The self-preservation society

How quickly Nick Clegg is adapting to government doublespeak. He hailed a radical constitutional reform programme this week and declared that he is ‘taking away the government’s right to throw out parliament’. The reverse, in fact, is true. The coalition government proposes changing the constitution so it takes 55 per cent of MPs — rather than a straight majority — to force a general election, and all in the name of ‘stability’. This is understandable, but wrong. David Cameron is anxious about being at the mercy of the Lib Dems. They may well switch their allegiance to the Labour party when it suits them to call an election. But to rig the British constitution to stop these parties doing a deal together (other parties have 53 per cent of the vote between them) is unacceptable. If the Labour party were to try such a trick, there would be justifiable outrage from Conservatives.

Parliament’s right to throw out a government is a fundamental one. The Tories failed to win a majority: they must live with the consequences, as Wilson and (latterly) Callaghan did. The 55 per cent rule is also deeply impractical: if Mr Cameron loses a confidence motion, then his government is over whether there is an election or not. The Lib Dems do have power of life or death over the Cameron government. No amendment to the constitution can disguise this basic depressing fact.

But the coalition has got off to a promising start. It may well turn out that the Lib Dems feel grateful to be associated with such a purposeful, reforming and — yes — liberal government. There should be no need to spoil the constitution.