Time For A Coalition Of The Progressive Centre

There are defining moments in history where party leaders take a leap in the dark – putting the national interest above narrow tribalism.  Disraeli and the 1867 Reform Act; Lloyd George breaking with Asquith to lead a Liberal-Conservative coalition during the First World War are two such examples.  Now is another one of those moments.  Bravery can deliver us the stable government the economy needs and the radical, progressive government the country needs.  Bravery will ensure that we put the national interest first and achieve a level of cooperation at a uniquely difficult historical juncture.

Undoubtedly, a coalition would be preferable to some kind of minority government.  Minority government would spread uncertainty and market panic every time a crucial vote hovered into view.  Minority government will always be under the cloud of uncertainty – not what we need at such a time of economic crisis.  A coalition would provide stability and the kind of legitimacy that an agreement representing over 60% of the electorate can bring.  The voices of potential dissent on the Tory right should remember that these are exceptional circumstances, which require the national interest to be put above tribalism.

And it is not just for practical reasons that a coalition may be a preferable scenario.  With the support of the Liberal Democrats, a Conservative-Liberal coalition of the progressive centre can deliver the radical economic, political and social reform the country needs.  This might not be possible if we had to rely on the votes of unionists or a handful of discontents on the Tory right.

Wide ranging political reform; measures to tackle poverty and enhance social mobility; moves to improve educational opportunity for the very poorest; rebalancing the economy and regulating the banking industry.  These could be just a few of the measures that could be passed by a Con-Lib coalition.  Yes – the great bulk of our manifesto must be supported but ideas from the Liberal manifesto (including the £10,000 tax free band and the public interest test for takeovers) could also be considered.

This political crisis could, almost accidentally, have provided us with the opportunity to deliver a great reforming Government that could be spoken of in the same breath as some of the other great reforming Governments – of Disraeli, Asquith and Attlee.  I hope the opportunity is seized and we see a coalition of the progressive centre governing in the national interest that achieves stability, certainty and progressive reform.

Related posts:

1. Building An Enduring Progressive Conservative Electoral Coalition
2. Obama’s win: a stunning victory for the progressive centre
3. Note To Purnell – Progressive Conservative Means Will Achieve Progressive Ends
4. Using Our Progressive Past To Guide Our Progressive Future
5. The Case Of The Spanish Economy Illustrates The Progressive Case Against The Euro