By Chris Chope, Conservative MP for Christchurch
It is clear from Simon Hughes’ lack of response to my challenge on last night’s BBC2 Newsnight programme, that the Lib Dems have set a very sophisticated honey trap.
Under the coalition agreement, the Conservatives will be unable to call a General Election even if the Lib Dems withdraw from that coalition. Simon Hughes did not deny that this means the Lib Dems remain free, at any time, to pull the rug from under the Conservatives, join with Labour and the Nationalists in a minority Government and force through full PR and a wider socialist agenda.
Therefore, the consequence of the 55% threshold requirement to secure a dissolution is to facilitate the very nightmare scenario of full PR which Conservative MPs were told they were avoiding by agreeing to support the AV referendum.
Apart from the unconstitutionality of the 55% threshold requirement, the political argument that it is necessary for stability is utterly specious. Stability can only be secured for the coalition if David Cameron promises, as he has done, not to withdraw from the coalition and call a General Election AND if the Lib Dems are deterred from pulling out of the coalition by the certain knowledge that such action would trigger an immediate General Election.
Conservative MPs and activists need to be alerted to the grave political implications of removing the right to request a dissolution if the coalition breaks down. We could find ourselves, sooner rather than later during a five year Parliament, isolated in Opposition and impotent to bring down the Government even with a one vote majority.
These issues must be discussed urgently by both the Parliamentary and voluntary Party.
