Let's have another go!

It now seems likely that Nick Clegg is standing in the way of a new government being formed. He has 52 seats and about 6 million votes. Meanwhile the country is immersed in its worst deficit since the second world war, unemployment is rising, inflation is rising, fuel prices at the pump are rising and the stock markets are becoming more jittery than my insides following an Indian takeaway. After both his public denouncements of Labour and his party's antipathy towards Labour (the last time they got cosy with Labour, Labour welched on the deal; no surprises there then), it is difficult to imagine a Lib/Lab coalition. Should they pursue this route, David Cameron will undoubtedly reclaim the upper hand immediately by siding with the Ulster MPs. In the event of the latter, the Liberals may well lose this opportunity to at least be discussing PR at a level of Government. Nick Clegg appears to be looking the gift horse in the mouth. He may not prefer the idea of the Conser vatives, but it is Hobson's choice. In poker you can only bluff so far and I feel Clegg's cards have run out. Time to face reality and choose your partner Mr. Clegg.