Coalition Part 2
So when we had left off a couple of months ago David had just made his "Big open and Comprehensive" Offer to Nick and the Liberal Democrats.
When David makes that offer to the Liberal Democrats, it’s clear from every documentary and memoirs that Peter Mandelson was the only one in the Labour camp who didn’t think that Cameron was admitting defeat, and that he was moving towards the mature politics that the Liberal Democrats want to bring into U.K politics. By the way, apparently James Graham is a Clameron shipper because I highly doubt they would use the take (?) where Bertie as Nick is suddenly lusting after David if that wasn’t the subtext they had already written into the piece. It’s so bad that even reviewer noted the subtext.
Back to Cameron’s speech. He’s being watched by a group of old men who I think are either the backbench traditional Tories, or the 1922 committee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_Committee with the old man speaking being either Peter Bone or an amalgamation of the committee members. Either way he’s a representative of the hard right of the Conservative party that it’s widely believed that Cameron wants to neutralise. I mean he’s definitely too old to be Graham Brady so there’s that. Cameron has managed to neutralise the committee somewhat but it’s worth noting he faced a serious challenge to his leadership in 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/31/rebel-mp-tory-david-cameron-confidence-_n_3364562.html
Said old right wing Tory is then heard yelling over the speaker phone at Tory HQ at some poor Tory, about Cameron’s offer to the Lib-Dems, calling him a “wet blanket” even. Osborne’s and Cameron’s faces when they hear this rant are must see. Nick and David then agree to start negotiations right away. Nick’s a little too eager, so I can’t say he’s been railroaded into it.
George meanwhile is discussing where the negotiations will be held. And as James Graham said in one of his many interviews George really seems to enjoy the ‘game’ of the whole thing and “he doesn’t mind people knowing that,” This incarnation of George seems to almost revel in it, (wonder where/who he got that from). It’s seen when he gets excited about having first choice about the venue for negotiations, and then as an aside asks G o’D to have copies of the financial situation of the country.
The he turns round and asked for copies of the overlaps between the two manifestos on the “most expensive paper we have, nice cover embossed the whole shebang” Hee!!! He’s five. Then while we see the Lib Dem team heading to the Cabinet office….
“I was taught, in any game of poker you play the man not the cards” or something (gee George I wonder who taught you that……. is Peter a poker player? :P)
“Laws, He’s basically a Tory anyway, almost got him to cross the floor once, easy peasy Lib-Dem squeezy” ….George you are five. FIVE!!!
“Danny Alexander” says random Tory. “Scottish”
“Shit”, George mutters
“Oxford Grad,” says random Tory which earns an “Oh Better,” from our chancellor. They then go on to talk about Chris Huhne and his erm marital problems (XD), and then Andrew Stunell who I don’ know anything about, so couldn’t tell you anything.
Hague (WTF casting??? that is not William Hague) says wearily “They won’t be doing this with us will they?” Well William they will but not in the same extensive way that the Tories have doing.
“Hague. Yorkshire. Bald.” Says David Laws, which earns a dry “I think we all know who William Hague is.”
Paddy still has misgivings about going to do a deal with the Tories. And Nick’s “We’re not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater” doesn’t seem to convince him.
Both teams arrive in the cabinet room when Gus is waiting with “In depth briefings from the Bank of England and the Treasury so you’re aware how important it is that one way or another a decision is reached.” (George you arse) which has David Laws and Danny Alexander looking horrified.
One thing I noticed on my numerous rewatches is how much they make the guy playing the Osborne look like a vampire - George is pale but he’s not that pale, and the camera angles certainly make him look…..almost inhuman. And not in the Tom Welling way. He looks like a ….cat toying with its prey, (maybe that’s why he wears make-up) which…..George Osborne isn’t the only one in the twosome that’s smart you know?
Also when the two teams come into the cabinet office you can see the Tories (especially Hague) are sizing up the Lib-Dems. I liked that little touch. Also the actor playing Danny Alexander would have also worked as Ed Balls. But that’s just me.
After Gus has left the room, David Laws opens the file and starts reading, and his eyes fill with horror.
