Rainbow Alliance, here we come

[drplokta]

This looks choreographed. Brown steps down now, and Clegg will probably announce this evening or tomorrow morning that no deal is possible with the Tories, because they are not prepared to act in the best interests of the UK by giving the people a referendum on a fairer voting system. This will open the way for a progressive coalition to push through a referendum, and promise a new election once the voting system has been fixed, without the LibDems being tainted by Brown's high level of unpopularity.

Comments

[jamesb.livejournal.com]

could be, but am not prepared to commit. Coalition governments are pretty normal back home, and horse trading can go on, quite a bit, also this could be a gambit to get the tories to move on PR.

meanwhile, many scottish MP's will spit fire, if they require the SNP to support them.

[drplokta]

They don't need the SNP, if they get Plaid Cymru, Green, SDLP, Alliance and the Independent Unionist on board. That would give them 324 seats, and they need 323 (because Sinn Fein aren't taking up their seats).

[akicif.livejournal.com]

Fairly sure I saw something positive from Salmond earlier, but it's gone off the BBC page I was following.

But I'm worried that there would be one heck of a media campaign against PR, and we'd end up six months later no better off and with the prospect of a Tory victory in the next election.

On the other hand, it's got to be worth a shot, at least.

[ms-cataclysm.livejournal.com]

I understand that SDLP take the Labour whip already and Plaid Cymru describe themselves as a party of the left. But I'm not so sure what the other three will do. Aren't Unionists normally Conservative ?

[drplokta]

The Independent Unionist is independent because she left the DUP when they decided to take the Tory whip, and has indicated she will support Labour.

[akicif.livejournal.com]

For values of DUP equal to UUP, surely? UUP went for the UCUNF (I'm not making this up: Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force) option, and the DUP actually endorsed Lady Sylvia (her maiden name may have been Paisley, but I don't think she's any relation).

ETA: I believe the DUP are currently leaning more to the Labour side, too - this may be because they've been offered at least maintenance of the current financial deal, as opposed to cuts under Cameron et al.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

But SNP already said clearly they wanted this. Even before Brown resigned.

Strange start for the Green Party in Westminster... tainted love..

[nuttyxander.livejournal.com]

And certain Scottish MPs will spit fire if they go beyond AV, namely David Cairns and Tom Harris.