DEM not gonna CON dis NATION: Rolling UK politics in the short-lived Cleggeron era

MW:

Mr Hague told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a five-year fixed-term parliament had been introduced to help guarantee stability: "We have done everything possible to lock ourselves together to avoid the dangers of instability and haggling that are of course present in any hung parliament."

The only way to remove a government before the five years was up would be in a vote of confidence backed by 55% of MPs. Current rules are that the votes of 50% of MPs, plus one, can remove a government. The Conservatives currently have 47% of MPs.

Tax break for married couples and civil partners (Lib Dems able to abstain)

http://i39.tinypic.com/24cs7s1.jpg

The silver linings are the civil liberties stuff

I'll believe all that when I see it, wait for the Chief Constables to start bleating and see what the Tories do then

nah I think there's room to cut back some of Labour's worst law and order excesses without pissing off the police and it makes for relatively cheap political capital. Looks good when you start cutting back all that awful health and safety and employees' rights red tape too.

Outlawing the fingerprinting of children at school without parental permission

what's this all abaht then?

no more finger painting

some schools use fingerprint scanners for library books, paying for school meals etc. opponents: http://www.leavethemkidsalone.com/

it might relate to the Tory-friendly Academy schools that run their security, libraries and school dinners using biometrics. How else are they gonna keep the Epsilons out tho?

In their manifesto, the Tories said they wanted to allow residents to stop councils raising taxes (by making it possible for them to make council tax increases subject to a referendum). This will probably be an area for dispute in the future.

I think they should talk to Arnie about that one.

some schools use fingerprint scanners for library books, paying for school meals etc. [...] Tory-friendly Academy schools that run their security, libraries and school dinners using biometrics.

blimey

So the Big Society Decentralising Power for U Party wants to remove more power from local councils? How surprising.

Par for the course for Tory governments

I think they should talk to Arnie about that one.

When did teh UK get so referenda crazy?

Par for the course for Tory governments

But the power wants to be free, maaaaaaaan! All power to the people, build your own schools, learn how to do your own heart surgery, get together with some community-minded guys and form your own local paedo-beating clubs, come oooooooon, won't somebody get The Man off our backs once and for all??

im think ima set up a google alert for "daniel hannan" and "shitfit"

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100039465/the-first-test-of-the-new-government-will-come-at-the-june-eu-summit/

Cameron introduces new minister for Local Government:

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/08/20/gal_1968-6.jpg

(by making it possible for them to make council tax increases subject to a referendum).

Aren't local councils elected?

But they keep electing the wrong ones

raising council tax is the tory govt's job

... that was the problem the last time the Tories were in (xp)

I'm guessing there's going to be a whole lot more Labour councils in the coming few years than there have been in the last few years

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/08dNa5450334k/610x.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0f8i92u5Z5bcm/x610.jpg

... that was the problem the last time the Tories were in (xp)

Poll taxes?

Always think a good Tory MP needs to look like a Dickens villain, and Pickles brings that in spades.

Also, does this coalition thing mean that Messers Cameron and Clegg have to wear blue and yellow ties, repectively, for the next five years?

Hadn't thought about this:

The government could still change mid-term (a PM loses confidence of House, Queen asks someone else to see if they form a new government), but the parliament would stay in place.
http://www.globaldashboard.org/2010/05/12/libcon-agreement/

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bg8abp4YF6hJ/610x.jpg

He's going to be the most ridiculed figure in politics in a couple of months. Apart from Gosbourne maybe.

pickles brings a lot in spades

Is he really heterosexual?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00fv3rPgM34Je/610x.jpg

Don't know who Pickles is but his tailor certainly needs horsewhipping. (The Tories are still for that, right?)

what's this all abaht then?

Well, when I started middle school every child was fingerprinted by the police, this would be the early 80s. I thought this was widespread practice.

The on who smelt it dealt it, eh Ken? (xxp)

The government could still change mid-term (a PM loses confidence of House, Queen asks someone else to see if they form a new government), but the parliament would stay in place.

Ah, pining for the days of the Long Parliament, eh?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bg8abp4YF6hJ/610x.jpg

This image is amazing. Like an Edward Hopper painting done by Banksy.

haha, don't.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0gHLdmo4H30YQ/x610.jpg

ws.

Ok, so 55% thing might solely refer to dissolution of parliament (and GE trigger)? If sitting gov't Queen's Speech is voted down, PM will have to resign and allow another coalition to form? Trying to imagine how this would work in practice; LD-Con lose major supply bill vote (due to substantial LD rebellion (can this happen? Whipped so it can't?)) by just a couple of votes (not 358-292+), Cameron has to stand down and allow another gov't to form?

Can't believe people are still doing Frank Spencer in 2010.

Ooooh Betty! The Dems has done a whoopsie on the country!

I think it only applies to the confidence votes which force an election, but yeah, if there's no 50%+1 majority to get anything done then i don't see how cameron can avoid calling one.

I guess this means what we're actually stuck with, give or take by-elections/defections, is five years of 307-258-57-28. How those numbers actually arrange themselves into governing blocs, or who is in charge at the top, can change without the 55% proviso. You just don't get another election.

I'm still not happy.

Hopefully the libdem vote will implode in the Thirsk and Malton election in a fortnight's time and the libdem's get a screaming case of the wobblies.

We understand that Baroness Warsi is to become Conservative Party chairman. She will part of the cabinet - the first Muslim woman ever to hold such a senior political position.

^^^ pickles out.

yeah, if there's no 50%+1 majority to get anything done then i don't see how cameron can avoid calling one.
this is worst of all though, because now he *can't* call one unless he does a German-style dodge.

this is the kind of thing the lords are there to block right?

god bless the house of lords

Pickles is now Communities Secretary iirc xxps