'm damm sure I'd feel better if Cameron was safely installed inside No.10.

In some ways I hope that the LDs say no to Cameron and try and get into bed with Labour. If they then can't get a Queen's Speech through then there will have to be another election, at which point the Tories can get a majority.

I am actually going to look at joining our local Conservatives. We are a very safe seat now, 15,000 majority, but it can't hurt!

Original poster
VicToryA · 07/05/2010 19:50

Absolutely, mistletoe. In a horrible, dire, awful way a Labour win would have been preferable to a hung parliament. If Labour had got back in, they'd we'd have had a couple more years of wanting to commit murder on Gordy, the Prince of Darkness et al, then they would have been comprehensively booted out for years to come. As it is, all we have is uncertainty.

OP posts:
Original poster
VicToryA · 07/05/2010 19:50

Alibabaa, I'm thinking of joining ours too!

OP posts:
lemonmuffin · 07/05/2010 20:23

Me too (re joining the party i mean)

As regards Boris, he's a great character but as leader? i don't think so, let's not give the left any more opportunities to have their nasty little digs at us.

Penthesileia · 07/05/2010 20:25

Strix: if you mean, is GB the only PM to undertake the role without simultaneously winning a general election (obviously, you know that when we vote, we do not vote for a leader, we vote for a party...), then no; Sir Alec Douglas Hume, Conservative, was "unelected" (in your terms) in 1963, when MacMillan stood down for health reasons mid-term. The Conservatives then lost the general election in 1964.

John Major also took over the caretaker role from Maggie Thatcher, prior to winning the GE in 1992.

Macmillan, Conservative, also took over after Eden resigned in 1957, although he then took the Conservatives to victory in 1959.

So, it's not "constitutionally" uncommon for someone to take over leadership of the governing party without "winning" popular support in a GE (in the first instance).

What would be uncommon, of course, would be if GB continued as PM despite losing the election. This looks unlikely, however.

Those are off the top of my head; not sure if there are others.

Cartoose · 07/05/2010 21:26

"Stock markets don't feel that way. Sterling falling. FTSE falling. Dow Jones tumbled..

I dont think a hung parliament is good for anyone. The Economy really doesnt need it.."

True, but if all goes to plan things will be sorted out by Monday.

BeenBeta · 07/05/2010 22:06

The Gilts market is now at the same level it was on Wednesday night. The markets feel relaxed about a possible Lib-Con coalition.

Cartoose · 07/05/2010 22:16

Good news.