Victory!

Jez

DENIAL.

HURAAAH!

Edward

Agreed - very pleased about Gove and Duncan Smith - but why is Clarke not Chancellor, and why oh why is May Home Sec?

Richard of York

It came so close to a total failure read the blogs of the last few days to see the sweaty posters writhing in their seats.

20 more seats for Labour and 10 more for the Liberals and you would be crying all the way to the water cooler.
Happy Days...

shorpe

The Lib Dems have just given your precious Mr Cameron a strong working majority in exchange for relatively few concessions, and all you can respond with is contempt. Unbelievable. The Tory party themselves appear to be entering into this coalition in good faith, and Alex Massie (among others) has eloquently explored the potential upsides in terms of civil liberties and a fairer tax system. Not at the Coffee House, though, where working together to create a consensus is for losers, and where the sole duty of the Conservative party is to advance your own, specific version of a right-wing agenda.

Get real.

DavidDP

Despite these flaws, it was the best election swing for the Tories since the 30s. Given how far back they had to start, thanks to the mistakes made between 1997-2005, the result is highly creditable.
A better approach in the 2001-5 parliament, and who knows, a large majority may ahve beckoned. As it is, we can only start from where we start. The party is in office, and will implement almost all of its major policies (and I see Fraser has his NHS ringfence demolition-bet you like coalition now, eh?).

DavidDP

Richard of York
May 12th, 2010 1:22pm

Report this comment

It came so close to a total failure read the blogs of the last few days to see the sweaty posters writhing in their seats.

"20 more seats for Labour and 10 more for the Liberals and you would be crying all the way to the water cooler."

And if your aunt had balls she'd still think you were a tit.

And yes, happy days- we have a Conservative PM.

Andy Carpark

If Michael Gove is the best of the Conservatives then good ship Dave is already heading for the rocks. It does not take a visionary to pinch an idea from Sweden when 'localism' becomes fashionable and nor has he ever demonstrated any aptitude for details as opposed to slogans. More suited to poncing about on Kirsty Wok's ridiculous late review show with his air-kissing chums from the metropolitan elite. He is also the worst sort of neo-con that, in this very magazine, smeared all sceptics of the Iraq war as supporters of Saddam Hussein and elsewhere proclaimed his that his ultimate ambition was to fellate Tony Blair.

Michael Gove = slithy tove.

startledcod

Mervyn King has recently appeared to say that he has seen the text of Coalition Agreement related to deficit reduction. Whilst not necessarily binding the LibDems it shows what they have agreed. They are therefore bound to shoulder some of the responsibility for the pain and any attempt to duck out would be seen for what it is. the LibDems should, like the Tories, keep on reiterating that it is almost totally the fault of Gordon Brown and his flawed administration. Bring in the IMF to provide the report that backs that up.

VS

Umm..ok, so that was the plan - to keep the Lib Dems in positions where they do little harm, etc. But why crow about it? Let them atleast try and work together for a couple of years?
Clegg did play it sneaky by going to Labour at the same time, but for now, these two need to work together.

Tiberius

The piece starts well but sadly loses momentum when reheating the points of whether the Tory election result is a glass half-full or half-empty.

The advantages of the coalition are still being absorbed, but the presence of LibDems in the Cabinet is going to be very useful in taming the media and the public if very Tory policies (especially cuts) are to be swallowed.

A split could of course occur, but I'm persuaded by Michael Portillo that even within one party, coalition building is necessary and does not always succeed (look at The Tories' history on splits).

In the circumstances, the Cabinet is pleasingly constructed. Cameron's judgement is again vindicated, and it's now time to push through the changes we all know the country needs.

Chingford Man

Victory? What victory?

This article assumes it will be the Lib Dems who end up getting stitched up when it is far likelier that the prospective kippers will be the Tory Right. A Lib Dem in every department... crikey, what are the odds of a Liberal/Tory government doing anything worthwhile from a conservative perspective? Zero.

What is the potential for lasting damage to Toryism as a result of this ghastly civil partnership? Enormous.

This is about screwing the Tory Right forever and creating the kind of soggy centrist party that has always appealed to Cameron.

Flip, we'll soon be nostalgic for John Major at this rate. And at least the Grey Man didn't throw an unloseable election.

BTW, stop referring to Gove's "Free Schools", when they are no such thing. Let Graham Brady move an amendment allowing them to select by academic ability and see what happens then.

Lindsay

Spectator Editorial 24 April 2010

"Coalitions do not work in Westminster's adversarial system". (and passim)

Not only have you been forced to recant (to preserve Cameron from removal), you now present a demeaning picture as you struggle to find something useful floating among the deckchairs.

