Maybe not. - Edit 1
Before modification by Werthead at 11/05/2010 08:41:59 PM
"I can't believe how much they've offered us. The Tories have basically rubbed out their manifesto and inserted ours. We'll have to cope for four or five years with our flesh creeping, but still."
Still, unless they actually have done that and a deal is done I think it might be a very, very damaged Lib Dem party coming out of this.
Still, unless they actually have done that and a deal is done I think it might be a very, very damaged Lib Dem party coming out of this.
And surely the Tories can't renege on their policy of starting to make cuts this year already, either.
The LibDems have agreed in principle to cutting this year already. In fact, Labour's refusal to consider cutting this year is what torpedoed the LibDem-Labour discussions. The cabinet offer is also rumoured to be Vince Cable as Business Secretary supporting George Osborne as Chancellor, which would actually be very popular in the city (who are nervous about Osborne's lack of experience, his chumminess with Mandelson and a slightly dodgy expenses account and like the much more experienced and wily Cable's financial acumen).
The remaining point is PR. The Tories have offered a referendum on AV (the Alternate Vote system) rather than full PR, which is pretty weak. But it is a notable improvement over FPTP for the smaller parties, and the LibDems may be able to accept it as a compromise, although it will be a bitter pill to swallow. But maybe doable in return for the tax reforms and a say in the economic policy.