Rafael Behr’s excellent article (Negative campaigning is a form of collective vandalism, 18 March) rightly highlights the feasibility – even the desirability – of coalition government. He quotes local administrations in the UK where it seems to function, and his comparison with commercial advertising is very much to the point. But he makes no mention of anywhere outside the UK.
In fact coalition government is widespread in the EU, including many of the most successful countries: Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland all have coalition governments. Australia, New Zealand and Japan also. It is surely in these countries, and not in the rather patchy record of local administration in the UK, that the real proof of the feasibility of coalition government is to be found. The key argument for one-party government has always been that it is the only way to provide clear direction to a country, whereas the real truth is that all governments – like commercial companies – respond to changing circumstances and unpredictable events, and how they respond must be, or should be, more pragmatic than ideological.
In an earlier age, the bipolar distinction between workers (Labour) and bosses (Conservative) provided a simple choice, but now (and perhaps always) we hold a wide range of differing opinions and attitudes – Green, SNP, Ukip and more – and these views need to be taken into account by government. We should view coalition government not as a messy, unsatisfactory compromise but as the best way forward to reflect the multiple views of the citizens, and countries all over the world are proving this every day. It is not perfect, of course, but it is far more inclusive, and it does discourage parties, as Behr points out, from this dreadful habit of trashing each other – such a wasteful and destructive way of doing politics.
Nick Shepherd
London
• Thank you Jack Monroe for helping me make up my mind (Food blogger Jack Monroe joins Greens, 18 March). I’ve just read through the Green’s detailed defence policy. That it’s called Peace & Defence says it all. I’ve always voted Labour, but in May I’ll be voting for Gabby Garcia, Leicester South’s Green candidate. It’s unlikely my vote will make much difference as we have a diligent Labour MP with a large majority, but who knows? I’d like to think it’s a small step towards Jack Monroe’s “ideal world” of a Labour/SNP/Green coalition.
Karin Koller
Leicester