Face it you have been properly "Californiaised" and dudded and yet you meekly seek approval.

Who? Whom?

Get it.

Read Burke--"Letter to a Noble Lord" (1796)

"Poor innocent."
and licks the hand just raised to shed his blood

Lady Amelia

Massively unhelpful, ungenerous and ungentlemanly editorial. Shame on you.

Walsingham's Ghost

I think you are being a little harsh on Clegg's Lib Dems here, Fraser.

They could have quite easily reverted to what most people regard as their 'type' and propped-up a clapped-out Labour led coalition. That Clegg and his senior team had the balls to let their heads rule their hearts for once and stick with Cameron must at least earn them some respect.

Clegg took a chance in facing-down the not insignificant 'Yellow Labour' wing of his Party, some of whom could be heard chanting 'Tory Scum' as Cameron swept into Downing Street to enter No.10.

Where this coalition goes and how long it lasts is anyone's guess at the moment, but denigrating the posts the Lib Dems have been given and suggesting that they will effectively make no contribution to this coalition after less than 24 hours is unworthy of you...

WG

Bob Cat

Most of it sounds fair enough. But why - I mean WHY ??? - Theresa May as H.S. ???????

Camerons very own Jackie Smith moment perhaps ? Dohhhh ! Dave !!!

The Bellman

Hmmm. 'So close to total failure... 20 more Labour seats...' Sounds like *someone's* got a very bad case of the shouldawouldacouldas...

Ben G

So, it's the Speccie Wot Won It, is it?

Purr-lease.

The Spectator should be embracing the new alignment of Liberal and Conservative values.

Instead, you pathetically call those Lib Dems brave enough to face down their own party and install David Cameron in No.10 as 'political mercenaries'.

Silly, juvenile, and not worthy of a magazine as illustrious as the Spectator.

richard47_uk

Who wrote this?

Fraser - if it was you I am saddened.

If it was one of the one eyed Tories like David Blackburn - please make your own position clear.

I have admired you (Fraser) for many years but this is just sick.

This deal looks to me to be a good way forward. Both the Tories and the Lib Dems seem to be sincere. The deal they have done seems (proof will come later)pretty good.

This could actually work.

And the Specator reacts like a spoiled eight year old.

Tiresias

Fraser you keep a closer eye on Scottish politics than I.

Elections to the Assembly in Edinburgh will take place next year. It looks like the SNP tide is ebbing and Labour's is running strongly again. So it seems fairly likely that the result will be similar to the ones that called into being the Lib/Lab coalitions in Holyrood. Have we become so flexible that we can the Lib Dems in coalition with Labour in Scotland but with the Conservatives in the UK? Looks like it might be a good chance for the Scottish Lib Dems to assert their distinct Holyrood identity and put two fingers up to the national leadership.

Verity

Chingford Man has it about right.

Also, I assume the "May" referred to above is Theresa May ... Why is the Leftist estalishment so determined to degrade this great office of state? First the joke incumbent Jackie Smith who destroyed the credibilit of this great office at a stroke when she denied Geert Wilders, a legitimately and democratically elected MP of a fellow member of the EU, the right to be in Britain at the behest of the joke "Lord Ahmad" and now the vile Theresa May who referred to her own political party as "the nasty party".

So far, Dave's appointments are bearing out my judgement of him as a greedy airhead.

NH POL

You forgot to put the word 'Pyrrhic' before victory.

The victory for you is that you can give up even pretending to provide proper analysis and simply rely on being spoonfed stories as a reward for being so loyal a Cameroon publication.

Peter

But as it is Richard Of York we are smiling all the way to the water cooler.
I gloat.

Peter

Oh, and Tebbit and Heffer..up your bums too.

Richard of York

Just seeing the Presidetial style press briefing in the garden of No10....looks a bit tacky and Obama-ish to me.
where did they get those lectures from IKEA.
Joint statements to becone a thing of the future? I hope not.

Nicholas

Richard the Dork - the only poster whose comments suggested an unpleasant combination of sweating and writhing was you.

