It’s clear what the Conservative premier gets out of this incompetent, unprincipled Coalition.
Cameron, who failed to win the general election, rules in Westminster with an 82-seat majority by exploiting the Lib Dumb lobby fodder.
And he’s reinforced old tribal politics by strangling a century-long cherished dream of fairer votes to replace the clapped out, corrupt electoral disgrace we’re saddled with.
No wonder Cameron struggled not to laugh out loud last night as he patronised a Deputy PM who Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin would have dubbed a “useful idiot”. Because the Tory leader was the closest to a UK winner in the local and regional elections – and that disastrous referendum – all thanks to Calamity Clegg.
During the fag end of the last Labour lot, the Lib Dems accused zombie ministers of clinging on to red boxes instead of realising their time was up.
It’s Clegg and his unmerry band who are now the walking dead. A fortnight ago Clegg accused Cameron of “lies, misinformation and deceit”.
A week ago, Lib Dem Chris Huhne spoke of Tory “lies”, too. So what do the Lib Dems do? Resign in disgust, defending personal and party honour? Jordan’s more likely to avoid publicity.
Instead, Clegg & Co swallow their pride and renew the ConDem marriage vows.
But Clegg will stick with Cam for the kids – Lib Dem MPs who would be slaughtered in an election. Pathetic.
The Lib Dem drubbing weakened Clegg’s already feeble hand, reliant on Tory charity when it comes to policies. The significance of the AV defeat will not be appreciated until 2015.
Clegg will go down in history as the Lib Dem who blew a glorious, once-in-a-generation opportunity to recast British politics.
He gets a chauffeur-driven Jaguar. Britain gets the Conservatives.
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Saturday, 7 May 2011
CALAMITY Clegg would have quit as Cameron’s bullet-riddled human shield if he retained a gram of self-respect.
Now the blame game will start with many already having their sights set on the party leader, Nick Clegg.
As the dust now settles on the local elections and the Alternative vote referendum the LibDems are left surveying the wreckage of their party and their position on electoral reform.
Although the AV referendum turnout was only 42% the split between the yesses at 68% and the noes at 32% was emphatic.
Even though the Labour leader Ed Miliband also supported the yes campaign the electorate seem to have singled out the LibDems as the target for their ire.
The LibDems sank on the local elections, with even the Conservatives picking up some of their losses and the SNP gaining the mist from the collapse as they took a clear majority in Scotland.
This whole day of 5th May 2011 is being seen as the ‘Nick Clegg Referendum Day’. The day on which the people sent a clear message, not about cuts, not about taxes, not about local issues or even about electotal reform, it was all about Nick.
The LibDems have split what counter attack they have by Vince Cable accusing the Tories of being ‘ruthless, calculating and thoroughly tribal’ and accusing Ed Miliband of failing to ‘deliver’ his party, which was split on AV.
But while the LibDems openly lick their wounds the Conservatives are quietly getting on with things and, according to reports, David Cameron is now preparing to scupper any hopes that the LibDems might have of securing a constitutional reform in the shape of an elected House of Lords.
We may now see a gradual undermining of Nick Clegg’s position that makes his continued leadership untenable. But would that be a wise course to take when the future of the coalition would be put at stake? Especially as Ed Miliband may well have put his party on election watch.
It was a total disaster at all the key levels of policy, organisation, personnel and message.
Ed Miliband is to be warned by senior Labour figures that he must work hard to fight a sense of complacency among many MPs after the party was rebuffed in Scotland and failed to make a breakthrough in the English local elections.
Shadow cabinet members were disappointed by results across Britain, with some saying the only hope was that the elections would jolt the party into appreciating the scale of the battle ahead.
The greatest blow came in Scotland where the SNP became the first party to win an overall majority in the parliament's 12-year history – a result widely described as an unmitigated disaster for Labour.
Miliband announced a review of the Labour party in Scotland as Iain Gray, its Scottish leader, announced he would resign in the autumn. "While we have seen good results today, gaining councils and councillors across England and winning in Wales, this is clearly a very disappointing election result in Scotland," Miliband said.
"We need to learn the lessons of that result, both political and organisational. That is why I, with Iain, am today putting in place a root-and-branch review of the Labour party in Scotland. This will bring together all elements of the Scottish party to renew it for the future."
One Labour source said: "It was a total disaster at all the key levels of policy, organisation, personnel and message."
Thursday, 5 May 2011
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to pay an official visit to the US following their first overseas tour to Canada this summer.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 
are to pay an official visit to the US following their first overseas tour to Canada this summer.Prince William and his new wife will extend the trip with a three-day visit to California from 8-10 July, said their spokesman.
Announcing the visit on its Twitter page, Clarence House said a full itinerary would be published later.
It will be the first official visit to the US for the duke.
While the prince has previously visited the States in a private capacity, this will be the duchess's first trip to the country.
The prince returned to his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot this week after marrying the duchess on Friday at Westminster Abbey.
The couple spent their first weekend as a married couple at a secret location in the UK, and opted to postpone their honeymoon until a later date.
They will begin their first joint official overseas trip by touring Canada from 30 June to 8 July, including visits to Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and the capital, Ottawa.
Speaking earlier this year Canadian PM Stephen Harper said it was a testament to Canada's "very close relationship with the Royal Family".
It is believed the couple will take part in Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa on 1 July.
William visited the Commonwealth country in 1998 aged 15, touring Vancouver with his father the Prince of Wales and brother Prince Harry.
The Queen visited Canada last July, and in 2009, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall spent 11 days there.
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