Nick Clegg is now damaged goods, perhaps beyond repair. Signing up to the pledge for short-term advantage has ruined their position within the Coalition. The anger at the government is genuine: and university reforms harness the worst of both worlds. A pricing policy for a centrally planned system, denying competition in higher education. Only innovation, productivity and competition can reduce costs in this sector.
The anger at the Liberal Democrats may be bad for the left-wing of the party. We could see a number of defections at local and national level to Labour, reminiscent of the departure of opportunists from the Tory party in 1997. Now they have had a taste of power, they search out a would-be successor. Yet, this could be good news for the coalition: as liberal wings in both parties shore each other up. Despite the storm over tuition fees and the mess, common ground and electoral weakness may drive the Tories and Liberals even closer.
That suggests Clegg’s leadership cannot be guaranteed for the duration of the first Coalition Parliament but is conditional on the LibDem grassroots being unable to find themselves a credible leader to find a way back to a discarded Liberal faith.
The parliamentary party may value power, but the grassroots does not have the stomach for compromise. Thereare more dreams to be crushed before we get through this.