So if we have a Con-LibDem coalition government....

[EricNorthmansmistress]

How will the LibDem MPs be expected to vote over issues? I understand that they can try to force the Tories' hand now over certain policy issues, but once they have formed a government how do things work?

If the Lib Dems coalesce with the Tories, Lib Dem MPs will be expected to take the Tory whip.

urk. that can't be good.

No, swedes, seriously?!

Well, I guess this sort of thing will be covered in the negotiations. I didn't campaign for the LDs to sit and watch them vote for spunking £6bn on an inheritance tax cut for the richest people in the country, bringing back foxhunting, etc etc

Inheritance tax breaks are one of the policies they are negotiating over though - hopefully they won't cave on that!

I voted for the lib dems as in my eyes they are the most democratic and have most integrity. I am very HAPPY at the thought of a libdem/con government- for me its the best of both worlds- I believe we will get rid of Labours free loaders and still look after those who genuinley need it.

FWIW I thought Cameron showed excellant leader traits on his speech laying out what he will and will not compromise on.

Interesting NotMore, I also voted for the Lib Dems and am also very happy with the thought of a LibCon government. I thought I was the only one .

I understand that many Lib dem voters are to the left, but Clegg was claiming to be the candidate for change. Going into a pact with Labour is hardly exercising Change! Also as the Labour party lost the election, keeping them in power is hardly democratic, even if the Tories and Liberals did not convincingly win it. Plus they would also require the support of the SNP and Plaid making the West Lothian Question even more pressing.

I would love them to work out a coalition. If the lib dems could work to keep out the loony Right, then this coalition could work.

I'm with nomore and madsometimes. I'm really hoping they do a deal. Also,in my view could make electoral reform more likely. I'm not sure quite how a lab/lib coalition will get it a)through parliament and b) a referendum with a very heavily tory press and an imminenmt further election because the majority isn't enough.

nothing intelligent to add but just seen fab headline - Con-Dem Nation....

By far the majority of Lib Dem voters I've spoken to are in favour of a Con-LibDem coalition. All Tories I know are also in favour. I think the Lib Dems will have a very civilising influence on the Tories (and probably vice versa) and if if it upsets the Tory right-wing and they feel the need to withdraw their support then KERR CHING.

The mood on Mumsnet isn't in favour in general, but you only need to look at the polls carried out by Mumsnet to see MN is at odds with the rest of the country.

As Friday and Saturday went on, I realised how happy I was too - that Labour was out of power, and that we were going to be able to restrain the Tories.

Just the issue of electoral reform, but I want to win that in a fair fight. Needs to be a fair one, though.

Ok, what's a tory whip.

Am thinking it's not in the kinky sense.

I voted lib dem and agree with notmorebounty and the rest..bring on the coalition sort out the economic mess.

Heathen
Fox hunting - this should not be a party political matter. I'm sure there are people of all political persuasions who are for and against it.

Inheritance tax - I think Cameron is right that the threshold should be raised but I think 2 million is too high. I would like the lib dems and tories to compromise at about £750,000 for this policy! Nick Clegg was wrong to say this policy would benefit millionaires. Yes it will benefit some rich people but also some normal people on normal incomes who bought their homes in the 50s/60s/70s and where the home values have risen vastly.

Does anyone really think it is the rich paying inheritance tax under the present system..they aren't. The rich shuffle their assets around to avoid paying IT. It is the middle classes living in areas where property values are higher who are paying it I'd imagine.

If you've got £1m in housing equity, you're a millionaire. Even if you're just a very lucky millionaire who's done anything more impressive than buying a house ...

Yes that's why I was saying it shouldn't be raised as far as 2 million or even 1 million but could be raised from the current threshold to say £750,000.

wHY? yOU ALREADY GET £250,000 TAX FREE. Why do you need more? (oops caps) seriously, why raise it? So you bought a house in the 60s and paid £50k for it. When you die your kids will get £250k plus 40% of anything over that. Boo Hoo poor them. {sarcasm}

Those middle class people whose properties have gone up in value 6 or 7 times since they bought it have acquired that wealth as a result of the work of other people (by expanding and strenthening the economy, through starting up businesses, through spending their hard earned money etc) it's not money that grew in a vaccuum. Why shouldn't some of it be taxed at death to contribute to the society that grew the wealth in the first place?

Thought the West Lothian question was answered by a Scottish Parliament?

No the west lothian q also applies to England so if there is a bill which only affects England, at the moment it can be voted on by all MPs and defeated or proposed by MPs from Scotland and Wales who will not be affected by it. It could be a real problem if the government is only able to function with support of SNP and Plaid.

Ah, I see. Thanks for that clarification . Hadn't thought of the West Lothian question applying to England/Wales (Northern Ireland?)

Eric - I wasn't talking about my personal circumstances which are none of your business.
If people have worked hard and paid off their mortgage or improved their house through DIY I don't see it is particularly up to the country to snatch the money. These people have been contributing to the economy through paying income tax and council tax amongst other things.

The people who are very wealthy and could afford to leave a bit to the country don't always do so as there are so many loopholes they can get out of paying anything with a good accountant. I think this is where the system is unfair.

Is it correct that inheritance tax was supposed to be on estates of the wealthy? It is now paid by the middle classes as house values have gone up and the government have not bothered to raise the inheritance tax threshold to keep up with house price inflation because it suits them to take more money from ordinary people as they are too cowardly to tax the very wealthy.

I do not particularly like the house price inflation of the past few years. This has been caused in part by a supposedly left wing labour government who have kept interest rates ridiculously low to stop housing values falling to the level where people can afford to get on the housing market at 3 x salary.
It also means that pensioners who may have small savings are not getting any interest on those savings and are worse off.

Snowlady, I think IHT is around £600k for a couple? So not hugely different from your £750k suggestion...

anyhow, those two policies were just examples.

In some ways, yeah, better inside the tent pissing out and all that maybe.

Kind of hoping the Tory right will throw the deal out - actually, can they? Maybe Tory party doesn't have same 'power to the people' type system as Lib Dems. Wouldn't be a surprise really.

Riven, all votes in the Commons are open and you can find out how any MP voted on any issue.

The MPs walk through lobbies to vote (it's so archaic it's ridiculous ) and the whips put huge amounts of pressure on members to vote a certain way. They keep records of those who rebel too often and they can be assured they won't get any plum jobs!

Theheathen - if the deal is thrown out surely things would be even worse for the lib dems.

1. Tory minority another election soon - lib dems lose seats as people polarise to larger parties

1. Rainbow coalition - tired new labour still there, concessions to SNP etc. 1000s of unhappy lib dem voters who thought they voted for change and are still stuck with labour. Lib Dems will just be viewed as the same as labour. Fewer lib dems MPs at next election. Many labour MPS like FPTP as they benefit from it so I doubt real voting reform would happen..it hasn't yet under labour. Even if brown goes Mandleson would still be there. All rather unappealing and not a good recipe for sorting out the economy