Liberal Democrats: Growing Pains

There are two possible readings of the past seven days in politics. First, that it has been the toughest week so far for the Lib Dem wing of the coalition. They have fought valiantly to put a positive gloss on their contribution to mellowing harsh Conservative instincts, but with only partial success. Tuesday's emergency budget is the watershed in the relationship between the Liberal Democrats in government and their centre-left supporters, while Nick Clegg is the lost leader, and it will never be glad confident morning again. Alternatively, it can be seen as a tough lesson in the realities of coalition politics that everyone who favours a fairer electoral system is going to have to get used to. No single party can ever deliver everything its supporters want and nor can a coalition: the best it can aim to do is to deliver as much as it can of its programme while conceding as little as possible of what offends against its principles.