The kind of coalition that might work - and could save the UK

An obvious idea occurred to me yesterday, inspired by party leaders' different warnings. Cameron was warning that a vote for Labour could let the SNP in and how that would break up the UK. Meanwhile Miliband was warning Scottish voters that voting for anyone other than Labour, including SNP, could land them a Tory government.

The SNP appear to be on course to win the vast majority of seats in Scotland. If Labour are in a position to form a coalition and the SNP are willing to join it, that could be a great deal for the UK, couldn't it? Nicola Sturgeon appears to be moving the party on from Salmond's big speak and bluster approach. He spent his time in power trying to get as much for Scotland as possible seemingly  without having any other clear direction. Now I get the impression that Sturgeon feels many people were put off voting yes in the independence referendum because they weren't convinced that Salmond could really pull off his bold claims. What I hear her say speaks more about direction and ideals than separation although separation is necessary if the direction the Westminster government is taking the UK is far removed from what the Scottish people want. She wears her working class roots on her sleeve and suggests that the SNP provide the alternative option that Labour used to.

A coalition of Labour and SNP could deliver two things. If the largest Scottish party is part of the UK government, that could bring post-referendum stability. And in tandem with a party whose leader (like her predecessor) cites Harold Wilson as the greatest UK prime minister, Labour could have a reason to move back to the left.

Of course the Tories and UKIP and their chums in the media would cause a huge fuss, claiming that Scots who wanted out are now making policies for England. But Labour and the SNP will have five years to make life better for the majority of the population.

I would vote for that.