Hilarious. I have just been dropped from a Newsnight discussion on a potential Tory-LibDem coalition because I am seen as too pro LibDem. I never thought those would be words I would ever write. But I know what they mean.
I have spent most of the day explaining on the media why I believe a full coalition could work - not just a supply and confidence agreement, but a full coalition, with LibDem Ministers and a formal four year long coalition agreement along the lines of what they do in Germany. This is the only way a lasting, stable government can be brought about. The early discussions need to centre on the areas of agreement rather than disagreement. The difficult bits can come later. If there is goodwill on both sides agreement can be reached.
There will be red lines on both sides. That's clear. But I truly believe the LibDems are far more likely to come to an agreement with the Conservatives than with Brown. Brown can only carry on if he creates what the Germans would call an 'Ampelkoalition', where by all the Irish and nationalist parties are included too. Even then he could barely get a majority. And there's no guarantee that his own MPs would vote in favour of electoral reform.
It is widely thought that electoral reform will be the sticking point between the LibDems and the Tories. It doesn't have to be. Cameron's opening gambit of a Commission on Electoral Reform won't be good enough for the LibDems. They've been there, done that with Tony Blair.
I'd offer them a free vote in Parliament on whether there should be a referendum on electoral reform. And my final position, if that failed, would be to offer them a referendum but then campaign in favour of FPTP in that referendum campaign. I could also envisage PR being offered for the House of Lords and local elections.
I think LibDems have been slightly taken aback by Cameron's offer. They want to be reassured he really means it. Nick Clegg's task must now be to convince a sceptical party that this is a road they should go down. As I have repeatedly said, the LibDems presumably came into politics to change things. They now have their first real opportunity in a century to wield real power and do just that.
The question is: will they take it?
