BU Now » Nick Clegg

Cameron new British P.M.

Dick Taffe — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:20:44 +0000

Conservative Party leader David Cameron is the new British Prime Minister – at 43, the youngest in nearly 200 years. Cameron took over after Labour Party leader Gordon Brown resigned, his party having been unable to form a coalition government with the smaller Liberal Democrat party after none of the three won a Parliamentary majority in last week’s voting. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective,” says the obvious pairing politically would have been with Labour and Liberal Democrats, but that was being viewed as a coalition of the losers because the Conservatives actually won more seats.

“So it will be the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. It’s hard to see this partnership lasting long. This is an implausible coalition.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Brit elections stalemated

Dick Taffe — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:30:12 +0000

And the winner is … no one. The most tightly contested British Parliamentary election in a generation has ended in the first stalemate since 1974, with no party winning an outright majority of seats that would enable it to choose a prime minister and form a ruling government. Frantic efforts are being made to shape some sort of coalition among the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties — which finished in that order. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective” and who was in England to observe the election, says the results aren’t good for the country.

“Labour lost heavily, the Conservatives failed to win with every possible advantage, and the Liberal Democrats are dismayed their campaign success didn’t translate into votes or seats. Britain loses as there is no stable majority to back a government making tough economic choices.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

British election showdown

Dick Taffe — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:14:07 +0000

The month-long British elections are in the homestretch headed for Thursday’s vote after a furious weekend of campaigning by Prime Minister Gordon Brown (r.) of the Labour party, Conservative party leader David Cameron (l.), and and Nick Clegg (center) of the upstart Liberal Democrats. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, a native of Great Britain who is in England this week to observe the finale, says it’s still too close to call.

“The momentum is with David Cameron and the Conservatives. But due to the bizarre workings of Britain’s electoral system, their lead isn’t enough yet to insure that they can win a majority and form a government. It’s still a cliff hanger.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

British election campaign at mid-point

Dick Taffe — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:11:06 +0000

At the mid-point of Britian’s month-long national election campaign, the upstart Liberal Democratic party’s prime-minister candidate Nick Clegg (center) is holding his own in first-ever TV debates with heads of the larger Labour (Gordon Brown, right) and Conservative (David Cameron, left) parties. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective” and a Brit himself, says expect a rough-and-tumble rush to the May 6th election.

“It will be interesting to see what the other parties try as they get more desperate as the election approaches and the LD support remains strong. Look to Britain’s highly partisan newspapers to go negative with a vengeance in efforts to discredit Clegg and his party.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu