Lib Dems in Brown's Government?

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gordo...107095,00.html

Gordon Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, have held private discussions in recent days about a plan for one or two senior Lib Dems to join Mr Brown's first cabinet, the Guardian has been told by a well-placed source.It is being emphasised that the discussions have not been about a coalition and may not have been conclusive.
But it is known that Mr Brown is thinking of launching an all-party initiative on the future of the British constitution, and it may be that he would like a senior Liberal Democrat involved on a specific basis. He may also make a move on Iraq that could require the help of other parties.

This could not happen, could it?

[popper]

what, get a written British constitution thats fair and takes its roots from the magna carter, who knows....

[BBKing]

'Carta', and although it's a good start, it's shouldn't be the basis for a British Constitution, it's a bit old-fashioned.

This sounds like a leak, however, designed to discredit the Lib Dems. Their voters are being fought over by Cameron and Brown, both realising that Ming isn't exactly the most frightening Parliamentary opponent ever. Bring back Charlie Kennedy, I say.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by BBKing

Bring back Charlie Kennedy, I say.

If you can find him

Originally Posted by Osem

If you can find him

He's over there, at the bar ...

---------- Post added at 09:35 ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 ----------

To the topic, however. I can see the logic of it if it's for something specific, like constitutional reform. Perhaps Brown also has one eye on the possibility of a hung Parliament after the next election.

I can't see a formal coalition happening unless the Parliamentary maths demanded it though.

[Julian]

Originally Posted by Chris T

He's over there, at the bar ...

---------- Post added at 09:35 ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 ----------

To the topic, however. I can see the logic of it if it's for something specific, like constitutional reform. Perhaps Brown also has one eye on the possibility of a hung Parliament after the next election.

I can't see a formal coalition happening unless the Parliamentary maths demanded it though.

My thoughts exactly.

It is yet another attempt by a wholly discredited government to cling on to power at any price.

Originally Posted by Julian

My thoughts exactly.

It is yet another attempt by a wholly discredited government to cling on to power at any price.

I think more than that it has to do with Gordo's very real fear that, having waited so long to be PM, he's only going to be in the job for about two years before Labour loses a general election.

[BBKing]

One hopes that the LDs list of Ten Acts That Should Be Repealed Forthwith is part of any negotiations:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/...d=16625#topten

[Osem]

Just heard good old Ming denying it would happen and that the discussions were purely routine. Mind you the Lib Dems have a bit of a track record when it comes to denying things don't they.

Originally Posted by BBKing

One hopes that the LDs list of Ten Acts That Should Be Repealed Forthwith is part of any negotiations:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/...d=16625#topten

All bar 2 of them introduced by the current Labour Government in the past 6 years. When you see all of these listed together it's quite chilling - it looks like a concerted attack on our basic freedoms.

[BBKing]

They're basically the premise for the film Taking Liberties, along with a few more. There are some, like the Inquiries Act, which bans any inquiry with any power from operating independent of the Government and the Civil Contigencies Act, which allows all sorts of things (banning of free movement, repeal of nearly any law, forcible taking of possessions) at the stroke of a pen by a Government Minister (who doesn't even have to prove who he is). Nick Clegg is to be commended for being about the only high-profile politician who's made a list and a fuss about it.

Mind you the Lib Dems have a bit of a track record when it comes to denying things don't they.

a) Do they?
b) How does this mark them out as unusual?

[Osem]

a) Yes - seem to recall a great deal of denial (some say lies) about Charles Kennedy's 'problems' or lack of.

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=151&id=28692006

Then of course there was: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/news/...695212,00.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Cont...&site=5&page=0

b) Did I state that is unusual or marks them out from other parties?

[Xaccers]

Paddy Ashdown: Neither did I touch her on the left leg, nor the right leg, but somewhere inbetween (spitting image)

[King Of Fools]

Originally Posted by Chris T

I think more than that it has to do with Gordo's very real fear that, having waited so long to be PM, he's only going to be in the job for about two years before Labour loses a general election.

Yes, I honestly think the first thing Gordon will do is bring PR in to the Westminster elections (another Lib Dem favourite). That way, even though he will not win a majority in the next general election, he can guarantee that the Conservatives will not either and he could probably still be PM of a Lab-Lib coalition!

Originally Posted by King Of Fools

Yes, I honestly think the first thing Gordon will do is bring PR in to the Westminster elections (another Lib Dem favourite). That way, even though he will not win a majority in the next general election, he can guarantee that the Conservatives will not either and he could probably still be PM of a Lab-Lib coalition!

He may have trouble with that - the political pendulum in this country is such that Tories and Labourites alike know that, sooner or later, they will get their chance to run the country with a good majority in the Commons. I suspect there will be many in his party who would rather endure the occasional spell in the political wilderness than the spectre of permanent coalition and compromise.