Making it Work for Britian Must be the Top Priority

Looking at the new coalition deal Lib Dem and Tory negotiators have put together at first glance  has a number of eye catching initiatives. The implementation of Calman passing more power to Holyrood is to be welcomed. The referendum on electoral reform and the reform of the upper House also. Fixed term parliaments is also vital removing an incumbent PM's power to decide when to go will open the system up. Almost as important as electoral reform is making coalition politics obtrusively work.   Frankly we have put so much emphasis over the years on pluralist politics and coalition working making this work is vital if we are to persuade Britain to change the voting system.  

Up and down the country political parties of almost all (BNP excluded) persuasions  often form such arrangements. A classic example is Perth where there has over the years been every variety of coalition. In truth the vast majority of political decisions are made unanimously and  most politicians get along very well across party lines out of the public gaze. Why not try it at Westminster? 

I do remember in 1999 many Lib Dem activists predicting poll wipe-out if we went in with Labour at Holyrood. The result was that we got many of our policies into law and the credibility of being in government.  Our vote held up on the List at the next election and actually went up on the constituency vote. Our ministers were seen as the best that the coalition had particularly Ross Finnie who received many plaudits for his handling of foot and mouth. 

Now we have a  number of Lib Dem UK Ministers able to make  our values count at acrosss the UK. They have a huge responsibility to  those who have worked tirelessly to keep the Liberal Tradition alive during those wilderness years to make the new arrangement work. 

You wait seventy years for a Liberal Cabinet Minister at a UK level then five come along at once. Bit like the 22 bus!