Liberal Dilemma

Unsurprisingly, the Parliament is hung with the Conservatives as the largest party. A further twenty seats are needed for David Cameron's "modern, compassionate Conservatives" to achieve an overall majority, go to the Palace, and become the twelfth Prime Minister to kiss her Majesty's hand. 

Earlier today David Cameron made a "big, open and comprehensive offer to the Liberal Democrats" to either form a formal coalition or come to an agreement on a Queen's speech. The Liberal Democrats leader was unequivocal that, following another inequitable votes-to-seats ratio, electoral reform was a necessity. 

The question now: will the Liberal Democrats coalesce? I for one hope not. This is not merely nuance. There is a plethora of key ideological differences between not only the two leaders, but the two parties. Europe, immigration, constitutional reform, schools, inheritance tax, Trident etc. Of course, the scent of power may be too strong for Clegg to turn down. But I would hope that he can see beyond the sycophancy. Cameron and his team are profoundly Euro-sceptic, opportunistic and anti-civil liberties. Lest we forget, Cameron is no success story otherwise I would not be writing this post now. 

Refusing electoral reform is incontrovertible, and it seems as if the Conservatives may have to back-down in order to conciliate. But these two parties coming together is more than just one policy. They are antithetical. In my opinion, any agreement by Clegg would be an affront to liberalism.