The Referendum has produced a clear result against AV. Apart from Camden I can’t find any polling area between The Scillies and Orkney and Shetland that actually voted for it. Unlike the regionalpolls in Scotland and Wales this wasa truly national vote showing a degree of unanimity across the UK that Unionists like me can only find profoundly heartening. Alex Salmond and Ed Miliband should take note.
Many Lib Dems will feel sore. I understand that. But taalk of getting more aggressive within the Coalition – or even leaving it altogether – would be disastrous for them. Some Lib Dems would obviously like to be in permanent opposition and are very uncomfortable being in government. If they walk away now that’s the future for them. But they mustn’t con themselves into believing that they can ever go back to where they were 12 months ago- All things to all men won’t wash any more.
The Conservative party has actually emerged with more seats even than 2007. We also have more Welsh Assembly members but fewer MSPs. The constitutional dog’s breakfast that was Blair’s Devolution wasn’t supposed to produce this sort of result. That it has is a beautiful illustration of the Law of Unintended Consequences – it’s what comes of fixing what ain’t broke! It is broke now and Cameron will have to take note of that.
PaulJ's bench.......... 