Gove raises the spectre of an electoral pact
James Forsyth 5:59pm
Michael Gove has reignited talk of a Tory Lib Dem pact by urging people in Hull to vote
Lib Dem to keep Labour out at the local elections. Gove’s intervention was not planned but it does reveal
how he thinks.
Gove’s department is the most coalitionised. Not only is there a Lib Dem minister there in Sarah Teather, tellingly the only Lib Dem minister not to moan to the Telegraph’s undercover reporters about her colleagues. But there is also David Laws, who is acting as an unofficial adviser to Gove.
Anthony Wells’ thorough analysis of an electoral pact suggests that it could do well in the seats where it matters. Obviously, all this discussion of pacts could be overtaken by events if AV passes. Interestingly, Gove remains undecided on that issue.
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Vulture
January 19th, 2011 6:28pm Report this commentI know he can't help it but Govey reminds me of a 13-year-old eagerly awaiting his first wet dream...which is clearly abt Sarah Teather.
If I hear another 'Tory' Daveist drip urging me to vote Liberal I shall almost be inclined to vote Labour. Almost.
TrevorsDen
January 19th, 2011 7:16pm Report this commentGiven they will have been pursuing joint policies for 5 years and assuming they have not split before hand, then for self preservation they might well decide at the least not to stand against each other.
Would they fight on 2 manifestos and a pre election coalition agreement?
The arrangements for any leaders debate would be interesting.
GDT
January 19th, 2011 7:18pm Report this commentanyone but Labour.
Fergus Pickering
January 19th, 2011 7:49pm Report this commentNo you won't, Vulture. No you won't.
Nick
January 19th, 2011 8:42pm Report this comment"Michael Gove has reignited talk of a Tory Lib Dem pact by urging people in Hull to vote Lib Dem to keep Labour out at the local elections."
No he didn't.
He said that Labour would be kept out of Hull if people voted LibDem (who are the main opposition party).
Any independent commentator would say exactly the same thing. It doesn't imply an official pact - just a recognition of the actual electoral maths and the fact that we now have a coalition.
Paddy
January 19th, 2011 8:53pm Report this commentGove really pinned Andy Burnham down this afternoon regarding the DEFICIT and the appalling state Labour left the economy in.
It's a pity more ministers and journos don't take this tack.
They must be made to confront their mistakes.
Paddy
January 19th, 2011 9:09pm Report this commentTwo top Civil Servants accuse Labour of putting the economy at risk by overspending.
normanc
January 19th, 2011 10:25pm Report this commentIf the coalition don't go into these elections hoping that the other half beats Labour where they are the main challenger then something is clearly wrong.
I'm no fan of the coalition but it makes absolute sense that the closest challenger would be preferable to Labour getting in, whether this will translate into lame duck electioneering by the third placed party (as seen in Oldham) we'll have to wait and see.
You could hardly imagine the Lib Dems and Tories attacking each other in elections pre-GE.
Would make a complete mockery of the whole thing.
Holly ......
January 19th, 2011 10:52pm Report this commentThe John Denham interview with sky was even more revealing.
The 2006 borrowing levels against GDP or growth(I can't remember which he quoted) were the same as in 1997,according to Denham.
Now if that is true during the boom years they were borrowing far more than needed.
This was done with an economy built on private debt/cheap labour.
When the bubble burst and the tax take went
down.....the debt overtook the income.
Bozo talked of percentages that did not sound extreme or made borrowing look out of control.
Fraser a graph please,as I know what I mean,but useless at explaining.
Dimoto
January 19th, 2011 11:55pm Report this commentThe Tory manifesto for the next election will have to include proposals for middle-class tax cuts or they will lose large numbers of votes.
The LibDems won't wear it,(and if they do, the party will split).
lids
January 20th, 2011 8:18am Report this commentQuite right dimoto. No Conservative vote from me next time round, they can swing..
Alex Macfie
January 20th, 2011 1:06pm Report this commentDimoto: Lib Dems are very much in favour of tax cuts for the middle class (who would be the main beneficiary of the party policy to raise tax-free allowances). It's the super-rich that the LDs want to tax more heavily (opposed by the Tories).
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