DEAL OR NO DEAL?

TODAY is ‘make your mind up time’ for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats. There is mounting pressure for a clear decision about which party the Liberal Democrats are going to back to form a new government.

After three days of negotiations, talks and party meetings (some negotiations more secret then others) there is a growing census that a conclusion will need to be reached in a matter of hours rather then days.

This morning Nick Clegg said that talks had come to a “critical and final stage” as Cameron spoke of the country’s need to have the “strong, stable government that it badly needs and badly needs quickly”.

So which party will Clegg get into bed with?

Obviously, considering the parliamentary maths, the most stable government would probably be a Lib-Conservative government. But with such varying stances on a number of key issues and a number of right wing Tories opposed to a referendum to change the voting system (which is a key sticking point for Clegg) there could be problems. To make matters worse. A number of backbenchers feel they cannot trust Clegg and the Liberals for conducting secret talks with Labour whilst trying to negotiate a Conservative agreement.

On the other hand, a so called ‘rainbow coalition’ with Labour would have to involve members of national parties from Scotland and Wales. They could make unrealistic demands concerning forthcoming cuts; it’s not the best recipe for a string, stable government. There are also doubts within the Labour party about forming a ‘losers coalition’ with key members expressing views that more time in office for Labour could be very damaging.

Whatever happens, a decision needs to be made very soon, the question is what will that decision be?