London Mayor Boris Johnson has likened our new national Government to a good cross-breed of dog: in this case, a bulldog (Cameron) and a chihuahua (Clegg).I don't think he is trying to be demeaning: that's not his way, he just likes to be a little cheeky sometimes!
It does, though, have to be admitted that Dave's 309 MPs number well over five times Nick's 57, so it is clear which of the two should be dominant in the partnership.
Anyway, it is clear who is the boss, as the pair's body language gives away, as explained by expert Peter Collett. The clues are all there for anyone to see...
It is rewarding for me to see how well the coalition is received, even by the general cynics and the anti-Cameronites (sometimes the same person is both) who have at last learned at least a little of why I (and others) have held the faith so strongly over the months and years.
Our calm assurance, based on knowledge without prejudice, is now bearing fruit. Even President Obama appears to be far more impressed with David Cameron than he ever was with Gordon Brown...
The weeks and months to come will demonstrate just how well this will operate. With the Great Repeal Bill (which comments to my assertions on this elsewhere have tried to ridicule) now on its way, ID Cards and the Register to be scrapped, fixed term parliaments (although the first stab at this looks to be less than ideal), and immigration issues to be tackled by the only party who ever knew how and had the will to do so, it's all looking good!
The Great Repeal Bill will be a thing of pure joy to me.
ReplyDeletehttp://cogitodexter.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/this-new-socially-liberal-economically-conservative-government-is-right-up-my-street/
Yes, agreed; and with your preceding post re Brown's behaviour, for that matter!
ReplyDeleteScrapping of ID cards and the great repeal bill are very welcome. Regarding fixed term parliaments, I have serious reservations about the constitutional implications. It appears to have made up on the hoof without being thought through (something New Labour used to do)
ReplyDeleteImmigration, any cap is good. I stood as a candidate and this was overwhelmingly the issue that got raised. It's a shame that the main parties still can't be candid about it. They can only control non-eu immigration. We can't control immigration from the other 26 member states, so yet again the elephant in the room gets ignored. Not much has changed then.
I am very much in favour of fixed term parliaments, but am surprised that it has been made five years rather than four.
ReplyDeleteI suspect it has been a compromise for the time being, in order to get the principle established in statute, so that the period could be reviewed down the line. One step at a time...
As far as EU immigration is concerned, I believe the two-year (or whatever is decided) waiting period will avoid repetition of what happened last time. Of course, that was more complex than just an immigration issue.
In due course I hope we can have an "EU in or out" referendum, provided the sensible path I have proposed, or something similar, is pursued in the meantime.
The last thing we need is an economic disaster as a consequence of pulling out beforehand, and ending up compelled to return on their terms - a very likely scenario if we don't handle this right.