The new sectarian era

David Cameron has been gracious in victory and Nick Clegg has been dignified in defeat, while Ed Miliband has felt like something of a bit-part player. The only real explanation of the drubbing of the Lib Dems is that their own voters have deserted them. The real story of election night is that the Tory vote held up so well. Conservative ministers will feel emboldened in their cuts-reform double whammy agenda. The fact that their Coalition partners no longer have a mandate should give them pause for thought. But it probably won’t. At this rate they are well on course for victory in 2015.

Nick Clegg may be urged to distance himself from his Coalition partners, but he really has no leverage now as his only choice is between sticking with it or annihilation. Much still depends on how deeply the cuts bite in the south over the next six months to a year.