" the progressive alliance representing the progressive majority in the UK"

No it does not. If that was the case they would have stood together at the election as this. They didn't as it would not have worked. The majority of people would not call this "progressive"

Can somebody please tell me what is progressive about a party that wants to increase the limit on detention without charge to over a month, introduce compulsory ID cards, has introduced trials without jury, has put nearly a million people people who have never been charged with any crime on the police DNA database and has gone on an illegal military conquest that has cost hundreds of thousands of innocent lives...... Anyone?

Having discovered rather belatedly that they are in fact inextricably linked, that they share a vast common agenda and that what the people want is a progressive alliance between them, can we now safely assume that this is the platform on which Lab and Lib Dem will fight the next election? Incidentally, I am sure that the Liberal Party is thrilled to bits that the Labour Party constantly refers to an alliance with them rather then the better known Lib Dems.

If this situation tells us anything it is that the word "progressive" should not be used.

Hack, you speak mucheo sh*teo when talking about a Progressive Alliance. Its a left-wing alliance.

P90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 42$$$$$$$
I like this site very much
===== www，uspsfashions，com ====
jordan air max oakland raiders $34--39;
Ed Hardy AF JUICY POLO Bikini $25;
Christan Audigier BIKINI JACKET $25;
gstar coogi evisu true jeans $35;
coach chanel gucci LV handbags $36;
coogi DG edhardy gucci t-shirts $18;
CA edhardy vests.paul smith shoes $32;
jordan dunk af1 max gucci shoes $37;
EDhardy gucci ny New Era cap $16;
coach okely Adidas CHANEL DG Sunglass $18;
===== www，uspsfashions，com ====

For once, I find myself disagreeing with James MacIntytre. I think Labour MPs opposing a deal are taking the right view. Good to see Andy Burnham has broken ranks on this:
http://tinyurl.com/34uq3we

Of course a Lib-Lab coalition, or 'Progressive Alliance' in newspeakgobbledigook, would be preferable to any government run by a bunch of neoliberal, deregulating, slash and burn, Thatcher apologising, PR obsessors (and I don't mean proportional representation!). And this article rightly points out that high-minded strategical hypothesising about the benefits of opposition tends to reward the guilty parties with a long, protracted stay in opposition. But the simple truth is, the maths aren't strong enough. 15 or so more seats, we'd be in business. But there's not enough to form a stable government, and I think we all - apart from the nervous Tories and the dreaming Liberal activists, know that. Brown's resignation yesterday was merely an example of brilliant realpolitik, that has Campbell and Mandelson's hands allover it. The confusion, division and insecurity it has put in the minds of both the Tories and the Liberals, may prove priceless in opposition, not to mention in any potential forthcoming election.

Note how all of a sudden Prescott and co are going all lefty and saying how they'll oppose cuts. Conveniently forgetting their Tory type laissez-fair brought us to this pass and Labour councils are implementing public service cuts already. Several colleagues will be out of work by July (Community Education). Glad Brown and his NuLabour tory wannabees are out - hypocrites are worse than out and out capitalists - at least you know where you are. Hope the Lib-Dems can modify the excesses of the Tories - they too sounded more leftish when in opposition.

I agree James, it's a devastating blow and these Labour MPs will now discover the true futility of opposition. Shameful

WE WILL HANG THE TORIE CUTS AROUND THE NECKS OF THESE LABOUR MPS EVREYDAY FOR THE NEXT FOR YEARS, TELL THAT TO ANDY WHY FROM THE LABOUR PARTY.STRAW , ANDY WHO AND BLUNKET , AS USUAL BLUNKETS IN THE THICK OF THE TROUBLE , BLUNKETS NOTHING BUT A TROUBLE MAKER ALWAYS HAS BEEN .STRAW , BLUNKET AND ANDY WHO WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TORIE CUTS WELL HANG THESE CUTS AROUND THEIR NECKS ON A DAILY BASIS , TILL THEY LOOSE THEIR SEATS AT THE NEXT ELECTION. ANDY GIVE UP ON ANY LEADERSHIP BID , GO TO HELL MATE LEAVE THE LABOUR PARTY AND JOIN THE TORIES .

