Was I happy about the prospect of a Conservative government? No. Am I happy about a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition? I’m open to the possibility that I might be.

Those of us who have been campaigning for electoral reform over the last few days can see the beginning of it today. Proportional representation will see a future of no one party having a majority of seats. Therefore if reform is what we really want, then two parties working together despite political differences is a start of this.

Do I trust Cameron and Clegg? Not yet, but I’m going to let them prove this can be done and done well. Do I think the Lib Dems have given in to the Tories? No.

The advantage of this agreement is that there should be real debate over policies. Not the slanging matches between the party in power and the opposition, where the government get their own way more often than not. We’ll hopefully see talks that could see the best bits from each party coming through.

My biggest fear is the negative impact of the media that could kill any possibility that this will work. Having been glued to the BBC for the past few days I have seen a lot of negativity towards everything going on. The encouragement that people should conclude they have been betrayed whatever their party alliance. The suggestion that the Lib Dems have given up all their policies, which is certainly not the case. I am not against questions being asked and decisions being scrutinised, it is essential this happens. But the new government has to be given a chance to work. Not least because we need stability to get out of the economic mess we’re in at the moment.

Of course there is going to be plenty thrown up in terms of differences. Arguments that have happened in the past will be brought up again and again. But isn’t that the politics we want to get away from? We seem to want politicians to work together across party divides, yet few are willing to believe that it is possible. People complain about our political systems, the amount of time wasted on party arguments rather than on working for the country, and now we’re looking at a system that could reduce point scoring and increase productivity.

Well we have an opportunity for change. We need to start asking ourselves what we really do want? You can’t moan about the political system as it is, demand change, and then bitch when a possible new way of working comes along. Can you honestly tell me that anyone would have been 100% happy with any of the options on the table?

The new system won’t be perfect or easy. There will be problems, mistakes and plenty to learn as they go along. But there are problems, mistakes and plenty to learn in every single government we have had. There will be arguments where each party has a completely opposite stance on an issue, but there this can happen within parties. We’ve seen division within Labour in the run up to this election. I’m sure parts of the media will shortly be dusting off their rose tinted glasses and proclaiming all was well with majority governments. This can work if Cameron and Clegg can learn to trust each other, if their parties can learn to trust their leaders, and if people really want to make it work.

It is possible to have different views and be working towards the same goals. If this does last the full five years I hope at the next General Election we see a new system of voting. I hope we see election campaigns based on strengths of candidates, not weaknesses of their opposition. One based less on party politics and more about what is best for the UK. I hope we see a full coalition in 2015 that involves Conservative, Lib Dems and Labour.

I suggest before making your own judgement that you read through the initial Coalition Agreement document either at the Lib Dems website or Conservative website (it’s less than six pages long and fairly easy to get through)

For me the agreement addresses many points I’d considered and blogged about, though other areas lack any real information so far…
Education – Looks like a move towards giving some control back to schools while still being accountable
Crime – no specifics
Environment (Climate Change) – Heathrow third runway plans scrapped and a number of other measures to cut our emissions
Economy - Introduction of a banking levy and also changes to tax that benefit the lowest earners.
Health/NHS – Protection of and investment in the NHS
Welfare -  will be interested to see what the policies are about unemployment, sounds like a reduction in bureaucracy for welfare to work programmes.
Immigration – I’ll be interested to see how the caps on immigration from outside the UK are applied. There are plenty of other countries to look to for examples and advice, so I hope we learn from their successes and mistakes.
Democracy – Proposals by the end of the year on proportional representation, though it seems skewed to AV. Also a welcome reform to party funding.
War - No promises on Iraq or Afghanistan other than mentioned in Cameron and Cleggs press conference
Europe – Sounds like we’re going to limit the powers we give to Europe while still maintaining beneficial relationships.

In addition the parties have agreed to disagree on Nuclear Power and tax allowances for married couples, showing that where they can’t find common ground in some areas doesn’t mean they can’t work together in others.

Six pages isn’t nearly enough to show how it will all unfold, but to me it sounds like we will be getting the best of the Lib Dem policies and losing the worst of the Tory policies. I want this government to succeed, and to start seeing a new political approach based on policies not parties.