As I’m writing this, it’s still not clear who is going to be the next British Prime Minister. What is clear is that whoever it will be is going to have to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in order to govern.

As often happens when we watch events unfold in other countries, the inevitable question is always: what if it had to happen here?

The idea of neither the Labour nor Nationalist party obtaining a clear majority and having to form an alliance with Alternattiva Demokratika fills some people with horror. The same kind of horror, in fact, which the Tory and Labour leaders have been expressing these past few weeks when they realised that Nick Clegg was actually a threat – and yet there they were all over the news, having to backpedal furiously, gulp down their pride and reluctantly admit that they are “open” to negotiations with the Lib Dems.

Politicians, political pundits and spin doctors have been quick to point an accusing finger at the electorate, as if to say, “it’s your fault, if you cannot even make up your mind who you want”.

But that’s the whole point isn’t it? The voters in the United Kingdom have made it very clear that they want a change from the two traditional parties, which is why the result has delivered a hung Parliament, with neither Brown nor Cameron given an absolute majority. In other words, no single party has enough MPs – 326 – to win parliamentary votes without the support of members of other parties.

Now in Malta this would be the worst case scenario for some, but perhaps in the light of recent events, it would be not be such a bad thing for our MPs to learn how to eat humble pie, negotiate and compromise rather than just bulldoze their way over what their constituents want.

The signs of a lack of confidence in Britain’s major parties were all there for everyone to see, but perhaps it suits the politicians to blame the voters, rather than admit that not enough of those voters bought into their spiel.

While there was some tactical voting for the smaller parties (to keep Labour or Conservatives out depending on one’s choice) in the end the haemorrhage of votes showed a swing from Labour to Conservative in many constituencies. After 13 years of the same party, a section of people felt a change was long overdue. The swing was not enough, however, to defeat Brown completely who, as we speak, is still in with a chance to retain power. So while some fell for Cameron’s polished pink-tinged charms, others remained resolutely unconvinced.

Unfortunately for Clegg, his TV charisma did not translate into quite enough votes either.

Perhaps people were made nervous by the scaremongering. In an interesting parallel with what happens here, as soon as pundits realised that the Lib Dems posed a real danger, the knives came out and we heard the same arguments of a “wasted vote” and “voting for Lib Dems will only result in Labour (or Tory) winning by default”.

As it turns out, however, enough people took the plunge to make the difference which is why Britain is holding its breath this weekend until it learns who will be occupying No. 10 Downing Street.

Admittedly, a hung Parliament does not make life easy for those who like life to be tucked into neat little boxes: red or blue, with us or against. As I watched the British news coverage, you could see the astonishment on many faces, as they kept repeating how this was an “extraordinary” turn of events where no definite winner has emerged and how a relatively small party like the Lib Dems is effectively in a position to pick and choose which of the options being placed on the table suits it best.

Although as results go, Nick Clegg’s party did not do as well as everyone was expecting, his 57 seats are still enough to place him in the position of kingmaker. Even as he spoke to the press about his disappointment at losing six seats (despite winning 23 per cent of the vote), he was still keenly aware that the balance of power lies in his hands. He is also in a very strong position now to force the other two parties to do something about electoral reform - the numbers in this election amply show that the first past the post system is seriously flawed and works against a multi-party system.

Meanwhile, critics of coalitions keep ranting about how this will lead to an “unstable” government, but if the intention of a democratic election is to accurately reflect what people want, then their will must be respected.

Otherwise, why should we bother to vote?

Yes, Prime Minister, we are all disgusted

The Prime Minister was on Net TV on Friday night, ashen-faced, speaking in shocked, hushed tones at how “disgusted” he felt at the Labour MPs’ unseemly behaviour in Parliament. There was swearing, he said, obscenities were hurled and a complete lack of respect towards the highest institution in the land.

I’m so relieved that he is still able to feel disgust because for a while there I thought he had become immune to people comporting themselves in a vulgar, unacceptable way. For once, I agree with him completely – institutions, as well as people with opposing views, should always be respected even though you might disagree with them with every fibre of your being. I believe it shows true character, and (dare I say it?) good breeding, when you are able to voice your own arguments coherently without resorting to name-calling, insults and denigrating, personal attacks.

So, I’m very pleased we are on the same page on this point.

As for what caused the uproar, here is my take on it.

Mario Galea’s voting mistake was just that, he corrected it immediately and Labour is grasping at straws if it truly believes that his “yes” vote should count in favour of their motion. While, technically speaking, they are correct, and according to Parliamentary procedure the original vote should stand – the famous lapsus case by Frans Agius in 1997 has been quoted as a precedent – I still believe they are stretching it here.

Where I do agree with Labour’s version of events is in what happened next. Unlike what happened after Mario Galea’s vote, there was clearly no uproar after Justyne Caruana cast her vote – so for Nationalist MPs to state belatedly that she made a mistake just because one of their MPs slipped up, seems to be verging on downright deceit.

I watched the footage of the MPs trailing out one by one from Parliament, and maybe I was reading too much into their body language, but apart from a certain defiant look here and there, a few of them looked almost shame-faced.

For the sake of the respect which should be shown towards the country’s highest institution I do hope I am wrong. But if it is proved that this was, indeed, a blatant lie, I trust that Dr Gonzi will feel equally shocked and disgusted.

[email protected]