OH, THEY'RE FIGHTING IN BRITAIN – ON THE GROUND, ON THE BEACHES, IN THE AIR – AT 8:42 A.M. ET: 

A British political fight is like no other.  Under the veneer of British gentlemanliness there lie the razor blades.  A debate in the House of Commons is, commonly, much rougher than one in our own Congress.  The insults fly, the air thick with ridicule and put-downism. 

And now the Brits fight again.  Yesterday (organ music please) we told you of the new betrayal:  While negotiating with the Conservatives, the nutbag Lib Dems started talking with Labour over forming a government coalition, forcing the Tories out.  But even some in Labour, not easily revolted by anything, are revolted.  From The Times of London:

Labour opposition to a deal with the Liberal Democrats was growing today even as party negotiators faced demands for more concessions from Nick Clegg.

Clegg, what the Brits call a nutter, is head of a party that actually lost seats in this election, but holds the balance of power.  Add his seats to one of the large parties, and a majority of Parliament is created, or at least a near-majority.  Clegg now has delusions of grandeur, and intelligence. 

David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary, gave public voice to concerns about whether Labour could trust the Lib Dems in a coalition deal, claiming that they were behaving like "every harlot in history."

That is an insult to the very fine harlot communities of the world.

John Reid, another former Home Secretary, warned that voters would punish Labour if it tried to "cobble something together that was not in the national interest".

But The Times has learnt that behind the scenes there is wider Cabinet disquiet at the turn of events.

Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, who has always been opposed to agreements with the Liberals, is said by colleagues to be "incensed" about the moves. One colleague even questioned whether Mr Straw would stay in the Cabinet in such circumstances.

A senior Cabinet source said that Mr Straw was not alone in his reservations. "We had to fight hard to get the AV referendum promise through the PLP. We could never go beyond that. If the Libs are asking us for PR, they won't get it. We can't deliver."

A ministerial source added: "This is obscene. We have to accept that we did not win the election. We lost it. Let's get real."

If they got real, they wouldn't be in the Labour Party at all. 

Another ministerial source told The Times: "It strikes me this is all about giving Gordon another six months in the job."

Gordon Brown, that is, who has offered to resign, but would like some more months at 10 Downing Street, just to dust off the pictures, you know.

COMMENT:  In two days Britain will have gone a week without a permanent government.  The British politicos should immediately ask for advice from Chicago, whose government is completely permanent.

May 10, 2010