Lessons from 1974
A couple of opinion polls have pointed towards the possibility of a hung parliament come the next election.
Robert Armstrong's "" account of the coalition negotiations in February 1974, when he was Edward Heath's Private Secretary, makes fascinating reading.
(Hat tip: the Telegraph's .)
Lots of stuff about the role played by the Liberals and their then leader Jeremy Thorpe; the Queen (who had hurried back from a state visit to Australia) and the Ulster Unionists (the prospect of whose involvement in sustaining a government provoked horror).
There are some pointers for the broadcasters too: among other things the memo notes that, although the media staked out the main and garden entrances to No 10, there were no TV cameras there to record the arrival of Thorpe for talks, because it was raining.
It also details the quiet talks between parties, royal advisors and civil servants which were the medium through which the British constitution functioned during the brief period in which a Con-Lib coalition was considered.
Another thought for the broadcasters - it might be worth staking out St James's Park and filming any distinguished-looking pinstriped gents holding reflective conversations as they stroll around the lake. It appears that's where some key discussions occurred last time.
Fascinating.
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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