Sir John Major expresses support for longer term Tory-Lib Dem co-operation

By Jonathan Isaby

Tomorrow's Daily Telegraph reports a rare intervention from former Prime Minister, Sir John Major. In a lecture at Churchill College, Cambridge, Sir John suggests that the Coalition could result in a permanent realignment of British politics:

“Can the Coalition achieve its purpose in five years? It will be hard pounding but its programme is essential to national wellbeing and so, if uncompleted, I hope some way can be found to prolong co-operation beyond this parliament... It may be that a temporary alliance will turn into a mini-realignment of politics: after all, in a world that is changing so comprehensively, why should politics not change, too?”

“Neither party will admit that possibility at present, not least because it would upset their core vote but, if events turn out well for the Coalition, I, for one, would not be surprised at that outcome."

Full story here.

Update: Click here to read the full text of his speech

Saturday am update:

Blogging on the paper's website, Telegraph deputy editor Ben Brogan makes the point that Sir John's interventions are relatvely rare these days, but often come with the blessing of Downig Street:

"Keep in mind that Sir John some time ago put himself at David Cameron’s disposal to intervene in politics whenever the leader wanted a point made or an argument advanced. There is nothing to suggest that he speaks for Mr Cameron, but after the Nick Boles proposal for an election deal, Sir John’s comments will add weight to that cause."

Did David Cameron know about this speech in advance? Did he even sanction him to include this passage??

I have said before that to go into the next election in any guise other than a Conservative Party fighting every single seat in its own right would be defeatism of the highest order, akin to saying in advance that we cannot win an outright majority ourselves. That next general election may be four and a half years away, but we must not talk in terms of anything other than seeking an overall Conservaitve majority when it happens.