U-turn? It's probably all about doubt and uncertainty...

I was intrigued by Nick Clegg's response to accusations from the Labour Party (and others) of a series of U-turns - 32, according to Labour. His suggestion that people might appreciate a Government that listens to concerns and responds with compromise appears to have been found to be a weak and ineffectual sounding one.

Which is odd really, because it implies that Governments should just do things and see whether they work or not, rather than listen to alternate views. Or, perhaps, Labour don't want to waste time coming up with suggestions of their own.

And I admit that the Coalition has been rather slow to grasp real negotiation, proper pre-legislative scrutiny, or inclusive consultation. For the most part, the Government has introduced a Bill, run into a hail of abuse and informed comment, and then realised that they might need to rethink.

That matters, because it leads to poor governance and worse administration.

On the other hand, where they have sought to float an idea, the general response by the Opposition and pressure groups has been to put the worst possible spin on the idea and condemn the Coalition as intending to drive people in poverty/pave the countryside with concrete/put our troops in danger etc. etc. As debate goes, it really does represent the lowest common denominator.

And that matters too, because our country has some very difficult issues to address. Social care, private and public pension provision, taxation and defence are just four issues that are going to involve much discomfort in the coming decades but, given the quality of much political debate, are more likely to be put into a box marked 'too difficult/electorally suicidal'.

Good policy is designed collaboratively, taking into account a range of data, assessing the potential consequences, direct or otherwise and inviting the views of experts in the field. But it also requires some space and at least a partial suspension of the usual levels of cynicism, because genuine consultation requires both sides to meet somewhere at least within sight of halfway.

It would, if attempted, represent a new politics, a less tarnished, more credible model for government, and would offer an interesting dilemma for our Great British media.

It might also offer a means for the Coalition to regain some of the credibility frittered away over the past weeks. It isn't an easy fix but, let's be honest, so-called easy fixes have rather got it where it is now...