Losers

It is remarkable how those keen discredit the idea of a rainbow solution at Westminster talk about “stitch-ups” and “group of losers” to illustrate the lack of legitimacy an anti-tory coalition would have compared to a Cameron-Clegg axis.

Such critics include Nick Robinson whose angst may well be rooted in his former incarnation of national president of the Young Conservatives during the eighties. But others like Peter Black should know better.

Back in 2004, Labour lost control of Swansea Council. It was the biggest single party but did not have a majority. The result was that local Liberal Democrats, Independents and Conservatives formed a coalition and voted themselves into office at the annual general meeting. No-one in the media seemed too upset at the time or when this same ‘Pick and Mix’ brand of local politics has been repeated in town-halls up and down the country.

In fact, as a few Welsh bloggers have pointed out, another bunch of losers were at one time seriously talking about forming a rainbow coalition of their own in Cardiff Bay following the 2007 Assembly elections until the Lib Dems walked away.

The political reality is that regardless of whatever electoral system is in place, the losers can still win – if there are enough of them.