Nick Clegg

gynn · 24-10-2010, 11:49

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.

Ken Moss · 24-10-2010, 12:07

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.

Acrylic-bob · 24-10-2010, 12:45

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.

cashman · 24-10-2010, 13:59

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.

garinda · 24-10-2010, 15:47

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.

Benipete · 24-10-2010, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

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.

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

jaysay · 24-10-2010, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benipete

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

When your in a hole Beni stop digging

JCB · 24-10-2010, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by gynn

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 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 .

Ken Moss · 25-10-2010, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCB

....according to the latest opinion polls...

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).

JCB · 25-10-2010, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

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.
.

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 .

jaysay · 25-10-2010, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCB

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 .

And Neil Kinnock in 1992 too JCB

Mancie · 25-10-2010, 20:12

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

DaveinGermany · 25-10-2010, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

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

Aye, right up there with Pinnochio Blair !

http://iraqdossier.com/blairslies

cmonstanley · 25-10-2010, 21:55

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

Mancie · 25-10-2010, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

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

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.