Election 2010 - Reflections part 1

So, this election has been pretty exciting and pretty hard work. Lots to say about it so i'm going to have to break it down into a few sections.

In January, I would have taken this result for sure. After the way the election went, I'm a bit disappointed, but mainly at the voting public. They bloomin' bottled it. They had a chance to go for something better, they agreed with what we proposed, and they just went right back to voting for the same old parties they always voted for. In Sheffield, we had a 7.4% swing and came second by 165 votes. We didn't so much lose, as not quite win enough. In the end though, too many people in Sheffield will still never vote for anyone but Labour.

The conclusion we've got is a mixed bag. It hurts to be in coalition with Tories to an unreasonable degree, and does feel like betraying everything we believe in. But it's not necessarily a bad deal at all. We have got an awful lot of very important policy in there, and some significant positions to influence government. There is no reason to think we won't have enough of an impact to both curb the more reactionary Conservative tendencies, and push a progressive agenda through classic Tory inaction. Lib Dem's with the Tories on a leash is undoubtably better than the Tories by themselves. And we have got a referendum on AV, which ain't perfect but is pretty serious change. If we can bring about a change to the voting system, that would justify anything else that happens in this government.

Yet, it just feels a bit wrong. We could take all the plaudits from a coalition victory and romp home under AV at the next election. Or we could get sidelined and co-opted into a regressive agenda that ruins both the principles of the Liberal Democrats and the voters support for our party. A part of me worries that Clegg and co have been seduced by the opportunity for power. Clegg going into Downing Street and standing next to Cameron at that press conference certainly looked a bit too happy and pleased with himself. I would be much more comfortable if he looked a little bit more put out to be working with the Tories. At the same time, having positions of power may be what we need to break through as a serious party that both voters and the media pay attention to.

Only time will tell. I hope it's kind to us.