Quote:
Originally Posted by rjt
Although a coalition between Lab and Lib Dem did last in Soctland for 8 years, they are an unscurpulous lot though the Lib dems and of course we do have this example of the 1970s as well. They will do whatever they think brings them the most advantage.
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Yes, the Liberal Dims were in a coalition with the Labour Party in Edinburgh for eight years but there is a difference between the Lib/Lab coalition in Edinburgh which existed up to May of this year and any such coalition at Westminster:
The Liberal Dims would be under more electoral pressure if they were in coalition with Labour in the House of Commons because most of the seats the Liberal Dims have/would have in the Commons would be highly marginal Lib Dim-Conservative seats which would be vulnerable to going back to the Conservatives. Anti-Labour Conservatives who may have voted Liberal 'Democrat' in those constituencies would be angry that the Lib Dims were keeping Labour in power. In the Scottish Parliament fewer Liberal Dims have Conservatives 'breathing down their necks' in their constituencies than do Liberal Dim MPs in the House of Commons.
This pressure on the Liberal Dims in the House of Commons from the Conservatives would put strains on any Lib/Lab Pact or formal coalition.