After all, what’s another eighteen months?
Gordon Brown has dramatically changed the succession battle by laying down his own job in what is a final, desperate move to prevent a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
A Labour-Lib Dem minority government would depend on the help of smaller parties and have a very finite life. There would be a widespread perception that the Tories had been robbed. Labour would be tainted by their need to make cuts, the Lib Dems by their alliance with Labour. The Greece-lite rioting that might come later this year would be aimed at the alliance government. Then there would be another election.
From a Tory perspective, what’s not to like?
Absolutely spot on. Cameron should be hardline in his negotiations with the Lib Dems, as if he drives them into the hands of Labour, no-one will ever know. It’ll look to the general public like the LDs ratted out the winners of the election to do a deal with the losers.
Plus if there ends up being another election in 6 months to a years time, whoever is in charge will be punished for putting the electorate through another campaign so soon. And the UKIPers will have seen how their votes have let Labour back in. They may be less inclined to let it happen a second time.
Plus whoever became PM (if not Clegg) would be vulnerable to the attack line of ‘No-one voted for you to be PM’.
There is no way a Lib/Lab pact would make the cuts to satisfy the markets, leading to the prospect of a financial meltdown on their watch.
All in all, best thing for the Tories all round.
In fairness the rioting would be something not to like….
I suppose a new Labour leader might get a honeymoon period too.
I don’t think Ed Balls would get a honeymoon as prime minister. I have a feeling that if he does become the next labour leader the lib lab alliance will quickly breakdown and lead to a conservative landslide in England.