Paddy goes behind Nicky back to talk to Gordon about a meeting between Gordon and Nick. Nick isn’t thrilled about that the idea of either talking to even working with Brown. They really didn’t get along and while I can sympathise with not wanting to work with someone you don’t get along, with, anyone whose worked a minimum wage job will tell you that at some point or another they’ve all had to work with someone they didn’t like. But they had to continue to work in that job because you know they needed the money. Why Nick couldn’t suck it up for a year or two boggles my mind.
Anyway Nick agrees to at least talking to Gordon over the phone. On Nick’s end there’s only him and Paddy in the room, and on Gordon’s end, we have Harriet and Peter. Gordon is just very “Gordon-ish”.
“Listen to what he’s got to say, try not to talk down to him,” Harriet advises him. “And for the love of god it’s the Li-ber-al De-mo-crats”, Peter nods along with this before adding “Oh and ah…Smile?” Oh Peter. Needless to say it doesn’t go very while at all.
Personally as a fellow only child I can empathise with Gordon’s awkward-ness and then you add that to the fact he went to Edinburgh at 16, and you have someone who’s really not good at talking to people. Expect if it’s in a speech. Anyway watching him read his notes in a far less capable way than David, it’s no wonder that Nick is cringes away from the phone, “It sounds like he’s reading this,” he say. Harriet and Peter are holding up notes for Gordon, Harriet just wants Gordon and Nick to “meet soon” and Peter’s is a very unhelpful “Stop saying Look Nick,” Incidentally the second time that Harriet holds up the “Meet Soon” sign with the words underlined Gordon throws a scrunched bag paper bag at her. Mind you if I were in Gordon’s shoes I’d probably do the same thing.
Nick has checked out of the conversation on his end and it’s only through Paddy’s prodding that he agrees on a meeting.
George continues the seduction of the Lib Dem team by showing them the policy overlapping file-thing. David and Danny are suitably impressed, and as George points out the Tories want to make this work as much as they do. Hague suggests that they start on the areas where the two parties do agree on policy, (which is 11 pages- dear god). Both of the team agree on cutting taxes, but David points out that electoral reform is a red line for the Lib Dems. As Europe is for the Tories. The Liberal Democrats other key policies, are a pupil premium, a greener economy and to stay in Europe.
Having reached an impasse over Europe and voting and with tempers starting to fray, William seeks to diffuse the situation with his typical humour, wondering out loud whether it’s just him or “it is getting hot” in the room.
David can’t believe that all the Lib-Dems want is voting reform, in exchange for joining the coalition. As George points out it seems that the Lib Dem team haven’t realised that the Tories need them more than the Lib-Dems need the Tories. William warns David that Labour will definitely offer the Lib-Dems voting reform to which Cameron answers “Well they’re not talking to Labour. They’re talking to us.” All the while tossing a baseball between his hands, btw Mark Dexter has really nice hands, (I mean not as nice as Cameron’s but still)
The mood in Lib-Dem HQ is much more cautious. They’ve been offered high positions within government, with Nick being offered Home Secretary, as opposed to him eventually getting Deputy Prime Minister. The one downside is that they want to start cutting as soon as possible and cutting deeply. If I remember correctly the real Nick said before the election, that going ahead with the Tory cuts would be “an act of economic masochism”. The Paddy/Vince/Ming hybrid who we’ll know just call Paddy points out that the Lib-Dems had campaigned against that very policy before the election to which Nick replies that as the third party they had that privilege, but now they’ve had a look at the finances. Which aren’t very good.
And that maybe true, but the economy was actually improving by the time Gordon left office due to the work that Darling and Balls had done to repair and then the Tories ruined it by their moronic economic policy which almost led us into another recession, well done guys
On the 8th of May on the anniversary of VE there’s a bit of a diplomatic nightmare. Generally it’s the Prime Minister who lays the first wreath and Gus suggests that perhaps all three of the party leaders lay one together. Gordon being the socially awkward man he is, decides to use the time he has before the ceremony to press Nick on whether or not the Lib-Dems will have talks with Labour.
And there’s a hilarious moment where David keen on keeping Gordon away from Nick and Nick who really doesn’t want to talk to Gordon, is almost embarrassed and apologetic on behalf of David, having to see him talking to the PM. (James Graham is such a shipper oh my god).
