UK FLISTERS

May 11, 2010 19:29

Can someone explain the LibDim-Conservative union? HOW DOES IT WORK? Aren't they on the opposite ends of the political spectrum?

united kingdom, politics

Leave a comment

Comments 26

goldy_dollar May 12 2010, 04:37:02 UTC
....idk, it is a bizarre coalition. But my understanding is that the Lib-Dems are getting some sort of election reform deal out of it.... so they sold out? I don't see why they can't just go with a minority government like we have in Canada, but FINE BRITAIN.

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 05:48:15 UTC
would canada be any better though?

Reply

goldy_dollar May 12 2010, 05:53:15 UTC
Well I'm not sure it's necessarily "better" or "worse." We have practically the same situation - a Conservative party that has won the most seats, but not enough to hold a full majority. But they're governing alone without the backing of any other party. It does mean, theoretically, that there could be an election at any time, but... idk, we've muddled through for six years now, so I think the Brits could manage as well.

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 05:53:48 UTC
Is anything getting done?

Reply


anonymous May 12 2010, 05:27:38 UTC
No. All 3 major parties in the UK are central. The Conservatives are centre-right and the Liberal Democrats are centre-left. It's not like America.

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 05:48:02 UTC
LOL we have center-right and scary right.

Reply

anonymous May 12 2010, 19:18:51 UTC
A Con-Lib coalition is great if they can work together. They should temper each other's too far right/left policies, and they agree on big issues like the Euro and the ID card system. Too many people are kneejerk whining that a right wing party came into power without reading up on party specifics.

Reply


fantomatiquevie May 12 2010, 08:26:09 UTC
...I have no idea what's going on, so now I need to look into this *scurries off to google*

Reply


shinyopals May 12 2010, 09:40:42 UTC
Pretty much what the anon above said.

The LDs and the Cons are technically left and right of center, but they are probably closer politically than Obama and the most left wing democrats.

The Conservatives tend to be way more along the lines of ~traditional families~ will ~save our broken Britain~ which I personally find revolting, but they're not going to do anything like make homosexuality illegal or say we should have private healthcare. Of the US parties, I'd say they were closest to the democrats, but possibly/probably even further to the left.

LibDems are probably our most left wing party of the main three, so there is technically an element of OMG SELLING OUT but this is the first time we've had a minority gov't since, like, the 70s. The LDs have never had this opportunity before, and if they can push electoral reform they have a chance of becoming a major player in the future. I'd say Clegg is sacrificing short term credibility for long term party gain, although I admit that allying with the Tories is definitely enough to ( ... )

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 17:25:29 UTC
Okay what do you feel about electoral reform?

Reply

shinyopals May 12 2010, 17:28:05 UTC
Personally, I'm generally in favour of it because I like the idea of a multi-party system that actually works as a multi-party system. I'm kinda iffy about the idea of parties like UKIP and the BNP getting increased power though. Honestly, I think the BNP should be censored under our hate speech rules, so the thought of them getting elected reps in Westminster does not make me happy.

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 17:38:22 UTC
BNP is like... our right, right? Who is happily embracing Xenophobia against Mexicans and Latin@s?

Reply


zauberer_sirin May 12 2010, 11:31:28 UTC
Basically what has been said. Parties are not so extremely oposite here and in many issues the LibDems and the Conservatives have overlapping interests so the LibDems just chose to join the Conservatives despite some obvious political differences. I wouldn't see it so much as a selling out if the Tories had a different leader but David Cameron, our new Prime Minister *facepalm* is the Antichrist and the spawn of the devil and such things ( ... )

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 17:26:30 UTC
...Oh Spain. :( Um at least it sounds better than Italy? I'd mention Russia but you know. Russia. *pets*

Reply

zauberer_sirin May 12 2010, 17:41:23 UTC
It's definitely better than Spain. But I really wished the current goverment would continue - they might be too naive and made some mistakes but their policies are liberal and logical, and hey, they're the guys who made gay marriage legal in a country that is still largely homophobic. I love our President, I hope there's some miracle and they win the next elections.

Reply

a_white_rain May 12 2010, 17:44:28 UTC
*cheers him on* I didn't know Spain had legal gay marriage. :)

Reply


Leave a comment

Up