Looking at the local election results, with 113 councils declared, his party had lost about a third of the seats it was defending, down 169 councillors.
Couple this with a local council slump from 28% of the vote in 2005 to below 1/2 of that (13%), and National polling of between 8% - 9% over the last fortnight, can Nick Clegg survive ?
If so, will it be for long or will it be until after the General Election result in May 2015 ?
(no, not a comment on the other parties at the moment, e.g. Greens, Labour, Tory, UKIP, etc.)
Personally, given less than 12 months to the General Election and no obvious leadership challengers, then he'll survive for now.
However wouldn't be at all surprised if he resigns/gets 'pushed' Friday 8th May 2015
G,
He could only wish, however with his track record not sure EU Commission would have hime
People are trying to factor in the "UKIP" influence on the next election, some believing that it will make a difference to the numbers perhaps increase the chances of a second "hung parliament"
UKIP may indeed take some Tory seats, they may take some labour seats or more likely some liberal ones, but I cant help buy wonder if everyone is paying so much attention to the UKIP factor they are forgetting the possibility of another major factor and one which we have discussed before ............. the possibility of Scotland's independence and the loss of seats in the North.
While we are in Scotland (so to speak) does anyone know what arrangements they are making for those who don't live there to vote, Scottish people I mean, after all the population of Scotland is only 5 million, 5 million people voting within the Scottish borders is not much of a realistic and fair vote really is it, not when you take into account how many Scottish Nationals DON'T live in Scotland.
2 Million for example live in England and Wales
But that is nothing compared to some places, 21 million Scots live in the USA, 5 Million in Australia and 4.5 Million in Canada and 2 Million in New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil and Ireland have a Million apiece. In fact the amount of Scots who have left Scotland is pretty staggering really.
To explain it quite simply because to divide the numbers by heritage stages would be difficult.
more than 20 million people living in the USA would be eligible to play for the Scottish National Team.
Now bearing in mind that in Scotland they have very strict rules regarding eligibility for the National Football Team I think that does say a lot, I find it very strange that Scottish people born in Scotland and only residing elsewhere due to working abroad (for example many in the Oil industry of the Middle East) are not allowed to vote, I guess that goes for the many soldiers serving abroad and that does not seem fair, let alone those who consider themselves to be Scottish living abroad for whatever reason.
I wonder how some will be affected if independence is taken when they currently live abroad using a Passport issued by the United Kingdom, will they still be entitled to a UK Passport, will they be entitled to a Scottish Passport, will they still be welcome in the Country they reside in since Scotland will not be a member of the EU ? what will happen to, for example, the half a million Scottish people living in France ?
Understanding subtlety was never your strongest point dean.
This might help though:
It's a quality not quantity issue. If you want to talk about 'noses in troughs' that fits the traditional labour MEP to a T. Always out to extract as much personal wealth out of the taxpayer...
No, you misunderstood. UKIP can't change Europe single handedly from within but they can make a difference. They are the hardest working by a country mile (or is it ). The way forward, as evidenced in last weeks' elections, is to educate.
UKIP don't want to change Europe per se; they don't want to be in it - they want the UK out of it!
Please remember that I'm not necessarily a fan of UKIP. I can't see the point in personally taking a 'turkey voting for Christmas' approach when the result of that might put my residency in France at risk. But, I have to admit that NF has played a blinder in this election and good luck to him! He has shown the traditional parties up for what they are, lying cheating money grabbing little sh*ts who are in it for their own ends.
He's got no chance, more chance of me winning the lotto jackpot.
MrA
As for Nick Clegg.....think he made a big mistake in getting into bed with the Tories. The libdems these days are in reality more left wing in their thinking than the Labour party. He alienated a lot of grass roots support when he went into partnership with the Tories.
I can see the parliament being a hung on next election again, and I think this time you will see a minority government of Labour, basically supported by Lib-dems..( not a coalition ).....with opposition being a the Tories and UKIP forming an alliance together.
Main problem with this....is very little actual change will be able to be pushed through.
In conclusion Nick Clegg is not a bad politician but he made the wrong choice when chose the Tories.
A famous political speech has just popped up:
'It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.
Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government. Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?
Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance.
Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable, by putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God's help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do.
I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place. Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the the name of God, go!'
Oliver Cromwell to his fellow parliamentarians. So appropriate right now all round.
if an MP..or MEP abstained once or maybe twice I would accept they can not make there mind up.....but to not bother to attend, listen to any arguments, or vote, I would simply consider lazy and greedy. If they really feel the European Parliament is not worth it, then they should give back their money, and resign their seat. It would certainly make for interesting news that. there again...I won't be holding my breath.
Its quite simple really, GNV....why stand as a representative of the people, if you are going to bother to represent them !! I simply can't see the logic. At least attend and vote against everything.....it might not be preety, but at least it would register their disapproval.
Firstly lets just get the Miners strike out the way....73% voted in favour. That's what was democratic about it.
You say modern MPs don't vote and instead work around there constituent area. Once again ( same as when you said the UKIP non attendance was a myth), this is simply not correct. Love or hate them, MP's have a general attendance of over 75%. They get given plenty of time to visit their constituencies, and also most employ people to deal with the general day to day issues. The word ,,,, correct me if I am wrong here...is....they are elected representatives!!! Now where I come from that means they represent those that elected them.....not rocket science. I would expect my representative to listen to the arguments put forward and vote in a way that he would think is best for me and the country. If I don't like the way he represented me , I can choose to vote for another next time.
My MP....lol....he is a Tory Joke. He has now been dis-owned by his local party, for going around in a Nazi uniform....and making Nazi salutes !!! He has been de-selected for the next election, and the good people of Cannock will be showing him and his party what they think....yep that's democracy.
But to be fair Max....you can't have everything as a free vote....hardly any legislation would get through. I do think with MPs expenses scandal and that there is a level of dis-satisfaction, but I would say that 90% of MPs from all sides are generally very hard working people.
I actually think that the main cause of the trouble was the immigration issue. this was stoked up and fuelled high by UKIP. there were a lot of scaremongering going on. the typical example was that a 300,00 Romanians and Bulgarians were coming once the borders were open to them in Jan......when in reality 4000 less here at end of first quarter.
Jobs are still hard to come by, and people assume that all jobs going to low paid immigrant workers !! With minimum wage structure in place, this can't be wholly true.
The parties do need to connect more with the electorate. But equally it makes me laugh really..people always say more police on the streets, more doctors and nurses in hospitals, more prisons, better schools and more teachers with smaller classes.....oh and yes...they want to pay less tax !! they seem to forget everything has to be paid for !!
