Labour's Douglas Alexander rules out deal with SNP

[FunkyLeprechaun]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/scotland/8674214.stm

Is that the end of the Rainbow Alliance?

And more Labour MP critics on their own party, Tom Harris:

Mr Harris said: "We are in this position because we lost the election.

"I am worried about the long-term future of the Labour Party if we are seen to scrabbling around in a very ungracious way desperately trying to hold on to power in any and all circumstances."

Mr Harris added: "It seems to me we are not talking about a rainbow coalition. We are talking about Labour plus the Liberal Democrats, supported whenever the Nationalists feel like it on crucial issues.

"That does not equate at all to a stable long-term government arrangement."

What do you think?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. he's not saying much, just saying that a coalition would be unstable

It's not the end of the rainbow alliance. He even acknowledges that the plan is Lib-Lab coalition with the SNP not voting against the Queen's Speech. Right now I think the rainbow coalition is very much "go".

[FunkyLeprechaun]

3. Do you support the Rainbow Coalition?

How would you think that would work in the current state of affairs, with the parties bickering over issues?

I'm just reading the BBC Have Your Say section and it seems to me most of the commentators back a Tory/LibDem coalition because it's the most stable option. I am Liberal and I do agree with that the Tory/LibDem coalition is the best for the UK.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Have Your Say is the cesspit of British public opinion

You get as much sense as you do from the Twat-o-Tron 'spEak You're bRanes' spoof: http://ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere.com/the-twat-o-tron/

HYS is no way to make a decision, or judge actual public opinion. I don't know if they've changed since, but a couple of polls taken on Saturday were pretty equally split between a Labout/LD or Con/LD coalition: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=191x30247

The YouGov figure is explained here:

For now, both the media and the public remain in the dark - the secretive coalition talks have left us knowing little more about the next government than we did on Election Day. Equally, the public seems no better placed to decide who they want to govern. 29% would like to see a coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats form the government, while 31% would prefer to see a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Labour and other minor parties. Over one fifth (21%) would like to see a 'grand' coalition of all three parties, and seven percent do not know.

The formation of a Conservative minority government is also not seen by respondents as a popular outcome of the hung parliament. Only 19% favour this solution to the first hung parliament in over thirty years. However, given the broad division in opinion, there is only one thing we can be absolutely sure of – whatever the outcome to the coalition talks, some people will be disappointed.

http://today.yougov.co.uk/politics/public-divided-over-next-government

[FunkyLeprechaun]

5. I'm surprised with the poll

As the Tories have the most seats. I'd have to agree that whatever the LibDems do, some people will be disappointed.

How would you feel with a Tory/LibDem alliance?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Not worth it, unless they agree to a swift referendum on AV+, or STV

and even then, I wouldn't trust the Tories much.

Blair was the worst that Labour can get; Brown was disappointing (eg the 10% tax rate abolition), but Labour has the chance to get better. Cameron is as good as the Tories can be; they have far nastier backbenchers in the background, and some of their frontbenchers are pretty bad, eg Liam Fox. Ideologically, I think the Lib Dems are closer to Labour; the only advantage of the Tories is the extra votes in the Commons making a coalition absolutely secure.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

7. There was a Venn Diagram just after the election

Outlining the policies LibDem, Tory, and Labour had and how similar they were to each other. Tory and LibDem had more issues in common than Labour and LibDem.

I think I saw that in the Independent... I'm trying to find it now.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. New poll on this subject:

YouGov’s poll for the Sun this morning asked people their preference on the coalition deal. 20% wanted the Conservatives to govern as a minority, 33% wanted a pact or coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats (giving a total of 53% wanting a Conservative led government), 39% of respondents backed the Labour, Lib Dem, SNP, etc rainbow coalition.

YouGov also asked whether people would prefer FPTP or a proportional system. 38% backed FPTP, 47% proportional representation – this was a repeat of a question YouGov asked a week or so before the general election, and there has not been any significant change in opinion.

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2696

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. It may not be a formal coalition

But the SNP may not be keen on voting directly against a Labour-Lib Dem coalition, if that's what ushers in a Tory minority government.

If the SNP abstained on the vote on the Queen's Speech, and the SDLP and Alliance voted with Labour and Lib Dems, then they'd squeak through, even if the NI Unionists vote with the Tories. They'd have a bit more of a margin if Plaid Cymru can be persuaded to vote with Labour - and PC and Labour are currently cooperating in the Welsh Assembly, while the Lib Dems proposed primary legislative powers for the Welsh Assembly, which would go down well with PC.

It would, however, be constantly surviving on a knife edge, with the Tories eager to bring it down at any opportunity.

[Jeneral2885]

8. dear doug alexander

You lost your colleague Mike Foster already. Be happy and just stay as shadow international development minister.