Given the recent pronouncements of Nick Clegg ruling out the Lib Dems joining a Lab/SNP coalition and Vince Cable saying he could stomach another coalition with the Tories (though he would like George Osborne’s job) it might not be wise to back them, particularly based on projections/forecasts the numbers for a Con/Lib Dem coalition don’t look possible.
Comments
I hope the 'kle4 test' becomes a thing. It would have been better if I had a better user name though. My tagline used to be 'DedicatedFenceSitter', and the FenceSitter test would actually work. Oh well, what could have been.
On topic, agreed, SNP figures seems unlikely, so its between LDs, Lab or no one. I think Ed will have a deputy even if it is a Lab figure and not a coalition arrangement one. Why change his current one I guess?
The summation of the postion in Scotland showed a brief soundbite from Nicola, Jackson Carlaw, Jim Murphy and Jo Swinson.
During Jim Murphy's piece, in the background you could clearly hear : -
"bawheid"
"yer a bawheid Murphy"
"nothing but a bawheid"
"bawheid"
For a non-coalition government, only useful as a formal recognition of a chief supporter I guess.
Which US VP said the job was like a bucket of cold p**s? Same applies.
I managed to put that quote into a PB thread header once.
It's supposed to be a myth that politicians ever want to lose an election, but if I were Miliband I think I'd be quite happy if Cameron stays in Number 10 for the time being. It'd give people on the Left a chance to reflect and realise that if they want power they need to return to the Labour fold (at least until there's electoral reform). I think there'll be another general election within 12 months, and the 3rd/4th parties will get squeezed. And it'd give him a chance to resign with some dignity in order for the party to find a more electable leader.
OTOH, if Ed does sneak into Number 10 on May 7th, it will be a remarkable achievement indeed if he manages to govern effectively while standing up to Salmond and co. If he were to manage it, he'd stroll back into power at the following election, but is he man enough?
"Only if there's an equivalent and suitable title for you tampon advertisers."
The Most Noble Order of the Sanitary Towel?
Geoff. I have made a decision for you. Based on the info you gave I have looked up the two candidates you were considering. The UKIP candidate is a Cardiff Uni alumni (my alma mater) so I think you have to vote for him even though he doesn't look old enough to shave :-)
Any two-party coalition I suspect the leader of the second party will follow Clegg's precedence and take the title. Minority Lab and there's nobody who 'needs' to take it.
Although May’s managed to stay the course.
Clegg is the ninth person to hold the office, though it has been vacant for long periods at a time.
But if the current coalition ends, and there's a minority Govt, either Con or Lab, and they don't appoint a Deputy PM.
If Clegg had taken eg Chief Secretary of the Treasury for himself then would he be able to also keep on top of the Lib-Dem priorities for Education, Health and all other departments not ran by LDs themselves?
I’m sure oppositions view winning the European elections in the same way John Nance Garner viewed the American Vice-Presidency, “it is not worth a bucket of warm piss”
http://bit.ly/1z8I633
I do think it unlikely Clegg will remain in post as LD leader for more than a week, post election. If they have the numbers to make a Tory coalition viable and he keeps his seat, maybe he stays in place for the look of it, before it is decided a deal won't be made. But more likely he resigns as soon as it is clear the LDs on their own cannot make any coalition viable.
Too much talk of conservative mps ringing up journalists last week 'whinging' about the campaign.
LISTEN ALL THOSE CONSERVATIVE MPS WHO READ THIS BLOG - SHUT UP. AS YOU HAVE SEEN TODAY, BORIS IS NOT THE STAR STRIKER, SO KEEP YOUR DISCIPLINE FOR GOODNESS SAKE.
Clegg's wielded tremendous power and authority this Parliament. Not for having responsibility for any single department by itself, but by commanding the Lib Dems and thus having essentially veto power over every department.
This made the role of DPM perfect for his position. Clegg has been the quintessential jack of all trades, master of none.
Mr. Tyndall, been odd in Yorkshire, very sunny, and warm when it's still, but the intermittent wind a few hours ago was icy.
Other possibilities
Election 2 - electric bugaloo
Election 3D (we all get glasses for this one)
2 Elect 2 Furious
I still know who you elected last summer
I've just voted UKIP and it felt great. Change is coming and a ray of hope for us working, law abiding...
http://dailym.ai/1z7Pdsy
11 YouGovs, 2 ICMs, 2 Ipsos Moris, 3 Ashcrofts, 2 ComRes phone polls, 1 ComRes online poll, 1 Opinium, 4 Populus, 1 TNS, 2 Panelbases, 3 Survations and a Partridge in a pear tree.
It would be nice if more people cared about their respective party the way you do. I'm a complete charlatan who follows politics (almost) purely for the bloodsport.
Any idea when we will start to get the final polls coming in? I assume some will be eve of poll polls on May 6 (or night of May 5) but will others vary?
I'd expect most will do an eve of election poll, but that is dependent on someone paying them.
...only what I want...
Though some might follow Ipsos Mori's lead in the indyref and get one out on the morning of the election.
Lots and lots of new chaps lately.
'I've just voted UKIP and it felt great. Change is coming and a ray of hope for us working, law abiding...'
Are you still forecasting 55 UKIP MP's ?
The SNP are (in terms of seats) the only real break with the past, or will be, at the election. That's the game-changer.
There are other factors, but that's the big one.
.......events dear boy, events.
There is no certainty about the election nor party leaders subsequent to the election.
The LibDem seat bands look like pretty much free money. Put money on at 4-1 with Ladbrokes (or others) on 11-20 seats, and a covering bet on 21-30 (11-10 with several).
SkyBet offers an interesting 16-1 on 10 seats or less if you're that way inclined. Nevertheless given there has to be a 90% chance of less than 30 seats for the LibDems, the seat bands look excellent value.
(Given at least nine losses in Scotland, and six certain Labour losses, you only need 10 from the flotsam and jetsam of Conservative and - harder - Labour challenge seats.)
If you genuinely believe Cambridge is going to fall to Labour, then the 16-1 on 10 seats and under looks incredible value.
Also, that's God discouraging unionists from voting.
SNP supporters, by the way, don't feel the cold.
Kevin Gameiro fgs 4/1 massive
Like in '97 when Portillo was a favourite to be post-election leader but lost his seat instead, there is a risk of a Portillo moment for many would-be LD favourites.
But probably Norman Lamb or Vince if young Cardinals prefer old Bishops of Rome.
I'm thinking, in a 20 seat LibDem party, who will be Farron's opponent.
Not Laws, or Alexander as the former is too right wing (and has baggage) and the latter will be without a seat.
Steve Webb? Norman Lamb?
I might take the 50-1 on Julian Huppert, on the basis that he's likely to have a seat post the election.
Assuming she gets re-elected (25% chance), I reckon Lynne Featherstone would stand. Would she win?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3056237/Ukip-hates-modern-Britain-infected-virus-racism-says-Labour-s-Chuka-Umunna.html
You can see where we heading under labour again,shut your mouth up on immigration or your a racist.
Surely most LD seats will be won on an incumbent personal vote, I can't imagine any gains - and any retirements put the seat far more at risk of a loss. There'll be some retirements kept and many a gain or two, but not that many in total I suspect. Nowhere near as much as normal.
PS. It's difficult to know why Miliband has made this seemingly suicidal decision