This morning, the New Statesman published a story claiming that Caroline Lucas MP, the Green Party’s Leader was undermining the prospects of a “progressive majority” government.
The comments string to this piece shows pretty clearly what was wrong with the analysis. As Ms Lucas herself had said to the New Statesman:
“I think we would rule out a formal coalition, but we’re very interested in talking about ways we might co-operate.”
In other words: she is ruling out being part of a formal coalition that might be formed between Labour and the Lib Dems, but openly contemplating a more informal arrangement, which could make a “rainbow” government viable.
The Green party confirmed this through its twitter account this afternoon:
“Misleading hdline … fr @newstatesman – @CarolineLucas happy to consider confidence/supply w/ reform-oriented coalition.”
This confirms my piece for Left Foot Forward on Saturday which suggested that, “a Lib-Lab coalition, with a ‘Confidence and Supply’ arrangement with the smaller Parties including the Greens – might just work.”
Now that Brown is going, and calling explicitly for a “progressive coalition government“, there is a real window for the Green Party and Caroline Lucas to play a leadership role, along with Alex Salmond and others. The Greens and the SNP are in a particularly good place to advance this agenda – because the Scottish experience of stable government operating without an overall coalitional majority, but with a “co-operation agreement” between a governing Party (in this case, the SNP) and a much smaller loosely co-operating party (in this case, the Greens) offers exactly the kind of blueprint that could see a “progressive majority” government in the whole of Britain attaining a working majority in the House of Commons.
It is notable that some Scottish Green voices have already been raising this possibility volubly, notably over at Bright Green Scotland. Scottish Green activist Ellie Pant also warns eloquently against the dangers of not seizing this progressive moment.
As this blog has been reporting, most voters and members see the Lib Dems as left-of-centre party so a progressive majority “rainbow” government would reflect the democratic popular will. The SNP and Plaid Cymru appear to be on board, ditto the Alliance Party, and the SDLP already caucus with Labour.
It is time for a progressive majority government, as Brown has boldly called for today.
52 Responses to “Greens on board for a progressive government”
Rupert Read
The way I see it, there would be a Lib-Lab coalition, and a ‘Confidence and Supply’ or ‘Co-operation Agreement’ deal with the smaller Parties. The Government needs to be able to rely on having a working majority. It can assemble that comfortably, from all the smaller Parties barring the DUP. Each MP less that it has is one step nearer failing in a confidence vote, or at least not being able to govern very much or do very much.
Lady J
The media are beside themselves with anger that Gordon Brown has wrongfooted them again. Dimbleby all but got up and strangle Alistair Darling for not allowing Cameron to form a government. Oh the loyalty to the Bullingdon Boys. Sky are throwing a fit.
The Labour traitors are out again critecising Brown and calling their own party, the party of loosers. If the progressives do not stop this tendency to stab their own colleagues in the back, the labour party will not win elections for the next generation.
Left Foot, please, please put on the live chat tonight. The circumstances demands it.
Simon Latham
RT @leftfootfwd: Greens on board for a progressive government http://bit.ly/daN76d
Andrew Burgess
RT @leftfootfwd: Greens on board for a progressive government http://bit.ly/daN76d
Mark Lightwood
“a ‘Confidence and Supply’ or ‘Co-operation Agreement’ deal with the smaller Parties”
Rupert, that isn’t stable. LibLab alone constitute a minority government. To get a working majority they need the smaller parties to do more than C&S or CA – otherwise they will be like the SNP in Scotland. Speaking of which, the SNP are suggesting a formal coalition to get a majority. Why do you reject this model, as it makes the government stable and actually gives Lucas more influence as she is part of the government and could potentially receive a junior ministerial post or Committee chairmanship?