The Rise of Coalition Governance?

[Sukerkin]

An interesting look at whether or not there is a trend in British politics that will lead to Coalition being the norm for the exercise of political authority:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24123207

 

[K-man]

We have had coalition governments for over 90 years in Australia, so much so that we talk about Labor and the Coalition as if it were a two party system. But then, we have a preferential system of electing our politicians. First past the post is far more likely to favour a two party government. Preferential can throw up the anomaly we had last week with a guy getting half of one percent of the vote yet probably being elected to our Senate.

In Victoria, Ricky Muir is set to win the final seat. He stood for the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party, which appears to have no policies apart from representing what it sees as motorists' interests. He won 0.53 per cent, but with a swag of preferences, he appears set to unseat Liberal senator Helen Kroger, who had 10.52 per cent.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...te-in-new-hung-parliament-20130908-2tdqm.html

In more recent times the Labor party has been in bed with the Greens who in Australia are very much left wing.

There probably isn't a person living in Australia who could remember any other way. :asian:

 

[Sukerkin]

If you can spend the time, have a listen to Nick Clegg's full speech - it's about an hour but it is an interesting insight into 'political speaking' over on this side of the Atlantic.

It's getting a bit more American in it's delivery unfortunately - music presaging a politician on stage is not the British way really, for example - but I think the flavour is still different enough for it to be interesting to you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24137394