Then after, Nick comes in furious at himself for agreeing to have talks with Labour, when all he really wants to do is talk to David (awwwww). Outside the Lib-Dem HQ, (or is it around the back of it?) there’s a large of protestors, either protesting the lack of representation and wanting a change in the voting system, because they were all Lib Dem supporters or people who had voted for the Liberal Democrats, in the election, and were displeased with the outcome, of the election. In 5 days that changed Britain you can see the protest here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_znfy1YM1g at the 5:26 mins mark. Now I happen to know of one person who was at the that protest, and she’s a Lib Dem so I highly doubt that she would be at a protests predominantly by Trade Unions, even if they were in disguise, so I don’t believe James Graham when he says this was a real detail. Especially when you see the signs being held up by the protestors. We also don’t see Nick go out and talk to the protestors as well so I don’t know. The one thing I would love to know was who told him that if it is true. Anyway. As we are going with “the protest was organised by the trade unions,” as Peter Mandelson tells Ed Balls. Also we get to see Ed Miliband!!! YAY!!!!!!.
Unfortunately the actor playing Ed didn’t have the patch of grey in his hair and as I’ve already said the actor playing Danny Alexander was have been a far better (in terms of looks) match for Ed Balls. So a big thumbs down from me considering the make-up and casting department.
L
But when Balls hears from Peter that Labour organised the protests his face is a picture J XD.
Harriet wants to know what strategy they have for dealing with the Lib Dems. And Peter being Peter points out that they “know” what they’re doing, they’ll just “wing it”. Oh Peter. And while I’m a Labourite at heart, even I have to admit that Labour was unprepared, compared to the Tories. But just because Labour didn’t have a proposal to hand they also had Peter Mandelson. Maybe it’s just me but, surely you could come up with a proposal at the meeting itself, if both parties were committed to actually having a meeting, and coming to an agreement, with someone taking notes, surely you could make that work?
While the Lib Dems may right to point to this unprepared-ness on behalf of Labour, as a reason for why they couldn’t go into coalition with Labour, the fact that the Lib-Dems (okay mostly Laws and Clegg) had practically already made up their minds to go into coalition with the Tories makes me view that, as the weakest of the excuses to have ever been expressed.
(Omg I’m only at the 40:00 mark? WTF????)
Meanwhile Nick is using the opportunity posed by this new negotiation meeting to meet with David, secretly at a room in Admiralty House where umm the curtains were drawn. Yep. Nick describes as being “very cloak and dagger”. Aww there’s our Romeo and Juliet right there!!!! Back to the show David and Nick as I said go into a room, alone to see if they can work together. As Nick Robinson points out personal chemistry was key to seeing with these two men work with each other.
You know how I keep saying James Graham is a shipper? Seeing as he has who I think is supposed to be Andy Coulson, saying “it’s like putting two pandas together to see if they’ll get on,” (Which WTF?!?!?!)
Also, while Nick has been quick to distance himself and his party from the Tories in preparation for the General Election this year, he has also said that while he wouldn’t work with Osborne, he’d work with Cameron again. (Which awwwww). This despite the fact that Nick Clegg was really petulantly pointing out all the faults with the Tory party, despite the fact that he was working with them in Coalition for five years.
Back at Nick’s London house both Danny and David are shocked that the other David offered him the position of Deputy Prime Minister. Nick trying not to squeee sounds stern as he says that it would take more than that to get him into bed with them, (umm). Danny and David probably having rehearsed their story tell Nick that “There was nothing coming from the Labour side. The body language wasn’t even there”, (seriously guys???) which…the body language might have been there if you had been open to the negotiations in Labour in the first place?
Anyhoo. Gordon decides to call his team out on not having good body language. And of course Balls is incredulous. Gordon wonders whether if it had anything to do with how Balls was sat. And how was he sat? “With my arse in the chair and both feet on the ground,” And Gordon was like “well were you sat up straight,” and both Harriet and Peter….being Harriet and Peter-both battling for teacher’s approval- are both like “ I was sat up straight,” to which Ed is like “I don’t think History is going to be decided on posture,”. Gordon having had enough of the children squabbling, decides to go and meet Nick to sort it out personally, with Peter as his backup. In order so that they won’t be followed by the media, Gus o Donnell takes them to an underground tunnel which was used by Churchill during the Second World War. And it’s while going along this corridor that Gordon-heartbreakingly- realises that Nick is going to ask for his resignation. Peter on instinct starts to deny it, but the look on Gatiss’s face says that he too has realised that Gordon will be asked to fall on his sword.
