10-12-2016, 07:06 PM
There are prominent people in the Greens and the Labour Party who would like to see a 'progressive pact'. I expect this would take the form of a pre-arranged deal to defeat the Tories, and without PR this is possibly the best way. It could even open the door to PR.
Back in the early 1990's I looked at the General Election results and combined the Green and Liberal vote together. Admittedly back then I think the Liberals were a slightly bigger political force and the Greens were on their way down from the highs of the 89 European Elections. However the combined figures were very impressive.
Today any 'progressive pact' is likely to bypass the Liberal Party and simply involve Labour, Lib-Dems, Greens, the SNP and possibly Plaid Cymru. Nevertheless there would have to make massive negotiations for this to happen, something I see as unlikely prior to 2020. But what would stop the Liberals working with candidates from other parties to build their own pact in local elections? I am sure there is common ground with some Green and Labour candidates and in Cornwall Mebyon Kernow.
It would be interesting to see how others feel, as it would not detract in any way from building the Liberal Party. In fact in these non-PR days additional dialogue and co-operation could see the party grow.
Back in the early 1990's I looked at the General Election results and combined the Green and Liberal vote together. Admittedly back then I think the Liberals were a slightly bigger political force and the Greens were on their way down from the highs of the 89 European Elections. However the combined figures were very impressive.
Today any 'progressive pact' is likely to bypass the Liberal Party and simply involve Labour, Lib-Dems, Greens, the SNP and possibly Plaid Cymru. Nevertheless there would have to make massive negotiations for this to happen, something I see as unlikely prior to 2020. But what would stop the Liberals working with candidates from other parties to build their own pact in local elections? I am sure there is common ground with some Green and Labour candidates and in Cornwall Mebyon Kernow.
It would be interesting to see how others feel, as it would not detract in any way from building the Liberal Party. In fact in these non-PR days additional dialogue and co-operation could see the party grow.