Guido's beloved FDP

Guido is very impressed with the result of the German election, particularly that of the third party, the pro-business, anti-tax, anti-regulation Free Democrats. And he chides the Lib Dems for not yet congratulating their 'liberal' German equivalents:

Cameron was quick to offer fraternal congratulations to Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats. So far no word from Clegg, the Free Democrats are their sister party and sit with the LibDems in the European Parliament.

The German FDP have had their best showing in decades on a pro-business, tax-cutting manifesto which has driven the Social Democrats out of the government. Most LibDems seem disinterested, only LiberalVision is ecstatic. Makes you wonder if they prefer permanent opposition…

Two quick points:

The FDP got 14.6% of the vote in Germany on Sunday. The Lib Dems here got 18.3% in 2005 on a perhaps less Fawkes-friendly ticket of raising taxes on the rich.

The FDP benefits from a much fairer, more proportional, electoral system which Guido presumably supports ... though I can find no mention whatsoever of electoral reform on his blog.

Sorry if this sounds insufferably po-faced or anything!

Over-60s stand firm for Brown

Crazy 48 hours, huh?

Here's a useful tally of those ministers who have resigned, come out for GB, stayed silent since Purnell's resignation last night

***BBC has just reported Hoon has stepped down, as I write***

Not sure how much more of this the Govt can cope with. But with the reshuffle largely complete, GB may be secure, for now. Well, until Monday, if the James Purnell/Phil Collins strategy is vindicated.

Most of the Labour voters I spoke to on the doorstep were none too impressed with the scheming against Brown. Granted, most were women over 60 (94 in one case). But I think they may have a point in their wariness of doing something so impulsive and risky. Things may look bad now, but perhaps a bit of faith is what's required.

***MORE BAD NEWS: Tories take control of Derbyshire County Council***

***MORE BAD NEWS: Tories take control of Lancashire County Council***