Pass the crisps: UK Election watch

497 Responses

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    Is "inexpert translation" media-speak for "we're guessing"? :) It looked like a shopping list to me: Edam, ice cream, Toblerone.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    So, I guess things go quiet for an hour two while we all wait to see if a broad heads of agreement is going to be inked tonight.

    I think I need a drink

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    According to Cameron, it's a fully fledged coalition.

    The Lib-Dems have tied themselves to a political corpse and are about to throw themselves off a cliff.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The Lib-Dems have tied themselves to a political corpse and are about to throw themselves off a cliff.

    To be fair, Tom, how many times -- and how loudly -- did you expect the Lib-Dems to be told to fuck off by Labour before they said "OK, then"?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Well it isn't just the LD's fault the Rainbow Coalition didn't work out - many Labour Party figures have spoken out in the last 3 days against it. I don't think the Party leadership could be certain they could rely upon the entire parliamentary party, whips be dammed

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    "I loved the job not for its prestige, its titles and its ceremony - which I do not love at all. No, I loved the job for its potential to make this country I love fairer, more tolerant, more green, more democratic, more prosperous and more just - truly a greater Britain."

    The many nuances of being Green? Brown is the new Green? Starts to look like wishful thinking in hindsight when he rolls this off the tongue on the way out the door. 'Wait, what I meant to do was...'

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    To be fair, Tom, how many times -- and how loudly -- did you expect the Lib-Dems to be told to fuck off by Labour before they said "OK, then"?

    Nick Clegg's support base hates the Tories. Based on our experience here, Labour is going to have great fun painting the Lib-Dem's as acting as the enablers of Tory slash and burn policies. Labour will sill simply say a vote for the Lib-Dems has turned out to be a vote for the Tories. If you don't want the Tories, vote Labour. This is a simple message and it'll resonate as the Tories cut, cut, cut.

    Like I said, Clegg should have guaranteed supply and confidence in return for PR and not entered into a formal coalition. That is surely the advice anyone from NZ would have offered. Of course, the British are a terminally stupid nation much enamoured with their own sense of superiority so one cannot imagine them ever listening to another English speaking, Westminster democracy with experience in coalition government, especially one as small as ours. The Lib-Dem's will learn the hard way.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Well it isn't just the LD's fault the Rainbow Coalition didn't work out -

    I don't see how you can fairly say the Lib-Dems bear any fault for the fact a good chunk of Labour hate them as much as their Kiwi soul mates loathe the Maori Party and/or Greens, regard any form of PR as electoral suicide, and cynically think any coalition is going be so unstable and unpopular they're going to be back in Government with an overwhelming majority before Christmas.

    And for the record, I'm as surprised as anyone that Brown couldn't carry his caucus with him but Cameron could. Westminster has been a veritable Wonderland...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Bill Cash. Seems aptly named. Did he sort out the rental rort for his daughter? Anyway, listening to him on the BBC live, the European 'question' is going to loom large once things get started.

    "Strong indication that Nick Clegg might be Deputy Prime Minister". Just sayin'.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    the British are a terminally stupid nation much enamoured with their own sense of superiority

    <gasp!> It's like looking in a mirror!

    Oh, how will I cope with the painful truth? Hmmm, this overinflated sense of superiority should help.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Again from Snowmail:

    the likely deal on offer will include a promise to force through parliament by a three-line whip a referendum on introducing the Alternative Vote (AV) system.

    It would also ditch any proposal to cut the inheritance tax threshold, and end plans to recognise marriage in the tax system.

    The coalition deal could also introduce fixed term parliaments of four or five years, ending the ability of the prime minister to call a snap election.

    This all relies on Nick Clegg securing the support of 75 per cent of his MPs and the party executive.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Have any commentators or people who might know spoken up about how likely it is Clegg & Co will get the party to agree?

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    I do wonder what the queen said to that nice Mr Cameron.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Was going to save this for Newsmash, but what the heck.

    Sky News' coverage of Cameron's arrival at Downing Street:

    You know, I don't think that woman at 00.10 is really "cheering" ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    You know, I don't think that woman at 00.10 is really "cheering" ...

    Why wasn't she dragged into the middle of Downing Street and kicked to death for the cameras? Really, Dave -- you're supposed to be a fascist monster start acting like one. Bite the head off a baby. Something -- we've been waiting five days for your Satanic malevolence to be revealed!

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yeah, it's pretty funny though in the context of Sky News' rather public anxiety about the result these past few days.

    Booing audibly starts up and the Sky commentator says: "And a cheer there from the crowd in Whitehall ..."

    Not that I have any particular love for people who turn up just to abuse their new PM, but it did make me smile.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    Apparently the 9/11 Was an Inside Job crew were there too and almost got their banner in the background of BBC News

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Not that I have any particular love for people who turn up just to abuse their new PM, but it did make me smile.

    And it's quite endearing when you think that if Cameron was behind an American-style security lockdown, they wouldn't have been able to get within a half-mile of Downing Street. Democratic freedoms apply to dickheads too.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Isn't it traditional for new presidents in the US to walk the last mile or so the the White House?

    I vaguely remember seeing something about how Bush was unable to do so because of the rain of eggs landing on his limousine in Jan 2001.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    What a depressing list of priorities.

    Trident nuclear deterrance? Did we jump back to the 1980s and the cold war? How is that still a not negotiable priority for anyone?

    And it's quite endearing when you think that if Cameron was behind an American-style security lockdown, they wouldn't have been able to get within a half-mile of Downing Street.

    American inauguration is a pretty public spectacle, with the President not too far from the plebs on that whole drive thing.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    American inauguration is a pretty public spectacle, with the President not too far from the plebs on that whole drive thing.

    True enough -- but I think a clot of Tea Baggers trying to get within a hundred meters of the front door of the White House would be on a hiding to nothing. They might be more successful if they were reality TV wannabes crashing a state dinner, though. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Is it just me, or does that Mr Cameron look just like that Mr key ? Was it the tie? Was it the suit?Was it the baby?

    I got it! It's the photo ops. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • BlairMacca,

    Is it just me, or does that Mr Cameron look just like that Mr key ?

    Not just in looks. It is quite scary how similar they are. Key has modeled himself quite closely to Cameron, although I don't think Cameron has the 'common touch' of Key. That and Key can always go back to the "I grew up in a state house." Cameron can't exactly claim to have grown up in tenament blocks

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    God, I hate being right... Simon Heffer proves there's nothing more obnoxious than a sore winner. The two-fold problem with the Earl Gray Teabaggers is 1) they're three-strikes losers when it comes to actually winning elections, and, 3) it's blindingly obvious than anyone to the left of Enoch Powell is a fraking Maoist on their very special planet.

    (Heffer's constitutional illiteracy and wilful ignorance of reality is sad, not at all surprising and not any kind of conservative values I support.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Was it the baby?

    Ah yes... wasn't it generous of Samantha's uterus to get with the media strategy?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

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