Timeo Danaos et dona ferentis
The clock ticks on post election. They say a week is a long time in politics. Imagine how long it is at the moment.
What is fascinating at the moment is nothing appears to be what it seems. On the one hand, the Lib Dems appear to be the only party that has a strong probability of being part of a new government. On the one hand they work with the Tories and if that fails they join Labour. One might imagine that this is useful position to be in (if you are a Lib Dem). But the stakes are high and the only bet is 'all in'.
We have already seen Tory positioning. One frightfully gallant chap from the conservatives who was lined up to be Minister for Education has already declared that he would gladly give up his position to a Lib Dem. You can hear the squeaky wheels of the Trojan Horse being wheeled into the Lib Dem camp as we speak. Who the hell, in this great big mess would want education. It is one of those positions that you can only fail at. If the kids succeed, its because exams are getting easier, if the kids fail its because of your policy. The money is going to run out, things are going to get difficult and education issues won't be seen for a decade or more. Its a safe position to give to the Lib Dems. If, by a miracle, they do very little and succeed in Education, the Tories win. If they fail the Lib Dems lose.
Expand that now to the whole of government. The claim has been made that whoever wins will not get back in for a generation (30 years). I think this is nonsense and underestimates the political elite's ability to spread the blame and spin the truth. And nobody has a memory, when it comes to voting for 30 years. Or we would not have that many Tory votes this time around.
The Hung Parliament is probably the best thing that could have happened. hard decisions will be made, perhaps now with the sharp edges rounded off as collaboration and compromise is now required. We will also see, when times are hard, the blame game shifting to one of 'was not us gov, it was the Lib Dems'. With no clear party in control the benefit is that the difficulties this country will face will have a shared blame position. No single party will be held accountable.
What is fascinating at the moment is nothing appears to be what it seems. On the one hand, the Lib Dems appear to be the only party that has a strong probability of being part of a new government. On the one hand they work with the Tories and if that fails they join Labour. One might imagine that this is useful position to be in (if you are a Lib Dem). But the stakes are high and the only bet is 'all in'.
We have already seen Tory positioning. One frightfully gallant chap from the conservatives who was lined up to be Minister for Education has already declared that he would gladly give up his position to a Lib Dem. You can hear the squeaky wheels of the Trojan Horse being wheeled into the Lib Dem camp as we speak. Who the hell, in this great big mess would want education. It is one of those positions that you can only fail at. If the kids succeed, its because exams are getting easier, if the kids fail its because of your policy. The money is going to run out, things are going to get difficult and education issues won't be seen for a decade or more. Its a safe position to give to the Lib Dems. If, by a miracle, they do very little and succeed in Education, the Tories win. If they fail the Lib Dems lose.
Expand that now to the whole of government. The claim has been made that whoever wins will not get back in for a generation (30 years). I think this is nonsense and underestimates the political elite's ability to spread the blame and spin the truth. And nobody has a memory, when it comes to voting for 30 years. Or we would not have that many Tory votes this time around.
The Hung Parliament is probably the best thing that could have happened. hard decisions will be made, perhaps now with the sharp edges rounded off as collaboration and compromise is now required. We will also see, when times are hard, the blame game shifting to one of 'was not us gov, it was the Lib Dems'. With no clear party in control the benefit is that the difficulties this country will face will have a shared blame position. No single party will be held accountable.
posted by So long and thanks for all the fish at
7:16 pm
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