Thoughts on the implications this might have for us 'mericans?

5/12/2010 2:34:26 PM

He's conservative, and Britons don't like the war on terror. Patience for most other things.

5/12/2010 2:35:34 PM

PM is Conservative.

Deputy PM is a Liberal Democrat.

5/12/2010 2:36:34 PM

i heard he is a youngling

5/12/2010 2:48:55 PM

Hard to not improve on the last one.

5/12/2010 4:19:41 PM

He's British conservative, which means he's not terribly conservative at all as we understand it.

Supposedly the Cons are more in favor of the US-British "special relationship" and more opposed to EU-centered thinking, but with the Lib-Dems wielding such disproportionate power who knows how that'll work out. NPR was talking to an analyst earlier who said that the conventional wisdom was that the coalition would break up within a year based on that very issue.

5/13/2010 2:18:10 AM

Quote :

"Political Party - Number of Votes - change in % of vote Conservative - 10,683,787 - +3.8 Labour - 8,604,358 - -6.2 Liberal Democrat - 6,827,938 - +1.0"

-wiki

These were the only parties that broke into the millions, then there were 9 that broke into the hundred thousands, and then tons of other smaller ones.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675848.stm

Quote :

"What sort of deal have the Conservatives and Lib Dems done? They have entered a full coalition. The Lib Dems are to get five seats in Cabinet and a reported 20 ministerial jobs - so nearly half of all the 57 Lib Dem MPs will be in government. Vince Cable will be business secretary with responsibility for the banks, Danny Alexander will be Scottish Secretary and Chris Huhne energy and climate change secretary. David Laws is chief secretary to the treasury. The arrangement appears to be intended to last for five years, given that the two parties have agreed to pass legislation which would set the next election on the first Thursday in May 2015. "

Quote :

"What have we gleaned about Tory compromises on policies? The Conservatives have agreed to put back plans to raise the inheritance tax thresholds to £1m. They have also agreed to spend more money to cut class sizes for disadvantaged pupils. They have agreed to Lib Dem plans to raise the point at which people start paying tax to £10,000, although this will be phased in. As mentioned before, they have also said they will hold a referendum on the voting system and the introduction of fixed-term Parliaments, which they previously opposed. "

Quote :

"Reforming politics is also on the agenda with five year fixed term parliaments and a referendum on scrapping Britain's first-past-the-post voting system in favour of the Alternative Vote method."

That last point about election reform is probably the best news for the lib dems of all in terms of long term party growth and power within government.

5/13/2010 3:31:47 AM

Quote :

"PM is Conservative. Deputy PM is a Liberal Democrat. "

liberal democrats are more moderate than Labour, AFAIK

5/13/2010 8:40:04 AM

The Tories are going to can alot of really shitty labor programs (national id, forced fingerprinting of children, and other big brother stuff). the libdems seem to be a little retarded on nuclear power, but that may change.

All in all seems pretty good, but I cant say I know too much more than what i've read online.

5/13/2010 10:25:22 AM

Quote :

"What have we gleaned about Lib Dem compromises on policies? The Lib Dems have agreed to back the Tories plan for £6bn in public spending cuts this year and support the scrapping of part of next year's 1% National Insurance tax rise. They have agreed to drop plans for a "mansion tax" on properties costing more than £2m and will support a cap on non-EU immigration. They have dropped their opposition to renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent although the cost of the project will be carefully scrutinised. They have also agreed that no further powers should be ceded to the EU without a referendum and the UK should not join the euro. "

-BBC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Clegg

Quote :

"Beliefs In his acceptance speech upon winning the leadership contest, Clegg declared himself to be "a liberal by temperament, by instinct and by upbringing" and that he believes "Britain [is] a place of tolerance and pluralism". He has stated that he feels "a profound antagonism for prejudice of all sorts".[14] He declared his priorities as: defending civil liberties; devolving the running of public services to parents, pupils and patients; and protecting the environment.[54] In an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live on the morning after his election to the leadership, Clegg stated that he does not believe in God, but that he has great respect for people of faith.[55][56] In 2010, Clegg elaborated on this question, stating "I was asked...one of those questions where you're only allowed to answer "yes" or "no",...I was asked "Do you believe in God?" As it happens I don't know whether God exists. I'm much more of an agnostic." [57] He recently supported "liberal interventionism", arguing that the "unjustified invasion of Iraq" should not weaken support for this. He expressed that there should be more emphasis on a more humanitarian foreign policy.[58]"

Can you imagine someone who says publicly they don't believe in god making it to the VP spot in the US? No way that would fly on this side of the pond with our religious litmus test for higher office. Also he supports gay marriage and gays voted more for Lib Dems than any other party.

On gay rights the Labour party with Gordon Brown were more centrist with supporting civil partnerships, whereas the Lib Dems leader Nick Clegg is for gay marriage. But even David Cameron of the conservative party attends gay pride events to rally that constituency for the conservatives so its a whole different ballgame over there in some ways.

Quote :

"liberal democrats are more moderate than Labour, AFAIK"

I disagree, this looks more to me like a coalition of the edges of the political spectrum in an election where the middle of the road party lost out. But with a 3 party system looking at this as a political spectrum from left to right applies even less than it does to the US with a 2 party system where even then it doesn't work perfectly.

5/13/2010 3:15:53 PM

They need to get with the times and get themselves a black.

It's the coolest!

5/13/2010 4:13:18 PM

5/14/2010 10:22:31 AM

at least the queen got to be relevant for once.

5/14/2010 10:18:32 PM