WWYD if you were Nick Clegg?

[FrakkinTheReturningOfficer]

Seeing as Cleggy is likely to be the chap practically deciding the outcome of this, WWYD in his position?

I would probably align with Labour on the condition we had a referendum on election reform and push to dissolve Parliament for a new election as soon as that passed....

TooPragmatic; I'm not saying I've got any brilliant answers on how to get an electorate to deal with the necessary painful cuts, but I'd like the people who do make those decisions to have been chosen by a majority of the voting population even if they are compromise decisions reached by a coalition.

We certainly do need reform, though, 80% of the same number of votes as the labour party, lib dems have less than 20% of the same number of seats!!! What rubbish!!

If Clegg goes in with Labour, then all his talk of change and being a break from the old politics will look fairly hypocritical. His integrity will be destroyed because he will be supporting a party with no mandate.

Rock and hard place for him, but fascinating.

Squirrel, fair enough! It just seems like such a difficult situation with no obvious solution. I am really anxious for someone to get into power and actually DO something.

Answers on a postcard to the bods at Westminster.

Vote Liberal, get a Tory government....it has always been the same.

So much for change and principles.....power at any price if you ask me.....

But the LibDems did so badly that he has little credibility, don't you think?
he knows he's only there to make up numbers - very undignified.

Political suicide to align himself with the car crash which will be Cameron at Prime Ministers Question Time. Especialy when the old-school Tories start to want more Thatcherite policies.

NC has more freedom to deal with Labour than to deal with GB.

Consummate back-room dealers like Peter Mandy will earn their pay cheque in the next few days surely.

In answer to the OP - If I were Nick Clegg, I would try to get a deal from DC to allow PR (or at least a referendum on PR within a month). If he disagreed I would let the Conservatives form a minority govt and vote down anything that looked too stupidly right wing.

I think LDs would lose credibility if they supported Tories without getting PR in exchange. I don't think they can credibly support Labour (and especially GB) on any terms since the voters have swung so heavily away from them.

I think a LibDem pact with the Tory slashers will only end one way....good riddance to both of them. This will only end one way.

Did those people who supported Clegg (many of whom are actually to the left of the Labour party) really want him to throw in his lot with these aristos?

If the Tories agree to PR I will keel over!

I agree@debs40. Cameron and Clegg are cut from the same cloth.

NC will be wary of getting nothing real from the Tories and end up taking share of "blame" for public sector cuts. They have to play it carefulling. They need PR partner who BELIEVES, supports and campaign for PR.

I just put this on the Lib/Tory coalition thread but thought I would paste it here too (as I like the sound of my own voice :

I didn't think much of DC's offer to Clegg.

Clegg, I know you will inevitably be turning to MN for advice as you pace the back room deciding what to do before your next press conference.

My advice:
*tell Cameron you're pleased he's suggested he can work with you - many points of agreement on economy etc
*but with respect he needs to do better than that on electoral reform before you can help him
*but take care not to sound too militant and add that you also want a quick resolution to talks - but that quick does not equate to Lib Dems caving in on a key point of principle

What would others advise Cleggy to say now?

*tell Cameron you're pleased he's suggested he can work with you - many points of agreement on economy etc
*but with respect he needs to do better than that on electoral reform before you can help him
*but take care not to sound too militant and add that you also want a quick resolution to talks - but that quick does not equate to Lib Dems caving in on a key point of principle

Agree with the above.

NC needs to stick with his central message (I gave bonus points for that earlier!) and make electoral reform, which doesn't necessarily mean PR, and a referendum a priority. That said a squabbling Govt with a Labour PM clinging on for dear life with his fingernails, a Conservative majority and an intransigent Lib Dem faction will do no-one any favours. If you really believe in the interests on the country you will sort it out first before you shake it up and with all due respect I don't think Labour can do that.

If I were Nick Clegg I'd go home, wash my hair, have a look at some nice white (no not white -maybe ivory?) frocks and have a butcher's at the Argos catalogue for a nice engagement ring.

If I were NC I wouldn't support either Cons of Labour, both are toxic to the very split public. Instead I would let the Cons form a minority government and let them know that I would vote down anything too right wing or bonkers, and when Cameron has made a hash of it (minority governments can do little else) have a vote of no confidence and new General Election. A GE with a background of an incumbent Conservative government and recent and unpopular Labour party would give the Lib Dems the chance to increase their number of seats and then have a genuine Lib/Lab coalition on the condition of genuine electoral reform.

Cheers,

PV.

If I were Nick Clegg I'd take down all the mirrors in the house as they would be pointless. You sell your soul to the devil, there ain't no reflection.

I agree with minipie. Clegg needs something concrete on electoral reform.

I think he also needs more from the tories in tax plans to help the disadvantaged and maybe the inheritance threshold could be raised as the tories suggest but not so far. Would be nice if the tories considered the lib dem plan to raise the tax threshold to 10,000.

Other than that as a lib dem voter I think Cameron's speech was fair.

Debs - to answer your question I don't care whether the tories are aristos or not. The important thing is that they choose the best MP for each policy area. Eg. I'm hoping the tories will maybe ditch Osborne not because he is an aristo but because Cable would be better. Would be good if Sarah Teather had a post as she seems very able and also quite a nice person!

The fact is that the lib dems did not do as well as they hoped and the tories have many more seats so lib dems cannot expect 50/50 on policy. They need to find a couple of areas that are most important.

I think it would be far worse for the lib dems to form any coalition with labour who have broken their promise on electoral reform many times and are unlikely to make things that fair as that would mean a huge loss in labour seats. The lib dems have a fair few semi rural seats in southern england and people in these seats would not want any kind of labour govt as the labour party do not understand rural issues. If the liberals form a pact with labour they can say bye bye to any seats in rural areas or southern england. Furthermore most people do not want another labour government and I think many of the labour votes were cast out of fear of the tories rather than enthusiastic support for a tired government.

If Cameron does not offer the lib dems anything concrete they should let the tories have a minority government.

"labour who have broken their promise on electoral reform many times"

Good point. Labour are a bit johnny-come-lately to this whole electoral reform thing, aren't they.

The Tories will NEVER agree to PR. Clegg must decide it it's his absolute bottom line - and then jump to Labour.

It'd be political suicide for the Liberals to align with the Tories. They're not aligned on almost any issue and the liberals would be forced to give up on electoral reform.

Best for NC to hop into bed swiftly with GB, on condition we get a referendum on political reform in the first three months, and immediate electoral reform if the referendum comes out that way.

"Return to your constituencies and prepare for Con-Dem-Nation."

I would say

'Cleggy old chap, just remember that the 1997 Labour Party Manifesto stated: "We are committed to a referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons - an independent commission on voting systems will be appointed early to recommend a proportional alternative to the first-past-the-post system". They lied then and they'll lie again unless you get it absolutely NAILED before getting into bed with Gordon.

agree with snowlady about Sarah Teather, she is fantastic. We need more people like her in parliament.

I love Sarah Teather's way of talking. I fully expected her to keel over sideways, though...

put this in the other thread...

I agree with mrsbaldwin's advice. Enter into an agreement with the Tories - there are enough points of agreement - but only if it includes a proper deal on PR. Re. the EU - Cameron said no giving further powers to the EU, which given that the Lisbon Treaty is through, I don't see as being controversial (what else is likely to come up?)

Not keen on an actual coalition - presumably they can't force us to take cabinet seats if we don't want them, though...

Clegg is doing what he always said he would - giving the chance to the party that got the most votes and the most seats. There aren't enough seats for a Lib/Lab agreement anyway.