Don't rule out a Lib/Lab pact

Norman Smith, chief political correspondent for BBC Radio 4, has posted a thought-provoking article on the BBC News website (excerpt follows):

The political marriage between Nick Clegg and David Cameron may be so strong that the idea of a future Lib/Lab Coalition looks rather fanciful.

And yet there are those in both parties who are gently blowing on the flickering embers of Lib/Lab cooperation. Significantly a dozen or so Lib Dem former Parliamentary candidates and councillors have now decided to join the Labour Party's policy review. This is an unprecedented step.

Many in both parties will probably be intensely suspicious of the move. Some Lib Dems will suspect their colleagues are simply being used by Labour. Some in Labour will be deeply sceptical about allowing their political enemies to contribute to their next manifesto.

But Richard Grayson, the Lib Dem's former head of policy who is among those joining Labour's review, says it is simply about breaking down tribal divisions on the left and sharing ideas. It is, of course, also about building firmer bridges between Labour and the Lib Dems and opening up the possibility that after the next election the two parties could work together.

"We have to think about the prospect of a different coalition in the foreseeable future," says Mr Grayson. "There has been much talk of 'the new politics' but unless we are prepared to engage with Labour then there is a danger that 'new politics' will simply mean working with the Conservatives."

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