I took a bit of a break from blogging after the excitment of last week. But for now let it be said that I am broadly happy with the outcome of the election, that the coalition document is mostly a delight to read (the civil liberties section gives me a special kind of glee, although the education and environment sections don’t go far enough), and that it’s a genuine thrill to see Lib Dem ministers in government at last. Theresa May grates, but she made the right noises for yesterday’s International Day Against Homophobia And Transphobia, and the awe-inspiring Lynne Featherstone – my constituency MP – is the minister with the actual responsibility for the Equalities portfolio. I don’t think that this government can make itself popular – it’s going to have to make some unpleasant policy decisions over the next five years if Britain is to survive – but the aims to which it aspires are promising.

The House of Commons at Westminster as drawn by Augustus Pugin and Thomas Rowlandson for Ackermann’s Microcosm of London (1808-11). The Commons chamber shown here was destroyed by fire in 1834. Sourced from Wimedia Commons.

Today sees the re-election of the Speaker. Traditionally this is waved through unopposed, but the Tory back benches are in rebellious mood, and Lib Dem grandee Ming Campbell has indicated that he would be interested in the role. For what it’s worth, I don’t think that will happen – I suspect that Bercow will sail through on a 500-30 vote. More to the point, I don’t think it should happen. Bercow has been a fine speaker so far – again, Lynne Featherstone has an interesting perspective on this (and while I’m rhapsodising, it’s so nice to have an MP who blogs) – and the fact that he inspired Nigel Farage to run against him, and won, is a big point in his favour. More to the point, the coalition doesn’t need a big humiliating defeat so soon out of the gate. I suspect that the whips won’t allow that to happen.

Interestingly enough, though, it does go to show how marginalised the Tory dinosaurs are feeling in the new Government. The rebellion is being lead by bluer-than-blue Nadine Dorries (she of the abortion limitation bill and the £25,000 second home allowance expenses claims). One of the more interesting ideas thrown up by the coalition document is that the extent to which the Lib Dem’s proposals were incorporated was inspired as much by Cameron’s desire to beat down his own right wing as it was to pacify the Lib Dems. Whether or not that’s true, certainly the right wing of the Tory party feels beaten down. The Tories could be in the midst of their own Clause 4 moment, which would be entertaining if they weren’t having it while simultaneously trying to govern.

Anyway, I like Ming, but I hope that Bercow keeps his job.