[Update] The Liberal-Conservative Coalition

[Julian]

I found a handy gif on the interweb for labour people in this thread....

[Osem]

There is of course an entirely understandable range of opinion here about how the new government will perform, how long it will last etc. Having arrived at where we are, what I find hard to stomach, however, are those who, to satisfy their own pathetic, blind (sometimes vicious) political prejudice actually want this coalition to fail. Make no mistake, the stakes are very high and if this coalition collapses, UK PLC will be all the worse off - quite possibly a terminal case requiring emergency intervention such as that being provided to Greece.

If Brown and New Labour had won I wouldn't be happy about it and would probably be packing my bags to start a new life elsewhere. Whilst I would be predicting doom, I wouldn't be hoping for it just to show everyone how right I was and how my politics are the only way forward. All right minded people should be hoping that this new arrangement works for the good of us all. Yes, healthy scepticism is no bad thing but neither is healthy optimism and thanks to Bliar we've already had enough of the former to last a lifetime so how about we all start pulling together??.. Sadly there are too many people out there whose opinions on the Tories in particular are based on little more than hysterical, inaccurate and often deliberately distorted information mostly relating to Thatcher's time. My hope and belief is that things have moved on. People and policies have changed and we now have the opportunity to pull together to get this country out of the most serious financial crisis since WWII. I want this Government to work because I want a better Britain. The more people who now open their minds to the possibility of a new, positive, era in UK politics, the more likely it will be that we get one and vice versa.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

<chuckles>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...10/8675705.stm

EDUCATION SECRETARY - MICHAEL GOVE

</chuckles>

NNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

They said this morning that he wasn't going to be involved with education. They had given it to a Liberal Democrat. The whole of our school where cheering this morning.

[chris9991]

I notice this text in the Conservative/ Lib Dem Deal, from the Political Reform section (number 6)

This legislation will also provide for dissolution if 55% or more of the House votes in favour.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...10/8677933.stm

Does this mean that if 46% do not vote for dissolution, that the said dissolution will not go ahead i.e. that only 46% support is needed to survive a vote of confidence?

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Julian

I found a handy gif on the interweb for labour people in this thread....

[Dai]

Originally Posted by Osem

I want this Government to work because I want a better Britain. The more people who now open their minds to the possibility of a new, positive, era in UK politics, the more likely it will be that we get one and vice versa.

I so hope you're right. And so does Dan Bull.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy0bO0qNKFc

Originally Posted by Flyboy

NNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

They said this morning that he wasn't going to be involved with education. They had given it to a Liberal Democrat. The whole of our school where cheering this morning.

Wow!

That's amazing - every person in the school, including all the kids, knew all about Michael Gove's political background, parliamentary career, and previous history as a long-standing Times journalist, and so were able to make an informed judgement on his capabilities to get the job done, and found him wanting.

Sounds like a helluva school.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Wow!

That's amazing - every person in the school, including all the kids, knew all about Michael Gove's political background, parliamentary career, and previous history as a long-standing Times journalist, and so were able to make an informed judgement on his capabilities to get the job done, and found him wanting.

Sounds like a helluva school.

or they've got a good spin doctor

[Osem]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Wow!

That's amazing - every person in the school, including all the kids, knew all about Michael Gove's political background, parliamentary career, and previous history as a long-standing Times journalist, and so were able to make an informed judgement on his capabilities to get the job done, and found him wanting.

Sounds like a helluva school.

That's what you get after 13 years of New Labour running the show......

Originally Posted by Flyboy

NNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

They said this morning that he wasn't going to be involved with education. They had given it to a Liberal Democrat. The whole of our school where cheering this morning.

Thought that would cheer you up

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

<chuckles>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...10/8675705.stm

EDUCATION SECRETARY - MICHAEL GOVE

</chuckles>

Eeew. That guy gives me the creeps.

[v0id]

http://www.b3ta.com/board/10044612

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by chris9991

I notice this text in the Conservative/ Lib Dem Deal, from the Political Reform section (number 6)



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...10/8677933.stm

Does this mean that if 46% do not vote for dissolution, that the said dissolution will not go ahead i.e. that only 46% support is needed to survive a vote of confidence?

What a sad day for democracy. Since when is a majority fifty-five per cent, surely it is fifty per cent plus one.

This is what the Times has to say, rather remarkable insight, for them:

The British constitution is very simple: he who commands the confidence of the House is PM, he who loses that confidence must resign. I simply do not see how such a rule is credible or can be enforced: a majority is a majority is 51%, not 55% or 60% or 80%. But once one concedes the concept on anything other than a simple majority for a confidence vote, then the way is open to Governments to protect their position by passing legislation demanding ever higher majorities before they are forced to resign.

"Indeed why not go the whole hog and pass legislation saying that nothing less than a 100% majority will be sufficient to force the government of the day to resign! As well as being politically dangerous, there is also the fundamental paradox that this legislation need only be passed by a simple majority.

Plans for fixed-term Parliaments "not credible" and "dangerous" - says law expert

[Lord Nikon]

Hate to have to point this out to you flyboy, but technically we are not a democracy, although we do tend to follow democratic process, we are a constitutional monarchy.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Hate to have to point this out to you flyboy, but technically we are not a democracy, although we do tend to follow democratic process, we are a constitutional monarchy.

I thought we were a parliamentary democracy?

The UK constitution isn't worth the paper it isn't written on

---------- Post added at 00:37 ---------- Previous post was at 00:33 ----------

I have to agree with Flyboy though. It is dodgy. However, after the massive erosion of civil liberties that Labour forced upon us, I think this is a small hit to take. I am so looking forward to this repeal bill

Oh. One also has to wonder about a 'constitution' that only needs a majority of 50% +1 to change the definition of a majority. Time to get some things in writing me thinks. Most civilised countries require a majority of 3/4 (+ 1) to change the constitution.