It's only taken 100 days for Labour to draw level with Tories!

[Grandad.Malky]

Try to read about a subject before making such stupid comments. A fixed term parliament does not mean it can stay in power no matter what. It still can be voted out with a no confidence vote. That has not changed.

 

I am not the one telling everyone to the day when the next election will be but thanks for your advice, sorry if bursting a few bubbles is classed as being stupid.

[Berberis]

I am not the one telling everyone to the day when the next election will be but thanks for your advice, sorry if bursting a few bubbles is classed as being stupid.

 

But it was all done in the best possible taste

[Grandad.Malky]

But it was all done in the best possible taste

 

Just for the record:-

 

The coalition could still be defeated on a simple 51% majority. In that situation the PM – Cameron in this instance – would have to try to form a new coalition, perhaps with other opposition parties, and if so he could carry on, even as a minority government. But if he fails to do that there has to be an "escape clause" of an early election.

 

A fixed-term parliament removes the power to call an election from the prime minister. The plan is for the Commons, not the PM, to have that power – and the threshold should be 55% of MPs

[Ram on]

Just remember, you were screwed by Labour and now your being screwed by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

 

These are the three big parties.

 

People say only them 3 parties have a chance.

 

Remember that you can vote for whomever you choose to, and it need not be the big three...

 

I voted at the last election, and it wasn't for one of the big three.

[Scabbydog]

Scrapped ID cards. Scrapped the costly BSF farce. Scrapped the "broadband tax" to name but three.

 

Got rid of the carpark clamping leeches.

[Ram on]

What exactly have this cobbled up bunch actually done since taking power?

 

The best governments are the ones that actualy do very little directly. The government should be as small as possible, and just create a basic framework for society to thrive and basically run itself.

[Cynic]

What the Tories did wrong was get into power. We prefer the opposition no matter who it is. It's just the British way. Always want what whatever we haven't got, it gives us something to moan about.

[mj.scuba]

Scrapped ID cards. Scrapped the costly BSF farce. Scrapped the "broadband tax" to name but three.

 

Don't forget, raised growth, insured the confidence of the markets and lowered public borrowing.

 

Got rid of the carpark clamping leeches.

 

Stopped funding speed cameras from central government.

Signalled the end of ASBOs.

Scrapped Contact Point database.

Review of RIPA.

Biggest shake up to NHS for years underway.

Independant body for economic forecasts.

Started the funeral pire for unnecessary quangos.

Stopped other quangos lobbying central government.

Fuel price stabaliser mechanism.

Withdrawal of British combat troops from Afghanistan by 2015.

Benefits clampdown.

End to garden grabbing.

No third runway at Heathrow.

Scrapped compulsory retirement age.

Consulting public to find spending cuts.

 

 

Keep it up DC, you're doing a great job

[mj.scuba]

Keep it up DC, you're doing a great job

 

And Cleggy of course!

[redrobbo]

Lets just assume the fixed term parliament becomes reality what happens when (not if) the coalition collapses.

 

The conservatives will have an unworkable government and tied in to a fixed term …… yep sounds like a great idea.

 

On the assumption that the coalition falls apart during this parliament, David Cameron would remain the Prime Minister. He could attempt to form an alternative coalition with other parties (not likely to succeed as the numbers don't stack up) or continue as a minority Tory government.

 

If Cameron then lost an important vote, e.g., on the budget or a flag piece of legislation that was in the Tory manifesto, then the Labour leader would probably seek a vote of confidence. If this was lost by the Tories, then Cameron would seek a dissolution of parliament and a general election would be held. The proposed fixed term parliament allows for an early dissolution if the government loses a vote of confidence (nb despite Clegg originally proposing a higher threshold of 55% - he subsequently dropped this idea after massive opposition from Labour and some Tory MPs).

 

However, a note of caution. The opposition may not choose to seek a vote of confidence if they thought that by winning it they may then not win the subsequent general election. That's because all politicians keep an eye on the current opinion polls!