Is the era of stable government over?

Everyone agrees: the outcome of this election is impossible to predict. But are we witnessing the end of the stable, two-party system of government we’ve become used to? On Monday, the Spectator posed this question to a panel of political experts for their thoughts on whether this election will mark the beginning of a series of coalitions. James Forsyth, the Spectator’s political editor pointed out that ‘you don’t need a single party government for stable government’. He thinks that after polling day, the next government is unlikely to be similar to the current arrangement. Based on the current polling numbers, Forsyth said the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives would be 20 short of a majority while Labour and the SNP are likely to be roughly ten short. This means that three parties have to be involved in a coalition — an entirely different proposition. But despite these challenges, Forsyth thinks that a political leader could come along and win 40 per cent of the vote — but there is no one standing for Parliament in May who could do that.