# BritDopers (and nosy foreigners) - The general election 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 6, 2010, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133 "2010-04-06T11:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 44
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/861 "2010-05-11T22:06:26Z")
> [@MJinks](#): > > Well the next few days/weeks/months will be interesting indeed. I never thought I would see the Lib Dems prop up a Tory government. > > It’s a little pathetic but I feel slightly betrayed. I consider myself quite left-wing and now no main-stream party can be said to represent my views. Do I have the naive idealism of youth? Labour are too right wing on some issues for my liking but at least I’d know who I’m voting for. > > I can understand why Clegg has sided with Cameron. Still… I’m about as anti-Tory as you can get without being a member of the “Shoot all Tories” party, and have voted Lib Dem in every election since I turned 18 because they were always the party I agreed with. I completely understand why Clegg has made this less than ideal alliance, and moreover I think it is the right thing for him to do. We need a government and a coalition that returns a majority will give us one, it’s better that the Conservatives have a restraining force on them rather than being able to do the horrible things they’re suggesting, and surely it’s better for Clegg to be inside the tent pissing out than the opposite? At least this way he can push for some reforms that would otherwise not be on the table at all. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/862 "2010-05-11T22:11:28Z")
There’s definitely interesting - _well, sort of!_ - times ahead. From [here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/dec/03/obama-cameron-lightweight) > [@](#): > > According to tomorrow’s New Statesman, Barack Obama was unimpressed by his encounter with David Cameron earlier this year and commented: “What a lightweight!” I’m quite looking forward to the slimebag making a twat of himself on an international stage. If nothing else, he’ll provide some great stuff for Paul Merton to rip into on **Have I Got News For You**. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/863 "2010-05-11T22:13:24Z")
> [@The\_Urban\_Spaceman](#): > > As far as I am aware, all other candidates on the ballot must remain the same. OK - how about future by-elections? I have never seen an official coalition government and don’t know how they are handled. The only thing I remember is the (real) Labour MPs who refused to join the National Government caused uproar by fighting by-elections, but this is obviously a different situation, what with no World War going on. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/864 "2010-05-12T00:48:15Z")
[CNN.com](http://CNN.com) is reporting that Clegg will become deputy prime minister, and that the LDP will get four other seats in the Cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/865 "2010-05-12T00:59:46Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > At least this way he can push for some reforms that would otherwise not be on the table at all. [Some prominent LibDems agree.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8675383.stm) [And so do some Tories.](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/7713276/Conservative-Liberal-Democrat-deal-will-be-tough-on-the-rich.html)😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/866 "2010-05-12T01:01:32Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) is reporting that Clegg will become deputy prime minister, and that the LDP will get four other seats in the Cabinet. Hm. I didn’t know the UK system had such a thing as a Deputy PM. Is he like the VP of the U.S. – automatically succeeding if the boss dies in office, but otherwise unimportant and functionless? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Urban_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/867 "2010-05-12T01:25:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Hm. I didn’t know the UK system had such a thing as a Deputy PM. Is he like the VP of the U.S. – automatically succeeding if the boss dies in office, but otherwise unimportant and functionless? There is no constitutional requirement to have one, though ministers have intermittently been given the position in the past. It has no actual power associated with it, nor would it necessarily confer the leadership if the PM dies in office. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/868 "2010-05-12T01:30:24Z")
Similar. Like the PM they aren’t directly elected. They are party appointed. Whenever the PM is out of the country, or on holidays, or otherwise off-duty they take over as Acting PM. Often they come from a different political faction to the PM, a bit like the US might team a Northern Prez with a Southern VP. They tend to be picked on loyalty rather than political ambition. The conversion rate from DPM to PM is fairly low. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/869 "2010-05-12T02:13:54Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > …Often they come from a different political faction to the PM, a bit like the US might team a Northern Prez with a Southern VP. They tend to be picked on loyalty rather than political ambition… And there is precedent for the leader of the junior party in the coalition for being made DPM. Clement Attlee was during the WWII government of national unity. In Australia whenever the Liberal/National coalition is in power the leader of the Nationals is made DPM (though I think the only time when became PM was when Harold Holt disappeared and that was only 'till the Liberals picked a new leader). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Urban_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/870 "2010-05-12T02:41:36Z")
