Tom Richmond: We need a true government of all the talents

WITH a Conservative election victory far from being the foregone conclusion that it appeared several months ago, it is inevitable that David Cameron will warn of the dangers of a hung parliament during the campaign.

Like many, the Tory leader believes that the country needs the May 6 election to deliver a strong government capable of taking long-term decisions for the future.

It will be a close-run thing. Despite the latest opinion polls showing the Tories widening their lead over Labour, Cameron acknowledged that the result would be "tight" – probably closer than the finish of today's Grand National at Aintree.

Yet, would an indecisive result be so damaging?

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Certainly, the Tories and Labour are struggling to win over undecided voters. They're also unlikely to when so much of their time is spent rubbishing each other rather than making a progressive, and positive, argument.

Given this, why should voters then be blamed for not delivering the majority that Cameron, or Gordon Brown, so demand? Perhaps a hung parliament is what they think the country deserves.

It would certainly be a test for the country's political leaders, especially given the scale of the crisis in the public finances. But, perhaps, it might compel our politicians to enter a spirit of

co-operation – and work together for a change. Talking to many people, they say there are individuals in each of the main parties that they like, admire and, more importantly, trust. William Hague and Ken Clarke for the Tories; Vince Cable and Norman Baker for the Lib Dems; Alistair Darling and Alan Johnson for Labour. They all have positive ratings. The problem is that they're outflanked by individuals who are not regarded as team players.

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But, if the public vote for a hung parliament, those MPs returned with Westminster should accept the consequences and work together to tackle the nation's problems. Judging by the recent televised debate between the Chancellors, there is far more common ground than they would lead us to believe.

What happens if, instead, there's a second election that proves

similarly indecisive? What then? That's why this election needs to be far more about how the parties aim to lower the deficit rather than the lambasting of rival plans. In short, they need to give the electorate a positive reason to vote for one of the main parties – rather than the leaders simply complaining about their lot.

When he came to power three long years ago, Gordon Brown promised a "government of all the talents". It did not work out – in part because he became too divisive. Yet this is precisely what Britain needs at a time of economic crisis.

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SOMETIMES, it is the most simple suggestions that have the power to be the most effective. Take Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman's intervention when Parliament discussed the countryside and the future of farming

"Does the Minister share my concern about a Natural England survey showing that the likelihood of child visiting any green space has halved in a generation? Is it not about time that we opened up the countryside and showed children where food is grown?" he asked.

He's right. The problem is that Labour's nanny state has left the school curriculum so cluttered that there's no time for pupils to be taught about such matters. More's the pity.

IF only the simplicity of Barry Sheerman's suggestion applied to other aspects of policy-making.

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There's the example of the community police officers refusing to cross the street in some areas because they will only patrol within their boundary guidelines. Evidently, it does not matter that the street comes under the jurisdiction of the same police force. Rules are rules, say these inflexible bobbies who, in another case, told a crime victim in Hull to phone the police because they were off duty.

Their adherence to the rule book has seen a police community support officer in another part of Britain order a man to remove a home-made sign warning motorists of potholes.

The public-spirited citizens was accused of "distracting drivers". Yet the winter freeze means potholes are one of the greatest hazards to face all road users.

Where's the common sense – and why are our politicians so quiet on the need for simpler, and more effective, rules?

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AT least somebody in the Conservative Party is having a laugh. Given the reluctance of Labour's Pudsey candidate Jamie Hanley to even

name-check Gordon Brown in his election literature, the billboard by his Horsforth office now shows a huge cheesy picture of the Prime

Minister – with the slogan "I increased the gap between rich and poor. Vote for me."

Perhaps this explains why Labour's leader appears to be persona non grata in this marginal constituency.

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STUART Hall's nostalgic look back at famous football interviews was haunting – just for the way Cliff Morgan allowed Harry Gregg, the Manchester United goalkeeper, to talk about the full horror of the 1958 Munich air disaster without interruption.

It wouldn't happen today with radio broadcasters like Arlo White, thankfully departed from the BBC, and the equally verbose Colin

Murray more interested in their own voices than the view of their interviewees.

AS the election campaign breaks for the Grand National, I would suggest that our politicians following the humility shown by Aidan Coleman – the jockey who turned down the chance to ride Mon Mome, the eventual 100-1 winner, in last year's race.

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"A lot of better people than me have made worse decisions. No one died. Worse things happen," this seriously impressive 21-year-old told me ahead of today's race. If only such level-headed individuals were standing for Parliament...