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Category: Coalition

Will it be at least a generation before we see a coalition again?

Will it be at least a generation before we see a coalition again?

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YouGov: Just 5% of Tory voters and 11% of Lib Dems want the coalition to continue beyond the election. — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 14, 2012 YouGov: 27% of CON voters &13% of LD ones say they would like the coalition to end immediately — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 14, 2012 53% of CON voters and 41% of LDs tell YouGov that they want the coalition to end at some point before the general election. — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July…

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How serious are the Bain attacks for Romney?

How serious are the Bain attacks for Romney?

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Don’t worry, Republicans. The RNC isn’t for another six weeks. Plenty of time to find a new nominee. — Richard Adams (@RichardA) July 13, 2012 Could they even impact on the nomination? About six weeks ago David Herson had a post here under the heading “Is it worth taking out Mitt insurance?”. In it he looked at the possibility of Romney not making it and posed the question of whether Romney punters should cash in their winnings. Since then, of…

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How does Cameron finesse the Lords Reform standoff?

How does Cameron finesse the Lords Reform standoff?

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And can he stop intra-coalition spats becoming more frequent? No-one said government was easy, and coalition governments bring even more challenges for their leadership. This week’s substantial Tory backbench rebellion on Lords reform and consequent government concession on the timetable was another sign of the increasing fractiousness within the Tory-Lib Dem coalition, as was the inevitable response from disgruntled Lib Dems. The immediate problem for the government is how it can hold good to its implied commitment within the Coalition…

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What about about the Hung Parliament – No Coalition bet?

What about about the Hung Parliament – No Coalition bet?

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Will all parties be more wary about formal coalitions? William Hill has just put up the above market on the composition of the commons after the next general election and I rather like the OTHER option which was initially priced at 12/1 and is now down to 8/1. My reading is that this would cover situations where no party won an overall majority and that there was, unlike now, no formal coalition deal. I cannot see either the Tories or…

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Should Dave be able to expect better of his MPs?

Should Dave be able to expect better of his MPs?

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Did Jesse & co make it easy for Ed Miliband? It’s been a pretty terrible 24 hours for David Cameron. 91 of his MPs rebelled against the Lords bill, he was seen losing his cool with Jesse Norman the rebellion organiser, and Ed Miliband had his clearest PMQS victory since becoming opposition leader. I bet that Cameron is really looking forward to his holidays. The question is whether this is temporary or has permanent damage been done? To my mind…

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Will Osborne black-ball a promotion for Andrea?

Will Osborne black-ball a promotion for Andrea?

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Was it wise to say George should apologise to Balls? One of the 2010 intake of Tory MPs who has been making her mark is Andrea Leadsom who came to the commons after a career in finance. She’s been talked about very highly and must, surely, be one of those who can reasonably expect preferment in Dave’s first re-shuffle. She has played quite a big role in the Treasury select committee discussion on the LIBOR scandal where she’s been perhaps…

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Can the coalition survive a Lords reform defeat?

Can the coalition survive a Lords reform defeat?

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Where will things stand after tonight? The time-table motion on the Lords reform bill is taking on a significance way beyond the procedural measures for the passage of the bill for which it is ostensibly about. Without that in place the measure, backed I’m told by 17 Tory cabinet ministers, will have real trouble progressing through the commons and the chances of it being enacted will look even slimmer. The bigger question will be what it does to the coalition….

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