Your copious and seemingly never ending posts in the run up to the election revealed with crystal clarity your narrow minded bias, your sweeping stereotypic dismissal of alternative political viewpoints and your swallowing, hook line and sinker, of the propaganda being generated by an unpleasant and unelected trio of New Labour spinners. It already sounded passé, the chip-shouldered blathering of one of last century's soviet surrogates, a rather empty head filled with preconceptive sloganism, socialist mythology and resentment rather than any objectivity, maturity or the fruits of any meaningful life experience. But following the final purging of Scotch Marxism from Westminster it sounds positively archaic - and trite. A sad and grubby celebration of the negative, the literary (and not very literate) equivalent of sour grapes, rooted in the Marxist last gasp of 1997 and the awakening disbelief that your Party's spinning and lies were no longer to be believed. May I suggest that you accompany your sour grapes with a generous helping of hard cheese and a bottle of the finest Conservative schadenfreude, vintage 2010 (infinitely more palatable than Blue Nun) courtesy of yours truly.

Fortunately, cooler and more objective Labour heads prevailed. Your heckling, abusive and oh so tired kind of politics is perhaps best expressed by going to join the scruffy crowds of yoof Labour activists chanting "Tory scum" on the streets of London. I understand Fatbloke is there waiting for you with a two-man soviet-style banner to support. The pair of you will then be able to rival Laurel and Hardy in a heady mix of archaic political dogma and slapstick comedy.

Di-dum, di-dum, di-dum, di-dum, di-diddlee-dee . . .

Jez

I. am. in. AWE Nicholas!!

Bloody hell mate, you certainly had your wheetabix this morning!

Come on though. Do you think these lot can work together?

I've just read the LibDem Manifesto.

10am yesterday they wanted to go with the NuLab. Now they're with the Tories.

They're well shallow.... and reading their manifesto- well out of their league.

It's a mess.

Not a 'victory'- a huge mess of a situation.

djw2009

I am so glad I don't subscribe to the Spectator. I don't think any real conservative could do so.

Jez

I've also learnt a new word today; Pyrrhic.

From the Pyrrhic War. (Wikipedia)

Cheers NH POL.

I will use that word more often.

Tom Pride

Nicholas

Far too good for Richard. Delete ‘post’ replace with ‘lies’, and address it to the monster who has beat a retreat to his lair Scotland. He might even know who FatBOT is.

davidk

If this is "victory", give me defeat any day.

A complete and utter sell out by Cameron and his cronies.

Richard of York

@Nicholas

I take it you are not a Scot?
More like a little Englander who thinks that any countries resources are fair game as long as it benefits English country gents.....tally ho oops mind the gun dogs

Paul B

djw2009. You are no more a Conservative than Lenin was, in fact I think you a Socialist troll. In your own way, you more tiresome and irksome than dear old Dickie of the White rose. Do bugger off.

PS I am a subcriber to the Speccie and proud to be so. Its a great Conservative magazine

Swiss Bob

Victory?

Given the state of the country I'd be a lot happier if you were shouting this in ten years time having won a third election on the basis of a prolonged period of good government.

Grow up.

Victor Southern

Silly Dicky - those were lecterns, not lectures. If you hadn't spent the last 13 years at school under Labour you would have known that.

Apart from that I echo Nicholas who has told you exactly what you are.

Richard of York

@Vicky

And you are a Meldrew.....just not as funny.

Ian Walker

Fraser, no matter how hard you try, we're not going to fall for shortening up the odds, so that you can hedge that drunken bet on an election this year :)

Minnie Ovens

Another accurate analysis. Well done.
Possibly one of you could inform certain posters as to what a NeoCon is. Don't think Gove has ever had any socialist leanings in his life, especially in a UK context.

Nicholas

Is that the best you can do Richard the Dork?

"Little Englander"? Oh, dear. How about "dog boiling" or one of the other buzz word pejoratives from the Little Red Lexicon of Abuse?

Di-dum, di-dum, di-dum, di-dum . . . . . as into the red Marxist sunset you go with your funny little walk and those two great big chips weighing you down.

Frank P

We woke up in a different country this morning; it is preferable to the one we went to sleep in last night and I accept that the land of my generation is a lost world and the loss is mainly of our own doing. Whether it will now become one that we hope it will be during the next 5 years remains to be seen. But I wish David Cameron and Nicholas Clegg good luck tilling the scorched earth that has been bequeathed to them and more power to their arms in their endeavour to drag us back from the socialist treachery that has evolved during the past 13 years - probably before that in many ways.

Good riddance to Brown; he was toxic and treacherous. Good riddance to his cohort of Marxists, particularly the slithering Mandelson, the Zombie who seemingly will not die. One hopes a wooden stake will be driven through his rancid political viscera.

