Bringing Clegg to the table

JohnPage

And let us also not forget that this is an utterly pathetic showing by the Cameroons, who should have whacked Labour out of sight definitively by now. If this is the best they can do in the phoney war, what are their prospects when Labour really opens up the guns?

AndyinBrum

To be fair Fraser, with Worsley, Wilkinson, Deacon & Payne in the England side, I think Scotland's pretty nailed on for a win

Vulture

A Clegg-Cam coaltion? Surely a recipe for the wettest, most jellified and most dangerously weak Government since Ramsay Macdonald got into bed with Stanley Baldwin?

According to all accounts the sandal-wearing beardie weirdies in Clegg's joke of a party won't let him do it anyway. God, how dire the whole mess looks.

strapworld

I am sure the Liberal, Pro EU, David Cameron will get on famously with the Liberal, Pro EU, Nick Clegg. Such an arrangement will see Vince the financial guru Cable return to his beloved labour party!!

But what position for which Liberal Democrat. Nick Clegg would make an excellent Minister for Europe. He would be able to push for Cameron's renegotiation on the Lisbon treaty without any worry. I have no doubt that, for his South Western MP's. he will re negotiate our fishing rights. Yes this is an arrangement that will fit in well with the David Cameron Lets all hold hands and skip down the road together party!

Clutching at straws really, isn't it!

Keith

My feeling is that a coalition government may not be that bad. The parties will all be able to blame the cuts on each other, which might cause them to be less averse to making them.

Danko

If it does happen I cannot imagine the right of the party holding their noses for too long. Especially when the LibDems start trying to "reform" certain areas of Parliament and our relationship with the EU. The other issue would of course be, if DC does do a deal with the LibDems how badly will it hurt him within the party. It is generally accepted that the new crop of Tory MPs will be more to the right than he is and if he starts making choices the PCP won't wear then it could get very interesting for team Cam.

Andy Carpark

Yeah, bring on Nick 'No Coal and No Nuclear' Clegg, just as power generation is on the brink of shutting down. Cometh the hour, cometh the Teletubby.

Jesus.

denis cooper

You've forgotten to mention the long-lived "wartime governments".

Is this country on the brink of catastrophe, or is that just a myth being propagated to drum up support for the Tories?

Austin Barry

The Telegraph's Ed West has a point: If the enervated fading Cameron were to say, in the manner of Geert Wilders,

“We’re going to take the UK back from the leftist elite that coddles criminals and supports Islamisation.”

he would probably win outright.

On immigration and crime Cameron and his chums seem to be playing to a consensus that they don't realise died with multiculturalism on 7/7.

Short the UK

"We used to think that you could spend your way out of a recession and increase employment by cutting taxes and boosting government spending. I tell you in all candour that that option no longer exists, and in so far as it ever did exist, it only worked on each occasion since the war by injecting a bigger dose of inflation into the economy, followed by a higher level of unemployment as the next step."

James Callaghan a true patriot.

2trueblue

John Page, have you thought of the prospect that the Tories have not yet fired their guns? The battle is on but no date yet for the big event.

Besides controlling the media, electioneering using our money, blanking out news form war zones, what else can we expect from Liebore?

Then we have the Lib Dems.
Thats it then. I think i will wait and see.

Watt Tyler

As Harry Hill says, Red-and-Yellow-Striped-EU-Sockpuppet or Blue-and-Yellow-Striped-EU-Sockpuppet. But which is best...

Only goes to show that the LibLabCON is interchangable, and because I suspect that the Progressive Conservative press won't object to New Improved NuBluLab - now with a hint of LibDem, and additional DANGER, it only tells me that they too are in for the great chop when things go teets-upwards - as they will.

Publius

Coalition with the LibDems really would be a capitulation too far. They are worse even than Labour (and that’s bad!)

If he failed to win a majority, Cameron would be better off letting Labour face up to the shite it has created. That would wipe the smile off their faces. And their gormless supporters would see that there's no such thing as a free lunch, even if Brown promises it.

Labour are clapped out. Exhausted. Better to let them limp on until the full extent of their deception and incompetence can no longer be denied.

William Blakes Ghost

I refer you to the YouGov polls

Well that blows the credibility of Nelson's argument straight off. Any analysis of Yougov's polls raises distinct questions about their weightings (which are seemingly 5 years or more old) and the way it perpetually results in uplifting Labour's headline figures.

