IT'S been just over 100 days since the Liberal Democrats took the bold decision to permit the Conservatives to form a Government. Nick Clegg and Dave Cameron have been running the country ever since then.
The “ConDems” have therefore had just over three months to prove themselves. Is it enough time to know how they’re faring?
Not really. While we’re now beginning to get some idea of which MPs are going to make the top flight and which aren’t (though even this is a little premature at this stage), the performance of a whole Government is harder to judge.
The main players – those with either a high public profile or a formal role in Parliament – have had a fairly easy run so far.
That’s because, while the media will certainly begin to turn on politicians in the normal cycle of things, this hasn’t happened yet. So the “honeymoon period” continues, with a visible warmth between Cameron and Clegg occupying a vaguely curious and, sadly, rather lazy press to an inordinate degree.
Furthermore, there are a few signs of promising developments regarding British law. They may ban private wheel clamping.
This will please Newtown folk who may have fallen fowl of such sharp practice in the centre of our small, and usually generous-minded, community.
I’m hopeful that a similar approach may be taken regarding the legalisation of Segways.
The other useful thing for the administration has been the relative passivity of the “backbenchers” – that’s MPs with no formal Government responsibility who are expected to vote at the command of their leaders for whatever comes their way.
I admit to being something of a rebel as an MP.
I think it’s important to follow your conscience, not the party line. Most MPs take the opposite view, and this is helping to generate the image of unity – of great importance to the Tory and Lib Dem leadership.
So the first 100 days have gone well. The bigger challenges will come when local cuts are made in the name of saving money.
That’s when local MPs will be put to the test.
The strongest ones will win and protect their services more than the weaker ones.
That’ll test the unity of the coalition, and of the teams within each party.
But, in the words of a former Prime Minister – “there is no alternative.”
That’s what Governing is all about.
With the “party conference” season pending, the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour will do some navel gazing, and I’ll keep you posted on all that.
For now, the first 100 days get a thumbs up from Mister Öpik.
The next 100 days will be a lot less certain.