This is not a good Government, although there have been worse. This is not a great Prime Minister, although there have been far worse, most notably his horrendous predecessor.
But what else is there? The "Opposition", which voted against the Government a mere fifteen per cent of the time in the last session, is only six points ahead, meaning that it has captured only one in twelve of those who voted Labour in 2005.
And even David Cameron's mentor, the EU point man without whose endorsement no one has won a General Election in the last twenty years, is betting on a hung Parliament.
So what if the opposition voted against the government "only" 15% of the time? Many matters parliament are routine or uncontroversial in nature. Are you advocating that an opposition party should have no principle other than to be opposite to the government? What sort of principle is that?
ReplyDeleteCompare and constrast historic figures. And define "routine and uncontroversial".
ReplyDeleteAs an absolute figure, there are now hardly any votes in the Commons, because no one can be bothered to call for them. This country has become a one-party state, with the One Party occupying both front benches.
Tory votes against Second or Third Reading of Government Bills:
ReplyDelete1997-2001 - 41%
2001 to 2005 - 32%
This Parliament -22%
Last session - 15%
Routine and uncontroversial?
And that fifteen per cent is all of four divisions on the floor of the House.
ReplyDelete