Potential hung parliament could strangle nation to edge

10 Downing Street (Image: Spectator)

It is hard to believe that we are less than 100 days until the general election. It's tougher to think that it was nearly five years ago when David Cameron occupied 10 Downing Street. In this instance, time has absolutely flown by and yet sandwiched between these two days, so much has gone on - it is impossible to consider where to start reflecting. 

You can start with November 2010 when the student riots after the government's decision to increase University tuition fees to £6-9,000 per year. You can then go on and mention the riots that damaged businesses across the UK after thousands raged against austerity in August 2011. You can then argue that there was a state of equilibrium in 2012 when the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London was embraced by the world. But things got a little paranoid soon afterwards when the Eurozone entered crisis point while statistically the British economy was starting to pick up. Then UK saved face in 2014 when Scotland decided to stick to their situation and not do it alone, but then again, the protest of the Scottish National Party (SNP), the primary orchestrators of the Independence parade, inspired other minor parties to step up their game and lock horns with the big guns.

So we're at a point now where a "hung parliament" is looking increasingly likely. Like 2010, the British public will be divided as to who should reside at arguably the most famous street in the country. This time, however, at this stage of the election campaign, we are expecting this to happen.  And the press are revelling in it - making daily predictions that get voters on their toes. The minor parties are in the papers more, fuelling speculation that, should they gain a certain number of MPs, they'll be negotiating with either the Conservatives or Labour in order to receive the power they need to influence policy. So you can tell that certain parties are sucking up to the 'big guns'.

Nick Clegg and David Cameron, May 2010 (Image: BBC)

It is clear that both David Cameron and Ed Miliband are sucking up to the smaller parties too. While we anticipate the TV debates that gave Nick Clegg the platform to influence the public to gain him the initial respect he hoped for five years ago, the Greens, The Party That Shall Not Be Named, Plaid Cymru and the SNP are hoping to boost the profile of their leaders so they can get a "fair chance" in this election. The BBC and Sky in particular have been performing negotiations of their own by distinguishing the 'main contenders' that should get centre stage so close to May 7th. Cameron said he won't partake unless the Green Party is involved, because The Party That Shall Not Be Named are likely to take part in at least one of the proposed debates.

I for one cannot wait until the election as this political football phase can come to an end. The whining, the complaining and blaming has gotten my head spinning. It will soon become desperation by the parties involved and daily scandal as the election set to reach fever pitch. It's the election everyone is talking about, and I'm predicting record turnouts in certain constituencies, and hopefully, less tactical voting.

Ed Miliband (Image: Daily Mail)

But with there being a 99% chance of a hung parliament, who should form a coalition with who? The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have defied all odds and are set to last the full five years together in matrimony, but yet this partnership is likely to end by May 7th as Clegg hints he won't make that mistake second time around. The SNP and the Green Party could opt to side with Miliband's Labour Party which seems likely depending on how many MPs they gain in order to reach the 326 majority target, but The Party Who Shall Not Be Named have firmly distanced themselves from the Tories.

We're all playing the guessing game but if anyone influential in this instance read this post, the message I'd give to them is 'go alone'. That is of course my words to both Labour and Conservatives - and to the minor parties, I don't see any point of them bothering to put their reputation on the line by trying to big themselves up and join the 'big boys'. Clegg learned that the hard way and his party is set to suffer come May 7th. Do the Greens really want to head that way? Their stance on fracking and the environment is in its way, influencing government policy now - something that has little guarantee in happening should they be part of a future coalition government.

I sense that should the Conservatives gain the most MPs this time around, they wouldn't mind forming a minority government. Some of their supporters may argue that the Liberal Democrats somewhat held the Tories back and that is something Labour would consider as well. If they're passionate about a policy but the SNP interfere, it would affect their vision of a "better Britain" and therefore internal tensions as we have noticed on several occasions with the current coalition. Time will only tell, however, and it's perhaps time that they can all be friends? Probably not.