The election showed that Britain is a progressive country but two significant interventions today make a Rainbow Coalition both unworkable and undesirable.
The election showed that Britain is a progressive country but two significant interventions today make a Rainbow Coalition both unworkable and undesirable.
First, Douglas Alexander said that Labour could not work with the SNP because of “fundamental” policy differences. Without SNP support, a rainbow coalition would have just 323 seats – the absolute minimum – unless they relied on the support of the DUP. As Iain Dale highlights, it would be inconceivable for the Labour party to go into formal coalition with homophobes such as Ian Paisley Jnr.
Second, Jon Cruddas has wisely demanded a process for consultation with the broad Labour party. This would be an similar process to the Lib Dems’ “triple lock” – but negotiators should be clear that there is not yet support within the parliamentary Labour party and it looks increasingly unlikely that this support will be forthcoming.
There are also some practical objections that are well worth considering. The first, pointed out by Liberal Conspiracy’s Don Paskini, is that:
“The Labour MPs in the last parliament were the most rebellious ever. How can a coalition which depends on Jeremy Corbyn, Frank Field, Tom Harris and John Hemming all voting the same way ever get any legislation passed?”
And as highlighted by Rory Cellan-Jones on BBC, Lib Dem blogger and Left Foot Forward contributor, Mark Thompson has come out in support of a Lib-Con deal. He points out:
“Gordon Brown has promised instant legislation to bring in AV for the Commons and a referendum on something more proportional … It would only take a few Labour MPs to vote against this for it to fall. And having conversed with some Labour backbench MPs I am convinced that there would be enough for this to happen. So what Brown is promising simply cannot be delivered.”
There can be little doubt that the Liberal Democrats are between a rock and a hard place. The collective failure of progressive parties to win an additional 20 seats – which would have provided a parliamentary buffer – has scuppered their preferred option of a Lab-Lib coalition with a new Labour leader. But the Lib Dems must now hold firm and not sacrifice principle for power by getting into bed with the Conservatives. The only progressive route ahead is a Tory minority government with case-by-case “confidence and supply” from the Liberal Democrats followed by a Lib-Lab electoral pact at the next election.
48 Responses to “No gold at the end of the rainbow”
libertarian
I really can’t see what is “progressive” about the majority of workers working for the state. That sounds very 19th/20th century marxist so really the left alliance should really bill itself as conservative traditionalists
Billy Blofeld
Will,
Well done – I respect you for posting this. Common sense has prevailed over tribal stupidity.
Anon E Mouse
Will – I agree with a lot of this article.
It seems to me that Labour and the Lib-Dems make more natural partners but only in theory when one considers Labour’s appalling record on say climate change where they say one thing and do another.
If Labour force another unelected PM on the people (Remember Blair promised a “Full Third Term” so he threw out party politics in the 2005 election) they will pay for it at the next election.
John Reid, amongst others, is right to say it will be the MAD of Labour if they do go into coalition with the Lib-Dems and this ragtag bunch of dopey no hopers like the SNP or Caroline Lucas.
The fact is Cameron won the election and Brown lost it and he should go. If this is what happens with the horse trading of PR then I say put it to the people because your precious Labour Party will be crucified and the immature Lib-Dems won’t be far behind.
The British people do not like being treated like fools by their leaders…
Louis Althuser
Labour should cut Clegg’s legs from under him now
The ideal scenario is a Tory minority and another election in short order
The Lib Dems have publicly proved themselves to be utterly untrustworthy and they will be destroyed in the next election if held under FPTP – that way Labour will have a new leader and the chance of a legitimate overall majority in a straight fight between blue and red
The public have seen that no good comes from voting UKIP, BNP or Lib Dem and Labour needs to take advantage of that – but it cannot do so if imprisoned in a Lib/Lab coalition
This dance of the seven veils with Clegg is madness and it should stop now
Tim Parkin
Most sensible commentary on progressive political strategy so far – http://bit.ly/c3K5nI http://bit.ly/a68LF1