Clegg defends coalition

Today in the Guardian you can see Nick Clegg doing the rather difficult job of defending the coalition agreement. It is good to see him opening up with things already decided that are good descions, I doubt many on the left are going to disagree with the scrapping of ID cards and ending child detention. He also points out that a deal with Labour was unworkable, this is good. But what he doesn't do is discuss any differences with the Tories.

It seems Mr Clegg is, at current, committed to empaphasing unity and common ground. But this is a dangerous game, and if continues like this for too long he will be seen as propping up a Tory government.

Yes, of course as a coalition government you need common purpose. But the majority of Liberal Democrat supporters are drastically opposed to the Tory party, and if Nick Clegg does not make it clear there are still big differences then he will loose them to the Greens and Labour.

So my advice for Nick Clegg is...yes, for the time being you need to play up the whole 'in the national intrest' idea, find all the common ground you can and make sure people agree with you that the deal was the best course of action. But in the long run start the preparations for drawing big lines between the 2 parties, as when it comes to election time next you need to be able to show the differences and make a strong case that the Lib Dems are operating as an independent party not a Tory annex.

And remember, Scottish and Welsh parlimentry election in May 2011 give you less than a year to get all this Liberal legislation passed before you need to begin aiming fire at your Tory allies.....