Tuition fees passed - ugh!

[LeftishBrit]

By 323 to 302. A smaller majority than they'd hoped for (government notional working majority is 84); so a bit embarrassing to them! But still ugh. I am sure that student revolt has only just begun.

[Matilda]

1. I noted that 21 Lib Dems voted against it, and 28 for.

That's a not insignificant split.

Given that they had made a promise to abolish tuition fees, this must harm their chances of re-election in the
future.

There must be many who are disappointed in Nick Clegg. What is the feeling about him over there now?

[T_i_B]

2. Feelings toward Clegg?

Well to be honest he's bearing the brunt of anti-government anger, much more so then David Cameron. The Lib Dems have lost their credibility over this issue.

[Nihil]

3. Clegg is less popular than even Thatcher amongst students at the moment ...

Partly because of the blatant breaking of the pre-election promise
and partly because the student vote was significant in getting the
number of seats that the Lib-Dems won and was even more of a kick
in the teeth as a result.

If the Greens are halfway awake in the next few years, they'll just
devour the Lib-Dem seats as, no matter how idealistic people may have
been at the last election, everyone now knows that you can't trust
a single politician in the main three parties (unless you're a rich
bastard who doesn't really care anyway).

[Jeneral2885]

4. Greens?

While enivronmental protection is important, they aren't strong enough

[Nihil]

5. "they aren't strong enough"

You mean compared to the Lib-Dems? :rofl:

[LeftishBrit]

6. I think most ex-LibDems will return to Labour, especially now that Blair has gone

[Nihil]

7. Quite possible ...

... but not this one (never Labour to begin with and certainly not about to start now).

That will probably result in a few years of aimless paddling around with various
non-entities making pseudo-leadership bids while the Tories (big & little) will
just be cashing in as fast as possible during their default rule ...