Will it be third time lucky for Huhne?
James Forsyth 4:13pm
To lose by this small a margin must be absolutely gutting for Chris Huhne. To come so close against the candidate of the party establishment and the media is a real achievement. But this defeat need not be the end of the road for him.
What Huhne should do now is become the leading voice in the party against going into coalition without a guarantee of PR. This would not be technically disloyal and Nick Clegg would be hard pressed to slap him down over it. But it would position Huhne perfectly if there’s a hung parliament. Clegg would be sorely tempted to accept an offer to go into government and if he did, Huhne could resign on principle.
The Lib Dem members would hate entering into a formal pact with another party and Huhne would be ready to move as soon as the coalition had to do something that seriously upset Lib Dem members. Considering how unprepared the membership is for the realities of government, it’s unlikely that Huhne would have long to wait.
Previous
Comments
Andy, Amsterdam (expat)
December 18th, 2007 4:33pmI never understood why the LibDems are against the idea of forming a pact with another party. Surely if PR is ever introduced, government will be plunged into perpetual pact-making. Isn't that what they want?
David Lindsay
December 18th, 2007 4:43pmHatred of the Lib Dems among Labour and the Tories in their respective heartland areas (which would account for the great majority of their respective MPs in a hung Parliament) is so visceral that they are more likely to do a deal with each other. Such arrangements are of course routine in local government; and there is currently just such a coalition at national level in Germany. Let's face it, who would be able to tell the difference politically between the present situtaion and either a New Labour-New Tory coalition, or indeed a New Tory majority government? So, even in the event of a hung Parliament, the Lib Dems still wouldn't matter.
David Joseph
December 18th, 2007 9:06pmYou may dress it up and spin it as you will - but Huhne has now lost twice. Last year he boasted that he would win - but failed. In the last two weeks he and his campaign claimed that he would win - but they failed. It was narrow but ultimately a majority has spoken. Barring an electoral disaster, Clegg will be given the chance to fight two elections before there is talk of replacing him. By which time Huhne will be in his sixties - just like Ming and Vince. That of course pre-supposes that he survives what is certain to be a Tory decapitation attempt on Huhne's seat at Eastleigh - which he holds by a majority of just 563. Until Stephen Milligan MP popped an orange into his mouth and donned a pair of ladies undies, Eastleigh was a solid Tory seat with a reliable 20,000 majority. Don't be surprised if Huhne is defeated at the next election and goes back to being a city speculator.