I wouldn't base any arguments on Yougov's polls anymore. ICM are the gold standard stick with them......

Dean

Fraser - I will look forward to reading Sir Samuel Brittan's article. However, it is slightly disingenuous to describe his as a "Lib Dem" perspective. His views on the financial crisis, and the timing of deficit reductions, are thoroughly mainstream and shared by most economists, including many who would describe themselves as being on the "centre right" of the political spectrum.

It is the fiscal slashers, such as Allister Heath, who are the extremists in this debate. Given that there is still a significant risk of a global double dip recession, severe public spending cuts in the next fiscal year would be the height of irresponsibility. Unfortunately, the Tory Party finds itself on the wrong side of the most important issue facing the country as it goes into the general election - hence the diminishing poll lead (which I and others have been predicting on this website since it first became apparent that the Tories had drawn the wrong conclusions from the crisis of September 2008).

Had Cameron spent more time reading the FT during the banking crisis, and less time listening to George Osborne, he might now be looking at the prospect of a landslide election victory. But the voters are not fools. They know that when private sector demand is depressed, and inflationary pressures virtually non-existent, government can and should take up the slack. That's not Keynesianism; it's pragmatism.

Nimble

How are we even discussing a hung parliament ? Is there anything the present Government hasn't screwed up ? I just can't see who would vote for them - but then you look at the tories and they're nowhere. Where are the consistent attacks ? This Ashcroft stuff should have been put to bed over a year ago and how they've dealt with it since beggars belief. I LOVE politics its a real passion but even I don't have much a clue as to what they want to do. Wishy washy vague notions from Gove, Law and order - are we still for elected local chiefs ? Immigration - nothing, health service - no change, economy - god knows, energy policy - green bs, europe - screwed the pooch with the referendum dodge. I can't sell this to my family so how are they gonna sell it to the country ? Worrying stuff

welease woger

There doesn't have to be a formal deal. On your scenario Fraser, even with Lib Dem support there would not be an overall majority.

If the Conservatives are comfortably the biggest party with a clear lead in terms of the popular vote they should put produce a Queen's speech and a budget in the national interest and challenge the other parties to vote them down. If the Lib Dems join Labour to thwart necessary economic measures then both parties will be heavily punished by the electorate. In any case neither party has the resources to fight two elections this year.

Labour would vote against public interest measures safe in the knowledge they would lose a vote but I don't believe the Lib Dems would act so irresponsibly, restricting themselves to lots of sound and fury as usual.

oldtimer

Ah! 1974-6, I remember it well. Miners strikes, the three day week, stock market in meltdown, men from the city forecasting the end of civilisation as we knew it. It seems entirely possible that we could get a rerun 2010-12.

marc antony

Latest odds on Tory overall at Hills - 8/13!
That's a return of 1.6514 to your hard-earned pound.
Why your livers are so lily, I can only guess!
Forget the polls and forget about Clegg - some sort of insect, isn't it?
Concentrate on ramming home the bleedin' obvious.
There is much worse to come than this mere electoral skirmish. We are fighting for our future and the vested interests won't take it lying down.
Expose Whelan, charge at Mandelson, reveal the truth about Derek Simpson!
Most of all, unclothe the fat emperor.
Courage! Aux arms!
People will vote for balls, so grow some!

Publius

@Dean
"Had Cameron spent more time reading the FT during the banking crisis"

Did the FT predict the banking meltdown? I did. I can't recall that the FT did. Nor did any other of the consensus mainstream experts. Oh no, it was "new paradigms" all round. The usual follow-my-leader tripe.

Watt Tyler

Strapworld

You forgot to mention the mutual slavish devotion to Greenism, and the catastrophe that that will mean for your and my civil liberties, our tax bills, and for reliable cheap energy source.

My advice for the next decade, buy candles, and gather stuff that you can burn.

(Incidentaly, UKIP have recognised that we are going to have an Energy disastor, and they would build coal burning and nuclear energy plants - this is the policy that you can implement if you aren't trying to swindle people over carbon pollution and AGW).

denis cooper

I've got an idea.

