Meenzer

Here's the formal document, for what it's worth: http://www.libdems.org.uk/latest_news_deta...17-7778979458ff

A true pedant would have read the whole thread already.

"Gropecunt, the earliest known use of which is in about 1230, appears to have been derived as a compound of the words grope and cunt." Well thanks for that.

This is the problem - leave the Tories to govern in a minority and the Lib Dems would have been held responsible for the inevitable second election in six months' time, which could easily have had exactly the same outcome anyway. In either scenario - flight to the two "big boys" to get a majority government in a second 2010 election/"punishment" for bedding in with the Tories - there's every chance that the Lib Dems will take a huge hit at the next election, so they've obviously figured they might as well take the opportunity to benefit from some exposure and experience for their front-benchers and at least try to temper some of the Tories' more barmy policies and see where it goes. It's far from ideal, but it's probably the best they could have got out of it all as a party. Well, yes and no. There's nothing wrong with tactical voting as long as you accept that you're not voting for a Labour MP by proxy. Complaining that you voted for a Lib Dem and they went on to act like Lib Dems is an odd one, certainly. Of course, if we had electoral reform and votes that actually counted for something, etc. etc.

William Hague as Foreign Secretary isn't exactly the best of starts.

"It's not all bad news - the rest of the Premier League is improving rapidly." Cheers for that.

Two words: Smooth Operator.

Big up for the News Quiz. Toksvig has settled into the role marvellously. Plus it means they don't have to have female panelists on as often. Result!

http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/wa...gup.php?id=2748

Richard Herring will be seething.

And who's to say we won't with first past the post? The two main parties are unpopular as they've ever been in living memory, trust in mainstream politics is at an all-time low, and there's no sign of an all-conquering Blair or Thatcher figure on the horizon. If we're going to have a hung parliament every time anyway, we might as well do it properly.

Cheers fellas, much obliged.

The Lib Dems, at least, would be well advised to break down any future manifesto pledges into "this is what we want to do generally" and "these are the key points we'll insist on in the event of any coalition". At least that way you've got a positive keynote message to drum home on the campaign trail. It's harder for the big parties to sell "these are the things we'd drop"...

I'll tell you what, mind, when you look at the bookies' lists for next Conservative leader you start to see the extent of their problems. If Cameron does go, what on earth next for them?

Lib-Lab would've had 52% of the MPs under pure PR.

On a tangential note, does anyone happen to know to what extent the relationship between Newcastle University and the Freeman Hospital is formalised? Do medical students train at the Freeman as part of their studies? I know they work together on research etc., but what form does that take, etc. etc.? Any information gratefully received. There is a reason, but the time it'd take to explain would far outweigh the extent to which it would be at all informative or interesting.

Yeah, Brown is a goner whatever happens, and even a formal coalition has every chance of failing within the year, let alone a minority Conservative government.

I'll be disappointed if a formal coalition comes out of it, even if that includes the promise of a referendum on electoral reform (which it won't). Some kind of "we won't vote you down" cooperation would be far preferable, something that can be spun as "in the national interest in these difficult times" without completely alienating a good proportion of Lib Dem voters. I have no idea what's actually going to happen, though, nor do I trust in any of the interpretations of what's happened so far ("there've been no leaks/talks haven't broken down yet so things must be going well", etc.), so I don't really know what to say beyond that.

Incidentally, this is a pretty interesting read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Austerity-Olympics...7681&sr=8-1

Ironic that London has two austerity games. Use the Dome for indoor events? Cracking idea. I suggest gymnastics and basketball.

He's wrong. They were lush! Ahh thank you Meenz. I couldnt have imagined them. I want one now though. Discontinued in 1992 apparently. Scandalous.

He's wrong. They were lush!

Everyone in the eurozone should vote for Greece to win Eurovision this year, just out of spite.

And that wouldn't be the case under PR. The Conservatives should welcome it with open arms. But there must be a big down side for them or they wouldnt be so against it? Conservatives in "completely wrong about something" shock. In all seriousness though, it makes a lot of sense for them, particularly in the kind of situation we've just had. People in safe Labour heartland seats who wanted to change an unpopular government couldn't influence that change in any way. The next best alternative was to tactically vote for the second-placed Lib Dem candidate, which obviously gives the impression that Lab-LD would have 50%+ of the MPs under PR, based on pure vote share - but if their vote for the Conservatives, as a de-facto vote of no confidence in the current government, would actually count for something then you'd see a huge LD-Con swing in seats like that.