Friday 27th November 2009

Reading the latest issue of the New Stateman this morning has got me thinking about the possibility of a hung parliament after next year's general election.
The left wing current affairs magazine has suggested that if Labour remain the largest party in the House of Commons, yet still don't hold over half the seats in the house (unlikely, but not impossible) then we could see a pact with the Liberal Democrats. This alliance would last for two years and then a "Who Governs Britain" election similar to what we saw in 1974 would be held, which would result in a majority government being formed.
Whilst a Labour victory at the next general election doesn't look likely at this moment in time,(despite narrowing the gap, they are still six points behind the Conservatives according to the latest opinion poll), I like the idea of some of the most influential members of the Liberal Democrats being part of the government, as few would argue that Vince Cable would be a much more responsible Chancellor of the Exchequer than current imcumbent Alastair Darling or Tory Shadow Chancellor George Osborne.
During this year's party conference season, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg hinted that his party did not want to be part of a coalition government (see blog entry 24th September, but he appears to have softened his stance in recent months by saying "the party which has got the strongest mandate from the British people will have the first right to seek to govern".
Experts are now in agreement that the general election of 2010 will be held on Thursday 6th May (I was told by a fairly important source earlier this year that the election would be brought forward to November 2009, that wasn't very accurate at all!), but if we do see a hung parliament then it will be a few days before we know for sure who will form the next government of Great Britain.
The latest opinion polls all add a very interesting edge of speculation into the build up this this huge upcoming general election, but what are the chances of a hung parliament?