Unite Or Die: Cameron Tries To Avoid Splits

"Inevitably, these negotiations will involve compromise. But that's what working together in the national interest means. I hope we can sort things out as quickly as possible, for the good of the country. But we won't rush into any agreement. We've got to make sure that anything that results really is the best possible outcome for Britain - that it really is in the national interest. After all, that's what this party has always been about. That's what I'm about. And I know that's what you want, and what the country wants right now too." - David Cameron, e-mail to party supporters, 8th May 2010

Tonight, David Cameron has made it blindingly clear the two futures facing the Conservatives. Form a coalition, and they will make gains in the long run. Fail to do a deal, and they will be punished by an angry electorate. But then, so will the Liberal Democrats.

This already looks like a deal that could crumble at any point. Cameron has made it quite clear that there will be no compromise on Europe, immigration, or defence: but these are issues that are simply too large to ignore at the moment.

In other recent developments, Clegg and Cameron have met for private talks this evening, in a meeting that lasted almost an hour. But the TV debates did not lie. These two are dangerously polarised, and many supporters of both parties will be horrified to see their man cave in to the other.

Put it this way: if a man can watch Lord of the Rings, read most of a Saturday broadsheet, have a few cups of tea, update his diary, go out to get fish and chips, come back, watch Doctor Who, watch Over The Rainbow, and then look at BBC News to find that a deal still hasn't been made: well, it doesn't take a political expert to realise this might take a while.

The question is, just how long will it take? My guess would be Monday evening. But at this rate, it might well be the Monday evening that no-one expected.

Monday 25th.

We shall see.

Evening Stanners