Practising the new politics

I don't usually stray into politics in this role, but I have been fascinated to watch our new Government finally emerge from all the talks following the no-winners election result a week ago.

I would not have given much initially for the chances of a Con-Lib Dem agreement, beyond an attempt to buy off the Lib Dems sufficiently to prevent them voting down a minority Tory Government, but it just shows you what can be done with a bit of boldness and vision – and a willingness when it comes to the point to accept that it might be worth giving up some of your cherished ideas in order to see others come to fruition. Politicians at any level benefit from finding out what it's like to get their hands dirty in government.

From a constitutional point of view, the promised changes are potentially quite far reaching, with fixed term parliaments, voting reform, a means to force a by-election for misconduct, and PR for the House of Lords – not to mention seeing the Calman Commission proposals for tax raising etc by Holyrood come to pass. "Breaking the mould" used to be a favourite phrase in the days of the Liberals and SDP. If not finally broken, the mould is starting to produce some unfamiliar shapes.

Then we have a list of protections for civil liberties – all encouraging stuff, though without, it seems, specific mention of what will become of Tory hostility to the Human Rights Act. The contents of the "Freedom or Great Repeal Bill" are as yet unspecified; one hopes it is not a misnomer for an attack on the 1998 Act.

There is plenty of scope for the going to get tough between the two parties; and on a few issues such as nuclear power stations they have simply agreed to disagree. Elections that take place within the next five years will also provide a test of character, especially for the Lib Dems if many voters want to take out retribution for their having done this deal. I hope that doesn't happen. People who supported either party may or may not wish the coalition well; but it does at least deserve that they judge it on results.