The Lib Dem Triple Lock mechanism
The Liberal Democrats are ready to hold a special conference within a couple of days if a deal is done with the Conservatives or Labour.
This is the third part of the Liberal Democrats' so-called Triple Lock, agreed at their conference in Southport in 1998. This requires backing from three quarters of all Lib Dem MPs, and three quarters of the party's federal executive, and failing that two thirds of a special party conference.
A number of locations have been earmarked, I'm told, and the plan is that the conference will comprise the same people who would normally attend the annual conference.
I'm also told that the party is likely to seek approval from a party conference even if it doesn't have to, and the deal has achieved the necessary backing from MPs and the federal executive.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 10th May 2010, barriesingleton wrote:SCRATCH NICK FIND TONY?
I wonder if Nick now has 'Narrow Virus' (caught from Blair?) that narrows focus to a person goal, and sees little else. A symptom, of course, is 'I can persuade anyone of anything' (remember that?). Might he draw up a dossier, and tell his followers: "I know stuff I can't tell you, but trust me" (remember that?).
Blair blatantly ignored millions. Clegg may only have to ignore a few rowdy thousands - easy when you have Westminster politics in your blood.
The future's bright - the futures muddy-orange.
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Comment number 2.
At 10th May 2010, stevie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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