UK govt
This time last week we had just got to grips with the final results of the British general election and were obsessing about the coalition scenarios. If a similar result had happened in this country we would still be in the middle of negotiations. 
The speed at which the Lib Dems sprang to embrace the Tories took me by surprise. 
Back of the napkin stuff from two upper-class chaps on the up and up. The short time-frame (was 3 or 4 days?) suggests a very cursory due diligence was undertaken and my guess is that it wasn't just the intransigence from the Labour Party and the potential headaches of a multi-partied support arrangement that took them so swiftly into the Conservative nest.
From watching the declarations roll in on election night I take it the Returning Officers were giving the final result and that unlike our system (that takes about a fortnight to confirm everything and count special votes) that all the specials etc. are counted in the UK on the night. That gives a lot of certainty about the outcome - instant certainty - and because of that there is no cooling off period in which negotiations can commence. Even if that's not quite correct there is still no assumed period in which to negotiate and no recent precedent to rely on.
Add to the unusual pressure of such considerations the intense media scrutiny and some hyped-up nonsense about the markets needing to be pacified (so that the bets on the election itself can pay off in terms of the market - ASAP) and the force is present to drive a quick bargain. 
I get the feeling it was more of a heads of agreement that was signed to trigger the Queen and the issuing of warrants. A lot of details seemed to be emerging through the week - after the swearing in and even after the initial, chummy, dual press conference in the backyard of No.10 as Mr and Mr Prime Minister.
This is crisis pace and this new government looks to get a huge conversion rate of policy to action with the momentum they have if they choose to use it. I sense they may be capable of quite dramatic things despite being a coalition. I get the feeling that with Cameron and Clegg, being relatively young, and relatively thrusting types, that they may get up to mischief together. The problems of government will probably occur when they both agree on things.
It'll be up to the wiser heads, the Hagues and the Cables to make sure these chaps don't run amok.
posted by Tim Selwyn @ 12:03 am
6 comments
6 Comments:
I appreciate yr 'as it happens' and retrospective news aggregation and commentary. Astute and illuminating and rare to find elsewhere. Thanks.
'Young' and 'thrusting', 'wiser head'. Oh arnt you star struck.
This is a rich toff's regime to stick it to working people so the bankers can keep their bonues, mansions and tax haven retreats. Give it 18 months and before riots in the street.
Originally I thought that Cameron would only want a loose affiliation with Lib Democrat.
But Scotland has only one Tory seat, Ireland none, and Wales I think 4 or 5.
Tory party is British, and so this coalition gives some inclusion to Scotland and Wales, which are both strongly Labour .
A look at the voting map by telegraph.co.uk/ shows how strongly regional voting patterns are.
Originally I thought that Cameron would only want a loose affiliation with Lib Democrat.
But Scotland has only one Tory seat, Ireland none, and Wales I think 4 or 5.
Tory party is British, and so this coalition gives some inclusion to Scotland and Wales, which are both strongly Labour .
A look at the voting map by telegraph.co.uk/ shows how strongly regional voting patterns are.
I was amazed it took as long as it did, once the numbers were known (more or less by Friday morning) there was only one possible outcome - that was Cameron would be the next PM.
There could have been some options in detail, minority government, full coalition, or less formal support......
The delay of the inevitable lost me a bet – I had bet Cameron would be PM by (at the latest) 9am on Tuesday morning their time.
As it was Clegg just saved himself, everyone was losing patience with the whole thing, if it had dragged on another day those seen to be holding things up would have been punished if there was another election this year.
The British would rather have a government they hate than no government at all.
Instability and indecision may be acceptable in two bit little back waters like NZ but not acceptable in the UK.
As for the Queens involvement she had to keep well out of it and just wait to be advised who to call to form the next government, that advice has to come from the existing PM, normally not a problem as the result if generally clear cut, this case was tricky as Brown had a vested interest.
Brown had to resign, he did not have the numbers, if he had tried to hold on (any longer) his reputation (such as it was) would have been totally ruined.
"Instability and indecision may be acceptable in two bit little back waters like NZ but not acceptable in the UK."
It's perfectly acceptable for the UK but this isn't the time given the financial crisis. Clegg acted for the good of the country by accepting a Lib-Con coalition. Labour were the party which got the UK into this mess so what were the odd it get get them out?
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