The ConDemNation

After the dust settled, the culls made, the reporters collapsed from exhaustion - we've got a government. It isn't a Conservative government, nor Labour, nor Liberal Democrat. It's that scary c-word that seems to strike fear in to the heart of Nick Robinson and some of the right wing press, and I don't mean Communism. No, dear readers, we have a coalition.

Let's just savour that for a moment. A coalition.

Despite my first instinct to have a very large gin (I'm teetotal, by the way, to put that into perspective), I'm gradually and illogically optimistic about the whole affair. The press are treating it like a marriage - I'm not even kidding, it was referred to as a Civil Partnership - and Cleggeron are here to revolutionise our politics. Already the changes have begun; fixed terms of office, for a start, so we already know when the next election will be. Put May 7th, 2015 into your diaries, fact fans. Electoral reform! Taxation cuts! Taxation rises! All this and more could be ours. It's a bloody well Brave New World, only with less recreational sex and more rampant consumerism.

Except, well, it isn't. You only have to glance at the cabinet for those itching little niggles about the Conservatives to come rising up to the surface again. For a start, the new Home Secretary and Minister for women and equality (that's going to be a business card and a half), Theresa May, doesn't exactly seem the sort of person you'd be expecting to be championing equality. The Pink News has a good run down of her voting history of LGBT issues, although it should be noted that she has been vociferous recently within the party about reclassifying civil partnerships as marriages and equal marriage rights. A change of heart?

For the record, very little mention of any green issues yet. Although, with Caroline Lucas now sitting as an MP, I imagine it won't remain quiet for long on the environment front!

I'll run down the cabinet in a couple of days when I've had a chance to look at each of them in detail. For now, let's just enjoy the blossoming love affair between the left and right, and see how it goes.