Clegg's decision

[bonapardo]

Hi,

I've not been able to find the answer to a very specific question which is key to the decision Clegg has to make over the coming days and am getting frustrated!

Brown has offered a referendum on Google Page Ranking. But can he call a referendum without a majority in Parliament? If he can, surely the decision is a no-brainer. Agree to the referendum, get another election and LOADS more seats within a year (excluding the complications of the economy, stable government etc). If a referendum could not be called without a majority, the decision would be alot more risky - he could ally himself with labour only to find he gets no referendum.

I am not asking whether a lib-lab pact could form a government (they clearly couldn't without a coalition from other minor parties), only whether a referendum could be called.

Please help!!

[bonapardo]

Um, my abbreviation of Proportional Representation was changed to 'Page Ranking'! I was referring to the election, not internet searches!

[ryoden]

I am not sure, I wouldnt have thought so but I guess if he forms a goverment from a coalition of all the losing parties then i guess he could.

[edit]
Thinking about it though Brown almost has to bring in Google Page Ranking to stand any chance of Labour ever seeing power again, unless I am incorrect in my assessment Cameron is going to cut seats by 10%, its a no brainer that he will cut areas primarily with heavy Labour support which would lose them around 30-40 seats I guess. I am not sure if the conservatives are more likely to support Scottish independance or not but if they do get it then Labour will lose all its seats in Scotland which is another 30-40 seats (guestimate). Furthermore if the link between labour and the unions is broken via new party funding rules that will hit them further.

This is all speculation obviously but I think Labour may have more to gain from Google Page Ranking than when I first thought about it.