Greens hold the balance so they aren’t gone yet

I’ve not had much sleep – but what little rest I have had has given a little bit of time to reflect on what the election both nationally and locally means.

Let’s start with the bigger picture. And I’m not the only one who was tucking into an election breakfast of boiled hat.

Who really believed the Conservatives would win a majority?

Who really believed Ed Miliband’s Labour would do so badly?

And who really believed that the Scottish nationalist roar would be so loud or that the Liberal Democrats’ fall from power would be so dramatic?

I think even the Queen thought she would be able to have a few days off, sitting back in one’s dressing gown watching discussions unfold.

As it was, she was welcoming David Cameron into her home and giving him permission to return to Downing Street.

It was a victory like no other and one people like me will be analysing for years.

But the thing I’m most disappointed about is that it will probably draw a line under any form of coalition ever running the country again.

Let’s go back five years. The country was in a sorry state – it was heading for financial meltdown and the election saw no party in overall control.

It was then that Nick Clegg decided to throw his lot in with the Conservatives saying that it was in the best interest of the country that they did so.

Who can forget that scene in the rose garden when everything seemed, well, rosy?

For the first time in decades, the Liberals were returning to government.

And, you know what, it worked – with the country being run in a professional, mature manner.

Disagreements and debate were encouraged and overall politics was better for that C word – compromise.

But now we know that was the start of the end.

Reportedly, after signing the coalition deal, William Hague told his wife: “I’ve just destroyed the Liberal Democrats forever.” Well, what a wise man he was.

From 50-plus MPs, they now have just seven.

Gone are the big hitters such as Vince Cable, Norman Baker and Danny Alexander – all competent politicians who care about what they do.

It’s something the party will likely never recover from.

And it’s also a warning shot that will mean that coalition politics will never happen again, at least while the first past the post electoral system remains.

Locally, there were no real surprises. The Greens lost control of the city council with Labour and Conservatives making gains.

And as most, including this now hatless commentator, predicted, no one had a majority.

Instead it’s Labour under Warren Morgan who look like they’ll form an administration.

But with Conservatives just a few seats behind, the real power will rest with the Greens.

Yes, they are the smallest party, smarting from widespread losses across the city.

But looking at those Greens who were elected, it seems as though they are in a good place for active opposition.

Gone are the more moderate types such as Jason Kitcat, Bill Randall and Geoffrey Bowden.

Councillor Alex Phillips

Councillor Alex Phillips

In their place is a more left-leaning core, led by Phelim MacCafferty and Alex Phillips.

Freed from the shackles of being in power, they can now cause havoc.

This is the position they want to be in – a place of opposition where they can shout at the errors made by a Conservative government nationally and Labour administration locally.

Some of you may claim that the Greens may never return to power again in our city.

But with the changes at both national and local level, they’ve never been in a more powerful place to launch their renaissance.

And with the support of a Green MP, this is not the wipeout that some – not me, mind – predicted or hoped for.

During the last four years the Labour group showed how effective the city council’s smallest party can be – forcing others’ hands when they want, turning a blind eye at other times.

Some criticised them for it.

But this is politics – it’s about listening, debating, but above all compromise.

For that reason, while nationally we may have seen the end of the Liberal Democrats as a power, don’t write off the Greens just yet.