So no proportional representation - the Lib Dems sell out for the chance of an Alternative Voting system, which can be as disproportionate as FPTP, or even more so. Utter bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/871 "2010-05-12T04:22:18Z")
A pretty good short profile of the new PM, and how he’s tried to change the Tories: [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/new-prime-minister-david-cameron-a-rise-from-abject-privilege/19464292) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/872 "2010-05-12T05:44:12Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > In Australia whenever the Liberal/National coalition is in power the leader of the Nationals is made DPM (though I think the only time when became PM was when Harold Holt disappeared and that was only 'till the Liberals picked a new leader). It has occurred more often than commonly thought. There have been 5 cases where the PM has been succeeded by their Deputy. 1903 Alfred Deakin (Prot) after Ed Barton joined the High Court, 1939 Earl Page (CP) following death of Joe Lyons, 1941 Arthur Fadden (CP) after Menzies resigned, 1945 Francis Forde (ALP) after the death of John Curtin, 1967 John McEwan (CP) after the death of Harold Holt. Page, Forde & McEwan were transitional. Billy Hughes may have succeeded and been succeeded by either his deputy, or the opposition. With Billy party policy was a very flexible concept. It might be argued that Bob Hawke was succeeded by his deputy Paul Keating in 1991, but Keating resigned as Deputy before challenging for the leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/873 "2010-05-12T06:43:43Z")
Congrats on the new government, and on ousting the socialists. In the nick of time too, before you went completely bankrupt. With a mismanaged economy only marginally better than the Greek there will be some serious sorting out to do. But more importantly, the PM’s wife is the best looking girl living in number 10 I’ve ever seen and very cute with her little tummy. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/874 "2010-05-12T06:53:08Z")
A near bankruptcy caused by greedy bankers and financial institutions. It was left to the UK government (just as it was in the USA) to pick up the pieces. So don’t blame it on the government. ---
**Author:** ![nicole1912](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@nicole1912](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicole1912)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/875 "2010-05-12T07:48:02Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > But more importantly, the PM’s wife is the best looking girl living in number 10 I’ve ever seen and very cute with her little tummy. I bet you could be even more patronising if you tried, couldn’t you. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/876 "2010-05-12T07:59:33Z")
> [@Rayne\_Man](#): > > A near bankruptcy caused by greedy bankers and financial institutions. … So don’t blame it on the government. I do blame it on the government. They should have been aware of it - they manage the economy after all - and should have put a stop to it. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/877 "2010-05-12T08:14:08Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Congrats on the new government, and on ousting the socialists. In the nick of time too, before you went completely bankrupt. With a mismanaged economy only marginally better than the Greek there will be some serious sorting out to do. But more importantly, the PM’s wife is the best looking girl living in number 10 I’ve ever seen and very cute with her little tummy. Socialists? Don’t be ridiculous. Words have meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/878 "2010-05-12T08:49:07Z")
> [@Rayne\_Man](#): > > A near bankruptcy caused by greedy bankers and financial institutions. It was left to the UK government (just as it was in the USA) to pick up the pieces. So don’t blame it on the government. The government is responsible for the laws that regulate the bankers and the financial institutions and not all European countries have had to pick up the pieces to the near same extend as the UK or have two digit deficits. > [@nicole1912](#): > > I bet you could be even more patronising if you tried, couldn’t you. If you insist honey. > [@tagos](#): > > Socialists? Don’t be ridiculous. Words have meaning. Well they are member of the socialist group in the EU and internationally the Socialist International, but perhaps they themselves have used the word in vain and Social Democrats is more appropriate. Although it was my impression that the UK Labour Party, at least until Blair, has traditionally been to the left of the various Social Democratic parties of Europe proper. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/879 "2010-05-12T08:57:32Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > There’s definitely interesting - _well, sort of!_ - times ahead. > > From [here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/dec/03/obama-cameron-lightweight) > > > [@](#): > > > > According to tomorrow’s New Statesman, Barack Obama was unimpressed by his encounter with David Cameron earlier this year and commented: “What a lightweight!” Yeah, I thought about that when they reported that Obama had phoned Cameron to congratulate him. “Not such a lightweight now, eh Barack?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133/880 "2010-05-12T09:02:30Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Yeah, I thought about that when they reported that Obama had phoned Cameron to congratulate him. “Not such a lightweight now, eh Barack?” 😃 🙂 He can’t big himself up too much though, because he didn’t exactly win his way into power convincingly, did he? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-and-nosy-foreigners-the-general-election-2010/535133.md?page=45)