The end of the election

Not too much more to be said now. Looks like we have a Conservative and Liberal coalition with a compromise programme of policies. Last year I had thought that this was probably my preferred outcome and so now, unlike many of my friends, I'm reasonably positive about it. I think that Labour had to go, and each of the two parties in power now will be a useful restraint on the other, meaning a few years with probably few controversial bills being passed and the necessary focus on the economy, backed by a Cabinet which nominally has some sort of support from 60% of the electorate.

I think also the people who are angry at the Liberal Democrats for working with the Conservatives are thinking with their heads rather than their hearts. If you want to line up the parties on an oversimplified 'Left-Right' or 'Progressive-Reactionary' then sure, the Liberals are closer to Labour than they are to the Conservatives. But there are many more aspects to consider, which is why they can work together on delivering the manifesto pledges they have in common, such as flexible working for all or cutting class sizes, while already seeming to come to workable compromises where they differ (eg. the Lib Dems appear to be conceding that budget cuts need to start immediately, providing that some of that is channelled back into paying for tax cuts to primarily benefit the poor). At the end of the day the aim is to deliver on the policies you promise and Nick Clegg and Vince Cable are intelligent people who are taking the opportunity to do just that.

So, on the whole, I'm not worried at all. Carry on!