Michael Meacher MP

Nick Clegg’s announcement this morning that he will make no accommodation with Labour while Gordon Brown remains leader is just the latest in this extraordinary confluence of radical scenarios which is the British election 2010.   The most immediate issue is: how, if this were in fact the post-election scenario, could Labour elect a new leader for the purposes of negotiations confined within 12 days after 6 May?   Presumably it would be said, faute de mieux, that the new PLP would be rapidly convened, allow one or two days for nominations, and then one or two days for the election, subject (which can hardly be omitted) to confirmation by Conference in September.   It seems highly doubtful whether Clegg would countenance this.   But how elese can it be done? (more…)

The ironies abound.   The only reason that Clegg was there in the debate at all was that Cameron agreed it.   The only reason that the debate took place at all was that Cameron insisted on it.   It was he who threw down the challenge in the first place, and when his own advisers strongly recommended against it – on the very good grounds that he was ahead in the polls and had everything to lose and nothing to gain – he overrode their advice.   For Cameron is a vain man and was sure he would triumph, and didn’t want to miss an opportunity of proving it.   He must be ruing it now. (more…)