And, for pedants everywhere, Happy New Decade as well.
I don't think any of us really need to think about our New Year's resolution this time round - it can only be to defy the bookies and ensure 2011 doesn't turn out to be the Year Of The Snarl after all.
(For the avoidance of doubt, this is a pre-scheduled post!)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
But...but...the three London parties don't like the idea. How can this possibly work?
I break off from my Christmas blogging abstinence for the 79th time to bring you this unrivalled gem on the subject of tuition fees from Richard Nabavi at Political Betting yesterday. Unfortunately, I missed his final comment, so wasn't able to respond at the time...
Me : Seth, there was nothing remotely “undeliverable” about a solemn pledge to vote in a specific way in the Commons come what may. All they [the Lib Dems] had to do was locate the ‘No’ lobby.
Richard Nabavi : As a protest, yes. As a policy, no. The main point, though, still remains.
Me : Not at all. The idea that it was impossible to avoid an increase in tuition fees doesn’t stand up to much scrutiny - there were a number of alternatives, albeit ones that Tories find unpalatable. But in any case, the pledge the Lib Dems signed - virtually in blood - was about how they would vote regardless of whether they were in government or not.
Richard Nabavi : So you think. But since Labour, the LibDems and the Conservatives have all concluded that there was actually no alternative, your view doesn’t really amount to anything very practical.
So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen of the jury - if the three London-based parties don't propose alternatives, then those alternatives simply don't exist. Scotland and Wales must seem like Narnia to these people.
Me : Seth, there was nothing remotely “undeliverable” about a solemn pledge to vote in a specific way in the Commons come what may. All they [the Lib Dems] had to do was locate the ‘No’ lobby.
Me : Not at all. The idea that it was impossible to avoid an increase in tuition fees doesn’t stand up to much scrutiny - there were a number of alternatives, albeit ones that Tories find unpalatable. But in any case, the pledge the Lib Dems signed - virtually in blood - was about how they would vote regardless of whether they were in government or not.
Richard Nabavi : So you think. But since Labour, the LibDems and the Conservatives have all concluded that there was actually no alternative, your view doesn’t really amount to anything very practical.
If there were an alternative, why has no-one proposed it?
So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen of the jury - if the three London-based parties don't propose alternatives, then those alternatives simply don't exist. Scotland and Wales must seem like Narnia to these people.
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