tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post7684467903155346705..comments2024-03-20T16:27:56.522+00:00Comments on Norfolk Blogger: Tories desperate to save their fall guysNich Starlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-65586214573692348752011-05-22T01:08:22.056+01:002011-05-22T01:08:22.056+01:00Is Norman Lamb advising Nick Clegg to push through...Is Norman Lamb advising Nick Clegg to push through Tory policies or is Clegg not listening to Norman?Augustus78https://www.blogger.com/profile/15175160073620729952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-22020682113499831752011-05-08T17:41:46.192+01:002011-05-08T17:41:46.192+01:00Hopeful, the situation reminds me of the scene in ...Hopeful, the situation reminds me of the scene in Austin Powers 1, with the guy frozen with fear as the steam roller slowly approaches, slowly, painfully slowly, and he stands for 30 seconds until eventually he is steamrollered out of existence. We can see the steam roller is four years away and have our eyes closed as a party hoping it somehow won't crush us.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-51821286358642705202011-05-08T17:39:28.889+01:002011-05-08T17:39:28.889+01:00Norman Lamb does not fit your description, in my h...Norman Lamb does not fit your description, in my honest opinion. I've known Norman for 19 years, was vice Chairman of North Norfolk Lib Dems, and he is no Orange Booker.<br /><br />Aside from that, I accept the<br />thrust of your arguments.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-26151970910020299562011-05-08T14:39:59.507+01:002011-05-08T14:39:59.507+01:00Your analysis is right, Nich - you will be damaged...Your analysis is right, Nich - you will be damaged if you stay in the coalition.<br /><br />You will, however, be damaged if you leave it, as a minority Tory govt will take all the credit for things going right, whilst you have taken the initial investment in pain. The key policies (economy, education, welfare) will march on and deliver goodies to the public around 2014. Fiddling with the NHS is always a vote-loser and can be ditched. No LDs would also allow the Tories to adopt popular/ist policies on prisons & EU.<br /><br />It's a moot decision point anyway, as the chauffeur-driven cars have captured the hearts (Tim Farron being a notable exception). You will stay in coalition because your leaders have no wish to lose their power.<br /><br />The time to have argued your points was before the last election (as preparation for negotiations), or possibly before your party elected a load of Orange Bookers to the top of the party,<br /><br />As a Tory voter, I see Laws, Clegg, Lamb, Huhne, Alexander etc as "wet" Tories - economically liberal, free trading tax-cutters (like all Tories) but with a socially liberal bent. This is not how I would describe the typical LD activist (although many LD voters, esp in the South, do match this).<br /><br />How on earth did you let them take over your party?Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180187317056507347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-76141301250849781112011-05-08T13:36:22.845+01:002011-05-08T13:36:22.845+01:00Some good points.The Tories want to keep Clegg in ...Some good points.The Tories want to keep Clegg in place because he is a lightning conductor for ALL anti-coaltion sentiment.I find it hard to believe a party as politically savvy as the Lib Dems used to be has allowed this to happen.Even more depressing are the Lib Dems who now feel the party's problem is one of 'presentation and perception' .These are exactly the excuses used by John Major and Gordon Brown just before suffering massive election defeats.I wish I kndew a way back for the Lib Dems, but they seem to be heading full steam towards the iceberg and electoral oblivion.Hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670115241229072789noreply@blogger.com