Michael Meacher MP

So the Labour-LibDem negotiations never really got off the ground, probably for two main reasons.   Its dependence on the Scottish and Irish nationalists made it too unstable since their demands were likely to be excessive and they could sink the deal at any time.   There was also probably a lingering apprehension that a deal with Labour which had many less seats and a much smaller vote that the largest party was somehow not really legitimate.   But Clegg still pursued the negotiations probably to get a better deal (from his point of view) from Labour in order to force the Tories to up their offer further.   To that extent he succeeded.   But the small print of that improved offer may well torpedo this emerging Tory-LibDem coalition. (more…)