Reply to: Chancellor's Debate

[The_Equalizer]

Lib will move a bit and tories will move a bit. Both want power, and it could be a good combination. Cameroon as PM, Hague in there doing something important and Cable as Chancellor.

Couldn't they just put Hague up front? Why didn't the Conservatives wait before they made him leader. That said, the return of Portillo wouldn't be bad either, although I doubt it would happen.

As to the debate, Cable was the obvious choice from the three.

[Doggy Styles]

Of course, depending on how close it all is, it could end up as Con-SNP or some such awful combination.

Lib have said they won't enter a coalition with anyone who is going to cut public sector spending in the first year, so unless either Lib or Con move, it's unlikely.

I doubt the Tories and LibDems will form a formal coallition. The point is that Labour would not be able to bulldoze anything through any more - they always need other parties to support it.

So think forward a year or two, when the sh*t is really hitting the fan. Labour are hamstrung, and the public (who haven't understood the simple concept of debt let alone the nuances of minority government) only see and only blame Labour.

Once Cameron thinks the tail is well and truly pinned on the donkey, and has secured majority support from other parties, he calls a vote of no confidence in the government, which Labour cannot win. That results in a general election, and a new Tory government (plus enhanced Lib Dem showing) mandated to clear up the donkey's mess.

That's the idea anyway.

[Mich the Tester]

Of course, depending on how close it all is, it could end up as Con-SNP or some such awful combination.

Lib have said they won't enter a coalition with anyone who is going to cut public sector spending in the first year, so unless either Lib or Con move, it's unlikely.

Lib will move a bit and tories will move a bit. Both want power, and it could be a good combination. Cameroon as PM, Hague in there doing something important and Cable as Chancellor.

[The Wikir Man]

Of course, depending on how close it all is, it could end up as Con-SNP or some such awful combination.

Lib have said they won't enter a coalition with anyone who is going to cut public sector spending in the first year, so unless either Lib or Con move, it's unlikely.

[BobTheCrate]

The beauty of course is if Brown cannot stomach sharing power with Nick Clegg. If a 2nd election has to be called sooner rather than later, Labour can barely afford to fight this election, let alone a 2nd one.

Tory/LibDem pact ? I wonder what the bookies will offer for this outcome ?

[Doggy Styles]

I've been on this page for ages. Brown heading a minority government, taking all the sh*t and punishment for his 13 years of incompetence, and getting kicked out at a time of Cameron and Clegg's choosing.

[BobTheCrate]

Worst result for Tories (and us) is a narrow win.

Osborne will be the final thing that sinks the Tories and gives the election to Labour. If Cameron couldn't see that, then it will be his own fault he isn't elected.

A hung parliament seems a likely possibility and one I hope will come to pass. Why do I hope for this ?

Public sector strikes, more expensive public borrowing, collapsed currency, rising prices (food etc), more unemployment, more economically inactive people on top of the 8 million we already have, more tax. Such mayhem is on its way and not deserving upon a newly elected Tory Gov't. But is thoroughly deserving upon a newly elected minority Labour Gov't.

I'd expect a vote of no confidence and a new election called within 6 to 9 months. Then the Tories would be likely to win by a wide margin and have the required mandate to do what needs to be done.

If the Tories in May win by a paper thin victory they'll have to deal with all the brownstuff (aptly named) and get blamed for all the ensuing grief. They'd be on a hiding to nothing in my opinion.

[malvolio]

St. Vince for chancellor in a Lib-Lab government.

No f***ing chance.

Even if the LIb-Lab combo is the viable option, Brown will not let his hands be tied by another party's polilcies and aims. Balls will be chancellor, mostly so as Gorgon can do his Wizard of Oz impersonation unhampered by someone with a will of their own like Darling.

Far more likely to have Osborne as chancellor, with some bloke called Clarke in the back office giving him advise on how to proceed... Can't put Clarke inthe front seat, it would only bring up all the pro/anti EU rubbish again, even if he never mentions it himself. Cameron won't allow that to happen.

[The Wikir Man]

The Liblabs won by a country mile, of course not having the huge handicap of actually having to live by his words made his particular bulltulip easy to deliver.

I doesn't matter who wins these debates, its who comes 3rd that tells the real story.

St. Vince for chancellor in a Lib-Lab government.

[gingerjedi]

Who won?

I asked the mrs to record it. So I've missed it.

The Liblabs won by a country mile, of course not having the huge handicap of actually having to live by his words made his particular bulltulip easy to deliver.

I doesn't matter who wins these debates, its who comes 3rd that tells the real story.

[The Wikir Man]

Who won?

I asked the mrs to record it. So I've missed it.

[singhr]

They were all too polite to each other. Only in the last minute did Vince do a number on George which had him on the ropes. Memo to George's handlers: don't let your boy nod his head in agreement when Darling is speaking - it looks lame.

[Gibbon]

Far better programme on BBC4 last night, from the Panorama team, a study on the changing use of TV in getting elected since the 50s. Demonstrated very clearly that image is everything now, ability doesn't even come third any more.

It's not that TV has promoted the use of image only that it been used to promote image.

Image has always been part of politics. Why do you think the ancients dotted their empires with their images.

[Tarquin Farquhar]

Osborne will be the final thing that sinks the Tories and gives the election to Labour. If Cameron couldn't see that, then it will be his own fault he isn't elected.

[malvolio]

I find it sad that the question being asked of the audience was "Who won", rather than "which set of economic plans is best for the UK". X-Factor is taking over the world.

Far better programme on BBC4 last night, from the Panorama team, a study on the changing use of TV in getting elected since the 50s. Demonstrated very clearly that image is everything now, ability doesn't even come third any more.