Comments on: Nobody ever really wants to pick Nick for the team http://hadleighroberts.com/2009/09/pick-nick-team/ The French Exception Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:40:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bevan http://hadleighroberts.com/2009/09/pick-nick-team/#comment-446 Bevan Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:36:25 +0000 http://hadleighroberts.co.uk/?p=1244#comment-446 For one he doesn't actually believe you are that close which I know is your point. The Lib-dems would never make reliable king makers because half of the party (the left side) will side with labour and the other half will side with the conservatives. Therefore if Lib-dems did agree to a coalition half of the party would become alienated and then the party would probably split more or less back into social democrats and liberals. Also any pact with the conservatives would undermine Nick Clegg's call to become the progressive party of the centre left which is essentially code for "we are going to steal labour's centre left voters". These labour voters would never change to lib-dems if they were in a coalition with a conservative party that, despite the leader, is still very much socially conservative. It would be practically like supporting a conservative party. For one he doesn't actually believe you are that close which I know is your point. The Lib-dems would never make reliable king makers because half of the party (the left side) will side with labour and the other half will side with the conservatives. Therefore if Lib-dems did agree to a coalition half of the party would become alienated and then the party would probably split more or less back into social democrats and liberals.

Also any pact with the conservatives would undermine Nick Clegg's call to become the progressive party of the centre left which is essentially code for "we are going to steal labour's centre left voters". These labour voters would never change to lib-dems if they were in a coalition with a conservative party that, despite the leader, is still very much socially conservative. It would be practically like supporting a conservative party.

]]> By: Hadleigh Roberts http://hadleighroberts.com/2009/09/pick-nick-team/#comment-445 Hadleigh Roberts Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:30:27 +0000 http://hadleighroberts.co.uk/?p=1244#comment-445 Cameron doesn't want Liberal Democrat MPs, he wants Liberal Democrat votes. By sounding buddy-buddy he can both appeal to what Lib Dems like then add it the possibility of actually doing something about it. Looks like you couldn't put a cigarette paper between the two of us on your point! Cameron doesn't want Liberal Democrat MPs, he wants Liberal Democrat votes. By sounding buddy-buddy he can both appeal to what Lib Dems like then add it the possibility of actually doing something about it.

Looks like you couldn't put a cigarette paper between the two of us on your point!

]]> By: Mark Reckons http://hadleighroberts.com/2009/09/pick-nick-team/#comment-444 Mark Reckons Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:25:28 +0000 http://hadleighroberts.co.uk/?p=1244#comment-444 You virtually say it yourself that PR should see more parties in the Commons. The Greens would have seats, as would UKIP and perhaps others with a commensurate reduction in the number of MPs for the two big parties. It is by no means definite that the Lib Dems would end up in permanent coalition. Is that what has happened in Wales or Scotland? There could well be a realignment in one or more parties but one thing is for sure there would be much more choice and better representation with every vote counting. I repeat my point though, if Cameron is so convinced that there is so little between LDs and Cons then what does he have to fear from a proportional system? He has ready made coalition partners as far as he is concerned! You virtually say it yourself that PR should see more parties in the Commons. The Greens would have seats, as would UKIP and perhaps others with a commensurate reduction in the number of MPs for the two big parties.

It is by no means definite that the Lib Dems would end up in permanent coalition. Is that what has happened in Wales or Scotland? There could well be a realignment in one or more parties but one thing is for sure there would be much more choice and better representation with every vote counting.

I repeat my point though, if Cameron is so convinced that there is so little between LDs and Cons then what does he have to fear from a proportional system? He has ready made coalition partners as far as he is concerned!

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