I have expressed my suspicions about Cameron's political pedigree often on this blog; words like 'progressive' and 'common purpose' are still falling too easily from his lips. They are scary. But for the time being we have no option but to support C & C's efforts to restore our place as a leading economy in the geopolitical set-up; get business moving and shaking again. Both of the 'leaders' have a vested interest in the business world - so do we all - but their leadership in this regard is crucial. New Labour is now done for. But we must watch carefully what those destroyers try to do to reassert the Long March; we must expose their machinations vociferously; I hope Cameron has rammed the baton up the fundament of the LM-ers and will now cry "Halt! About turn" and attempt to repair the best of the nation's heritage and restore as much as he can of our sovereignty by loosening the grip of the Eurocrats on our laws and purse strings. He must strip out the Gramscian moles from the Civil Service and decimate the Quangocracy.

He should also remember that it was England that gave him the votes to scrape past the winning post. England needs a better crack of the whip than it has had for some time.

I made some deprecating remarks about Cameron's use of his wife's pregnancy and a ploy during the campaign. I regret that. Last night she looked radiant on the steps of No.10 and even my sclerotic old ticker softened. Reminded me of how much my own wife, on four occasions, blossomed and radiated during her pregnancies and my daughters and daughters-in-law shone likewise - 12 times in all. I'm sure Samantha will grace that edifice of power with her presence. I think we can rely on her not picking up the milk from the doorstep in her curlers. And I'm glad they have arranged for one member of a generation not yet born, to arrive at home in No.10 in due course. I hope he or she spends most of the formative years of existence there.

Oh - and Fraser! I still can't work out where you are coming from and your article seems well - ungenerous. From me that may sound rich, but there are times when events give pause to enable possibilities to develop. We can use such a pause to sharpen the knives lest they do not! But in the meantime surely we must let DC (and NC) have their moment. They have ousted Brown. Hurrah for them!

Patricia Shaw

Yup. A self declared NeoCon Zionist as Education Secretary.

Excellent.

Liz Brown

There is another silver cloud - no need to call in the IMF for an independant audit of Brown's books - lies cannot be told (unlike when Brown became Chancellr)when there are two parties examining the figures. Osborne and Cable will do an excellent job between them.

FF

Would Stitch up! make a better headline than Victory! ? Don't know what effect this will have on the enemy, but we can screw our "allies"!. Whahey!!!

I agree, it's not a "marriage of principle". But could an "alliance of self interest" be more effective and enduring? Surely an organ that signs up to the principles of Adam Smith would see the merit in this?

Zoo keeper (Elephant House)

djw 2009

It's a "Diana moment".
They'll get over it.
This was the election to lose.

Paul B

Frank P, you maybe old and sclerotic, but your words reveal that your heart beats firm and that you have a mind and intellect of an Olympian athlete (Gold medal)
I take my hat off and salute you Sir.

Richard of York

@Nicholas
No need to try it's as plain as the monocle in your eye you are yesterday's man living off a small pension....no longer a use to society and a burden on the nations resources. Little Englander looking back at the good old days when a pint cost 1/6d and prawn cocktails were fashionable.
Toodle pip old chap and don't choke on your gruel.

Chingford Man

The people getting excited about this day just because the Moron has gone are missing the point. There was always very little prospect of him continuing after his losses, but it was not inevitable that we should now be at this point where we have a semi-Tory administration with Lib Dem contamination at every level.

I’m surprised no one has made this point already, but Cameron (the Heir to Blair, remember?) is now doing with Clegg what his mentor Blair was tempted to do with Ashdown in 1997: building a progressive consensus complete with irreversible and unconsidered constitutional reform. That should alert us about that, whilst we may get many things from this magical mystery tour, what we definitely won’t get is government derived from identifiably conservative values.

You only have to see the way in which the AV referendum was conceded to see that plenty more “progressive” government is on the cards. If we thought the Major Years were bad for genuine conservatives, I fear we’ve ain’t seen nothing yet.

TGF UKIP

"Victory" Fraser, "Victory of Sorts" would have been a much more honest and objective headline and much of what followed seemed to me little more than CCHQ spin designed to seek to lull the grassroots.

As for "The LibDems are left with prestigious-sounding non-jobs" I suggest you tell that to the City as Cable lines up alongside Barnier to screw them and cheer as much of their business follows supervision to Paris and Frankfurt.

As for the ultra green SocDem Huhne at Energy and "Climate Change" given the destruction Brussels and the EU Parliament is currently wreaking on our power generation industry, it would be difficult to think of a more destructive appointment. All in all,Fraser, a very stupid statement.

Verity

Frank P, I would endorse the words of Paul B. That was a mighty touching post.

