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Voters divided as coalition talks continue

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 11 May 2010

A hung parliament was voted in but are the secretive coalition talks what the electorate had in mind? Channel 4 News has taken to the streets to find out what voters want from a coalition government.

The British people have spoken. Unfortunately they said "errrrrrrm": to quote one of the most retweeted jokes on Twitter following last week's election result.

So are voters still indecisive about a coalition as talks continue at Westminster?

Channel 4 News reporters took to the streets to find out what some voters thought about the electoral outcome and what sort of power-sharing deal they really want.

"The worst thing you can have is a hung parliament," a stall owner in central London said. "I don't know a lot about politics but I know it's not good for the country. It's like having two captains and one football team."

Another reiterated this point saying "I just hope they can sort it out soon so we can have someone in charge."

"This 'mob' that are in are absolutely diabolical," another market vendor told Channel 4 News. "They've got no standards whatsoever."


Hung parliament aside the members of the public who spoke to Channel 4 News in Nottingham seemed divided over the outcome of a coalition deal.

"If the Conservatives had a pact with the Liberals it might rein them in a bit. That might be a little bit better - but it's whether they can work with each other."

Earlier on the Channel 4 News live blog LucySweetman gave us her best outcome: "Tories form minority govt, Labour rebuild from the left in opposition with a new leader and we have a second GE in late October," she said.

A comment from Peter said: "Lib Dems have fewer seats than last time, yet are swanning about like they are somebody. They can't even decide who to go with for goodness' sake - how could they ever be trusted to govern?"

"A Lib-Con deal would be the death of the Lib Dems for a generation," said Jimmy B adding that "people didn't vote for them to get the Tories. They either listen to there voters or suffer the consequences in the next election when the whole thing collapses."


Andy_s_64 said: "The only thing we can deduce from the election result is that the voters want a minority Conservative government. All the talk of pacts, coalitions and other machinations are irrelevant. Voters voted, give em what they want."

Among the consensus was a general view that the election had illustrated that Britain was in need for a drastic change - a number even called for a fresh election.  

"I don’t think there needs to be a coalition as such," one voter said.  "I think what needs to happen is that the politicians…stick to their word. Maybe that's asking for a miracle but they need to stick to the promises they make to the electorate."

"None of the parties got a majority so they're all LOSING parties - hence the need for a coalition," commented Rory. "Sad really but in the end it all comes down to mathematics. To put it another way the winner isn't who gets the MOST seats it's who gets ENOUGH seats."

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