ITS IN LABOURS LONG TERM INTREST TO HOLD TALKS WITH THE GREENS , TO FORM SOME KIND OF NATURAL PARTNERSHIP IN THE COMMONS . THE GREENS WILL NEVER VOTE WITH THE CONSERVITIVES OR JOIN THEM IN COALITION , THEY HAVE PROVEN A STABLE PARTNER FOR LABOUR IN NZ AND IN AUSTRALIA IN OPPOSITION . AND I BET IT WOULD STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A WHILE . GREENS AND LABOUR DIFFER A LOT , BUT ALSO AGREE ON ALOT , THEY ARE STABLE PARTNERS FOR LABOUR LONG TERM , MUCH MORE SO THAN THE LIB DEMS BELEAVE ME . its food for thought . OH AN IN OPPOSITION DO THE OPPOSITE TO WHAT THE TORIES DID .

agree their should be hundreds of thousands out on the streets protesting the 55% needed for a no confidance vote . THATS STEALING THE COMMON DEMOCRACY FROM THE PEOPLE THE COMMONS . ITS OUTRAGES , THEY HAVE NO MANDATE FOR SUCH A THING ,DID THEY SAY THIS IS WHAT THEY CAMPAINGED ON . the new politics . i feel sick .let the reality of what this means . the commons is gerimanderd towards the cons the rich . when asked the libs said get this IT WAS THE LEAST WE COULD DO TO HELP THE CONS . AS ABOVE MY SUGGESTION OF A COALITION KIND OF ARANGEMENT WITH MISS LUCUS AND THE GREENS SOUNDS BETTER AND BETTER ALL THE TIME . remember torie clegg said he wants a labour free uk , this cost them in my view . forget the libs labour lets talk to the greens think towards the future .

PLEASE WHATS PROPORTIONAL ABOUT NEEDED 55% OF THE COMMONS TO WIN A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE OVER THE CONLIB PARTY , COULD SOMEONE ASK THE LIBS NO LONGER DEMOCRATS .ONLY REFER TO THEM NOW AS LIBS THEY ARE SURE AS HELL ARE NOT DEMOCRATS .THIS PART OF THE COALITION DEAL IS MIND BLOWING .

reid , blunket and hoey and satraw are history we well fight a concerted campaign against those trators , with friends like that who needs enimys .they will be held responsible for the 6 billion about to be sucked from the economy ie peoples pockets .i will hang the cuts around those lab mps mentiond above . and it is always blunket in the thick of party infighting .THOSE mps NENTIOND ABOVE PLEASE DEFECT TO THE TORIE PARTY . AND THE ANDY WHO WHO WANTS TO BE THE LABOUR LEADER I SAY GET OUT!!! , LEAVE THE LABOUR DEFECT TO THE TORIES PARTY YOU ARE NOT WANTED IN LABOUR . infighting finished thats all their needs to be , now lets get on with it minus those scab labour mps mentiond aove , straw , blunket andy andy i will never be labour party leader infact ill loose my seat . those men are to be held responsible for all the . pain about to be unleashed on the working class, JACK straw is nothing but a war criminal anyway HE SHOULD GET THE HELL OUT OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY AND JOIN HIS LIKE MINDED FRIENDS IN THE TORIE PARTY.

LAST POST I HAVE AN IDEA HOW ABOUT SOMEONE FROM THE WORKING CLASS AS LABOUR PARTY LEADER ? . ARE THEIR ANY LABOUR MPS THAT ARE WORKING CLASS ANYMORE ? . THATS THE BLOODY PROBLEM ISNT IT ? . THE LABOUR PARTY IS FULL OF THE RICH AND WEALTHY IN PARLIAMENT , THEY HAVE BECOME PART OF THE PROBLEM . NOW IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWEN BLUNKET AND STRAW AND THAT WOULD BE BUT NEVER WILL BE LABOUR LEADER ANDY WHO WERE APROACHED BYE THE TORIES TO DO WHAT THEY DID IN STANDING AGAINST A LAB LIB DEM COALITION.THOSE THREE ARE LIKE THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPINELESS AND AFRAID OF THE RIGHT WING MEDIA THE COWARDS .

THE LIB DEMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDING CONTROL OF THIS COUNTRYS NUKES OVER TO THE TORIES DO YOU FEEL SAFER ?.

nice article, if there had been this type of impartial reporting during the election, i would feel even better.