THEY DON'T HALF HATE EACH OTHER, DO THEY?

It seems that many of Labour’s leadership don’t want to do a deal with the Liberals, possibly because they know what is coming and want to avoid being in charge when it hits.

Jack Straw, the man who has made so much of a mess of every cabinet post he has ever held, is said to be the most senior of the cabinet members opposed to the possible but improbable deal with the Celtic parties tacked on to the English based Labour and Liberal coalition. He is said to be incandescent that Brown resigned to try to get a deal with Nick Clegg. I wonder if he throws Nokias too.

But now Burnham, he of the hospitals where people lie and die in their own excreta so that targets can be achieved elsewhere in the building, has come out against it. Old Blunkett has already described the Liberals as “every kind of whore” as they horse trade with the two main parties in order to get a deal for their nearly 7 million voters. Lord knows he should know about that. Didn’t he twice have to step down from Cabinet positions over... erm... problems? Another has-been who seems to have had, and failed at, every job in the government, John Reid, has said the public will never forgive Labour if they join forces with the Liberals. He seems to be under the illusion that the public will ever forgive Labour full stop.

To add to the list, we have other no-hopers like Bob Aint-worth a halfpenny, the War Minister who couldn’t run a pretend war with toy soldiers, said to be against, and the comical Liam 'Espresso' Byrne, of “Working with...” fame also opposing the deal.

One minister, who is obviously not courageous enough to put his name to the statement, is said by The Times to have described the proposal as "obscene" and that Labour had to "get real" while another equally brave soul said, "It strikes me this is all about giving Gordon another six months in the job". Oh how they love their leader. He is still leader isn’t he?

As the days slip by and time wears on Jon Cruddas, a backbencher pointed out that the Unions and the national Executive would have to agree any deal. So...three to four weeks to organise a secret ballot and ....erm.... postal votes...

More trouble at t’mill appears to be coming from ex-minister Kate Hoey who said that people were looking at the negotiators, Mandleson, Adonis, Campbell, and saying “we were elected, they weren’t, why are they doing the deals?” Actually Kate, you self important little woman, WE, the public have been wondering why these same people were running the country. (Oh, don’t tell me you thought it was Brown.) But it’s OK till they are standing on YOUR toes, is it?

I couldn’t help laughing at old Paddy Pantsdown, who, only a few days ago warned against a ragtag coalition, and has now said that while he still held that view, a minority Lib-Lab coalition could provide stability. Yeah, whatever Paddy.

In the meantime Cameron looks less and less statesman like as he considers for the first time in a couple of years that he may NOT be prime minister of England and a tiny bit in the south of Scotland in a few days.

I also have to say that I cannot for the life of me, think of a good reason why Alex Salmond would want to align himself with London parties in anything but the loosest possible way. In, in fact, the same ways that these English based parties align themselves to him in the Scottish parliament.

I dunno... British politicians put to the test of trying to form a government and ending up doing what they do best.

Failing.

Pic: Jack Straw looking incandescent about something with David Miliband looking on and Spud looking ....well, like Spud. Daft.

............................