Depressed Lefty red eye - The morning after the night before

[Nymphadora]

Hello

It'll be very hard for Clegg to walk away from a "power post" that may last years and go with Lab for maybe a few months.

I hope he does though, but dunno.

I think he's sadly realising today that he's no Obama

What a disappointing day...

I will however be furious if he sides with the conservatives

WHYYY is all the talk about lib dem + cons talking?

What about lab-lib dem?

Get on the phone Gordie!!!

Because Clegg said he was going to the Cons first Disenchanted, since they had more seats

But doesn't the law state that Labour has the right to try and build a goverment first?

Why can Clegg ignore the rules?

I hope Clegg thinks this over seriously.

He needs to think about his MP's and the voters that would never again vote for the Liberal Democrats if they throw their lot in with the Conservatives, particularly based on shitty deal terms. Me, for one.

To not get PR, to lose reform on Trident, to lose plans on dealing with the deficit, to gain what? Scrapping the fucking "jobs tax" which the Tories were going to do anyway!

Because clegg can't be seen to be profiteering from this situation and jumping for the offer that gives him most personal power etc.

He has to be seen to be doing the right thing for the Great British Public - enabling the most democratic coalition to take power.

Hence always saying that he would talk first to the party that had the most votes.

agree with lenin

referendum much better deal than waffly enquiry, and would lead to much more power long term. i'd have thought that would be worth holding out for.

Dis - there is no "law" really. Only precedent.

And also labour has the right to try to build a coalition but that doesn't mean Clegg automatically has to jump into bed with them.

And clearly Labour are prepared to wait and see how the situation pans out with the tories, rather than forcing the situation and getting the rap for being high-handed and hasty.

How could you Nick Cleg. remember the 'nutter' in Europe, the homophobes etc...
How could you!!!

Ok more useless adding up from me

I added up lab/lib/national parties plus SDLP and green and got 328 workable majority to get the big stuff through

I added up the t-others
con/unionists/alliance party (no idea who they are) and got 314 pah!

and seriously for wonderfully orchestrated e-pressurising you can't beat 38 Degrees

Two problems with lab/lib coalition - are the party who have lost seats, so not v democratic to keep them in govnt; and (more importantly) - lab+lib doesn't give overall majority.
God Cameron's speech rubbishing the last 13 years. Minimum wage anyone? New schools? Flexible working? Maternity leave? Massively reduced NHS waiting lists? Smoking ban? Civil partnerships?

Dis, Conservatives have the most seats and therefor legally are entitled to govern.

They need a larger majority to do this without having to bicker with Lab over every decision.

Apple: Alliance would never vote Tory, would go LibDem and Hermon, the indpendent unionists left the UUP over its alliance with the Tories. She's Labour or LD at worst. So that's 2 more.

Referendum is of course a better deal, but it's a risk for the lib dems.

i think clegg has a duty to his voters though too youngvisiter-many people voted LD specifically to keep tories out

scoutliam - they are not legally entitled to govern.

The libs and labour would be completely legally entitled to form a coalition and take power on that basis.

You are only 100% guaranteed power if you have an outright majority - anything less and a coalition can topple you.

I think he can ignore the rules because it's a fait accompli - even tho Brown has the 'right' (or rather, 'duty') to try and for govt with workable maj, in effect he can't if Clegg won't play ball. So it was a question of cutting to the chase, as it were.

Cameron translated:
'low carbon economy' = nuclear power stations
'pupil premium' = dismantle local education authorities
'fairer taxation' = reduce inheritance tax, increase VAT
Agree he has not conceded anything, just pointed out policies that have vague similarities.

'tough decisions' = slash and burn in the public sector

Agree, the Cons not legally entitled - Labour theoretically have first chance (but in practice can only do so if Clegg commits to lab)

catissleepy - I agree - but equally many Tory voters voted liberal to keep labour out.

I don't think Clegg can second guess his supporters in this way. All he can do is try to get the best and most democratic deal for them based on the manifesto they voted for - not by guessing what they voted again.

Young, I thought that Con had the right to have a minority leadership?

Of course allowing for the fact that a coalition against them would trump that.

"'tough decisions' = slash and burn in the public sector"

THAT is what I want clegg to try and prevent but I just don't think he'd be able to in this sort of deal

bleeeeeuuuuuuuuurgh
I'm so tired