Posted on 05/07/2010 4:19:30 AM PDT by Clive
LONDON -- Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg brought some clarity after a morning of confusion over the British election by declaring Friday that he will give Conservative Leader David Cameron the first opportunity to lead a minority government.
His statement cooled rampant speculation, fuelled by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his fellow Labour MPs, that he will try to cling to power through a coalition with Mr. Clegg's party.
"It seems this morning that it is the Conservative party that has more votes and more seats, though not an absolute majority, and that is why I think it is now for the Conservative party to prove that it is capable of seeking to govern in the national interest," Mr. Clegg told journalists in London.
Mr. Clegg, who expressed his disappointment over his party's surprisingly poor showing, also noted that the election underscored the need to bring in a proportional system of voting to replace the first-past-the-post system Britain shares with Canada.
That comment hinted that a referendum on electoral reform could be Mr. Clegg's price for supporting the Tories, though commentators said Mr. Cameron's firm opposition to that idea could lead to a deal involving other concessions.
Some experts have suggested that the Liberal Democrats, like the federal Liberals in Canada, could end up abstaining on an expected tough Tory budget in order to avoid triggering an election.
Analysts familiar with Canada's experience with minority government since 2006 -- described as "dysfunctional" in one academic paper -- say it could end up being the model for Britain.
"It looks a lot like Canada, where Harper has been able to bully the opposition," said Anne White, a Canada researcher and blogger for the London School of Economics' Public Policy Group.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2451245/posts
Spain curbs ‘millionaire’ pay for air traffic controllers (incredible salaries)
Breitbart.com
According to figures released by the transport ministry last week, 135 controllers earned more than 600,000 euros (830,000 US dollars) per year while 713 earned between 360,000 and 540,000 euros.
By comparison Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero earns just under 92,000 euros a year while the average salary in Spain is just over 18,000 euros per year, according to government figures.
In addition, the controllers can retire at the age of 52.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Incredible. The Fall of the West. If they make nearly a MILLION DOLLARS a year while they are working, then retire at 52, don’t they get $30,000,000 +++ in retirement pay, if they live long enough??? Total of $50,000,000 each???
What country could ever support this?
Oh yeah: Spain, US, UAW, Obama, SEIU, they all want to try!!!
Note that this is not the same thing as a coalition government.
Unlike Canada, the Brits do not have much experience in minority governments or coalition governments. Canada frequently has minority governments but has never had a coalition government. Canada is currently being successfully governed federally by the Tories under Harper as a minority government. The Brit Tories ought to ask Harper for advice on how to do it.
Brown has always seemed to have tendencies to be a clueless megalomaniac.
Not necessarily diaagreeable.
At least it is a move to the right after the Brit Tories have been too long in the wilderness.
As a Canadian, I am not averse to minority governments. I am averse to coalition governments or anything that begins to look like one.
And before anyone else brings it up: the Ontario Peterson-Rae deal was not a coalition governent, It was a deal for Rae's support for two years in exchaneg for Peterson implementing some of the NDP platform.
It can be done. Perhaps it’s not that obvious for the UK, but, if I am right, Denmark is doing pretty well under some minority construction.
Perhaps it’s a good thing that the long-hoped for slide to the Right isn’t really a landslide. Let things settle, take the long view, etc. etc.
Cameron, with moderate support by Clegg, seems an OK idea to my.
'Twould indeed be a rare thing,
Here on FR,
Should it come to pass!
It's always a lot more fun to comment on things one hasn't read!
“‘tis a consummation devoutly to be wished”
>> ‘Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished <<
Aye, there’s the rub.
Indeed, considering how Harper has expanded the CPC’s representation and voting base. Cameron and his Party would do well to observe and consult with the CPC and Harper.
If I recall correctly, there are still some English Canadians across the political spectrum that more monarchists and try to hold onto the British-colonial era institutional symbolism (monarchy, etc) as Canada’s national identity. In fact I have seen some far-left socialists who don’t blush when shouting “God save the Queen!” - the chief motivation is that they are deeply uncomfortable with the concept of a British-less North American-based Canadian national identity. I also notice coincidentally Ontario, in particular, seems to be far more monarchist than other Old Commonwealth countries and even the Mother Country itself.
How are these people’s reception to the idea of the United Kingdom breaking up and Scotland independence? Thanks.
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg brought some clarity after a morning of confusion over the British election by declaring Friday that he will give Conservative Leader David Cameron the first opportunity to lead a minority government. His statement cooled rampant speculation, fuelled by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his fellow Labour MPs, that he will try to cling to power through a coalition with Mr. Clegg's party.As someone else has pointed out, the LD and Labour together don't add up to the magic 326 seats anyway, meaning they'd have to align with one or more other parties. The Conservatives/LD coalition (assuming it doesn't crack on a no-confidence vote) will have a nice solid bloc.
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