Apologies for the title, but really, seriously, what is it we have now?
- The Liberal Democrats offered Proportional Representation. They slumped in the election losing seats, and retained their position as the third party in UK politics.
- The Labour Party offered a referendum on Alternative Vote PR. They lost 91 seats.
- The Conservatives said no to proportional representation, gained 98 seats and beat Labour into second place by 2 million votes.
Yet today, we appear to be talking all about electoral reform.
So where are we?
Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats have entered formal talks with the Labour Party on the formation of a government. If they succeed, to create a majority they would need more than just Labour and Lib Dem. They would need votes from others to form a government. Unfortunately for them, most ‘others’ are not in England.
- Green – 1
- Independent (NI)- 1
- Alliance (NI) – 1
- DUP (NI) – 8
- SDLP (NI) – 3
- Sinn Féin / IRA – 5 (Do not sit)
- Plaid Cymru (Wales) – 3
- SNP (Scotland) – 6
It’s clear that the majority is 323, not 326, because Sinn Féin / IRA don’t take up their five seats, so the Lib/Lab pact needs eight seats.
That would mean 100% of all MPs for Labour and Lib Dems turning up and voting each time, plus more than one of the Nats parties or the DUP plus at least one Independent. Which seems, shall we say, somewhat less than stable.
In addition, the Prime Minister has resigned, or at least said he will.
