Retired UK General : Impeach Blair | 27 comments (27 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Well, it's a nice idea, being a Lib Dem voter myself I certainly like it.

However, the media is already building up Cameron as the next PM. I doubt very much that the Lib Dems will make many gains next time around.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 02:51:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

I hate all these personality politics... How about some good, old-fashioned, issues?

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 03:03:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

Well, I do vote on issues, (after all, you can hardly vote for the Lib Dem candidate in my constituency on personality grounds).

However, one has to recognise how changing times (influence of the media, plus the Blairite "govern against your own party" approach) have turned the election into a pseudo-presidential presentation in the minds of many voters.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 03:29:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

If it had been a presidential contest, Labour would have lost last may. It was reported Labour candidates insisted on not having Blair appear on their campaign literature... which is why I don't understand their supine attitude to him, especially at the party conference. For the first time since 1997, Blair owes more to his MPs than they owe him.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 03:34:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

Well, perhaps. Unfortunately, the Labour grip on power is arranged around the loyal poor in the North, Wales and Scotland voting Labour and the richer swing voters in the South-East (who were natural Tories in the Thatcher era) voting for Blair.

Thus the deal with the devil was formed.

This of course is the ultimate curse of First Past the Post. A relatively small group of swing voters exercises all the power, and votes in the wrong constituency (like mine) are worth nothing.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 03:37:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

The best that can happen to the UK in the next election cycle is a hung parliament where the Lib Dems will be able to sell their support in exchange for a commitment to introduce proportional representation (single transferable vote works best in the Westminster system).

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 04:21:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

Hmmm.
But neither the Tories or Labour would probably go along with the PR thing. It would threaten them both in the future. Although a Tory-Labour coalition may be unlikely, the scenario could even see a second election within months with both the Tories and Labour blaming the Lib-Dems blackmail for another vote.

by observer393 on Fri Jan 13th, 2006 at 11:37:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

Maybe the second party would go along since they are likely to have done worse in the election than they would have by a proportional system.

But you're right, it might backfire.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jan 16th, 2006 at 06:04:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Don't understand (none / 0)

Despite observer's scepticism, I agree. This is worth a hope and a shot, as it were.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jan 14th, 2006 at 03:35:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Retired UK General : Impeach Blair | 27 comments (27 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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