Gordon tries to keep Peter’s spirits up (and what a role reversal that is), saying that it’s the one card he actually has to play. For the good of the party. *sobbing*. Peter heartbroken tells him that, it’s up to Gordon when he goes and no-one else. (I have this head canon that Peter is probably using all of his Dark Lord Powers to make them pay).
Nick despite using seeming resolute in getting Gordon to resign the night before seems to be having second thoughts, about the plan in the cold light of day. (As well he should, the unprincipled wanker), and in order to lessen the blow has decided to wear a red tie.
Peter seems very protective of Gordon, especially when Nick hesitantly brings up the idea of Gordon stepping down within a couple of months. You can see the hurt in Ian Grieve’s eyes, and Mark Gatiss is just stone-faced as the Prince of Darkness who plotting your downfall as you continue speaking. I don’t believe that Gordon was just trying to desperately cling to power because of his ego. He’d lived through the Thatcher years, while Labour was cannibalising itself, and losing to a minority Thatcher government and he’d seen what that had done to the country, and genuinely believed if he could get a (yes a minority) government, of the Lib Dems and Labour with like supply and confidence from the SNP (!!!) and the Greens then that would be the best thing for the nation: See my notes on the economy.
Anyway. He looks happier now out of office. And he kept the Union together.
I do believe Nick felt some remorse but so that he was as cut up about as Bertie seems in the show, but that’s all beside the point. The next day Gordon announces in front of the nation’s media that he is stepping as party leader, and also that Labour and the Lib-Dems will begin formal negotiations. (Well WTF were those earlier talks?). Gordon opens his speech with “We have a Parliamentary and not Presidential system of government,”- which I hope everyone watching the drama paid attention to , because we really shouldn’t be having these Leader’s debates because it’s NOT HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS!!!!! Gordon goes on to say that he has asked the Labour party to being the process of choosing a new leader.
David Cameron who with the rest of his team is watching this, is ready to throw in the towel, and admit defeat. He knows that the only way that they will get the Lib Dems on their side is to offer them AV, as Labour will probably do the same. Eric Pickles protests saying that they don’t know that Labour have offered Nick and the Lib Dems AV but David is like “LBR they have,”
Nick who seemed sorrowful about asking Gordon to resign is all too willing to use Labour to get more stuff out of the Tories. I don’t think that it’s Carvel’s fault but the script has Nick vacillating between being the ruthless political player, and this sensitive heartbroken player. There’s not much subtlety in between the two personas.
So Labour and the Lib Dems head off to their first “official” meeting to which Balls- muttering about how he’ll “show them body language,” -carries a box of muffins. Oh Labour. You should have gone with doughnuts instead.
Peter, who is nursing hidden resentment, begins to delicately pick at the muffin, probably thinking “I hope you got the poisoned ones,” Like any passive aggressive spin doctor he points out that they have an agenda ready this time. David Laws interrupts with over the top politeness and eagerness, to say “We feel that some of the rhetoric and general approach was slightly defensive,” Well David considering your lot didn’t want to be there I’d say that, that was the understatement of the century.
Peter psyches both David and Danny out, by sending David’s entire speech in a text to Danny. David looks scared and freaked out. Danny is all sweetness and light, and agrees with Peter. David and Peter come to a silent agreement that says that Peter knows they have no intention of going into coalition with Labour- and he’s already drawing up plans to make them pay.
David has convened the party to put forward the idea of offering the Liberal Democrats a referendum on AV. As you would expect the rest of his party is against the idea since it’ll give the smaller parties more of a voice-Insert Grumble about the Lib-Dems could have had an AV referendum in 1997, since that was what Tony offered them, along, with two seats at the cabinet table, which yes, was a down grade from the original offer of PR and four seats at the Cabinet table since the original offer was probably made with the thinking that Labour wouldn’t get a majority let alone a landslide. Anyway Paddy walked out and AV was shelved for 14 years.
And Paddy blamed Labour for that, which Paddy I love you but shut up.
Back to the show.
