Farage & Russell Brand

I've reported the friends available post - what on earth!?

The numbers didn't support a LibDem/Labour coalition, Labour lost the election and it would have been wrong for Brown to try and hang on. As others have said, the LibDem promise to abolish tuition fees should have been part of the negotiation before the coalition was formed. It's become a symbol of the way in which the LibDems went on to allow a minority tory government to implement policies for which they did not get a mandate.

Sorry, did you not read the rest of my comment? The bit about the OBR saying that Darling's economics would have been better for the country than Osborne's has been.

I really can't see what relevance this had to Nick Clegg and the student loans. Sorry.

I said you have been taken over, but not by politics. By business-speak, just like many others have been. What's wrong with plain in the future, instead of going forward?

Are we really into demeaning people because of they way they speak or write? You use "in the future" if you choose but please don't make personal remarks.

going forward? I heard it a lot when I was still working, it is just one of those expressions people use.

Going back a few posts: I think the conditions the Lib Dems asked for and got were several Lib Dem MPs being given ministerial posts. There seemed to be quite a disproportionate number of Lib Dem ministers compared to Tory ministers just after the election. I am not sure if the balance is more in proportion now or not.

Cutting your nose to spite your face comes to mind here, re voting UKIP.

Being pedantic, I think there is a difference between 'in the future' and 'going forward'. In the future means at some point in the future, whereas going forward means (to me at any rate) going along a trajectory or line whereupon you will reach some point 'in the future'.

Hope you can agree and move on now.

I haven't read the posts on here [far too many] but I watched this programme today as I had to record it from last week.
Nigel Farage doing what he does best 'man of the people' act, and predictably Russel Brand being Russel Brand.The female Conservative MP and the female Labour MP both rather down in the mouth, trotting out party politics. Thought Camilla Cavendish of The Times gave a spirited performance though and knew her stuff.David Dimbleby looking and sounding more and more as if he should be replaced.

rosequartz I will move on, go forward, and maybe even roll myself out! In fact if I eat any more mince pies I will be rolling everywhere in the future.

"So you would not have minded if the economy collapsed durhamjen."

That's why I wrote about the OBR saying Darling's economics would have been better than Osborne's. Agreed, not to do with student grants, but it is what you wrote, gracesgran.

Ashcroft National Poll: Con 30%, Lab 31%, Lib Dem 8%, UKIP 19%, Green 5%

Monday, 8 December, 2014 in The Ashcroft National Poll

I would say UKIP are the third party, Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems are on their way out.

Some posters have a lot to say but will not say who they vote for, are you frightened to stand up and be counted!

The whole point of voting is that it is a secret ballot,magpie.

durhamjen you have a lot to say on the politics threads but won't say who you vote for, are you embarassed

Not at all. Why should I be embarrassed? Voting should be secret.

I think the conditions the Lib Dems asked for and got were several Lib Dem MPs being given ministerial posts.

I seem to remember there was rather more to the negotiations than that rosequartz but admittedly they only had five days because everyone was so worried about the knock-on effect on the economy. In other countries where they are used to this they take much longer. The coalition agreement put in place a comprehensive agreement which, (obviously among other things), made provisions for where agreements could not be reached. This would have applied to the Student Fees.

I am not sure that keeping the pledge would have led to students being better off as it has been shown that they actually pay less through this system. If some Lib Dems felt this to be true or some felt the economic situation need this vote then they voted conscientiously and, as the economics guy said "when the facts change I change my opinion". If politicians didn't do this I would be more worried. The pledge - a PR stunt - was wrong. They apologised; they won't do it again but, going forward, we have much more to worry about.

As for pedantry re another persons wording in posts on a none "Pedants Corner" thread - I just find it rude but I do see that is just a personal opinion. If I wanted durhamjen to correct my grammar then I would ask.

I really do believe that each persons vote it between them and the ballot box magpie123. I would not think to ask someone else about theirs.

I would say UKIP are the third party, Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems are on their way out.

Have you any thoughts on what may have influenced you to think this way?

durhamjen your views on here are not secret, you are very forthcoming with them, just seems strange to me that you hold such strong views but feel unable to say who you vote for.

Are you a closet Lib Dem

Well, it's certainly no secret which party durhamjen won't be voting for!

Isn't a bit early to decide who we're going to vote for anyway? Or are you one of those who always votes a certain way whatever, magpie123?

Surely durhamjen has the right to express political opinions without saying which party she votes for? At the same time, the secret ballot doesn't mean everyone has to keep their allegiance secret, just that you have the right to vote in secret to avoid intimidation, bribery and other forms of corruption.

Ana I have never voted for Labour, I was a Conservative supported for years but now I support Nigel Farage and UKIP.

Labour are not fit in my opinion to run this country.

Conservatives have done a good job, but I disagree with some of their policies. I think UK politics needs a shake up and UKIP are the ones to do this.

I would like a coalition government Conservative and UKIP.

Why the hell would anyone vote for these traitorous clowns? They got themselves elected as MEPs, whose job was to protect our interests - and did they? Did they bogroll... I'd like to see UKIP rot...

They were quite happy to take the money for it as well .

Strong words feetlebaum, with which I find it hard to disagree

The idea of a conservative - ukip coalition fills me with dread. I've many disagreements with some of the policies of the last Labour government and the current coalition government. I have never voted tory and can't imagine I ever will, but I'd prefer a tory government to one in which ukip has any influence. Now, I've even scared myself

A conservative Ukip coalition is no coalition. Is there any Ukip MP or MEP who was not a Tory?

Well said, feetlebaum.

And we have five more months of this sort of reasoned and intelligent debate to get through...

Iam64 - Completely agree with you. Never have, never could, vote Tory, but Ukip is anathema.

One more with you all the way. Tory / Ukip coalition feels me with terror.