I certainly agree that the LDs will have had a softening effect ... how much we won't know until the detail of the departmental cuts come in - that's when we'll really know the character of the govt, I think.
I have difficulty with this criticism of Lab not going for a coalition. I truly don't think it was because they weren't prepared to negotiate on policy. Brown realised the game was up, and it would be politically impossible to cling on in a coalition of the minor parties. They had to refuse to deal if a coalition involving the biggest party was a possibility. Perhaps the LDs would have prefered a LibDem/Lab coalition; personally I think Clegg preferred the idea of working with Cameron (and I can understand that - Brown beong notoriously difficult to work with ...)
The issue of 13 years ago we've talked about before - I hold my hands up and have nothing to say. But Labour being skullduggerous after 1997 doesn't excuse a single Lib Dem vote for Tory nastiness now. The Lib Dems will need to take a view about what is necessary yet painfull, which they must of course support, and what is Tory vileness being introduced under a coalition fig-leaf. The former makes them look statesmanlike, and I think the freeze on CB comes under this heading - no-one wants it but it's probably the least-worse option. The latter I think will come home to roost - the changes to TC backdating and reduction in JSA I would class here. There isn't anything that can be done, as I understand it ... support for the emergency budget is a requirement of the coalition, but people on the left (in both the labour and liberal traditions) have long memories.
With regard to Lab and the books - sure they know where we are now but they don't know where we'll be in 12-18 months time, that was what I meant.
no subject
I have difficulty with this criticism of Lab not going for a coalition. I truly don't think it was because they weren't prepared to negotiate on policy. Brown realised the game was up, and it would be politically impossible to cling on in a coalition of the minor parties. They had to refuse to deal if a coalition involving the biggest party was a possibility. Perhaps the LDs would have prefered a LibDem/Lab coalition; personally I think Clegg preferred the idea of working with Cameron (and I can understand that - Brown beong notoriously difficult to work with ...)
The issue of 13 years ago we've talked about before - I hold my hands up and have nothing to say. But Labour being skullduggerous after 1997 doesn't excuse a single Lib Dem vote for Tory nastiness now. The Lib Dems will need to take a view about what is necessary yet painfull, which they must of course support, and what is Tory vileness being introduced under a coalition fig-leaf. The former makes them look statesmanlike, and I think the freeze on CB comes under this heading - no-one wants it but it's probably the least-worse option. The latter I think will come home to roost - the changes to TC backdating and reduction in JSA I would class here. There isn't anything that can be done, as I understand it ... support for the emergency budget is a requirement of the coalition, but people on the left (in both the labour and liberal traditions) have long memories.
With regard to Lab and the books - sure they know where we are now but they don't know where we'll be in 12-18 months time, that was what I meant.