Liberal Democrat voters thread

[Madsometimes]

Who do you think that Clegg should go in with?

It is obvious that Labour and Tory voters each have their own ideas, but if you voted Lib Dem on May 6th, what do you think?

I am keeping an open mind about it all for now. I voted LibDem and I've always been that way inclined.

And remember, coalitions can be broken.

I am, however, fed up with people saying that voting LibDem is a wasted vote and they haven't got a chance of getting in - well they won't if you don't sodding well vote for them!

I don't suppose the Lib Dems' railway policies have made it into the agreement? probably not...

Will Lib Dem candidates be standing in by-elections against Tories?... That was mentioned but not clarified on BBC News.

That's a good question. No reason why they shouldn't though. They're still 2 parties.

I think the media has been unfair to NC, accusing him of whoring himself about. I dont think 4 days is an unreasonable amount of time to put together an agreement that has to last 4 years. This is NC and the LD's big chance to prove their ability in government and I think he made the right decision. A lib-lab pact was so fragile that it allowed for zero abstention/rebellion which is unlikely in a coalition government where you'd expect some rebellion on certain issues. There was a big risk of an early collapse over a major bill and another GE.

I am in favour of the Cons-LD pact. Arguably, over the last 2 parliaments, the LD's have been pushed to the left by Labour spreading into the middle ground, and hearing the LD leaders I dont sense this is their natural territory. A lot of people dont vote labour because they dont like the union influence and the reliance on Scotland for the majority but they're not that comfortable with the Tories either. This election loss may well see labour trying to reassure those 2 traditional sectors, with the lib dems becoming more centre left and taking up the middle class left leaners.

I think some LD policies are great. Totally agree with a £10k zero tax band. On others I'm "you must be kidding". eg joining the euro now when not being in it gives us so much flex to get ourselves out of the economic mire. I'm broadly pro- PR but I'd need a bit of convincing and I think if this coalition can work, I'd be more convinced.

I actually think a Cons-Lib coalition might be my ideal party.

I'm feeling quite hopeful this morning. My ideal form of government is a cooperative government where parties work together, rather than an adversarial type of government.

Its not going to be easy, but if this means that parties, whilst remaining Conservatives and Liberal Democrats can actually work together for the common good, surely that is a good thing.

Will the Lib Dems get on board with bombing Iranian women and kids?

I am happy with it. Nick Clegg in charge of the banks - great ! Labour have left the country owing a lot of money and that needs to be sorted. They had years to try and get it right. The tories in the past were just as bad - never concerned about the balance of trade. So maybe this discussion between parties will create better decisions.

I am so very very pleased, I was planning on voting Tory but decided instead to go Lib Dems. (I preferred the concept of fair to the concept of right).

I truly don't understand why people who consider themselves on the left don't see this as an amazing coup. Would you rather have a full-fledged Tory government? Now there is someone holding the Liberal consciousness arguing that position at every cabinet meeting.

And Law in charge of education is going to change the nature of every education thread.

My only real concern is Hague as foreign secretary, but again with this arrangement he needs to at hear out Clegg at every juncture.

I voted Lib Dems but was fully expecting a Tory government....Having Lib Dems in there diluting Tories is about as good as I could hope for.

Totally agree with stuffedmk, at least we are being represented in some way.

Vince Cable - Business Secretary.

What does a Business secretary do?

Coolfonz - Lib Dems were against the war in Iraq, so I don't expect they will lose their marbles about Iran.

business secretary - maybe it is sorting out the banks - I hope so

I think the very bright David Laws is under Osborne (if I've heard correctly).

I am so glad the lib dems didn't team up with labour. Hearing caroline flint talking again (the day after gordon is gone - doesn't take her long to come back to our screens) reminded me of some of the people I really didn't care for in new labour. Whilst everyone else is currently behaving respectably when asked about the lib/con coalition she sneered its like "big tory" and "little tory" isn't it. Nice lady not.

I'm a bit disappointed in the cabinet jobs; I guess Scottish secretary was inevitable given the Tories' poor representation, but I'm disappointed that Clegg hasn't got a meaty portfolio alongside the Deputy title, and I hoped we'd get Home Office (esp now Teresa May has got it!) or Education. I can see the logic of us having Environment and Business given the key priorities they were negotiating on.

Is Vince Cable what Peter Mandelson was - that BERR thing? In which case he'd be in charge of universities too...? That would give me some hope.

I think it is better for the tories to have their man in the education job as some of it might end up being controversial..particularly if they don't drop the "big society" bit.

I think David Laws is better doing a financial role as I think I read he has 1st in economics from cambridge.

It is good to have huhne in envrionment. I hope there will soon be an announcement on scrapping the 3rd runway at heathrow.

my only disappointment is that sarah teather doesn't have a role but hope she will do soon.

David Laws was an investment banker who was the youngest ever managing director at BZW before giving it all up aged 29 to become the Lib Dems' economic adviser!

I totally agree that this is potentially the ideal arrangement on so many levels. I'm delighted. Can't believe some of the sour grapes being voiced by Labour supporters though - as if non-Labour supporters have been happy with the past 13 years!

Can I just say the full 'pact' as it stands so far is online here

I initially missed the "We will end the detention of children for immigration purposes."
If literally all we achieved this election was to get the kids out of Yarl's Wood, then you know what? It was worth it.

Am also liking: "The restoration of rights to non-violent protest"
And of course: "The review of libel laws to protect freedom of speech" long overdue IMO.

Slightly concerned by this "Freedom or Great Repeal Bill", that could be anything.

Sounds like they had to spend a lot of time fudging on nuclear power and education though...

I just love the "Both parties will whip their Parliamentary Parties in both Houses". Sounds like something you'd read on a Friday night thread.

The Great Repeal Bill was a thing of Clegg's. I think the Tories may have had something similar, though.

That's fantastic about children & detention.

There's some brilliant stuff in there. No more new runways at the SE airports - third runway at Heathrow cancelled as of today. Getting rid of all those intrusive databases, scrapping ID cards, biometric passports, etc. This is progressive politics.

And yet people can't get over the fact that they may lose out a bit on some tax credits. Priorities people?!

The Freedom Bill, although I have no idea if it will be altered.

I am very relieved on the restoration of so many civil liberties. That's fantastic!

Thanks, anastaisia, for some reason I didn't think of googling it

That will certainly be cat-among-the-pigeons stuff if they can get it through. But I think a lot of the labour backbench instincts will be to repeal the legislation from Blair's daily mail moments?