Guardian UK: To seize this historic moment, the Lib Dems must turn to Labour

To seize this historic moment, the Lib Dems must turn to Labour
To ensure the country's support, Gordon Brown must announce his plans to step down

Editorial
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 8 May 2010 22.22 BST


Nobody won. That is the basic definition of a hung parliament. The newly elected members might not see it that way. The leaders of the three main parties might couch the results of last week's election in historical and statistical terms that make them feel better. But the fact remains: nobody won.

The Conservatives have the most plausible claim to some kind of victory. They took the highest national share of the vote and gained 97 seats. But Mr Cameron was battling to restore majority Conservative rule. He campaigned vigorously against a hung parliament, all but demanding unchecked power. He was rebuffed: 10.7 million people voted for Tory government; more than 15 million people did not.

But the non-Tory vote was divided, largely between Labour and Liberal Democrats. Despite many local skirmishes, there is a strain of cousinly feeling in both parties that sees the Tories as a common enemy. From that impulse now springs the idea that Labour and the Lib Dems could join forces to prevent Mr Cameron from taking power.

The parliamentary arithmetic just about makes it possible. But the ambition relies on the belief that voters who endorsed the Liberal Democrats would prefer Labour to continue in government if the alternative is a switch to the Tories. That might be true for some, the majority even. But there is no way of discerning what psychological motive impels people to vote. Meanwhile, millions of people deserted Labour. The party lost 91 MPs. Despite a disappointing haul of seats, Nick Clegg won more votes than any leader in his party's recent history. This ballot was not an endorsement of the status quo. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/08/observer-editorial-clegg-brown-coalition