tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post7607260726152553783..comments2024-01-23T16:53:02.428+00:00Comments on Mark Thompson: Coalition Negotiations 2015. A Play.Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-76916521109885218152012-05-08T18:23:12.275+01:002012-05-08T18:23:12.275+01:00Labour Negotiator 1: [an aside to Labour Negotiato...Labour Negotiator 1: [an aside to Labour Negotiator 2] Tell you what, thell them anything they like here. We can even put it in the Coalition Agreement "not top down this..., campaign for that..." We both know they'll cave on just about anything...<br /><br />Labour Negotiator 2: [an aside to Labour Negotiator 1] true. <br /><br />End sceneEmma Burnellhttp://scarletstandard.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-37596461546101788822012-05-07T22:41:26.045+01:002012-05-07T22:41:26.045+01:00Silly arguement.
"You have attacked us for n...Silly arguement.<br /><br />"You have attacked us for not blocking tuition fee rises, for the NHS reforms, for allowing the Conservatives to reduce the top rate of tax"<br /><br />Tuition fee rises - not required to support them under the terms of the coalition agreement.<br /><br />NHS reforms - specifically ruled out in the coalition agreement.<br /><br />Top rate tax cuts - arguably ruled out in the coalition agreement until the £10 threshold is implemented.Hywelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094171587140185827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-47030085928867963892012-05-07T07:03:58.269+01:002012-05-07T07:03:58.269+01:00The thing is that the really contentious things th...The thing is that the really contentious things that have left many core libdem voters and supporters feeling betrayed weren't in the the Coalition agreement (which is widely supported) - the NHS Reforms, Welfare "reforms" (actually just more cuts and making an already dreadful DWP and the companies it outsources to, even more hostile to the vulnerable) and the "internet snooping bill" are all made possible because Lib Dem MPs and leadership are listening more to Whitehall and the Tories than the party members, the public and industry.Aaron Trevena (former lib dem blogger)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-75686844054196852482012-05-07T06:57:07.961+01:002012-05-07T06:57:07.961+01:00It wasn't us, the big boys made us do it!
Bit ...It wasn't us, the big boys made us do it!<br />Bit patheticAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-85451133232851872262012-05-06T18:43:26.446+01:002012-05-06T18:43:26.446+01:00Your central point - that the performance of the l...Your central point - that the performance of the lib dems in government need to take into account the fact that they are part of the coalition - is of course very true.<br /><br />But that's not a complete "get out of jail free" card either. The libdems can't get away with anything and then just say "well it would have been worse with just the tories".<br /><br />We have to judge the decisions based on the political situation. Case in point is the NHS bill. The LDs didn't have to support that. It wasn't in the coalition agreement (indeed the agreement specifically ruled such a bill out). It could have been blocked. Instead the votes of Lib Dem MPs made it law. <br /><br />That's a decision for which the party is only just starting to pay the price.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17768299474157517346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-24446983358242152922012-05-06T18:07:20.534+01:002012-05-06T18:07:20.534+01:00"Well, for the last 5 years you and your Labo..."Well, for the last 5 years you and your Labour colleagues have taken every opportunity to tell the public that we have renaged on various parts of our 2010 manifesto. You have attacked us for not blocking tuition fee rises ..."<br /><br />That wasn't a manifesto pledge, of course. It was a personal promise, signed by candidates from all the main parties, about how they would vote on a particular issue.<br /><br />It's no defence at all to suggest the pledge could only have been honoured if the Lib Dems had won the election. Indeed, if they'd won the election, there would have been no question of _raising_ tuition fees, because tuition fees would have been abolished altogether. That _was_ a manifesto commitment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com