I just have to pipe up here
because what you just said is a load of bumwad. There didn't need to be any more libdem MPs elected to stop the increase in tuition fees going through. All they neeeded to do was vote as they promised they'd vote and the bill wouldn't have passed. As it was it passed by 21 votes, and that's with 27 libdem MPs voting FOR the bill and 8 not voting at all.
(Hippo_of_Doom, Thu 23 Dec 2010, 18:19, 1 reply)

What would the consequences have been?
If the Lib dems voted against this they would have destabilised the coalition government. It would almost certainly result in more instability in the government and probably a re-election. This is not what the country needs at the moment.

Lib dems are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They promised to support the Tories and agreed on a revised and improved tuition fee rise (without lib dem influence there would not have been a limit on the amount a uni could charge for tuition fees). At the moment the Lib dems best chance of power is in a coalition, if this one doesn't work and they don't get the electoral reform they need then the uk will effectively become a 2 party state.
(Little Animal Disaster isn't finishing what he started, Thu 23 Dec 2010, 20:04, closed)

are you saying we're better off with the tories slashing and burning there way through public services
as long as there's some stability in parliment for a while?
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Thu 23 Dec 2010, 20:35, closed)

You may not agree with Tory policy
...and I don't either, but they are doing what they think is best for the economy. It is yet to be seen if it will be successful in dragging us out of the mire, but at least they are doing something. With a minority government there would be so much politicking and in fighting that nothing would get done. The advantage of the coalition and stability is that the government can make plans for the economic recovery over the next 5 years. This involves things like tuition fees, the benefit the government will not see for 3 years.

If the coalition collapses next year and an election is called, say Labour get in, they will try and change everything and we will be back to square one, and worse off.

Economic recovery will not happen over night.
(Little Animal Disaster isn't finishing what he started, Fri 24 Dec 2010, 10:38, closed)