I was more interested by that old bag with the blue hair dye from the audience! I'm coming for you Farage....!
I've just realised that no one was representing the Lib Dems last night! Usually they have the 3 major parties represented... Perhaps this is a sign of things to come!
They are,quite simply done for.A few will hang on due to personal popularity but for a party that regards themselves as left-of-centre the taint of cooperating with the Tories is electoral suicide.
They deserve some credit for coming together with the Conservatives to form a Government when the country was in a dire financial emergency. They set aside tribal politics for the good of the country and it was the right thing to do at the time as the markets would have punished a weak Government struggling to get through it's budgets! Although I am in no way a fan of the Lib Dems they should be remembered for the act of political suicide they performed all for the greater good!
Do you actually believe all that **** you've just spouted? Clegg saw an opportunity for some glory and cocked it up completely!
No need for the patronising fella, you're perfectly entitled to your views of course, certainly doesn't make you right though. I did quite enjoy reading that book actually, it was good fun and I'm certain it wasn't supposed to be taken seriously or held up as some kind of literary accomplishment. Did you read it yourself or are you basing your critique on it on your general dislike of such a 'talentless waste of space'? (I seem to remember have a similar conversation with you about Pete Doherty at some point in the past, is it something you have against substance mis-users by any chance, you being a former copper and all?)
No chance. They are at their lowest ebb at the moment, things will only get better for them. They will take a huge blow this election (particularly if Clegg stays as leader), but they aren't going anywhere - their strongholds of support are too great. I strongly suspect they will bounce back in five years time though, especially if they form part of the next coalition. If anything, the Lib Dems saving grace may be UKIP! As the Tories are foolishly dragged right, a gap may well open in the centre. People in the south-west and much of rural England will continue voting Lib Dem as the only viable alternative to Tories.
Sorry if it came across as patronising Munky, not my intention I assure you. I haven't read all of the book, I picked it up in Waterstones and started to read it and found it to be very childish, not the sort of book that would interest me, not that my tastes are highbrow, I prefer a good thriller and have several "favourite" authors, some as "lowbrow" as Dean Koontz and Johnathan Kellerman!
What exactly did he **** up? He had very little power and got some good policies in. I have no idea what people were expecting.
The Press love to make a big deal about his u-turn on tuition fees, which is probably the most significant error of his time in charge. However, that was nearly five years ago now. People forget these things quickly (and I suspect will predominantly blame Clegg as opposed to LDs). I think history will be a lot kinder to Clegg than the present is, for the reasons you state. Now, he's criticised as someone who was unprincipled in his pursuit of power, laughed in the face of the electorate that gave him significant support and ended up as a stooge of David Cameron. I think the future will more likely see him as something of a thorn in the Tories' side, as a moderating influence from some of their worst tendencies and as someone who pragmatically negotiated for the better of the country. Won't make a difference to him now though. While I think the Lib Dems will ultimately do OK, I think he's finished. At least for the short term.
Right, so you didn't even bother to read more than a paragraph of it before passing judgement then, brilliant Thanks for perfectly underlining my previous point about people not being to make their own minds up based on facts rather than the opinions of others
Fook me how many times do you see Munky, Carrabuh and me all in agreement on the same thread! This must be a first! I agree with Rob all time!
So if I start to read a book and don't enjoy it, I should spend 20 quid on it and hope it gets better before the end? I think THIS belongs with you!
I read it and thought it was **** (I always finish a book I've started) Just my opinion, but mine own nevertheless.
