Is Lib Dem silence a sign things are going well?
The remarkable thing about these talks is how controlled and tight-lipped the Lib Dems are being. Normally it is hard to get Lib Dems to stop talking.
Indeed as I chased the Lib Dem negotiating team down Whitehall I remarked how unusual it was for politicians to be so silent.
"I've not known anything like this since IDS," I remarked, referring to the former Conservative leader Iain Duncan-Smith who called himself the "quiet man".
Chris Huhne couldn't resist a smile.
Seriously, the fact that Lib Dems are being so quiet, and there have been no leaks from MPs or the federal executive is probably a sign that things are going well, and a deal may be possible that squares the party.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 10th May 2010, jaystar wrote:The Conservatives want to retain the single member constituency.
The Lib Dems want Proportional Representation.
Robert Hazell said on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ at lunchtime that all PR systems require redrawing of the constituency boundaries.
DPR Voting is a PR system that works with the single member constituency and does not require redrawing of constituency boundaries.
See
Could Newsnight look into this?
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Comment number 2.
At 10th May 2010, barriesingleton wrote:THEY DON'T WANT A BAYING MOB TILL AFTER THE STITCH-UP
Denizens of Westminster are about power, not people. LibDem voters wil come a poor second - or worse.
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Comment number 3.
At 10th May 2010, Michael Bailey wrote:Silence of the lambs, Michael?
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Comment number 4.
At 10th May 2010, stevie wrote:I met that nice man and he gave me a note (waves paper) and he said nice things and there is nothing to worry about.....
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Comment number 5.
At 10th May 2010, Old_Leftie wrote:Lib-Dems about to lose more than half of their membership!!!!
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Comment number 6.
At 11th May 2010, stevie wrote:don't mention the woods...I did.. but didn't get away with it...
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