Last month I asked for opinions from my e-group on the new coalition government.
The overall results were as follows:
83% of you told me that you think coalition government is a positive thing for Britain and is a more mature approach to politics.
17% of you replied to say that you think coalition government is not a positive thing for Britain.
A large number of respondents were very positive about the coalition government and optimistic about what this historic agreement could achieve.
One member of my group Lorna told me she believed the coalition government was a great opportunity to tackle the challenges facing our country. She said ‘The way ahead I think should be working together for the good of all. By listening to each other and working together seems to me to be the only solution to our problems in the present climate.’
Another member of my group Paula also hopes that the coalition will work together for the national interest. She wrote ‘The coalition requires maturity, tolerance and communication…It will also require a willingness to work together for the greater good.’ She went on to tell me that she believes that in the long term the coalition ‘will bring a new integrity to the image that government holds.’
George echoed Paula’s sentiments saying ‘What we need now is bright, knowledgeable, clear thinking and straight talking Politicians of whatever colour or creed to get us through the next semester and lay down foundations for a very different future.’
Many of you thought that the coalition government represents an excellent chance for Liberal Democrat policies to become a reality, something I’m obviously keen to see. Barry too was pleased that many Lib Dem policies will at last be put into practice and that the Coalition Programme for Government included scrapping the ID card scheme.
Although the majority of members of my group felt that the coalition government was in the national interest, some were apprehensive about an alliance between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Carol wrote, ‘I am all for coalition government so I must say ‘together’ but I certainly never envisioned a coalition with the Conservatives, a party I have spent all my voting life to keep out of government and I am horrified to find we now have David Cameron as Prime Minister.’
But Martin said ‘Given that the election has clearly indicated both that change was wanted and that the Conservative Party that the largest share of both the total vote and number of seats, I think that it was highly commendable that Nick Clegg took the view that the Conservatives had a moral right to govern.’
However, a minority of my group who were against the coalition argued that they felt they had been betrayed by the decision. Maxine told me ‘No disrespect to you Tom but I voted Lib Dem to keep the Tories out of government…It’s more like Tory government than a coalition one. Sandy agreed with her saying that ‘I voted Lib Dems in order to keep the Tories out of power…’
I understand that people have concerns about the coalition but what Britain needs right now is a stable government to help us tackle the important challenges our country faces over the coming months and years. I intend to do my best on your behalf to get the best deal for our area.
If you have any suggestions for future e-poll topics please let me know - either via Facebook, my blog, or by email.
Don't forget you can join my e-group at any stage by emailing me at brake@tombrake.co.uk with the subject 'Join'
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