The Blundering Parties

The biggest blunderer today was, I think, Nick Clegg but one can make a case arguing that each of the parties played their hand badly on Monday.

Oh, sure, in one sense Labour must be enjoying this: Tories in a fury, Liberals suddenly interested again and, who knows, perhaps there’s a faint glimmer of hope that something may yet arrive to rescue the party and keep it in office. But Labour’s good mood reflects a short-term tactical stroke, not a strategic victory. Gordon might have wrong-footed the Tories today and damaged prospects for a Tory-Liberal arrangement but that’s it.

Labour’s overall position had not, I suspect, improved greatly not least because, despite all the talk and the hype, it remains difficult to see quite how they really can push through a deal. Technically the numbers are just about there if, but only if, all the little boats join the flotilla. But it’s hard to see what purpose such a government could serve beyond trying to push through a bill changing the voting system in advance of another general election.