Posted by Matt | Posted in Politics | Posted on 08-05-2010
Tags: coalition, Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have a difficult choice to make over this weekend. Do they:
- Form a coalition with the Conservatives
- Form an agreement with the Conservatives to work together in some areas, but stop short of forming a coalition
- Form a coalition with the Labour Party
Option 3 is highly problematic due to the rejection of the Labour government under Gordon Brown. The Labour Party may be a closer politically to the Liberal Democrats, but the electorate would reject Gordon Brown as leader. Additionally, the number of combined votes still falls short of a majority.
Option 1 is highly unlikely, because the Liberal Democrats would only form a coalition if there was a guarantee of definite action on reforming the electoral system. The Conservatives would never offer anything substantial to the Liberal Democrats here.
Hence, option 2 is the only viable alternative. The question then remains what form this agreement will take. In New Zealand they currently have what called a confidence and supply agreement with two smaller parties. It guarantees that the budget gets passed, and that it will survive motions of no confidence. In undertaking such a relationship, the Liberal Democrats may be able to alter some of the Conservatives election pledges, particularly in relation to the tax system.