Sir Peter Tapsell is there along with who I think are supposed to be Nadine Dorries and Theresa May.
When David makes that offer to the Liberal Democrats, it’s clear from every documentary and memoirs that Peter Mandelson was the only one in the Labour camp who didn’t think that Cameron was admitting defeat, and that he was moving towards the mature politics that the Liberal Democrats want to bring into U.K politics. By the way, apparently James Graham is a Clameron shipper because I highly doubt they would use the take (?) where Bertie as Nick is suddenly lusting after David if that wasn’t the subtext they had already written into the piece. It’s so bad that even reviewer noted the subtext.
Back to Cameron’s speech. He’s being watched by a group of old men who I think are either the backbench traditional Tories, or the 1922 committee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_Committee with the old man speaking being either Peter Bone or an amalgamation of the committee members. Either way he’s a representative of the hard right of the Conservative party that it’s widely believed that Cameron wants to neutralise. I mean he’s definitely too old to be Graham Brady so there’s that. Cameron has managed to neutralise the committee somewhat but it’s worth noting he faced a serious challenge to his leadership in 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/31/rebel-mp-tory-david-cameron-confidence-_n_3364562.html
Said old right wing Tory is then heard yelling over the speaker phone at Tory HQ at some poor Tory, about Cameron’s offer to the Lib-Dems, calling him a “wet blanket” even. Osborne’s and Cameron’s faces when they hear this rant are must see. Nick and David then agree to start negotiations right away. Nick’s a little too eager, so I can’t say he’s been railroaded into it.
George meanwhile is discussing where the negotiations will be held. And as James Graham said in one of his many interviews George really seems to enjoy the ‘game’ of the whole thing and “he doesn’t mind people knowing that,” This incarnation of George seems to almost revel in it, (wonder where/who he got that from). It’s seen when he gets excited about having first choice about the venue for negotiations, and then as an aside asks G o’D to have copies of the financial situation of the country.
The he turns round and asked for copies of the overlaps between the two manifestos on the “most expensive paper we have, nice cover embossed the whole shebang” Hee!!! He’s five. Then while we see the Lib Dem team heading to the Cabinet office….
“I was taught, in any game of poker you play the man not the cards” or something (gee George I wonder who taught you that……. is Peter a poker player? :P)
“Laws, He’s basically a Tory anyway, almost got him to cross the floor once, easy peasy Lib-Dem squeezy” ….George you are five. FIVE!!!
“Danny Alexander” says random Tory. “Scottish”
“Shit”, George mutters
“Oxford Grad,” says random Tory which earns an “Oh Better,” from our chancellor. They then go on to talk about Chris Huhne and his erm marital problems (XD), and then Andrew Stunell who I don’ know anything about, so couldn’t tell you anything.
Hague (WTF casting??? that is not William Hague) says wearily “They won’t be doing this with us will they?” Well William they will but not in the same extensive way that the Tories have doing.
“Hague. Yorkshire. Bald.” Says David Laws, which earns a dry “I think we all know who William Hague is.”
Paddy still has misgivings about going to do a deal with the Tories. And Nick’s “We’re not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater” doesn’t seem to convince him.
Both teams arrive in the cabinet room when Gus is waiting with “In depth briefings from the Bank of England and the Treasury so you’re aware how important it is that one way or another a decision is reached.” (George you arse) which has David Laws and Danny Alexander looking horrified.
One thing I noticed on my numerous rewatches is how much they make the guy playing the Osborne look like a vampire - George is pale but he’s not that pale, and the camera angles certainly make him look…..almost inhuman. And not in the Tom Welling way. He looks like a ….cat toying with its prey, (maybe that’s why he wears make-up) which…..George Osborne isn’t the only one in the twosome that’s smart you know?
Also when the two teams come into the cabinet office you can see the Tories (especially Hague) are sizing up the Lib-Dems. I liked that little touch. Also the actor playing Danny Alexander would have also worked as Ed Balls. But that’s just me.
After Gus has left the room, David Laws opens the file and starts reading, and his eyes fill with horror.
