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....

Read your comments.
Making an effort to be pratical, but the notion of a Lib Dem party being in a coalition with the Tories is so wrong to me. I can't accept it and will never consider voting Lib Dem in future - even tactical voting - if they do join forces.
If the IMF was at the door and anarchy prevailed in the streets, I might "forgive", but considering there are other alternatives, I find the idea of a coalition Con/Lib really hard to accept.
There must be another way. Pls activate the Dark Lord.

portymom- yes, there is no way LD will end up with ConLib coalition - the party wouldn't allow it unless the Cons come out in favour of PR which wouldn't make sense for the Cons ?!

From From PR point of view Brown leaving No 10 back to Scotland is the right move for Labour

"I am a bit wooly on the seat numbers though Frakkin. Lib and Lab together don't have a majority in the House so having more than Conservatives doesn't really help. You need more than 326 to pass laws. "

Hence the to a Lib/Lab minority Govt. They'd be able to form a Govt but it wouldn't have a majority.

They would have to bring the Nationalists onside to make up the numbers and even then they'd be vulnerable. Remember that Sinn Fein don't sit and they count for 5 seats so you only need 323 people onside to 'beat' the opposition which gives a little wriggle room.

Yes, the Labour party could do best by sitting back and watching the others making a mess of it

If I were Clegg I'd be more balanced about being happy to speak to either of the other parties. I'm surprised he's said he wants to talk with the tories first, but maybe it's more personal than he's admitting !
Seems he might have fallen out with G.B around the time of the expenses crisis ( from what I heard today )
I'd have thought Labour would be a more natural partner, especially if they're happy to offer us all a referendum on electoral reform !
I'm wondering if G.B has burnt his bridges now though if he's fallen out with Clegg !
Fascinating !

P.S A disgrace that some people were turned away from polling stations - I heard one woman on the radio who queued for 1.5 hrs before being told she couldn't vote as it was now 10pm !

Oh and good to see the Greens getting their first M.P in Brighton !
Our world needs some people to speak out on the green agenda.

Global warming in particular is such a world changing issue, and deserved much more attention than it received in this election !

I voted green, and only partly because my friend was standing here !

In general I think we should think much more of others, both in this country and the rest of the world, before casting our vote !

bellissima - I was a 9 year old in 1978 during the "winter of discontent" I clearly remember regular power cuts (no hot food/drinks in the evenings as we had an electric cooker) , constant strikes and unheated classrooms throughout that long winter and it was pretty grim. I think problems of this sort are indicative of weak governments regardless of their shade!

A one year coalition of Brown as PM and Vince Cable as Chancellor would get us properly on the road to recovery, then we could go back to the polls with electoral reforms in place. Whatever anyone thinks of Brown he's had incredible results for a party thet's been in government for 13 years, usually there's a landslide after so long. The public may love to hate him but he and Vince Cable would be a formidable team for the economy.

Oh and good to see the Greens getting their first M.P in Brighton !
Our world needs some people to speak out on the green agenda

i rather think they'll be up to their ears in local issues to sort out (like parking, litter collection...etc etc)

I think Nick Clegg seriously needs to look at what the electorate have said.

I knew the old (Conservative) MP who was a genuinely good guy with a huge personal vote and he always said that you absolutely had to respect the decision of the electorate and act on the message they had sent you.

It seems to me that it is obvious what this message from the electorate is - they want a hung parliament without any dominant power for ANY party, they want people to work together and they are tired of a two party system.

Mr Clegg - electoral reform is a clear message here, please don't sell the electorate short. Mr Cameron I hope you are listening to the electorate too.

I dont see the con/lib coalition happening. This is bad for cameron. Not only will he be seen to have failed to get a majority but also have failed to form a coaltion. He could try to run a minority government but the other parties would more than likely 'gang up' on the tories and this will lead to another election which the tories imo would lose and labour could win (possibly with GB still as leader - I reckon he is counting on all this tbh).

I'd prefer a lab/lib coalition, without the nats (I'm scottish and hate salmond with a passion!!!)

However, I think what I said above is what will happen. I think Nick will step back and let Cameron fail and therefore come out of it relatively undamaged and keeping his party/supporters happy.

Yes ConLib is dead in the water. NC just has to go through the paces to maintain credibility though.

If I were DC, I wouldn't want to even form coalition and take responsibility at this time in a concocted coalition....that would be terrible for him. Best to step back.

The meeting of Lib Dem MPs today apparently showed "full and complete support" for Clegg's strategy. And Labour has dismissed the idea of an alliance involving Salmond.

Edgar - according to a poll in the Telegraph today, 48% of people back PR and 39% FPTP. (I thought I'd seen 62% in favour of PR in a poll somewhere last week, but don't know where).

Yes- Labour might be wise to sit back and renew themselves. Without GB they might look so much more attractive. Also they could drop some of their unpopukar policies and adopt a few LibDem like policies (drop ID cards, add PR and maybe trident). They would then clean up much of LD support at next election in a year or two.

Also both Cons and LDs will be associated with period of weak Govt and Labour will then be able to cash in.

DC would do well to consider playing the same game.

Haven't read all the replies so forgive me if I'm repeating a previous post.
I don't think Clegg had much choice really. Having made the point repeatedly during the campaign that the current electoral system is broken and unfair, I think it would have undermined his case if he had refused point blank to at least talk to the party with the most seats.
It could also be that a Lab/Lib coalition is still going to be a minority government,and therefore more likely to collapse in the very near future.

TDiddy this could be a gift to DC - he lets a coalition form, fail and swoops in going 'I told you PR and coalitions wouldn't work...no reform here!'

Lib/Lab would be a minority coalition. They need the Nats... Bit of a sticky wicket.

FrakkinTheReturningOffice.. -precisely, Labour should keep out of it coalition. Let DC and NC take their time getting to know each other as GB said.

this might put a spoke in the wheels of any Tory/Lib dem coalition

God, the result must have come as a real shock to them. Hague was already assuming he'd be annointed as Foreign Sec and there at the meeting of EU foreign ministers tomorrow.

and bless him, Lord Ashcroft's a bit pissed off that all his money didn't buy the election.

Oh, my heart bleeds for their disappointment...

I think NC should indeed talk to DC as it shows he is being consistent in his view that the party with the most votes should have the right to govern. However, given that the cons don't believe that themselves (apart from when it suits them of course!) and will oppose electoral reform (PP) NC then has the perfect opportunity to stick two fingers up to the cons and work with labour, who will not obstruct PP. Although LD and Cons share some ground on a few policies, they are vehemently opposed on others. I fail to see how a left of labour party can work with a right of centre party.
I just hope NC emerges from this with his integrity intact. Don't think I ABU to have this expectation of at least one politician

In reality though the Liberal Democrats, despite an apparently left manifesto this time around, have traditionally been a centre party not a left party. Considering their traditional positions it would not be that difficult for a Lib/Con coalition.

Personally, I'd like a rainbow coalition with GB as prime minister, vince cable as chancellor, clegg as home secretary, Lucas as minister for the environment e.t.c.

If I was Nick Clegg I would be at home with my really foxy wife kissing her loads and saying what lovely hair and curves she has. Maybe smoke some nice gear and drink a bottle of Frascati (budget wine for tough times).

Then I'd answer the phone to Vince and go yeah you sort it mate, whatever you bald melon. And do some more kissing and stuff.

Coolfonz - is that what you have been doing all morning in Fonzland? Cleggingover?