Coalition Conundrum

The violent objections to coalitions emanating from some in the Labour and Conservatives camps must strike a very odd note with their local councillors up and down the country.

According to The Times, no fewer than 32 local authorities in England alone are run by varying combinations of parties in coalition (see above).

The Conservatives are major players in this game, participating in no fewer than 25 of them. From Cumbria to Cornwall. In major city authorities like Birmingham and Leeds. And in four London boroughs: Brent, Camden, Southwark and Hounslow.

Labour are involved in 12 of the coalitions and the Liberal Democrats in 29.

Mike Thomas (site Moderator of www.charter2010.co.uk) said:

"Reservations about about hung parliaments are wholly legitimate; Charter 2010 has never advocated a hung parliament - we just want the parties to plan sensibly to deal with one if we get it. An aspiration that seems entirely reasonable with the polls where they are now.

Labour and the Conservatives are absolutely entitled to say they are trying to win the election outright. But to add that a hung parliament - and the prospect of having to govern in coalition with others - offers an impossibly damaging prospect for the country doesn't make much sense, or show much respect for the commonsense of the electors.

Perhaps it is time for the party leaders to consult with their supporters in local government. For many years now, they have been managing to achieve what their national counterparts apparently find so difficult to come to terms with."