Should we be seeking a Government of National Unity?
The sudden Lib Dem surge is fascinating. Even if it evaporates over the next few days, and Nick Clegg doesn't perform well in the next two debates, it's certainly the most interesting development in any election in the 30 years in which I have been covering them.
Often elections are pretty dull, in fact, though there's a conspiracy of silence amongst journalists not to admit it. But not this time.
The recent polls suggest we could end up with a ludicrous result - with perhaps Labour getting fewest votes of the big three, but most seats, and/or the Lib Dems with most votes and fewest seats.
It may become a question not just of how to form a government, but who has the moral authority and mandate to do so.
What's still rarely mentioned is a GNU, a Government of National Unity, as advocated by Ted Heath in the October 1974 campaign. An administration of all three major parties (and maybe one or two smaller ones too).
After all, it's how Britain dealt with two World Wars, and the economic crisis of the 1930s.
It might also be the best way to agree and present dramatic spending cuts. And it might well be the outcome many voters would prefer.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 19th Apr 2010, JunctionJools wrote:It seems more likely than not that no single party will have a majority. How about exploring some of the questions this raises in more depth?
Will the Lib Dems be able to demand a referendum on the Single Transferable Vote? If so, which out of Labour or the Conservatives are likely to do better out of a new election using STP?
Will the SNP & PC be able to bargain for setting their own taxes or for a greater share of spending (a referendum on Scotland's independence seems unlikely after the effects of the credit crunch)?
Would Clegg consider forming a coalition with Labour even though the Tories may have the largest share of the popular vote?
Who would form the core of a Government of National Unity (a new Clegg, Milibands & Ken Clarke axis?) and who would be marginalised (Eurosceptics)?
Is a hung parliament probable enough to warrant putting these questions to the parties involved now?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 19th Apr 2010, stevie wrote:government of national unity? Wasn't that how the fascists described it?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 19th Apr 2010, JunctionJools wrote:If there is a hung parliament, and if the Lib Dems do decide to form a coalition with either the Conservatives or Labour, then there will be a strong political case for branding it as a "Government of National Unity" and tempting a few MPs from whoever the third party happens to be to join. This would look more credible than a coalition cobbled together from outside the three main parties.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)