tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post431436069025625452..comments2024-03-29T04:11:41.539+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: Will the AV campaign herald a severe bout of Lib Dem wistfulness?James Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-31806271868043914752010-09-29T14:33:00.772+01:002010-09-29T14:33:00.772+01:00Caron, there was of course a 'third way' b...Caron, there was of course a 'third way' back in May, which I believe was advanced by Charles Kennedy - the Lib Dems could have allowed the Tories to form a minority government. That would have allowed you the freedom to withdraw support if the point was ever reached at which the Tories became extremely unpopular and it became clear there was public appetite for an election to remove them from office (or perhaps even for a progressive alliance to take over without an election). I just cannot see what the Lib Dems have got out of the coalition that is so fantastic that it was worth lumbering us with the Tories for five years.<br /><br />I also don't understand the argument that it would have damaged the party's credibility if the offer of the coalition had been turned down. Support for PR or for the general principle of coalition doesn't have to mean support for absolutely any chance of a coalition that happens to come along. In continental countries with PR, there are many mainstream parties that are very reluctant to work with each other because of the ideological or policy mismatch.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-37794700838437944442010-09-29T13:31:46.099+01:002010-09-29T13:31:46.099+01:00I hardly think a Lib Dem can go on about wolves in...I hardly think a Lib Dem can go on about wolves in sheep’s clothes. Hasn’t your party just been swallowed whole by the biggest and baddest wolf around? Running headlong into an AV referendum having haemorrhaged more than half of your support and making no ground electorally on the Labour Part is hardly conducive for your own party’s old guards faces not to be like fizz, starting with Saint Vince.<br /><br />Ah the Jenkins Commission, it always brings a smile to my face. Remember what that Lib Dem grandee said about AV? No: How convenient! Another item of apparel discarded!Munguinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475165830302054002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-30005193544002085902010-09-29T08:35:14.588+01:002010-09-29T08:35:14.588+01:00Ed Miliband may be a breath of fresh air or he may...Ed Miliband may be a breath of fresh air or he may just be cynically manipulating us all by trying to drag sheep's clothing round the Labour Party. Time will tell.<br /><br />What is for sure is that given the number of the old guard whose faces were like fizz yesterday while he was doing his mea culpas and pretending the party was really liberal (which it has never been), the new leader's ride is not going to be easy.<br /><br />And then you have the issue that he may be good but he can't magic up a couple of dozen Labour MPs to build a properly stable government.<br /><br />I feel equally anxious about Labour and Conservatives.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04988201531739344840noreply@blogger.com