Paddy goes behind Nicky back to talk to Gordon about a meeting between Gordon and Nick. Nick isn’t thrilled about that the idea of either talking to even working with Brown. They really didn’t get along and while I can sympathise with not wanting to work with someone you don’t get along, with, anyone whose worked a minimum wage job will tell you that at some point or another they’ve all had to work with someone they didn’t like. But they had to continue to work in that job because you know they needed the money. Why Nick couldn’t suck it up for a year or two boggles my mind.
Anyway Nick agrees to at least talking to Gordon over the phone. On Nick’s end there’s only him and Paddy in the room, and on Gordon’s end, we have Harriet and Peter. Gordon is just very “Gordon-ish”.
“Listen to what he’s got to say, try not to talk down to him,” Harriet advises him. “And for the love of god it’s the Li-ber-al De-mo-crats”, Peter nods along with this before adding “Oh and ah…Smile?” Oh Peter. Needless to say it doesn’t go very while at all.
Personally as a fellow only child I can empathise with Gordon’s awkward-ness and then you add that to the fact he went to Edinburgh at 16, and you have someone who’s really not good at talking to people. Expect if it’s in a speech. Anyway watching him read his notes in a far less capable way than David, it’s no wonder that Nick is cringes away from the phone, “It sounds like he’s reading this,” he say. Harriet and Peter are holding up notes for Gordon, Harriet just wants Gordon and Nick to “meet soon” and Peter’s is a very unhelpful “Stop saying Look Nick,” Incidentally the second time that Harriet holds up the “Meet Soon” sign with the words underlined Gordon throws a scrunched bag paper bag at her. Mind you if I were in Gordon’s shoes I’d probably do the same thing.
Nick has checked out of the conversation on his end and it’s only through Paddy’s prodding that he agrees on a meeting.
George continues the seduction of the Lib Dem team by showing them the policy overlapping file-thing. David and Danny are suitably impressed, and as George points out the Tories want to make this work as much as they do. Hague suggests that they start on the areas where the two parties do agree on policy, (which is 11 pages- dear god). Both of the team agree on cutting taxes, but David points out that electoral reform is a red line for the Lib Dems. As Europe is for the Tories. The Liberal Democrats other key policies, are a pupil premium, a greener economy and to stay in Europe.
Having reached an impasse over Europe and voting and with tempers starting to fray, William seeks to diffuse the situation with his typical humour, wondering out loud whether it’s just him or “it is getting hot” in the room.
David can’t believe that all the Lib-Dems want is voting reform, in exchange for joining the coalition. As George points out it seems that the Lib Dem team haven’t realised that the Tories need them more than the Lib-Dems need the Tories. William warns David that Labour will definitely offer the Lib-Dems voting reform to which Cameron answers “Well they’re not talking to Labour. They’re talking to us.” All the while tossing a baseball between his hands, btw Mark Dexter has really nice hands, (I mean not as nice as Cameron’s but still)
The mood in Lib-Dem HQ is much more cautious. They’ve been offered high positions within government, with Nick being offered Home Secretary, as opposed to him eventually getting Deputy Prime Minister. The one downside is that they want to start cutting as soon as possible and cutting deeply. If I remember correctly the real Nick said before the election, that going ahead with the Tory cuts would be “an act of economic masochism”. The Paddy/Vince/Ming hybrid who we’ll know just call Paddy points out that the Lib-Dems had campaigned against that very policy before the election to which Nick replies that as the third party they had that privilege, but now they’ve had a look at the finances. Which aren’t very good.
And that maybe true, but the economy was actually improving by the time Gordon left office due to the work that Darling and Balls had done to repair and then the Tories ruined it by their moronic economic policy which almost led us into another recession, well done guys
On the 8th of May on the anniversary of VE there’s a bit of a diplomatic nightmare. Generally it’s the Prime Minister who lays the first wreath and Gus suggests that perhaps all three of the party leaders lay one together. Gordon being the socially awkward man he is, decides to use the time he has before the ceremony to press Nick on whether or not the Lib-Dems will have talks with Labour.
And there’s a hilarious moment where David keen on keeping Gordon away from Nick and Nick who really doesn’t want to talk to Gordon, is almost embarrassed and apologetic on behalf of David, having to see him talking to the PM. (James Graham is such a shipper oh my god).
