Dust beginning to settle.

Can just about see light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing that can be described as 'out of the woods'. But during the day, I've spoken with someone who might run my office at Westminster, and another someone who might start dealing with the mountain of constituency work at home, and have decided where my constituency office will be. All in all, I sense the threat of disorder to be receding. Main problem has been the unexpected media opportunity that came my way in the back-wash of a high profile election win/defeat. Couldn't afford to let such a chance pass by ungrabbed. And today, I was back on my favorite programme of all - Called to Order - though not of course with the late great Patrick Hannan. But fair play, Adrian Masters is doing a decent job of trying to fill those very large shoes.

Big issue today, as its been for days, was the Coalition. All my political life, my main opponents have been the Liberal Democrats - and here I am, climbing into bed with them. And with enthusiasm - though I must admit its a case of 'needs must' bed-sharing rather than a 'starry eyed consummation'. The most serious political issue of our time is Britain's need for a stable government to tackle a financial and economic crisis. Its likely that very unpopular actions will have to be taken. Most sensible people know this - and know that it would have been the case whatever the result of the election. A Conservative minority government could not have carried its programme, and there would have been another election later in the year. The idea of a Labour/Lib Dem/Uncle Tom Cobley coalition would have been rejected as a story line by Hans Christian Anderson as too far fetched. It was time for the holding of noses an doing what had to be done - by Lib Dems as well as Conservatives.

And now its done I can see some local advantage here in Montgomeryshire. Normally, the defeated Lib Dems would have kicked lumps out of the heartless 'Tories' for 'savage, ruthless cuts'. Now of course it will all be a necessary and balanced reassessment of priorities. No wonder Kirsty Williams, the Lib Dem leader in Wales was reported to have left the National Assembly in floods of tears this week - though I must admit this could be no more than an ugly rumour. Please tell me if its true. Now that we are in coalition (though not in Wales as Ms Willliams pointed out when out walking today with new Sec of State, Cheryl Gillan) I must show concern when my new buddies are upset. I hope to post tomorrow on what sort of deal I think the coalition agreement is.