Clegg To Be Deputy PM

[Turborama]

George Osborne will be Chancellor but Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will be Deputy Prime Minister in the new-look Cabinet, Sky sources say.

Following Gordon Brown's resignation as prime minister and his own succession to the role, Tory leader David Cameron revealed a deal for a full coalition with the Lib Dems had been struck to end 13 years of New Labour rule.

Sky News political editor Adam Boulton said he understood that George Osborne would get the job of Chancellor, despite speculation that Lib Dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable would be given the job.

"My understanding is that there is a written agreement between the two parties that outlines their roles and responsibilities," he said.

Continues: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/General-Election-2010-Details-Of-How-The-New-Tory-And-Liberal-Democrat-Government-Will-Work/Article/201005215630008?lpos=Politics_Carousel_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15630008_General_Election_2010:_Details_Of_How_The_New_Tory_And_Liberal_Democrat_Government_Will_Work

Sky and the BBC are now saying the Lib Dems will have 5 cabinet minsters and it'll be a 5 year parliament.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. and Hague for Foreign Sec

not a surprise.

[Turborama]

2. Are you watching Sky? They just said that they are going to go for an elected House of Lords

I must say I was surprised to hear that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. No, I wasn't - Newsnight

I'm not entirely surprised by the elected Lords - I think the Tories had said 'mostly elected' in their manifesto, hadn't they? It gives them a tick in the 'political reform' box without giving up single seat constituencies.

[tjwmason]

7. Both parties have favoured it for a while

The devil may well be in the details; voting mechanisms, the potential for some non-elected members &c. may well slow progress.

Personally I'm not that happy on a reform like the actual constitution of Parliament itself being decided except on a fully cross-partisan basis.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Ken Clarke gets Justice, Theresa May Home Secretary:

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

The Rt Hon William Hague MP

Chancellor of the Exchequer

George Osborne MP

Secretary of State for Defence

Dr Liam Fox MP

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke

Chief Whip

The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP

Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equality

Theresa May MP

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/topstorynews/2010/05/her-majestys-government-49840

Could be worse - Fox is a nutter, but Clarke and May are more moderate.

Prediction: in the Lord Chancellor robes, Clarke will look like the baby eating bishop of Bath and Wells:

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. I think I got the similarity right:

http://biblioblogtop50.files.wordpress.com.nyud.net:8080/2010/01/baby-eating_bishop_of_bath_and_wells.jpg

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. What happens in by-elections?

Will either of the two stand down their candidate in favour of the other in order to defeat the Labour/SNP/Plaid candidate?

[TheBigotBasher]

5. No, as with the Birmingham "pact"

the Parties will continue to compete against each other electorally.

Zac Goldsmith has provided the first "scandal".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/7706077/Zac-Goldsmith-faces-multi-million-pound-divorce-payout-after-admitting-adultery.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. They're both going to stand in the delayed Thirsk election, according to the BBC

"The BBC understands that the delayed election in Thirsk and Malton, North Yorkshire - postponed after the death of the UKIP candidate - will be contested by the Liberal Democrats. It means that the new coalition government will field two candidates against each other."
From their live update page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/liveevent/

So I guess that will apply to by-elections too.

[craigmatic]

6. Why is this news? He's always been a tory.

[Captain Hilts]

11. What a tool. nt