Coalition 2015?

The 2015 election may be a political age away, but predicting what might happen in that election is still a useful way to understand the Coalition.

So what are the options?

1. Conservatives and Lib Dems fight the election as two separate parties.

Problematic, especially for the Lib Dems, as the two parties will be campaigning on the same achievements (and cuts), with an inability to criticise each other.  Will almost guarantee victory for Labour.

2. Conservatives and Lib Dems fight the election in an alliance.

Has the advantage of presenting a united front against Labour and allowing each party to present their own ideas.  But surely a Coalition agreement would have to be prepared before the election, which could create all sorts of trouble.  And what if the Conservatives won enough seats to not need the Lib Dems afterwards?

3. Conservatives and Lib Dems merge and fight election as joint entity.

Eliminates problems withe reponsibility for cuts etc.  Could be very unpopular with MPs such as Nadine Dorries, who has already said that she would rather die than see a full merger with the Lib Dems.  Would some right-wing Tory MPs break away?

Notice the 'coulds' and 'what ifs'.  It's far too early to tell what the future of the Coaltion will be, or even if it will last until 2015.  But rest assured, both Cameron and Clegg will be thinking about where the Coalition is going.