Leadership and Generalship
David Cameron has shown outstanding leadership qualities in the last few days. He has put together not a fudge and dodge government which this blog feared, but a real full blown coalition of war-time proportions reflecting a popular vote of 17.5 million and nearly 60%. This is a true majority government. Moreover it is not founded on a nod, a wink and a handshake. There is a full, detailed and comprehensive document setting out the whole framework of policy. This is truly remarkable as well as unexpected. The many tensions on both sides from narrow issue backbench MPs will be under much tighter rein than any could have predicted. To push all this through a Tory party both triumphant and disappointed at the same time is a Cameron triumph. This is all without precedent.
But who is the really the star? This must be Nick Clegg. His political footwork outclasses anything seen in British politics before. With tiny forces, but a hefty popular mandate of 6.8 million votes, showing generalship of outstanding flair, he got between two vast armies, neutralised one, drove a great warrior from the field and extracted from the other concessions that wrought in its entirity his bold, often ridiculed, plan for a ‘new type of politics’
On May 6th this Blog reviewed the three main campaigns, while the country voted. At the end it listed three possible surprises. The first was a clear Tory majority. The second was Labour ahead on both votes and seats. The third was described as more of a dream. Prime Minister Clegg. Oops not quite right. It is Deputy Prime Minister Clegg.
This Blog was right, however, again and again and long before the TV debates, when it spoke of a Lib Dem opportuity. The phrase used was balance is power. Now you can see what it means.