If either side is coerced by a third party, then market distortions arise, and suboptimal transactions take place which may not be in either party's interest.

FORBES

Opposition party MPs may either interrogate the government from the backbenches or seek to attain promotion within their political parties in order to "shadow" particular ministers.

BBC: Democracy Live site links

Moreover, the chance of defeating the Labour government on one of its central policies within six months of the election may be too tempting for either party to pass up.

ECONOMIST: Devolution referendums: It ain��t over | The

But he may manage to wound his party rivals enough to ensure that none of them gets there either.

ECONOMIST: Steve Forbes and his victims