Liberal Democrats Declare Four Demands For Coalition Government

The Guardian has an important story today. The Liberal Democrats reportedly do not want seats around the Cabinet table in the event of a hung parliament but do not want progress in four areas.

1. Investing extra funds in education through a pupil premium for disadvantaged children. This is already the Michael Gove, Conservative (Surrey Heath) and the Conservative Party's policy and Labour could certainly agree to this demand.
2. Tax reform, taking 4 million out of tax and raising taxes on the rich by requiring capital gains and income to be taxed at the same rate. Many Conservatives would welcome such a policy and Edward Leigh MP, Conservative (Gainsborough) proposed it three years ago, although funded in a different way.
3. Rebalancing of the economy to put less emphasis on centralised banking and more on a new greener economy. It is not clear what is meant by 'centralised banking' but a move toward a greener economy would doubtlessly be a commitment that both the Conservative and Labour Party's could make.
4. Political reforms, including changes to the voting system and a democratically elected Lords, that go further than proposed by Labour. Labour will probably be more willing to embrace electoral reform than the Conservatives (86% of Tory members oppose Proporation Representaton) but the Conservatives could offer more on civil liberties.

Update: 19:00 15/02/10 
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's World at One Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat (Twickenham), Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, poured cold water on story. He said that in the last month The Guardian had said that the Liberal Democrats were likely to back the Conservatives and then to back Labour. Now reporters at The Guardian who have 'vivid imaginations' had written that the Liberal Democrats had ruled out joining a coalition. Nothing had been ruled in and nothing ruled out. He said that the party which emerged strongest from the election would have the 'impetus' to take a lead in arranging any deal.

Acknowledgement: ConservativeHome | LeftWatch | 14/02/10

Guardian Tip Edward Leigh in Speakership Challenge

The Guardian is tipping local parliamentarian Edward Leigh MP for a possible Speakership bid following the General Election, expected on Thursday 6th May 2010.

It is well known that the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP, who replaced Michael Martin MP - who was forced to resign last year over the MPs Expences scandal - has always been a centrist in the Conservative Party's ranks; whilst the Catholic, Member of Parliament for the Gainsborough Constituency - which covers Gainsborough, Caistor, Market Rasen and the Lincoln fringe (villages like Cherry Willingham, Nettleham and Welton) - has always been on the right flank of the Conservative Party.

The Guardian reports that:

"Tory MPs are pushing for the removal of the Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, should their party win the next general election, with the right of the Conservative party beginning to mobilise for the backbencher Edward Leigh to take over the role...

"Conservative MPs have remained uncomfortable with Bercow since he was elected amid much fanfare last May. Although a Tory, Bercow won the position largely with Labour support and he has irritated MPs with his muscular style of chairing Commons debates.

"Tory MPs also feel that a decision by Bercow's wife, Sally, to criticise the Conservative leader, David Cameron, and run as a Labour candidate in this May's local elections has politicised his position and made it untenable."

Mr. Leigh is Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (The Guardian mistakenly attribute Mr. Leigh as Chairman of the Public Administration Committee in reality chaired by Dr. Tony Wright) and president of the rightwing Cornerstone group.

The paper suggests that senior backbenchers believe supporting him would placate the right of the party in the period immediately after coming to office, when Cameron's initial steps might not allow him to make many inroads into tax or Europe policy.

The article suggests that the Cornerstone group represents around 30 - 40 parliamentarians, and if the Conservatives win the General Election with a majority of that order they would demand an election for the role of Speaker in return for their voting bloc.

The Times yesterday reported that CCHQ has made it clear to members in Bercow's Buckingham constituency that any one helping Nigel Farage, the former leader of the Unied Kingdom Independence Party who plans to challenge and want to unseat Mr. Bercow would be ejected from the party, apparently following concerns expressed by the local Conservative Association.

The Guardian predict that the issue is likely to break into the open when the Procedure Committee reports and calls for a fully contested election for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speakers.One of the committee members, Christopher Chope MP, Conservative (Christchurch), is known to be mobilising against Mr. Bercow's Speakership.

Names of other possible challengers have included veteran Mr. Frank Field MP, Labour (Birkenhead), who is not universally popular with his own side and who would serve as a 'reverse Bercow' as it is believed that sufficient number of Conservative member sof parliament would support him.