The question of who governs after the next election will need to be addressed soon. Most commentators I know and many serious political strategists privately admit that they believe there will be a hung parliament again in 2015. I think that is where the country is politically at the moment. But the question of coalition/ minority government is relevant for all 3 main parties (and clearly some of the smaller ones if the numbers are close to the 326 majority). Many of the Lib Dems who have tasted power may want to talk of being in a permanent state Ministerial Office but there are others who will point out that their poll raings reflect the deep animosity felt by those who feel they voted for a left of Labour Lib Dem party and got a right wing Tory government because of the Lib Dems. They will be punished for that betrayal. Going into government flushed out the ‘real’ Lib Dem party. Those on the left of their party I am sure are not really clamouring for another right wing coalition.
There is deep hatred and mistrust in Labour ranks and the article points out the main thinking points. Amongst Tories too there will be those who have never liked having to share power with the Lib Dems who would relish going alone.
So without second guessing all the possible permutations and accepting that every party will of course have to claim it is ‘planning for victory’ and not being distracted about talk of coalition I think we need to know what the various parties would do with each scenario. It’s only fair that the parties and the media allow a proper grown up mature debate about this without any talk being seen as a signal that they have ‘given up’ on victory. We are capable of better than that aren’t we?
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