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

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

yeah, it's not in any manifesto so surely. xp

5.20pm: Here's an afternoon summary.

• David Cameron has continued to appoint new ministers to his government. Downing Street has not published a full list, but according to reliable reports the new appointments include: Jeremy Hunt, culture secretary; Philip Hammond, transport secretary; Andrew Mitchell, international development secretary; Francis Maude, Cabinet Office minister; Eric Pickles, communities secretary; Caroline Spelman, environment secretary; and Lady Warsi, Conservative party chairman.

Con+Lib in Lords 260, Lab+x-bench 356

Just remembered that the Olympics will happen midway through this parliament, am revolted by the idea of David Cameron revelling in any glory from that.

Still am x1000 more annoyed by Boris revelry in same. We know who secured the Olympics.

Ken can be back in time for the olympics though?

or can he?

can I?

im p revolted by the incredible waste of money that is the olympics tbh! what glory?

Let's wait and see if they're actually profitable xposts

has an olympics ever been profitable?

hoping for Broken Even Britain at least

xxxxp

Obviously missing something, but who is that gorgeous women up the page a bit? don't tell me she's Tory

nick clegg's wife

Thought he might have meant Eric Pickles.

If this coalition holds together then it would likely be in the interest of the tories Tories to change their position and support AV. AV as a voting system can institutionalize coalition governments (at least it has in Australia). LDs and Tories can run candidates in the same electorate without disadvantaging either party, provided they exchange preferences.
Of course the coalition or the LDs will probably break apart in the meantime anyway, so...