Clegg's party are heading for electoral annihilation. So next time they may as well promise heaven on earth: there'll be no danger of a u-turn."We didn't win the election outright and there are compromises in a coalition", is the message the LibDems are spamming radio and television with in defence of their tuition fees volteface.
The remains of the LibDems may think voters are stupid but, come the next election, they can expect another thing coming. People don't like to be treated like idiots, less so by smug jumped-up politicians.
Quite simply, Mr Clegg didn't sign those infamous "we-will-scrap-tuition-fees" pledges a few months ago under the caveat that it could only happen if his party won an outright majority.
And that's because - had he done so - people would have laughed at him. Even my neighbour's dog knew that his party was never going to win the May 6 vote, let alone an outright majority.
However, not to worry, Clegg.
Next time go the whole hog. Feel free to promise £10K gifts to all voters, twice as many holidays for all, free Tesco Finest meals, and Leo Messi to play for the local team whichever constituency you happen to be making a speech that moment.
Sign pledges that your government will pay rent or mortgage in every single home in the country and, since you're at it, free nightclub vouchers for all students forever.
Then, the day after the election, you won't have to justify a thing.
No danger of coalition compromises: your party will have been absolutely wiped out of parliament. And it'll be a joy to behold.
7 comments:
Nick Clegg must surely be the single greatest disappointment since Marco Etcheverry got sent off 3 minutes into his World Cup debut.
Seeing you wet liberals getting your undies in a bundle over your formerly favourite party of polenta-eating wets taking the piss is just too much for me to take.
The trouble with this government is not that they're finally showing students a bit of tough love. The trouble is that the wet liberals are acting like the ball & chain of the coalition preventing the conservatives from bringing in proposals that matter ie dumping the Brussels Mafia.
patriot: you are a sub human scum and you should get kettled.
'Dumping the Brussels Mafia' would get my full support and I even worked for them once(briefly as a contractor. Separate issue altogether to the student protests. Just as the Lib Dems have damaged their own credibility, the credibility of 'student' demonstrators has surely taken a knock as well.
Paul,
I remember when we debated the issue of British soldiers torturing in Iraq you were very quick to point out that there was only a tiny minority involved.
Then why do you tar all "student demonstrators" with the same brush?
I'm not sure kettling whoever is in the area for 6 and a half hours in freezing temperature is the best way to avoid inflaming the situation...
'Then why do you tar all "student demonstrators" with the same brush?'
Claude, where did I say that? Perhaps I should elaborate what I said was that the student protests have had their credibility damaged by the violence at the demos. Of course not all of the students are responsible for that; however it has harmed their cause. As to police tactics, well I'm no expert on crowd control. However faced with the way some groups of agitators (class war etc) look to cause trouble I can't see what else they can do. What if they didn't 'kettle' people and a group of rioters ran amok causing mayhem? It has happened before; crowds can go crazy and kill people very easily. On the other hand I accept many ordinary protestors felt unfairly treated by police. I cannot foresee an alternative unfortunately.
On the Iraq prisoner thing, separate issue obviously; I never did get to finish what I wanted to say. But I will say this certain individuals whom I could name should have taken responsibility. I am referring to middle ranking commanders, enough said.
Paul said:
What if they didn't 'kettle' people and a group of rioters ran amok causing mayhem? It has happened before; crowds can go crazy and kill people very easily. On the other hand I accept many ordinary protestors felt unfairly treated by police. I cannot foresee an alternative unfortunately.
The result though that the riots took place after, with a crowd of people frothing at the mouth with anger.
An alternative? Perhaps less strict kettling techniques. If you see kids turning up at the police front line desperate for the loo or complaining that their mate has passed out don;t be a fucking wanker on a power trip and let them out. That alone would be a step away from state-sponsored thuggery.
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