As you may or may not know on 6th May there will be a General election in the United Kingdom to determine a new Prime Minister; I'm making this thread partially for people to discuss it since it's really hottintg up (especially after the first of the TV debates). But, since during the American elections I, as a Englishman, was bored stiff being shown all kinda of debates and comaprisons and info on TV and in print etc. for Obama and McCain that was, to an extent, irrelevant to me, I was wondering what effect the U.K. elections were having in other countries; in America, in common-wealth countries etc. are you getting the same coverageof the UK election I got of the American one? Or is it a one-way street?
Anyway thanks for any posts it'll be interesting to see how much information apsses each way
Labour has the right now, to be able to 'team-up' with other partys (Lib dems for example), and form a coallotion or a minority government.
While the laws state that if there is a hung parliament, the current PM gets to attempt to form a government first, it just won't happen. Nick Clegg of the Liberals refuses to work with Gordon Brown. It really looks like a Con-Lib coalition is going to be the case. Even if the Libs don't side with the Conservatives, the Conservatives will govern a minority government (unless, by some divine miracle, the Libs team up with Labour).
Nick Clegg of the Liberals refuses to work with Gordon Brown.
Which is why Brown would have to go. He said before the election that he wouldn't want to be the PM in the case of a minority/coalition government anyway. Bring on Alan Johnson/Ed Miliband.
It really looks like a Con-Lib coalition is going to be the case.
Not at all. Negotiations are taking place because Clegg pledged, in the very lib dem tradition, of first negotiating a coalition with the party who won the most seats and votes, but if that comes to nothing, doing what's best for the national interest, ie., forminga coalition with Labour. Policy wise the tories and the lib dems have been drifting apart for the past 10 years to what amounts to fundamentally irreconcilable stances on the economy, Europe, defence, education and so on. I just can't see on what ground they could possibly unite unless the tories offer a referendum on PR, which they've already said they weren't going to do.
I think this is the Liberals chance and they have to take it, no matter how much they disagree with the Conservatives. If they ever want electoral reform to pass, they need to join this government. Otherwise, they will continue to gain 20% of the vote, and get 5% of the seats.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first time that the Liberals have a chance to be a part of the ruling coalition since they won the elections in 1910 (not including Churchill's National Government). This opportunity comes 100 years after the last time they held power. The Liberals may want to consider this deal. They can't wait another 100 years!
If they ever want electoral reform to pass, they need to join this government. Otherwise, they will continue to gain 20% of the vote, and get 5% of the seats.
The thing is, all that the Tories are offerring is a parliamentary commission on electoral reform. Those can be sidelined and take years to yield any results, which the Tories, by appointing Tory MPs to the commission, could no doubt ensure. Even though I'm against it, and for another coalition, they do have another option in the form of a broad anti Tory coalition including them, Labour and SDP and Plaid Cymru parties. That would be their best bet at electoral reform.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first time that the Liberals have a chance to be a part of the ruling coalition since they won the elections in 1910
Which brings me onto my next point; the last time the Liberals chose to form a coalition with a minority government was with Labour in the late 70s. This had disastrous results for them, since they were seen to be upholding an unpopular government, which would be the case if they formed a coalition with Labour now. I feel very very sorry for Clegg. He's d*mned if he does and d*mned if he doesn't.
It remains to be seen whether it can last. As of now I'm licking my wounds, and trying to see a silver lining. The AV referendum is a step in the right direction, but it's no STV. 6 cabinet posts is decent, but the Lib Dems didn't get any of the big departments. I am very pleased about the tax reform though, relieving the poorest in society from tax, and preventing the ludicrous tory tax cuts for the rich. That said, I'm still fairly certain there will be another election by the end of the year.
That depends entirely by which criteria you define change. This election result, more than any other for the past 13 years, will have severe ramifications.
I also dispute the point that elections don't change anything. If you look at the political economic and social backdrop of Britain since the war, there have been massive shifts depending on election results, which has been magnified by our electoral system and adversarial political style.