Then after, Nick comes in furious at himself for agreeing to have talks with Labour, when all he really wants to do is talk to David (awwwww). Outside the Lib-Dem HQ, (or is it around the back of it?) there’s a large of protestors, either protesting the lack of representation and wanting a change in the voting system, because they were all Lib Dem supporters or people who had voted for the Liberal Democrats, in the election, and were displeased with the outcome, of the election. In 5 days that changed Britain you can see the protest here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_znfy1YM1g at the 5:26 mins mark. Now I happen to know of one person who was at the that protest, and she’s a Lib Dem so I highly doubt that she would be at a protests predominantly by Trade Unions, even if they were in disguise, so I don’t believe James Graham when he says this was a real detail. Especially when you see the signs being held up by the protestors. We also don’t see Nick go out and talk to the protestors as well so I don’t know. The one thing I would love to know was who told him that if it is true. Anyway. As we are going with “the protest was organised by the trade unions,” as Peter Mandelson tells Ed Balls. Also we get to see Ed Miliband!!! YAY!!!!!!.
Unfortunately the actor playing Ed didn’t have the patch of grey in his hair and as I’ve already said the actor playing Danny Alexander was have been a far better (in terms of looks) match for Ed Balls. So a big thumbs down from me considering the make-up and casting department.
L
But when Balls hears from Peter that Labour organised the protests his face is a picture J XD.
Harriet wants to know what strategy they have for dealing with the Lib Dems. And Peter being Peter points out that they “know” what they’re doing, they’ll just “wing it”. Oh Peter. And while I’m a Labourite at heart, even I have to admit that Labour was unprepared, compared to the Tories. But just because Labour didn’t have a proposal to hand they also had Peter Mandelson. Maybe it’s just me but, surely you could come up with a proposal at the meeting itself, if both parties were committed to actually having a meeting, and coming to an agreement, with someone taking notes, surely you could make that work?
While the Lib Dems may right to point to this unprepared-ness on behalf of Labour, as a reason for why they couldn’t go into coalition with Labour, the fact that the Lib-Dems (okay mostly Laws and Clegg) had practically already made up their minds to go into coalition with the Tories makes me view that, as the weakest of the excuses to have ever been expressed.
(Omg I’m only at the 40:00 mark? WTF????)
Meanwhile Nick is using the opportunity posed by this new negotiation meeting to meet with David, secretly at a room in Admiralty House where umm the curtains were drawn. Yep. Nick describes as being “very cloak and dagger”. Aww there’s our Romeo and Juliet right there!!!! Back to the show David and Nick as I said go into a room, alone to see if they can work together. As Nick Robinson points out personal chemistry was key to seeing with these two men work with each other.
You know how I keep saying James Graham is a shipper? Seeing as he has who I think is supposed to be Andy Coulson, saying “it’s like putting two pandas together to see if they’ll get on,” (Which WTF?!?!?!)
Also, while Nick has been quick to distance himself and his party from the Tories in preparation for the General Election this year, he has also said that while he wouldn’t work with Osborne, he’d work with Cameron again. (Which awwwww). This despite the fact that Nick Clegg was really petulantly pointing out all the faults with the Tory party, despite the fact that he was working with them in Coalition for five years.
Back at Nick’s London house both Danny and David are shocked that the other David offered him the position of Deputy Prime Minister. Nick trying not to squeee sounds stern as he says that it would take more than that to get him into bed with them, (umm). Danny and David probably having rehearsed their story tell Nick that “There was nothing coming from the Labour side. The body language wasn’t even there”, (seriously guys???) which…the body language might have been there if you had been open to the negotiations in Labour in the first place?
Anyhoo. Gordon decides to call his team out on not having good body language. And of course Balls is incredulous. Gordon wonders whether if it had anything to do with how Balls was sat. And how was he sat? “With my arse in the chair and both feet on the ground,” And Gordon was like “well were you sat up straight,” and both Harriet and Peter….being Harriet and Peter-both battling for teacher’s approval- are both like “ I was sat up straight,” to which Ed is like “I don’t think History is going to be decided on posture,”. Gordon having had enough of the children squabbling, decides to go and meet Nick to sort it out personally, with Peter as his backup. In order so that they won’t be followed by the media, Gus o Donnell takes them to an underground tunnel which was used by Churchill during the Second World War. And it’s while going along this corridor that Gordon-heartbreakingly- realises that Nick is going to ask for his resignation. Peter on instinct starts to deny it, but the look on Gatiss’s face says that he too has realised that Gordon will be asked to fall on his sword.
