Nick Clegg
 

Where are the Liberal Democrats going under the leadership of Nick Clegg? Yes, they are part of the coalition government, and as such can claim they are "in power".

But just how much power do they actually wield in the coalition? There isn't much in the Chancellor's spending cuts that wouldn't have been there if the Conservatives had overall control, apart maybe from the "Green Bank" (but what is that in reality?).

Clegg can bang on about working in the national interest. But if all that means is helping the Conservatives implement Conservative policies, then what is he achieving for the Liberal Democrat movement?

He should be alarmed that the majority of the great British public feel the budget is unfair in that it impacts too harshly on the lower paid. That might not be a problem for Conservative voters, but it will horrify grass roots Liberal Democrat supporters.

And it will come back to haunt him in the long run.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Forget the damage to Nick Clegg, the party won't be seeing power for another 65 years following this government.

To abandon your principles and climb into bed with whoever you need just to get a sniff of power probably won't have gone down too well with Liberal Democrat voters.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Sort of like G Brown's attempts to persuade Lib Dems to jump into bed with Labour and enable him to hang on to power.

As Lord Acton sagely observed: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I am reserving judgement on the coalition, because I feel that it is too early to judge whether it will be a good thing for the country or a bad thing. For me, politics is all about the good of the country. Ask me again in a year's time.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

gotta say i'm wi ken on this, reckon the Lib-Dems are consigned now to history, at least in my lifetime n probably much longer. meself i aint a believer in coalitions whoever jumps in wi who, i fail to see how the party doin the jumping can improve electoral odds, by doing so.:rolleyes:

Re: Nick Clegg
 

It's reported in the papers today, after his admission on Desert Island Discs, that he likes indulging in the odd fag.

I wouldn't be suprised if that started at his public school, Westminster.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Nothing wrong with the odd fag I mean drag,I mean puff no I mean swallow - Oh start the car I'm off.:confused::D:D

Re: Nick Clegg
 

When your in a hole Beni stop digging:D:D:D

Re: Nick Clegg
 

That may be the case , but according to the latest opinion polls , more of those questioned blamed Labour for the cuts than blamed the Con-Lib-Dems .

If the Con-Lib-Dem coalition can keep persuading people this way , Labour should be very concerned . At the moment they appear to be losing the argument .

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Can you point us in the direction of these polls? It's a phrase that is seemingly bandied about at random and I'd like to see your evidence in this instance.

What escapes a lot of people is that any poll can be conducted in such a way as to influence the outcome, that's why I don't give them much credence (yes, even the ones that say the majority support Labour).

Re: Nick Clegg
 

I'm going off a Radio 4 "Today" programme report and a YouGov poll .

I've just seen a Mail on Sunday/BPIX poll which gives Labour a lead over the Con-Libs .

Polls are not perfectly accurate , but they do indicate trends .

The latest one favours Labour .

They teach us not to count our chickens before they are hatched , which Harold Wilson did in 1970 , much to the polsters' and politicians' surprise .

Re: Nick Clegg
 

And Neil Kinnock in 1992 too JCB

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Sandy Shaws "Puppet on a String" comes to mind.:)

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Aye, right up there with Pinnochio Blair ! ;)

http://iraqdossier.com/blairslies

Re: Nick Clegg
 

end of his political career with that numpty alexander no more votes in scotland for lib dems its going to straight fight with nationalists and labour;) up here

Re: Nick Clegg
 

I think it's only the start of Clegg's political career.. when it suits he could easily leave the dems and be a major player in the tory party...the lib-dems will suffer at elections from their disgrace.. but Nick Clegg will not.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

that discussion was concured wi in our house yesterday mancie.;) every chance imho.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Tony Blair could be a Tory...David Cameron could be New Labour...all these modern political leaders come out of the same mould anyway...you could never have said that about Michael Foot and Enoch Powell! ;)

Re: Nick Clegg
 

No you could not say that about Foot and Powell..one a socialist and the other a right wing facist racist.. but at least they were honest.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Well there's one thing for sure he wouldn't be joining the cowboy outfit that have just been ousted from office;)

Re: Nick Clegg
 

In 1945 Enoch Powell voted Labour , but was soon to join the Conservatives .

In 1974 he left the Conservative party , and in the two General Elections of that year , February and October , he urged the voters to vote Labour .

In the October election he was elected as an Ulster Unionist MP .

When asked about the Thatcher victory of 1979 he replied , " Grim " .

In the 1980s he made speeches supporting unilateral nuclear disarmament .

Quite a maverick .

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Just like Churchill.

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Yes , Jaysay . Poor Neil .

We can learn plenty from the ups and downs in politics , as long as you don't let it get you down .

I have been thinking of the General Elections in my lifetime . Only 3 governments went the full 5 year term , and all 3 lost power .
1. 1964 , the Conservatives led by Sir Alec Douglas-Home .
2. 1992 , the Conservatives led by John Major .
3. 2010 , Labour led by Gordon Brown .

David Cameron says that his government intends to serve a full 5 year term . :D:D:D

Re: Nick Clegg
 

as i understood it JCB, Enoch Powell was pushed out in 74, after his infamous "Rivers Of Blood" speech? he never actually left of his own accord?

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Yes he was sacked from his shadow cabinet post after the speech in 1968 , but left the party in 1974 .

Re: Nick Clegg
 

ah cheers fer clearing that up fer me, memorys not what it was,past alcohol, is getting the blame.:D

Re: Nick Clegg
 

Ya Tory then Liberal then back to the Tories;)