hoping something comes up that changes the game. @Catherine: "We can argue for years to come about whether we actually broke our pledge (for the record, I don't think wer did) and whether the new system is better and fairer than the previous one (which I think it is)." I don't think that there can be any doubt that Lib Dem MPs who abstained or voted for a rise in tuition fees broke their promise when they had previously said,"I pledge to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative". I don't see any grey area in that at all. Furthermore, those who honoured their pledge and voted against the rise in tuition fees broke the coalition agreement long before that charge was levelled at tories during the debacle over Lords reform. If anybody wants a new messiah then they should abandon politics and find religion. Policy reversals are a simple consequence of electoral reality, so complaining about 'betrayal' it to confess ones own mistaken belief. Economic policy has changed, and the changes are working through the system -- it is impossible to say whether thay have worked yet or not, which means it is irresponsible to pass a judgement and stop trying to influence the actual situation for the positive. In hindsight is is obvious a confused response would follow the shock. The biggest change is that labour market is buoyant, following falls in national output. This