If the Lib Dem bounce in the polls is borne out at the ballot box, we could see one of the more stupid consequences of our electoral system. Labour could conceivably finish third in terms of total votes, but actually win an overall parliamentary majority.
A lot of this has to do with the giant, giant majorities Labour won in the past three parliaments – it’s easy to forget that Tony Blair’s New Labour Project was the most successful at the polls since the Second World War. And a lot of it has to do with the fact we’re not electing a President.
To be honest, if this bounce keeps a pair of empty Etonians with a sense of entitlement out of Downing Street, then that can only be a good thing.
But as John Rentoul points out, it does mean that the Labour manifesto suddenly has a lot more meaning – maybe they wrote it expecting defeat. In it, they promise to consult on “an open list proportional representation electoral system for the Second Chamber”.
That would mean a democratically elected upper house. Brill.
Trouble is, it won’t happen. Nick Clegg is famous for ballsing up second-ever national election debates. Last time he did the first-ever follow up leaders head to head, he ate a baby.
