Reading between the lines of Gordon Brown's overture to the new Liberal Democrat leader as reported here every taxpayer should keep a firm hand on their wallet. The worthy goals of constitutional reform are, I fear, camouflage for the more urgent business of funding party politics. Lib-Dem support is needed to get proposed legislation expected to be tabled early in the New Year through the Commons. Brown is willing to include donation caps as well as spending caps by all accounts.
Both party leaders face major financial problems of their own making, both parties have been seeking increased state funding for their political activities on the spurious pretext of cleaning up British politics.
Will Nick Clegg adopt a principled approach and shame Labour by opting to rely on increased membership and small donations, in addition to pressing the case for electoral reform for the House of Commons?