Why not Labour-Tory alliance if hung parliament?

runswithascript · 25-04-2010 10:23am #1

I understand that a hung parliament is when no party has a majority but from what I've read online if this happens Labour or the Tories would have to form a government with the Liberal Democrats.

I'm curious as to why the Tories and Labour couldn't form a government together in the event of a hung parliament?

Bottle_of_Smoke · 25-04-2010 12:57pm

They have completely different policy re cuts in spending, be very difficult to agree on something stable on that issue.

Its true New Labour is closer to what the Tories are, and Tories have mellowed out a bit, but they still wouldn't even be as similar as Fianna Fail/Fine Gael are.

There's also a tribal element to it. Many Labour voters would be horrified at the idea their vote but the Tories in government, and vice versa

loldog · 25-04-2010 1:02pm

No chance for a functioning government.

.

LordSutch · 25-04-2010 1:30pm

Wouldn't it be ironic if the Conservatives came close but needed the Libs & the UUP to reach the magic number, with the UUP possibly holding no seats at all, and the DUP holding nine or Ten seats? > What would Cameron do then? approach the DUP for support

???

steelcityblues · 25-04-2010 1:40pm

Do you honestly think they wouldn't stab each other in the back within
no time?

Bottle_of_Smoke · 25-04-2010 2:14pm

Camelot wrote: »

Wouldn't it be ironic if the Conservatives came close but needed the Libs & the UUP to reach the magic number, with the UUP possibly holding no seats at all, and the DUP holding nine or Ten seats? > What would Cameron do then? approach the DUP for support ???

Could happen. To be honest wouldn't surprise me at all if DUPers went for it.

SeanW · 25-04-2010 3:55pm

I wouldn't imagine the Tories going into government with Labour, they've made most of their campaign out of how bad Labour are in government, they would look really silly. A Tory-Lib Dem "Grand Coalition" would appear more likely.

It would be almost comical if the Tories had to look to 4th parties such as the DUP, UKIP etc, come to think of it, that might work out nicely.

Kiwi_knock · 25-04-2010 4:23pm

SeanW wrote: »

It would be almost comical if the Tories had to look to 4th parties such as the DUP, UKIP etc, come to think of it, that might work out nicely.

That would actually be so funny if turned out that way. The Tories going from expecting to gain a huge majority to scrounging around looking for parties to form government with. They deserve it for being so smug.

runswithascript · 25-04-2010 4:51pm

It had crossed my mind that it may be because they are diametrically opposed on so many things but I thought that too trivial a reason.

So the Tories and Labour both have more in common with the Libs than each other? Did I not hear Browne at the last debate state that Clegg's a risk to security and Cameron a risk to the economy? Is one really worse than the other for Labour?

gizmo555 · 25-04-2010 4:56pm

Camelot wrote: »

Wouldn't it be ironic if the Conservatives came close but needed the Libs & the UUP to reach the magic number, with the UUP possibly holding no seats at all, and the DUP holding nine or Ten seats? > What would Cameron do then? approach the DUP for support ???

Like a light! (They are, after all, officially called "The Conservative and Unionist Party".)

Why not Labour-Tory alliance if hung parliament?

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