On 9 May 2010, the Liberal Democrats enjoyed long talks with both the Conservative and Labour parties trying to hammer out a deal that could see a stable government emerge after the General Election resulted in a hung Parliament.
The main talks have been between negotiators for both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Nick Clegg made clear on Friday 7 May that the Conservatives, who are now the biggest party in the Commons, should have the first chance to assemble a coalition. However, it has been revealed that, this afternoon, Nick Clegg also met Gordon Brown at an unanounced meeting at the Foreign Office. Channel 4 News reported a Liberal Democrat spokesperson as saying that there were now "two deals on the table".
A Con-Lib Coalition
The most likely end-point to all this would still appear to be a coalition government between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. Under this deal, it is likely that some senior Liberal Democrats could have Cabinet positions, and one or two Liberal Democrat flagship policies would make their way into the programme of the government. Nick Clegg and David Cameron had two extended talks on 9 May 2010.
However, there has been no suggestion as yet that the Conservative Party are prepared to give ground on the issue of proportional representation, and many Liberal Democrat MPs are very concerned on this point. Most Liberal Democrats feel closer - in terms of policy and values - to Labour than the Conservatives. Some key Liberal Democrats have come out against a coalition with the Conservatives (such as former minister Shirley Williams) and many Liberal Democrat activists and voters have expressed dismay at the idea, both through new media like Facebook, and also in street protests. Shirley Williams did, however, suggest that the Liberal Democrats should offer the Conservatives "confidence and supply" (i.e. agree to back them on confidence motions and the budget) in order to allow Cameron to form a minority government.
A Lib-Lab Coalition
The Labour Party and Liberal Democrats have more of a history of working together, both in national government (such as in the Lib-Lab pact of the late 1970s) and in the devolved assemblies in Scotland and Wales. Initially, Labour appear to be offering much more to the Liberal Democrats, with firm promises about constitutional reform. Gordon Brown has made public overtures to the Liberal Democrats, has spoken to Clegg on the telephone, and has met with Nick Clegg in private in the Foreign Office. Senior Labour figures have dropped hints to the effect that Gordon Brown would be willing to stand down in favour of a new Labour leader if this would help negotiations.
However, the phrase "coalition of losers" has already been coined, as Labour and the Liberal Democrats both did poorly in the General Election. There would be undoubted concerns about the authority of a Lib-Lab government with the voters, and also they would need the help of other minority parties, such as the nationalists in order to command a majority.
Does David Cameron Need a Coalition Partner?
A number of Conservative MPs (as well as senior right-wing figures, like Norman Tebbit) have expressed their misgivings about Cameron going into a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. Some feel that Cameron has no need to create a formal coalition. Though he has no majority, as "the winner" of the election he might be considered to have the moral authority to form a minority government.
Of course, it is possible that Cameron is primarily seeking a deal with Nick Clegg in order to prevent a Lib-Lab coalition rather than because of any real enthusiasm for a Lib-Con one.
It could be argued that all this secret negotiation and horse-trading is far from an ideal or particularly democratic conclusion to the General Election campaign. As a proportional representation system would be likely to result in hung parliaments far more often, ironically the current situation may make the case for electoral reform harder in any future referendum.
Whatever happens, there will continue to be speculation that there could be another election later this year.
Duncan Hall - Duncan Hall is a semi-professional acoustic musician and lecturer in Government & Politics
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