I can't agree with it, but I was touched by the fine heart that beats under that crusty surface.

You didn't touch on Tony Blair, the bad seed ... the Trojan horse ... the start of the destruction of an ancient and once stable country. Brown could never have got into power had the door not been held open for him by the vile, malignant Blair and his vile consort.

I hope Cameron and Me-Too fail.

Verity

Lady Amelia ... as I'm sure you are aware, "unhelpful" is commie/thought fascist speak, like "won't tolerate" and so on. Schoolma'armish, prim and judgemental.

RDP

I think the following rumour about electoral reform is important:

"The parties agree to the establishment of five year fixed-term parliaments. A Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government will put a binding motion before the House of Commons in the first days following this agreement stating that the next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May 2015. Following this motion, legislation will be brought forward to make provision for fixed term parliaments of five years. This legislation will also provide for dissolution if 55% or more of the House votes in favour."

The Tories have more than 45% of the MPs. If the Fixed Term Parliament goes through with the 55% change, this means the LibDems *can't* backstab the Tories and push through a No Confidence motion after tax cuts. They'll have to wait until the end of the Parliament.

studentteacher27

Are you kidding? The Tories are the worst thing that could possibly happen to the children of England.

TGF UKIP

I suspect this five year agreement is nowt more than a stalking horse for the inclusion by clause of a Save the Dave provision as was touted before the election. It's Cameron's only means of surviving the wrath of the Tory Party.

Phil Evans

Putting Danny Alexander into the Scottish office was agood move bearing in mind there is only one Con. M.P. It will help temper the Scottish rebellion. Ken Clarke will provide decent sound advice being an ex Q.C. and wil be independant of political influence. At least it gets him away from the European debate

Paddy

Frank P: Well said.

Richard: I thought you were going.

You can't bear to leave can you?

tory boys never grow up

Nicholas

If you wish to criticise someone for narrow minded bias and sweeping stereotypic dismissal of alternative political viewpoints - could I suggest that you do not respond in similar currency. You might also be a little more amusing if you didn't go on so.

Reg

Great post, Frank P.

You have powerfully and effectively given words to my feelings of satisfaction/disappointment and optimism/anxiety.

May you be preserved for ever!

Alex H.

The last thing the Conservative party has to do is listening to the Spectator. That's a guarantee for defeat. I'm glad Britain has a Liberal-Conservative coalition government and even more glad this development means the triumph of the modernisers and the defeat of the wing you represent. Good luck PM Cameron!

Nicholas

Richard the Dork. Yes, you've got me sussed alright - apart from a few minor details.

I'm gainfully self-employed (yes, even at my age). Have never, as far as I know, been a burden on resources, paying taxes all my life and not receiving any benefits. Yesterday's man? Probably, but then we all are to a greater or lesser degree. At least I am not last century's man - like you. My girlfriend, who is a third of my age, rather likes me for my sense of adventure (and we have a good laugh together over your silly posts - she has the measure of "puerile, socialist wankers" like you even at her tender age). Would never shoot birds - a personal choice - therefore no need of gun dogs. Never eaten prawn cocktail in my life either. You, on the other hand, betray your increasingly nasty ageism in almost every post. Di-dum, di-dum, etc. What a tosser you are.

And yet another socialist troll infesting us - "tory boys never grow up" - you dare to lecture me about narrow bias and sweeping stereotypic dismissal with a pseudonym like that you ridiculously pompous little man. LOL. Clearly irony is not your strong point. Another socialist tosser. God preserve us from the idiots.

Phil Evans

Watching Nick and Dave in the rose garden did remind me of a song by Lyn Anderson from years gone by. I was waiting for some junior to start handing out windscreen stickers to the press "I agree with Nick" in yelow OR "I agree with Dave" in blue. They are like a boy and a girl who have been slagging each other off for months saying each, doesn't know what do with their lives then accusing each other of playing around. Then a certain Thursday night comes about and they both go to the same party and get drunk. They end up having the last dance together (it wasn't Lady In Red) and go back to his pad for unprotected sex!

The next morning they think "my God what have I done?" and after 4 days decide to marry for the next 5 - 10 years. Now call me old fashioned but I prefer a longer courtship!

I wonder what the babies will turn out like, where they will be educated and their housing situation. Will they require tax credits, will Dad pay council tax on No.10 will the surrogate Mum claim unemployment benifit, will his bit on the side a Spaniard be allowed to stay under the new immigration caps.

On a seriuos level cut the V.A.T. on womens sanitary products back to 5% these are not a luxury and that's coming from a Father / Husband