Gordon tries to keep Peter’s spirits up (and what a role reversal that is), saying that it’s the one card he actually has to play. For the good of the party. *sobbing*. Peter heartbroken tells him that, it’s up to Gordon when he goes and no-one else. (I have this head canon that Peter is probably using all of his Dark Lord Powers to make them pay).
Nick despite using seeming resolute in getting Gordon to resign the night before seems to be having second thoughts, about the plan in the cold light of day. (As well he should, the unprincipled wanker), and in order to lessen the blow has decided to wear a red tie.
Peter seems very protective of Gordon, especially when Nick hesitantly brings up the idea of Gordon stepping down within a couple of months. You can see the hurt in Ian Grieve’s eyes, and Mark Gatiss is just stone-faced as the Prince of Darkness who plotting your downfall as you continue speaking. I don’t believe that Gordon was just trying to desperately cling to power because of his ego. He’d lived through the Thatcher years, while Labour was cannibalising itself, and losing to a minority Thatcher government and he’d seen what that had done to the country, and genuinely believed if he could get a (yes a minority) government, of the Lib Dems and Labour with like supply and confidence from the SNP (!!!) and the Greens then that would be the best thing for the nation: See my notes on the economy.
Anyway. He looks happier now out of office. And he kept the Union together.
I do believe Nick felt some remorse but so that he was as cut up about as Bertie seems in the show, but that’s all beside the point. The next day Gordon announces in front of the nation’s media that he is stepping as party leader, and also that Labour and the Lib-Dems will begin formal negotiations. (Well WTF were those earlier talks?). Gordon opens his speech with “We have a Parliamentary and not Presidential system of government,”- which I hope everyone watching the drama paid attention to , because we really shouldn’t be having these Leader’s debates because it’s NOT HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS!!!!! Gordon goes on to say that he has asked the Labour party to being the process of choosing a new leader.
David Cameron who with the rest of his team is watching this, is ready to throw in the towel, and admit defeat. He knows that the only way that they will get the Lib Dems on their side is to offer them AV, as Labour will probably do the same. Eric Pickles protests saying that they don’t know that Labour have offered Nick and the Lib Dems AV but David is like “LBR they have,”
Nick who seemed sorrowful about asking Gordon to resign is all too willing to use Labour to get more stuff out of the Tories. I don’t think that it’s Carvel’s fault but the script has Nick vacillating between being the ruthless political player, and this sensitive heartbroken player. There’s not much subtlety in between the two personas.
So Labour and the Lib Dems head off to their first “official” meeting to which Balls- muttering about how he’ll “show them body language,” -carries a box of muffins. Oh Labour. You should have gone with doughnuts instead.
Peter, who is nursing hidden resentment, begins to delicately pick at the muffin, probably thinking “I hope you got the poisoned ones,” Like any passive aggressive spin doctor he points out that they have an agenda ready this time. David Laws interrupts with over the top politeness and eagerness, to say “We feel that some of the rhetoric and general approach was slightly defensive,” Well David considering your lot didn’t want to be there I’d say that, that was the understatement of the century.
Peter psyches both David and Danny out, by sending David’s entire speech in a text to Danny. David looks scared and freaked out. Danny is all sweetness and light, and agrees with Peter. David and Peter come to a silent agreement that says that Peter knows they have no intention of going into coalition with Labour- and he’s already drawing up plans to make them pay.
David has convened the party to put forward the idea of offering the Liberal Democrats a referendum on AV. As you would expect the rest of his party is against the idea since it’ll give the smaller parties more of a voice-Insert Grumble about the Lib-Dems could have had an AV referendum in 1997, since that was what Tony offered them, along, with two seats at the cabinet table, which yes, was a down grade from the original offer of PR and four seats at the Cabinet table since the original offer was probably made with the thinking that Labour wouldn’t get a majority let alone a landslide. Anyway Paddy walked out and AV was shelved for 14 years.
And Paddy blamed Labour for that, which Paddy I love you but shut up.
Back to the show.
Sir Peter Tapsell is there along with who I think are supposed to be Nadine Dorries and Theresa May.