A Lib-Lab pact?

Tom Griffin (London, OK): Today's Daily Mail brings us Peter Oborne's take on the emerging theme of a government of national unity:

Of course, the Prime Minister does not envisage an alliance with David Cameron's Tories. However, he is seriously toying with the idea of bringing the Liberal Democrats into a possible coalition. Private discussions  -  all, of course, totally deniable  -  are taking place secretly.

Against this fascinating background, I can reveal that special favours are being offered to the Liberal Democrats. First, there are signs of a deal being thrashed out between Downing Street and the LibDems over the appointment of the next Commons Speaker.

According to Oborne, the Lib Dems are split over the possibility of a coalition (which Brown could seek before the next election), with older MPs who could expect preferment, like Vince Cable, Paddy Ashdown and Menzies Campbell, more positive than their younger counterparts.

A hint along these lines was detectable in Vince Cable's call last week for "the political parties to rise above the usual petty, tribal bickering."

There is good reason for the Lib Dems to be wary however. Nick Clegg will be all too aware that Labour flirted with the idea of a pact during both Paddy Ashdown and Menzies Campbell's tenures, and his party emerged with little to show for it.