I suppose the ultimate question is now whether the Lib Dems can be trusted to be a stable coalition partner?
How can Clegg claim to be serious about putting the country's interests first after promising he would negotiate only with the party who won "the most votes and the most seats" and then opportunistically holding talks to ransom over a half-arsed electoral reform promise?
As Peter Oborne says today, Clegg's dragging his own fresh-politics reputation through the mud, squandering both political and public goodwill - and for what? A slightly stronger promise of a referendum that he'll lose for a voting system he doesn't want.
But most importantly, if this is a sign of things to come, with Clegg snubbing negotiations as soon as Labour offers him a scalp, the coalition for freedom won't last long.
Badly played, Nick.
Thanks to Guidos Emily
Hi Last,
ReplyDeleteI suspect that he is saying that he, or his party, or his supporters will not accept what’s on offer from the Tories. It’s difficult to imagine them together if they won’t go very far with PR, insist on keeping Trident, loathing Europe and have very different attitudes to immigration.
Nick can agree to all manner of things, but just like the Tories, there is no guarantee that they will take the back benchers with them.
UK parties are not used to having to do this trading and bargaining.... and I think it’s to Nick’s credit that he’s not selling his principles down the river for a Deputy Prime Minister title and a ministerial car.
For what it’s worth I think that England has elected a Tory government and it should try to run the country like that. Scotland needs to see that when it comes to the UK, or Europe Scottish votes don’t mean squat.