Clegg's challenge

I was at one time heavily involved with the Liberal Democrats. Take it from me, if Nick Clegg tried to enter into a coalition government (your report 21 April), he will not be able to deliver his party's vote in the Commons as a block.

I think it unlikely the Lib Dems will vote as a cohesive group in parliament on anything. Lib Dem MPs will look at the issues one at a time and vote according to their local interest. Lib Dem MPs in Scotland, the north of England and Wales will want to see jobs in the public sector and higher public spending. They will be competing against Labour, SNP and Plaid Cymru for their seats in the Commons.

Those in Edinburgh, the south of England and the Midlands are likely to vote for quite the opposite. They will vote for tax cuts, as they will be fighting against Conservatives for their seats.

The Lib Dem MPs don't follow their leader in the way other parties do. There are no mechanisms in the party for disciplining rebel MPs who regularly vote against the party line.

The group of Lib Dem MSPs is small and made up of only 16 people, but even they find it difficult to hold together. Nick Clegg himself has openly gone against party policy. If he is not prepared to stand by party policy, he has no chance of getting all Lib Dem MPs to vote as a group.

NIGEL BODDY

Fife Road

Darlington, Co Durham