As fired off on request from the Evening Standard for today’s edition (subject to spiking):
TweetNick Clegg should immediately freeze co-operation on the boundary review which the Conservatives know will increase their parliamentary strength. He should set up a team, including old hands such as Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell (with memories of the Maastricht parliamentary struggle) to reach out to reform-minded MPs in the Labour and Conservative parties and manage the parliamentary guerilla tactics needed to get this legislation through. There also needs to be much better “selling” of the measures to the public.
By giving in to the rebels, David Cameron now, metaphorically, has a “Please kick me” sign stuck on his back as far as his backbenchers are concerned. I have given up hoping for him to show strong leadership. I think he needs to remind himself and his colleagues of the Fixed Term Parliament Act. If the Lib Dems withdraw their support from the coalition and Cameron loses a vote of confidence, Ed Miliband could form a replacement government without an election. Perhaps some Tory minds should focus on that.
July 11, 2012 at 10:39 am
Interesting that at no point do you mention offering the one thing that would bring Labour in line and increase pressure on Cameron. If a referendum is offered Clegg can tell Cameron that his MP’s get a free vote on Boundary changes unless he brings his rebels in line. A win win…
Trying a bit of compromise with those whose support is needed would be far more beneficial than “guerilla tactics”. Those will play into the hands of both Tory and Labour dinosaurs..
July 12, 2012 at 1:27 am
If the House of Commons is the modern face of democratic governance, then I’m not sure I am altogether against the current House of Lords model.
July 12, 2012 at 7:21 am
As a great man said, it might be a good idea to look at the House of Lords.
July 12, 2012 at 7:22 am
…and also look at the House of Commons apart from the five minutes when they do the Milicam bit each week….