In a strange twist of asymmetry, last week's refusal of the Liberal Democrats to honour their manifesto promise and support a Referendum on the EU Reform Treaty/Constitution - saving the Government from major damage - harked back to the eve of the Iraq war, when Liberals and Labour rebels voted against the war, with the Conservatives voting in favour, thus ensuring Mr Blair's survival (although at least the Conservatives didn't abstain). So, on two major occasions of fundamental importance, the Conservatives and Liberals have failed to unite. What does this mean?
Whatever Mr Clegg may say about 'equidistance', there are issues of such huge difference that makes a Lib-Dem/Conservative alliance extremely difficult. Conservative Eurosceptics will have long memories about last week's Lib-Dem efforts. Moreover, in the hope of maintaining some form of power, Labour will be tempted down the path of wooing Liberal Democrats with electoral reform, so beloved by party activists. At present, all the Conservatives have in common with the Liberals is a strong stand in favour of civil liberties - against ID cards and such like - but is this enough to form a real progressive alliance? Given recent events - unlikely.
