A cynical attempt at a fix, so early in the coalition

Originally published @ 2:04 pm, Fri 14th May 2010

When the Burton Mail journalist rang me for a range of opinions on the new coalition, I hadn't realised that the notion of fixed-term Parliaments had come to the fore, and I dismissed it, as irrelevant, affirmed by the knowledge that no-one on the doorstep had ventured the idea as an issue.

That a new idea of a 55% vote of MPs was required to force a new General Election is completely new to Westminster politics and I hope it is dismissed straight away.

We know that it is part of the British tradition that a General Election can be forced when a majority can no longer be commanded.

Putting a fix in to make the next General Election on May 7 2015, is cynical and unrehearsed during the election - taking decisions further away from the public. Not a hopeful sign for what people want to call the new politics of the coalition.