it seems to be the Lib Dems modus operandi to offer a coalition to however gets the most seats, in the event of no overall majority. Ed Davey offered it to Sir Kier before the last election and Nick Clegg stated that was their intention in 2010, hence initially talking to the Tories and then talking to Labour when those talks looked like they would break down. They went into government with Labour in the first Scottish parliament on the same basis.
Think most of that was before the election. With the Labour majority and hatred of the LibDems for the SDP split it was a pipe dream.
Let's wait and see. Will it be enough to offset anger at other spending cuts?
Didn't though did they.
they nearly went in to coalition together in 2010 and according to Paddy Ashdown, he had discussions with Tony Blair about a coalition in 1997.
That's the same thing 🤣
Obviously in reality it's not any one thing but "Tory-lite" was their nickname for a long time. That perception faded a little under Clegg because people of a certain age who grew up with Labour as the party of government under Blair needed something that wasn't the Tories to get behind. They do certainly have also have Labour people who vote for them as the only hope in posh/rural constituencies.
But when it comes to coalitions it is very much accepted by the experts that they are way more likely to go with the Tories and many believe they would never go in with Labour.
Really? I’ve always thought of the Lib Dems as Labour supporters who feel like being a Lib Dem would be accepted better at the pony club.
Ed Davey's probably having the easiest time of any political leader at the moment. He can push policies he'll never be responsible for, his main opposition are braindead and he's looking at gains in the looming local elections.
Doesn't surprise me. They are essentially conservatives with a conscience so support for a good cause like that would be very much their thing.
it’s interesting that the Lib Dems have the highest support, not something you would associate with them. Not surprising about Reform though.
Do you have a link to the poll?
Supporting Ukraine is a generally popular move. The recent IPSOP poll states
"Support for Britain’s current role in Ukraine is high across much of the political spectrum. Seven in ten (71%) Conservative voters support Britain’s role, and six in 10 (63%) Labour voters are in favour, as are 81% of Liberal Democrat voters. Reform UK voters show considerably lower support at 41%, with 40% of this group opposed"
Of course some are still obsessed with "Corbynites under the bed" despite it being pretty irrelevant these days.
I'm inclined to agree. One would think that the people behind Labour's worst result in a century would mind themselves but here we are. Funny enough, they weren't so careful when it came to paying for stuff like the promised free broadband back in 2019.
I think it was important for Europe to see this:
If people are unhappy with Starmer's performance with regard to domestic affairs then that's fine but this is something where the UK has been consistently correct on. I'm more than happy to see the UK continue to support Ukraine.
i would say it was the opposite. Those that are fundamentally against this are the Corbynites/workers party types for who Starmer is the spawn of the devil anyway. Generally people across the spectrum seem to understand that the world is changing, or at least it will be so for the next while until the US see sense or Trump sees out his full term.
He has provided a decent explanation of where the money is coming from, which will help to shut out a lot of the complaints, even if reducing overseas aid is controversial.
Domestically I think he's finished. Suspect those fully supportive are the type of people who for Labour are already a lost cause.
Internationally I'm sure he might look better. I'm dubious of any increase in his appeal at home when the UK is throwing vast sums of money at Ukraine and Defence spending whilst at the same time saying there's no money for anything else.
Time will tell I suppose .
hats off to Starmer, he has really stepped up to the plate here and shown true leadership.
With all of the security concerns going around and the US seemingly going for an isolationist policy, this may be the catalyst to the UK moving closer to the EU.
that is a really good “**** you” move by Starmer, Charles and Zelensky
Zelensky arrives at No10 for a meeting with Starmer, Starmer greets him with a handshake and man hug.
Rumours that Zelensky will also meet king Charles at Sandringham which will surely pìss Trump off even more.
I think you are confusing the eu and Europe.
And that's the juxtaposition - Starmer doesn't have a leg in Europe and Europe needs to be doing it's horse-flogging for itself.
Aside, Trump might get into the habit of having all of his world leader meetings in-camera. He appears to have a penchant of attacking the non-native English speaking leaders as they can't retort in the rapid-fire bombastic manner which he favours. But Starmer can't talk for Europe and that suits Trump fine.
someone has to keep talking to him though, otherwise he will just use it as an excuse to go full Putin. So far, he seems to hate the UK marginally less than he does the rest of Europe, so in my opinion, this makes Starmer the ideal candidate to take one for the team.
He will only look a fool. There is no mediating or reasoning with Trump. He is an unhinged clown who changes what he says every day.
Starmer would be best just backing the war effort and ignore the U.S.S.A.
I’d be surprised if that visit ever takes place now, especially as Charles is a big supporter of the Ukrainian cause.
If Starmer manages this well, he could become a defacto mediator between Ukraine/Europe and Trump and may be his breakthrough moment in winning over the British public.
But has it already blown up within 24 hours? Achieved nothing on Ukraine (as we now know) and is saddled with a state visit by the deeply disliked and distrusted orange one.
… although many women will be very glad she's gone due to her strongly held ideological belief in self id which clashes head on with womens rights.
Anneliese Dodds has resigned as Minister for International Development and for Women, fair play to her for having some principles.
it is looking as though Starmer did well in a very tricky meeting with Trump. He was obviously well briefed and pandered to Trumps ego, which seems to be the way to handle him. The letter from the King was a masterstroke in my opinion.
Watching PMQs the day before he left, it seemed pretty obvious that all parties were rooting for him, which was good to see. Some things are bigger than party politics and managing the walking ego in the White House is one of them.
Mod: several posts deleted. No more childish one-upmanship or childish bickering!
They got the lady who played Big Suze in Peep Show for some reason.
She's married into the Windsors so perhaps they were looking to give the impression of royal approval.
It's the worst thing a chancellor has ever done (since about 18 months ago).
