Parliament - should it be hung?

8.10.00am GMT Fri 12th Mar 2010

Many people would say it was the current parliament which should be hung, but much of the debate between now and May 6th will be on the possibility of the next one so being.

Charter 2010 ( www.charter2010.co.uk ) have asked us to consider the possibility.

They say, "You will have seen from the opinion polls that the General Election may end in a hung parliament. www.charter2010.co.uk is dedicated to providing the information and thinking that will allow a stable government to be created and sustained, in the circumstances in which no one party has an overall majority after the election. The Liberal Democrats would, of course, have a major role to play in such circumstances."

www.charter2010.co.uk is independent of all the parties and an invaluable resource for MPs, candidates and political commentators. Amongst other information, it includes:

• Current Opinion Poll data and trends

• A daily summary of News and Press Comment

• Information and analysis of the Constitutional Issues involved

• A full account of the recent session of the Justice Committee of the House of Commons (chaired by Sir Alan Beith) on hung parliaments; including evidence from the Cabinet Secretary

• Commentary on the Economic Issues surrounding the election

• Charter 2010's suggestions on how a hung parliament might be transformed into a stable government

• Details of the voters' views on what should happen in the event of a hung parliament

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Comment. 'Hung' is a slightly pejorative word so let's talk about a 'balanced' parliament. This would undoubtedly be good for the country. Whichever parties were involved they would have to put together budgets and policies which were in the national interest, not just the interest of one party or one sector of society. It would take us away from the tabloid government we've often been subjected to in recent decades.

A balanced parliament would be particularly good news now as the country faces an economic crisis which no one party probably has all the answers to. Labour and Conservative policies are often designed more to spook the other side than to be of any practical use or benefit.

If the Liberal Democrats are to join a formal or informal alliance with one of the parties it's much better if they do so from a position of strength. If the Lib Dems suffer a net loss of MPs they would be going into negotiations with the others in a relatively weak position and the chances of an effective and stable government would be lower. If on the other hand they had an increased number of MPs not only does this significantly increase the possibility of a balanced house but it also gives Clegg and Cable a firmer basis from which to get the best arrangement for the UK.

As well as the number of seats, an increase in the number of votes cast overall would also give the Lib Dems more credibility. In recent local elections the Lib Dems have scored more votes than Labour.

There is no box on the ballot paper for an end to elective dictatorship. There will be a lot of waffle about the 'wishes of the electorate' which will give the impression that we all get together before the election to decide how to spread our votes.

The best way for anyone, in whatever constituency they are, to bring about the desirable outcome of a balanced parliament is to vote Liberal Democrat. That will give the best chance of preventing Labour or the Conservatives from making an unadulterated mess of things, and anyone with the best interests of the country at heart should do so, and should be proud to do so.

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Despite the barrage of media 'experts' suggesting that a balanced parliament would mean descent into anarchy, a surprisingly large section of the Great British Electorate hold sensible views about the prospect of parties having to work together for the sake of the nation, rather than yet another Tory or Labour elected dictatorship.

Populus recently interviewed 1235 adults across the UK to ascertain their views. Over three quarters (77%) believed that 'party leaders and local candidates should spell out before the election what their approach would be to a hung parliament'. Only 6% disagreed (18% didn't know).

In the survey voters were asked for their views of what should happen if there was a hung parliament.

• Three quarters (75%) said they preferred ' The party with the most votes working together with other parties in a coalition government to deal with the country's economic problems'

• Seventy five per cent also said that it would be 'in Britain's best interests for all the parties to agree that there shouldn't be another election for four years and to work together on the country's urgent problems'

• Only a quarter( 25%) preferred ' another General Election to be held fairly soon in the hope that one or other party would win an overall majority and be able to form a government on its own'

• 31% said they would be likely to vote for the Liberal Democrats if they ' thought they would hold the balance of power in the House of Commons'