This is a blog for anybody from the facebook group who would like to see a progressive centre left alliance. I will try to get this blog updated over the next few days
I would like to see a progressive centre left alliance with the reform party (search facebook for the link) having a significant say in it.
However I did support Clegg's choice of opting for a coalition with the Conservatives. Why? Because I believe in democracy, and the coalition is, in the words of Mandelson, a "victory for democracy". I personally do not like the Conservatives. But if they gain the most votes then they have the right to try and form the Government. Yet in these times a minority government leading by 'confidence and supply' would not be good for the country. The Lib Dems therefore acted selflessly in stepping in to take their part in forming Government.
Yes I am aware of the Reform Party and am very interested to see how they progress. I am hoping to get some of the discussions from the facebook group copied over, as soon as possible.
I just have to disagree with you Rob, when you say the coalition is a "victory for democracy" when almost two thirds of the country actually DID NOT vote for a tory government (which let's be honest is what we've got). You may argue that some lib dem voters are ok with the centre right tory agenda, or may not have considered themselves centre left, but the fact is the lib dems placed themselves as a centre left party. I am sure that the majority of people who voted for them believed they were voting for centre left. I know for a fact that in my area, the lib dems based their whole campaign pretty much on the "vote lib dem to stop the tories" message, and with that in mind, this coalition surely cannot be called a victory for democracy. The lib dems are propping up a tory government. They will have little clout - the thing stopping them from having any clout is their whole reason for joining with the tories - the stability argument. They have power to abstain on some issues, but this is really no power. Voting against, as opposition would be more powerful. PR would be a victory for democracy. I have heard people say "well PR would give you exactly this - coalition governments". Well I believe PR would NOT give us EXACTLY this! It would give us coalition governments indeed, but not a right wing government propped up by a supposed "centre left" party. It would more than likely give us centre-left progressive coalitions, truly representing the MAJORTIY of the voters - not like the sham that we have now.
Justinep you're taking what I said a little out of context. You won't find many people more keen on electoral reform than me. What I meant was that within the confines of our present system what happened did echo public sentiments a lot better than had one party gained a majority.
On a separate point the campaign based on voting Lib Dem to stop the Tories may have been justifiable in particular constituencies; but if anyone tried to convince a voter of that logic on a national scale then they were either grossly unaware of the state of the polls, or simply lying. A coalition was a very likely scenario for a long time before the general election and most campaigners knew that.
Yet on the Lib Dems having power they certainly have more power now than if they refused to join the coalition. Hence Nick Clegg is both fighting for what his supporters believe in, and helping Britain avoid a situation where a weak government dramatically lowers confidence in Britain's markets and hurts us economically.
I would like to see a progressive centre left alliance with the reform party (search facebook for the link) having a significant say in it.
ReplyDeleteHowever I did support Clegg's choice of opting for a coalition with the Conservatives. Why? Because I believe in democracy, and the coalition is, in the words of Mandelson, a "victory for democracy". I personally do not like the Conservatives. But if they gain the most votes then they have the right to try and form the Government. Yet in these times a minority government leading by 'confidence and supply' would not be good for the country. The Lib Dems therefore acted selflessly in stepping in to take their part in forming Government.
Yes I am aware of the Reform Party and am very interested to see how they progress. I am hoping to get some of the discussions from the facebook group copied over, as soon as possible.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newleftreview.org/
ReplyDeleteI just have to disagree with you Rob, when you say the coalition is a "victory for democracy" when almost two thirds of the country actually DID NOT vote for a tory government (which let's be honest is what we've got).
ReplyDeleteYou may argue that some lib dem voters are ok with the centre right tory agenda, or may not have considered themselves centre left, but the fact is the lib dems placed themselves as a centre left party. I am sure that the majority of people who voted for them believed they were voting for centre left. I know for a fact that in my area, the lib dems based their whole campaign pretty much on the "vote lib dem to stop the tories" message, and with that in mind, this coalition surely cannot be called a victory for democracy.
The lib dems are propping up a tory government. They will have little clout - the thing stopping them from having any clout is their whole reason for joining with the tories - the stability argument. They have power to abstain on some issues, but this is really no power. Voting against, as opposition would be more powerful.
PR would be a victory for democracy. I have heard people say "well PR would give you exactly this - coalition governments". Well I believe PR would NOT give us EXACTLY this! It would give us coalition governments indeed, but not a right wing government propped up by a supposed "centre left" party. It would more than likely give us centre-left progressive coalitions, truly representing the MAJORTIY of the voters - not like the sham that we have now.
Justinep you're taking what I said a little out of context. You won't find many people more keen on electoral reform than me. What I meant was that within the confines of our present system what happened did echo public sentiments a lot better than had one party gained a majority.
ReplyDeleteOn a separate point the campaign based on voting Lib Dem to stop the Tories may have been justifiable in particular constituencies; but if anyone tried to convince a voter of that logic on a national scale then they were either grossly unaware of the state of the polls, or simply lying. A coalition was a very likely scenario for a long time before the general election and most campaigners knew that.
Yet on the Lib Dems having power they certainly have more power now than if they refused to join the coalition. Hence Nick Clegg is both fighting for what his supporters believe in, and helping Britain avoid a situation where a weak government dramatically lowers confidence in Britain's markets and hurts us economically.