Lib Dems make good Coalition partners

This is good news for those of us who believe consensus politics delivers the best outcome for the majority of the population. We can say this with confidence based on what the Coalition Government has delivered It is inconceivable that left to govern by themselves the Tories would have implemented the Liberal Democrats manifesto pledge to raise the income tax threshold or introduced the Pupil Premium aimed at ensuring children from low income families also get a good start in life. It is also likely that many of our civil liberties would have been curtailed.
That is why the best outcome of the next General Election will be a result that forces the Conservatives to seek another coalition with the Liberal Democrats.  There are those who point to the low showing for the Party in recent opinion polls and say it is evidence that the Party has lost direction and sold their sould to the Tories.  I think they do Nick Clegg and the leadership a dis-service Fact is had they walked away from this unique opportunity the Party would have denied itself the chance to demonstrate that it was in politics to make things happen To implement ist manifesto pledges.
I do however agree with those who say that having decided to form a coalition government they could have driven a harder bargain. It was probably a mistake to take on quite as many ministerial posts as they did. By so doing the majority of the Parliamentary Party got tied into collective responsibility and unable to stand up to Conservative Party proposals Liberal Democrats inherently disagreed with – Tuition fees for one and Bedroom Tax for another
This is a mistake that must not be repeated when the inevitable horse trading starts on the 8th of May. When a Party holds the balance of power it is in an incredibly strong position. The minority Party owes it to itself and to the country to drive a hard bargain and extract from the majority Party a water tight guarantee to implement as many of its own key manifesto priorities as possible
Liberal Democrats have demonstrated that they can work with the Conservatives in the interests of the Country. It is more than likely they will be called by the country to do so again The public should be told up front whether they will and under what conditions.