A bumpy road ahead
What have we voted for? On today's Politics Show debate I was struck by how downbeat our three politicians felt about the chance of striking any sort of coalition deal.
Liberal Democrat Sandra Gidley has lost her seat to Conservatives in Romsey, but take a look at the quote below: Sour grapes, or someone with the freedom to speak candidly?
"David Cameron has made a big mistake by suggesting that it [PR] is not on the agenda. He's shown that the party hasn't really changed and they quite like it when it's buggins turn again. So PR has got to be first on the agenda.
And it's not on the agenda, so what do you say about the coalition?I think a coalition is probably not possible and a lot of our party members would be upset."
Newly-elected Conservative Penny Mordaunt felt that her leader David Cameron may have to give more ground, but the pressure is on the Liberal Democrats.
"This is a test for Nick Clegg to put the country before his party. Yes, we can have discussions about electoral reform but there are more important things - the economy being top of the list - we need a government that's going to get to grips with that."
Southampton Labour MP Alan Whitehead felt a LibCon deal would be unworkable:
"If there was a coalition a number of Liberal Democrats would have to sit on their hands while a government passes measures that they would find completely anathema."
Of course it could all be sorted out tonight.. but if you'd like a snapshot of the unfolding scenario as seen from a South of England perspective take a look at the Politics Show discussion on the iPlayer by clicking here.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~49~RS~)
Welcome to the hustings! I'm Peter Henley, the BBC's political reporter in the south of England. From parish councils in Sussex, to European politics in Oxford, this is the blog for you.
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Bumpy road ahead – and at the end “no exit”.
Britain's two main opposition parties are trying to come to some sort of a deal, but that’s just it; there is not enough consensus. A coalition government is likely to fail – sooner rather than later.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown remains in office as “caretaker”. He stands ready to try for an alliance with the Liberal Democrats if they are unable to agree with the Conservatives.
Teams from the Conservatives and Lib Dems have been talking up a blue streak trying to find the right formula to end 13 years of Labour rule.
Both sides are acutely aware of the financial markets' need for decisive action on the UKs’ record budget deficit.
The boulder over which they are trying to climb is electoral reform, an ambition of the Lib Dems who would win more seats if Britain switched from its winner-takes-all system to proportional representation. Of course, the Conservatives are firmly opposed to such a change.
Yet, polls in Sunday's papers indicate that a majority of Brits favored a more proportional system of voting. One survey put the results at 62%.
In addition, the parties must overcome other key issues: economic policy, defense, immigration and Britain's stance toward the EU. These are not miniscule issues; they don't seem resolvable by Monday (when the markets open).
Apparently, Clegg and Cameron held a 70-minute meeting late on Saturday. Both sides said was "amicable and constructive", whatever that means.
I think it means there's no obvious way that the LibDems and the Conservatives can run the UK together.
Whoever gets control of the government will have an awfully hard time being decisive because there will be too much bickering. If the last hung Parliament, back in the 1970s, is any evidence, then a split like the UK has today is a clear recipe for ineffectiveness...and another election soon, which may indeed be the very best thing.
In fact the “mix” seems so improbable to me that all I can see ahead is, having had a trial run at electing a Government and seeing the sticky results, another election.
This time no one gets excluded from voting because of lack of ballots, polls closing or any other malfunction.
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A Lib Con `arrangement' is surely a good idea. Remember the 2004 Orange Book politics of a few years ago? The Orange Book was a book written by a group of prominent Lib Dems and edited by David Laws and Paul Marshall in 2004. Beside Laws and Marshall, contributors include Vincent Cable, Nick Clegg, Edward Davey, Chris Huhne, Susan Kramer, Mark Oaten and Steve Webb. The book was published in association with the liberal think-tank CentreForum.
In the book the group offers liberal solutions – often stressing the role of the free market – to several societal issues, such as public healthcare, pensions, environment, globalisation, social and agricultural policy, local government, the European Union and prisons. It is usually seen as the most economic liberal publication that the Liberal Democrats have produced in recent times. Why would those of us who supported those freer moves - more closely aligned to Liberal conservatism - change our minds now? Lets not forget too, the Labour LOST this election, big style.
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Sandra Gidley not feeling peeved shre lost her seat then, am I surpirsed no , very sad people cannot learn to work together
I doubt many Tory voters are keen on Liberal Democrats but if that’s what the ecomony needs to hold it up so be it. Tory’s are just more grown- up
I think Liberals feel if you say something often enough it will not happen Lib voters need to think of the country not themselves
Some thing is fundamentally wrong with a politician who admits his own party is a disaster and Con should have beaten them as one Labour politician has stated.
Should we have another election ? I think, No , not at the moment ,Lib eral Dems may totally lose if they do this is, there best chance ever if they have sense to recognise it and get on and work with the Conservatives otherwise I suggest Cameron goes it alone Brown and Clegg would last all of one hour none of deserve this what ever we votes.
Just worked out why Billy Bragg was supporting the demostration yesterday( I know very slow) as he was Labour but surely it was to sabotage the Con/LIb atalks and try and keep Gordon Brown in Downing Street , now there is a thought
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Well I don't know where we go from here if a coalition doesn't stick. There's too much at stake really. Lib Dems and Conservatives have simply got to knuckle down and make it work.
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It is now getting very annoying and serious the country is standing on the brink of a Greek financial disaster and the Liberal Democrats think it is more important they get their own way over electoral reform, if this country was so desperate for it the Libs would have won. If Cameron has any sense he will ditch the lot of them and go for broke. If we can save the country from a double dip recession then we can discuss Electoral Reform my grandchildren’s future is more important than a few MP's principles.
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I agree that the economic situation is more important than electoral reform Margaret. I have a feeling that the financial markets will bounce the Lib Dems and Conservatives into a hurried agreement tomorrow.
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I do hope so as the media will stir up the markets into hysteria and then we in deep trouble. What little I have that is not taken in tax i.e. off pensions will disappear having work hard all my life now my pensions are sabotaged to help keep some of those on benefit in new homes, mobile phone , pay there Council tax and this week I learnt they get exemption from paying for the dentist. I accept there those genuine people who need help but I live opposite social housing and trust me it is criminal what goes on
Also heard rumour someone thinks Richard Drax should have been on prog but not so sure I did a radio with him and for a media man he was very hesitant.
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In Eastleigh the Labour vote collapsed by 5,000 (Leo Barraclough: "I am fighting for every Labour vote" LOL )and Lib Dem Chris Huhne was the victorious beneficiary.
The Lib Dem campaign revolved on persuading the Labour Voters to vote tactically to keep Conservative out.
Those Labour voters are now not very happy to hear Chris Huhne might be sitting in a Tory cabinet, I've had emails from Labour voters who supported Chris Huhne saying they will withdraw and ABSTAIN if they have to in next election rather than support him again.
What a Parliamentarian like Mr Huhne regards regards as a dose of pragmatism for the National good is viewed as a betrayal by Labour voters.
I expect Maria Hutchings - the consevative candidate - realises that the tactical votes that reurned Mr Huhne last Thursday may not be lent so readily next time.
However Mr Huhne is a bit of a political history anorak and in negotiating a coalition might seek an agreement to safeguard his seat like the one that lead to the 'coupon' election of 1918 - when following the Lib/Con coalition of Lloyd george and Bonar-Law, both leaders jointly wrote to thier constituency parties to endorse the same offical 'Coalition Candidate'to stand against Labour.
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Further to my last comment I think it's also worth mentioning that the Liberal/Conservative coalition of Lloyd George/Bonar Law led to a huge split in the Liberal party.
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