Monday, November 15, 2010
Labour blocked alternative coalition government
Today's Independent contains a more accurate account of David Laws book on the coalition talks in which he makes it clear that the main obstacle to an alternative deal with Labour was their Ministers.
He says that a "truculent trio" of Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Harriet Harman wrecked any chance of putting together a left- wing coalition after the last election:
In the first "inside" account of how the Coalition was formed, Mr Laws, who was on the Liberal Democrat negotiating team, said Mr Miliband was at best "indifferent" to the talks, and Ms Harman was "patronising".
Mr Balls, he added, set out to "wreck" the discussions by suggesting Labour would not be able to persuade its MPs to back a referendum on electoral reform.
In contrast, Gordon Brown offered to match any offer made to the Liberal Democrats by the Tories, but went on to withdraw a promise to stand down early in a new parliament.
Really David is just confirming what we already knew but it is useful to have it in print and in so much detail.
He says that a "truculent trio" of Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Harriet Harman wrecked any chance of putting together a left- wing coalition after the last election:
In the first "inside" account of how the Coalition was formed, Mr Laws, who was on the Liberal Democrat negotiating team, said Mr Miliband was at best "indifferent" to the talks, and Ms Harman was "patronising".
Mr Balls, he added, set out to "wreck" the discussions by suggesting Labour would not be able to persuade its MPs to back a referendum on electoral reform.
In contrast, Gordon Brown offered to match any offer made to the Liberal Democrats by the Tories, but went on to withdraw a promise to stand down early in a new parliament.
Really David is just confirming what we already knew but it is useful to have it in print and in so much detail.
