10th May 2010
Clegg Calls the Shots
Nick “I’m not the Kingmaker” Clegg has been making the most of his Kingmaker status today to get the result that he wants.
This morning’s negotiation with the Tories went well by all accounts and both parties left to talk to their members of parliament. Problem was that the Lib Dem backbenchers wanted a little more reassurance about Cameron’s advances, particularly on proportional representation and education.
Almost immediately, Clegg called Brown to let him know that, rather than seeing him on the quiet, he wanted to hang out and chat in public — with conditions. At five o’clock, Gordon Brown emerged from Number Ten to announce that he would be talking to Clegg about a possible coalition and to acknowledge that lots of people in the country see him as the obstacle to progress and, for that reason, he would be stepping down, triggering an immediate contest for the Labour leadership. While that was going on, Gordon explained, he would lead talks to bring together and lead a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and other parties in advance of a new Labour leader taking his place in September.
Game, Set and nearly Match for Nick “I’m not the Kingmaker” Clegg. By suggesting to Brown that there was a chance of coalition, subject to his resignation, Clegg forced Cameron’s hand this evening to make him a better offer than this morning. And so it is, Cameron has called Clegg tonight to offer a referendum on PR.
Nick Clegg, evangeliser of open democracy, has used his power in a hung parliament to force his chosen outcome. I don’t think he has any intention of making an alliance with Labour. He is out for a Tory-Lib Dem arrangement and this is how he’s pushed it.
Nick Clegg, I judge you.
