Concessions - what concessions?

Two challenging contributions by Independent on Sunday columnists comment on the speed at which wrapping that binds the ConDem policy package has become undone in recent weeks.

Johann Harri examines the extent of Nick Clegg’s betrayal, accusing him of staging a bonfire of his principles whilst describing student anger in terms that evoke scenes from Les Miserables. Meanwhile, John Rentoul soberly observes how there, but for the grace of the electorate, go Labour - and that quite a few of their MPs are rather grateful for the fact. Somehow you can guess which article an embattled Peter Black is likely to favour.

Both however conclude that whatever form of consensual politics was supposed to have been on offer before May’s elections has turned out to be incredibly superficial within an amazingly short space of time. A further damning accusation is that there is precious little evidence of the moderation which the Lib Dems were supposed to imbue into coalition decision-making. Suddenly it's all about contracts.

Perhaps you can argue that student protest is an expected result under the circumstances since it provides a natural outlet against the existence of a right-of-centre government and a coping mechanism for Lib Dem duplicity. The marching sounds also have a nice sense of continuity as themes move from “Not in my name” to “Not on my doorstep” with an occasional “Clegg is a lying bastard” thrown in.

Lib Dems always sounded patently ridiculous when they claimed to have won meaningful concessions in the face of tory blood-lust. Now evidence is mounting that they hardly put up a fight.