Theres no doubt, pressure to discuss the consequences of a hung parliament will intensify, above and below the surface. Its started to dawn on both Labour and Conservatives that a state of public denial will do them positive damage. Nick Clegg has four big tasks, says my colleague Robert Hazell writing in the Guardian. (My post below is a projection of his analysis). Who to negotiate with first; minority government or coalition? ; change of Labour leader?; and selling whatever agreement is reached to the flakier members of the Lib Dems rank and file. Reuters reports that sterling wont go into free fall at the prospect of a hung parliament provided the parties have a deal wrapped by Sunday May 9, according to one banking analyst! .
Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London