The election 2) Great Britain

[nwhyte]

I shall start by making a foolish prediction, which is that there is likely to be another election in October, so party leaders will need to manoeuvre now with that in mind. Clegg has to remember that even if he does a deal with Cameron or Brown, it is the Prime Minister who will retain the ability to decide to rush to the polls the moment he

Comments

[chickenfeet2003]

What can Clegg ask for that would satisfy his base and be deliverable by October?

[nwhyte]

A good question, and I am not close enough to things to know the answer.

[chickenfeet2003]

I think the big problem for Clegg is he has to deliver something tangible on electoral reform or he's toast with a high proportion of the people who voted LD last week. I don't think anything is going to be on offer and even if it were, there is no prospect of getting it through by October.

[jemck]

very much my feeling too.

[swisstone]

I tend to agree with your election date prediction.

[yea_mon]

Bit of an aside, given the focus of this post - but how do you see an October election impacting Alliance in East Belfast?

[minny]

I'd expect and maybe hope for a shakey Conservative minority government for a few months, followed by another election. Rather that, with the Lib Dems in opposition, than being fobbed off over electoral reform and propping up Cameron's government.

[anonymous]

The election result couldn't be more painful for politicians of all parties, with possibly the exception of the Greens. Indeed Lucas is probably the only party leader who has any kind of security. If I was a betting man, I'd be running a bet on in which order, Brown, Cameron, Clegg, Pearson and Griffin would be ousted.

Clegg needs a deliverable by October, but what? It has to be something very substantial on electoral reform but I can't see Cameron being able to make any real offer.

quarsan