I heard Nick Clegg on the radio this morning
and he made a valid point about the tuition fees thing and the Lib Dem's other pledges. They didn't win the election, they came 3rd. They are lucky to have any influence.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:07, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

He didn't make a valid point at all
If you are elected on a mandate to not increase tuition fees, then you ought to make sure the terms of your coalition are that you are not forced to vote for something which you had already signed a pledge against.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:17, Reply)

he wasn't elected though
so it is a valid point

edit: having just read the wording of the pledge, the above is irrelevant. I retract my statement.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:25, Reply)

There's the problem - "if you are elected"
We may just be splitting hairs over a technicality here, but they weren't elected.
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:26, Reply)

He was elected as an MP
He stood on a mandate of not increasing tuition fees.

There is no technicality here. He has formed a coalition government with another party and at the very least he should have insisted that no Lib-Dem MP would have to vote for the increase.

His party is literally getting nothing at all from the coalition with the Tories, everything the Lib-Dem mainfesto included is being ignored in favour of what will satisfy the Tories.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:30, Reply)

that's not entirely true
there are a few token things that the Tories have thrown to them to appease them slightly.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:33, Reply)

The ones he chooses to mention as ideas where they got their way are
Getting a better deal on tuition fees than would otherwise have happened, control orders and the AV referendum. All three of these points are, for want of a better phrase, fucking shit.

Stupid cunt gets me even angrier than listening to that retard Osbourne talk about finance as if he has some sort of clue.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:37, Reply)

he sounded so defensive on the radio it was funny
can you imagine how shit it must be to be him at the moment?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:38, Reply)

Everyone hates his guts.
He is a total cunt but no more of one than anyone else in politics.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:57, Reply)

You can't help but think he could be throwing his weight around a bit more
Although it's not clear how much weight he/they have to throw around.

I think the aspect I like least about this is that whenever the government announces something unpopular, it's Clegg that gets it in the neck. Cameron et al don't seem to get hauled over the coals for it, even though it was most likely their decision in the first place.
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:38, Reply)

I can't help but feel that they are still doing a much better job than Labour could do
I have no faith in the Milliband at all
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:40, Reply)

I would have thought the best thing Labour could do right now
would be to distance themselves as much as possible from Blair-era Labour in terms of views and policies. But what are the chances of that actually happening?
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:46, Reply)

That or kill themselves.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:51, Reply)

Now there's a nice thought...

(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:54, Reply)

Well, if the Lib Dems don't agree
the Tories don't get to pass legislation. That's how much weight they have.
( Kroney, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:47, Reply)

That is actually a valid point.
I still don't care, though.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:18, Reply)

As above
no it's not
(Bazongaloid, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:19, Reply)

Just because
YOU WENT ON ABOUT HOW GREAT HE WAS, WHEN IN FACT HE WAS JUST ANOTHER CUNT AND YOU FEEL A BIT STUPID AND NOW YOU'VE TAKEN DOWN YOUR NICK CLEGG POSTER IN DISGUST.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:22, Reply)

I do feel stupid, I was totally taken in
but he still didn't have a valid point.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:22, Reply)

did you take down your Nick Clegg poster?
I've taken down my Michael Gove one :(
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:26, Reply)

And yet my Hitler one is still on the ceiling above my bed.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 10 Jan 2011, 16:40, Reply)