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Could he trigger a snap general election?

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According to every opinion poll, the Lib Dems are a shadow of the party that fought the last general election. It now appears only a small number of deluded die-hards are prepared to vote for them — and I suspect even some of these will change their minds.

This is not surprising, considering the views of party leader Nick Clegg, which are completely out of tune with voters.

For example, this week he refused to countenance any temporary withdrawal from the European Convention of Human Rights to enable the deportation of hate preacher Abu Qatada.

Tipping point? The Coalition is badly split over Abu Qatada

Mr Clegg threatens that if David Cameron pulls out of the convention to allow the extremist Islamist to be sent to Jordan, the Coalition could collapse.

Of course, as a result of the insidious Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, there isn’t due to be a general election until May 2015. But there are possibilities that could mean that one is held much sooner.

For example, Mr Cameron, who has said his ‘blood boils’ over Abu Qatada’s continued presence in Britain, could use this as the perfect opportunity to exploit his Coalition partners’ weakness.

He could resign as Prime Minister over the issue. Ed Miliband would be invited to form his own coalition but if that failed, an election would be called at once.

Mr Clegg threatens that if David Cameron pulls out of the convention to allow the extremist Islamist to be sent to Jordan, the Coalition could collapse

Such a snap election would, in part, be fought over the issue of who really governs Britain — its government or the European Court.

Mr Cameron would undoubtedly ask whether the public wants serious criminals to be allowed to stay here or be kicked out of the country and be handed over to a foreign government that wants to put them on trial.

By forcing an election because of his determination to keep such a grotesque and evil man as Abu Qatada in Britain, Mr Clegg and his Lib Dems would be ridiculed by voters and be consigned to oblivion.

Also, the Tories could exploit Labour’s unreadiness to fight an election.

Mr Cameron, who has said his 'blood boils' over Abu Qatada's continued presence in Britain, could use this as the perfect opportunity to exploit his Coalition partners¿ weakness

Ed Miliband is facing the stirrings of a civil war, with Blairites pillorying him for his lacklustre and unprincipled opposition, and the union chief Len McCluskey demanding he revert to a pure socialist agenda.

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Also, Mr Miliband has failed to identify with the public mood over the Government’s welfare reforms.

Meanwhile, although the Tories have presided over a pretty poor government, things are starting to improve.

We have avoided a triple-dip recession (just), and the Tories have milked the glorious memory of Lady Thatcher as a staunch Conservative for all it was worth.

The Tories may be weak in the North and almost non-existent in Scotland, but similarly, Labour has failed to make much impact in the South. What’s more, the thought of Mr Miliband moving the party further to the lunatic Left will worry the hundreds of thousands of floating voters.  

Indeed, this week he said his policies would be more Left-wing than those of any leader since Neil Kinnock.

Clearly, the challenge of the next election is the reason behind Mr Cameron’s reorganisation of his circle of advisers.

His Australian pollster Lynton Crosby is busy plotting a strategy to re-connect with the Tories’ disillusioned core vote. Although he is planning for a contest two years ahead, if it happened in four or six weeks, the party could be ready.

As for Mr Clegg, he clearly believes that he will benefit by making threats over the treatment of Abu Qatada. But he is totally misguided.

In truth, he is offering a marvellous opportunity that many Tory MPs would be only too grateful to seize. Ultimately, for Nick Clegg it could turn out to be a suicidal move in what has been a mistake-littered career. Tipping point? The Coalition is badly split over Abu Qatada

So much for EU solidarityHow disgraceful that French President Francois Hollande is trying to cash in on Britain’s stand against human rights abuses in China.  While our trade with the country has declined as a result of such criticism and David Cameron’s decision to meet the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet and an enemy of the Chinese state, the Socialist leader of France has gone to China to grovel to the Beijing regime in the hope of drumming up business.

French President Francois Hollande has gone to China in the hope of drumming up business while Britain is taking a stand against the countries human rights record

Isn’t it a wonderful sign of EU ‘solidarity’ that Hollande touts for business with such bullies, rather than supporting his European neighbour in our principled position?

Colonel Bob Stewart, pictured in Bosnia, has said many reservists could not be deployed overseas

Why cut the Army yet give aid to tyrants?

There is growing unrest about the plan to cut 20,000 soldiers from the Army — a fifth of the total — and ‘replace’ them by expanding the Territorial Army by 15,000.

It costs far more to train reservists, and their employers are often reluctant to let them be away from their jobs for up to a year. Colonel Bob Stewart, the Tory MP who led UN troops in Bosnia in the Nineties, has said many reservists could not be deployed overseas.

This being the case, why on earth does the Government think is it more important to use our overseas aid budget to give money to foreign dictators and tyrants rather than spending it to defend our country properly?

Nurses enjoy a well-deserved place in public esteem and should be paid more. However, the behaviour of their trade union, the Royal College Of Nursing (RCN), is unacceptable.

It was idiotic to reject the sensible idea  of ministers that before they qualify,  all new nurses should spend a year washing and feeding patients. Such mindless militancy by teachers’ unions has soiled that profession’s reputation. The RCN should avoid the same mistake.

Why has it taken so long for MEPs to realise the uselessness of the EU foreign affairs chief Baroness Ashton? Her Left-wing background (a former vice-chairman of CND) just about qualified her to be a Labour stooge in the House of Lords.

When she retires as a commissioner next year, it is rumoured Nick Clegg might be her replacement. Why do we always send the fool of the family to represent us on the international stage?

Jo Johnson, younger brother to the London Mayor has started in his new role in the No 10 policy unit

A cynical stunt with BoJo’s broDavid Cameron’s choice of Jo Johnson as his policy chief is a cynical stunt. The appointment is a reflection of his obsession with the ambitions of Jo’s unreliable brother Boris Johnson.

I’m surprised posts in No 10 weren’t found for the Mayor of London’s ubiquitous father and sister, too.

Meanwhile, distinguished Right-winger Peter Lilley’s appointment to the policy committee is clearly designed to act as a signal of a return to Thatcherite values. But since Dave has spent seven years as leader ignoring such advice, I doubt he’ll start taking it now.

The International Monetary Fund is half-right that the Chancellor should ease austerity because there are so few signs of growth. But that should not prevent a cut in public spending. This week, however, it was reported that Britain’s annual borrowings of £120 billion fell by just £300 million year-on-year. We aren’t even trying to put ourselves back on track.






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