Exactly half way through this Parliament and the “glue” that keeps the coalition together is Labour’s lead in the polls
Today’s the mid-point in the 2010-2015 parliament and coalition wrangling has never been greater. Can it last? twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st…
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 6, 2012
The splits are becoming greater by the week?
We’ve been so focussed on the US election that we’ve hardly looked at domestic politics for some time that perhaps this morning we should focus on the coalition.
For it is exactly two and a half years today from the general election and we are half way until the next one on May 7th 2015.
It might not last till then of course. There are provisions in the fixed term parliaments for an earlier election which could just come into play if the coalition collapsed.
In the past few days we’ve seen big splits over the replacement of Trident, policy on wind farms and, of course, the ongoing issue of Britain’s relationship with Europe.
On top of that we have the new constituency boundaries which almost certainly won’t get the backing of the Lib Dems. An attempt by Labour to force the issue in the Lords has caused even greater tensions.
So a rocky road ahead for the coalition with Labour’s lead in the opinion polls the one element that keeps the deal together. Neither the Tories or the Lib Dems would relish an election right now.
Mike Smithson
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