Let's take all the members of the Labour, Tory and LibDem tribes, and stick them on a bloody island somewhere to fight it out among themselves.

As they make up less than 1% of the population, have little or nothing to offer us and really don't give a **** about the future of the country, we wouldn't miss them and we'd be better off without them.

Danko

"people will vote for Balls so grow some".

The Tory PPC for Morley and Outwood is hoping that people will NOT vote for Balls.

Before anyone says it, yes I am aware this is a pityful and woeful comment.

Irene

"My gut feeling is that Cameron will win with a majority"

You should have stopped there.

Clegg/Cable/Libdems are pointless.

YouGov are setting an agenda.

The Guardian have started their daily onslaught/agenda - mind you they will have a lot to lose when the Tories get in.

Trafalgar

If we're evaluating election trends over the last century it's worth remembering that the Conservatives are starting from a long way back compared to most historical opposition parties - 66 seats to make up and facing a skewed parliamentary system that leaves them needing a 6/7 point lead in the polls just to break even.

And we now have a significant third-party in the Lib Dems, as well as nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales. Cameron has a mountain to climb compared to his predecessors, and by dragging the Conservatives into the centre ground has given them a real chance for the first time in ages. Hague/IDS/Howard never even broke above 33%. Maybe we should give him some credit.

radgie gadgie

Is it any wonder that the parties ratings are converging?, after all their manifestos are.

The only big difference between the big 3 on a big issue is with education. And education never won an election for anyone. As for the other big issues, cameron doesnt want to 'bang on about them'. So dont vote for any of them - it only endorses their lies evasions and cowardice.

Andy

Oh Fraser, Fraser, Fraser.

When Scotland play I have a feeling in my heart that they will win (particularly against England).

My gut, though, knows damned well they stand more chance of losing.

That said, (here we go again), I have a little feeling about Saturday.

Marcher Baron

@denis cooper "You've forgotten to mention the long-lived "wartime governments"."

Look at the make-up of British society in 1914-18 and 1939-45. We were all on the same side, fighting a common enemy. We were prepared to make sacrifices to win. In 1939 our freedom was at stake. Can you truly say today's State-controlled, guilt-tripping, benefit-assisted, multicultural, EU-governed electorate is comparable? The current motto appears to be "Seek not to know what you can do for your country, rather what your country can do for you".

Trebor

Yes Nigel Farage is a bit mad but I hope he gets in. Anywhere else you'd be mad to vote UKIP and let Labour in. Wouldn't it be fabulous if Cameron was one MP short and Farage were elected!
I'm voting Tory btw even though Cable is pretty safe in my local constituency.

Tom FD

Just as well you're a political journalist rather than one for entertainment or sports, Fraser. :-)

Thomas Widmann

"if everyone thinks they're one year away from a new election how popular are cuts going to be?"
I think this is exactly why coalitions have worked badly in the UK in the past.
In countries where coalitions are successful, it's also the case that they have fixed-term parliaments and/or an electoral system that means that there is no hope for any one party to get a majority.
In other words, in many countries the parties know that they have to make coalition a success, but in the UK, it's a more successful strategy to prepare for an early election.

Alanbrooke

Fraser

how could you doubt a victory? Why barely 4 weeks ago you were pontifcating on how a Cameron government needed more of the policies recommended by you. Those of us who pointed out there hadn't been an election yet and he might have to win it were brushed aside. However it is still nice to see that the Spectator still feels it beneath its dignity to point out the failure of this appalling government. Wouldn't want to make it too easy for Con. PPCs would we ?

Ash

Oh, the ignorance of the Westminster Village!

"even in Holyrood and Cardiff Bay recent attempts at coalition have collapsed"

The Labour/Lib Dem coalition in Holyrood didn't "collapse". The SNP won an election.

The Lab/Lib Dem coalition in Cardiff Bay didnt collapse. It ended when Labour optained a majority in its own right in 2003.

The current Labour/Plaid coalition in Cardiff is in government and provides a stable majority.

So put up or shut up. Which coalition government in either Scotland or Wales has collapsed?

William MacDougall

You have mistakenly counted the inter-war "National Government" and the war time coalitions as single party, and forgotten that in most of the 19C the dominant party ruled in coalition with Irish parties. In fact Britain has very often had coalition government and it has often been stable. Nothing at all to fear.