With all the coverage that it has had on television, online, and no doubt in the newspapers and on the radio, I am rather shocked to say the least that I am the first person on here to be mentioning this during the early hours of the morning but “we” (well, the UK!) finally has a NEW Prime Minister at long last!:)
After days of negotiations and uncertainty, the Conservative Party & The Liberal Democrats have finally agreed to come together to form a new coalition government, something that has not been seen/heard of in this country since the end of the Second World War…
The Lib Dems have managed to secure 5 posts within the newly formed Cabinet, plus they will have at least one minister in every government department (there are 23 main ones!), and they also managed to secure an agreement with the Tories on a significant number of their policies and opt-out clauses on things such as the replacement of Trident, so all in all a very good deal for them.
Here’s how the current positions as they stand at present:
– David Cameron – Prime Minister
– Nick Clegg – Deputy Prime Minister
– George Osbourne – Chancellor
– Vince Cable – Secretary to The Treasury
– William Hauge – Foreign Secretary
– Liam Fox – Defence Secretary
– Andrew Lansley – Health Secretary
– David Laws – Children, Schools & Families Secretary
– Phillip Hammond – Work & Pensions Secretary
The only major position that is yet to confirmed is that of Home Secretary, although it is almost certain (but not confirmed, I must admit!) that Chris Grayling who was the Shadow Home Secretary when the Conservatives were in opposition will not take up this role, and that it may possibly be given to Chris Huhne as one of the Lib Dem positions within the new Cabinet.
So, with such a historic day and a political milestone passed, what are people’s opinions/thoughts…
By: mike currill - 14th May 2010 at 21:01
Well that’s the quick wedding over now I guess we just have to hang around for the divorce.
By: Red Hunter - 14th May 2010 at 14:43
What’s your alternative?
By: laviticus - 14th May 2010 at 14:43
They cannot do too bad.
No mining,steel or fishing industry left to decimate this time.
By: groundhugger - 14th May 2010 at 14:38
same old , same old ….another ‘gang’ in power to fill their and their cronies pockets at the expense of ‘Joe public’
By: Red Hunter - 14th May 2010 at 11:12
Who’s head would you put on the block? Or isn’t there enough room to list them?;)
By: Blue_2 - 14th May 2010 at 10:14
Pah! It was the Cavaliers got us into that whole bloody mess! 😉
By: Red Hunter - 14th May 2010 at 09:24
Bl***dy Roundheads – give me a Cavalier any day!;)
By: Blue_2 - 14th May 2010 at 09:09
Unfortunately, you’re right, exactly the problem Cromwell had with the Rump Parliament.
By: Red Hunter - 14th May 2010 at 08:31
I doubt it. You’d end up with just the same proportion of self-seeking ego-trippers as we have now. It’s the nature of power. Benign dictatorship is the only way forward. Unfortunately the two words are contradictory!;)
By: Blue_2 - 14th May 2010 at 08:15
I’m not so sure. Turfing the whole lot out and starting afresh strikes me as quite a sensible idea.
…And he knew how to deal with the Scots! :diablo:
By: Red Hunter - 14th May 2010 at 06:52
Mmm – that might be a step too far…….;)
By: Blue_2 - 13th May 2010 at 20:13
Come back Mr. Cromwell…
By: Red Hunter - 13th May 2010 at 19:38
Sure does – long may it continue!:rolleyes:
By: Grey Area - 13th May 2010 at 18:15
That is exactly my understanding as well. So they are certainly endeavouring to make sure they do remain in power for 5 years.
Here’s another happy coincidence for you, but this time based on an old-established precedent.
Any vote on proposed legislation or on a financial measure can be deemed a vote of confidence in the Government, at the discretion of the PM of the day.
I’m sure I don’t have to spell out to anyone here just how…. convenient…. this combination of happy coincidences could prove to be for any minority government with 46% or more of the seats in the Commons.
Makes you proud to live in a democracy, doesn’t it? 😀
By: Red Hunter - 13th May 2010 at 16:04
I stand ready to be corrected, but my understanding is that there will be legislation to introduce this fixed term and that the same Act will contain a provision that the threshold for a vote of no confidence in the Government will be raised from a simple majority (as at present) to 55% of the Commons.
I’m sure the fact that the Conservatives will hold 47% of the seats in the new House of Commons is nothing more than a happy coincidence.
That is exactly my understanding as well. So they are certainly endeavouring to make sure they do remain in power for 5 years.
By: duxfordhawk - 13th May 2010 at 15:25
In the long term I can not see it working out. But for the moment maybe it is what the country needs.
Due to needing to compromise to get things done it may well mean a more balanced style of politics. But either way they need to make some really tough decisions and due to this they will become a very unpopular government over time.
I still expect they will call another general election next year in an attempt to get a Conservative majority. It will depend at the time how strong Labour are at the time.
I just hope things can stabilise soon, Labour ran out of ideas and lost direction just like most parties do after being in power for a long time, And real and truly the Con/Lib pact is proving the only way forward.
Lets just hope we move forward not further backwards.
By: ThreeSpool - 12th May 2010 at 16:55
It’ll be interesting to see what this does for Scottish nationalism – even after tactical voting, the Tories only managed to secure one seat in Scotland (out of 59!), but we still ended up with a totally unwanted Tory Prime Minister…
Personally, for me, he is an unwanted Prime Minister. However, the Conservatives did gain the largest proportion of votes and that is a democracy.
I’ll just have to get on with it, I had my vote. 🙂
By: pauldyson1uk - 12th May 2010 at 16:23
Two thoughts
Thank god Brown’s finally gone.
What does a Deputy PM do (other than pie-eating, riding around in a fleet of Jaguars and knocking off his secretary)?
Moggy
In this case it is more than likley a job in title only and to apease Nick Clegg ,he cant really have any power can he.?
God forbid that anything happens to Cameron and he is left in charge 😮
By: Creaking Door - 12th May 2010 at 15:22
Former Labour Education Minister Kim Howells:
“I tell you why it’s been rejected by most Labour MPs. Because they know that they’re [the Lib-Dems] a bunch of opportunistic toe-rags, who’ll say anything to anybody in order to get power. And they’ve done it this time, they’ve got power. Good luck to them.”
Good to see somebody is putting their own education to good use! :rolleyes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676675.stm
By: Grey Area - 12th May 2010 at 13:53
Indeed. Only just realised that they have signed up for a fixed 5 year term so presumably that really is it, until May 2015, unless there are “irreconcilable ” differences.
I stand ready to be corrected, but my understanding is that there will be legislation to introduce this fixed term and that the same Act will contain a provision that the threshold for a vote of no confidence in the Government will be raised from a simple majority (as at present) to 55% of the Commons.
I’m sure the fact that the Conservatives will hold 47% of the seats in the new House of Commons is nothing more than a happy coincidence.
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May 12, 2010 at 1:19 am