Okay so the deal is done, that’s it, we have a Coalition Government, David Cameron is Prime Minister and Nick Frickin’ Clegg is Deputy Prime Minister. Yes, really.

The manifesto, based on what the Guardian has revealed, is looking much, much tastier than I imagined we’d get from a Government of Britain. The Civil Liberties section looks especially good, including a ‘Freedom Bill’ or ‘Repeal Act’ (as we’d hoped). Looking forward to seeing the full detail about what that includes.

Bed now. Brain completely frazzled after these last 5 days. Trying to lower my own expectations, but the idea that this is going to be a pretty radical, reforming Government is back with a vengeance.

I note with some amusement that despite leaving the Lib Dems and trying to be an independent, non-partial blogger I’ve found myself accidentally becoming a Pro Government blogger – or perhaps the first Coalition blogger (Neither Tory nor Lib Dem, but supportive of the two working together). I’m not sure I like that. My objectivity is being compromised again, I can feel it.

Still, more on this tomorrow after I’ve slept, seen the proper details and begun forming a more rational opinion on the good and the bad.

Ultimately Labour has gone. I got my wish. I’m surprisingly happy.

Brown resigning as Prime Minister any minute. No ‘Plan B’ for the Lib Dems, so they’re going to take it or they’re the world’s stupidest politicians on the planet. Let’s assume that they’re not, that the coalition deal is just too damn tasty for them to throw away their toys and go sulk with Labour on the opposition benches.

ID Cards? Doomed. Digital Economy Bill? Doomed.

I said on Twitter that I’d have been a bit deflated if the Tories had won outright on Friday morning… but now? Now I’m quite excited. I’m actually… well… happy. What is this curious emotion? Happiness? It’s uncomfortable and odd and I don’t think I like it.

More later as and when we get some actual bloody facts out of anyone at all.

UPDATE: Brown has resigned. Shown the world his young boys, too, which was a surprise. An emotional ending for him. Sarah looked crushed and choked, Brown looked like the weight of the world was finally of his shoulders. Barnacle Brown joke can now be retired. All told I think Brown’s character arc for this series of Government has had a great finale, but lacked variety during the bulk of the show.

Back to business then… Lib Dem MPs and the Federal Executive now have a choice. They can join the Government, with cabinet posts and the £10k allowance and if we’re really really lucky there’ll be some kind of Freedom Bill or Great Repeal Act. Or they can throw it all away and bring about another General Election in a few months time, which they can’t afford.

Excruciating that it’s not a done deal yet.

Is it just me, or is it the less tribal politicians, bloggers, journalists and pundits that are breaking in favour of this really rather exciting prospect of a Liberal/Conservative Government?

For some of us it’s all about that Freedom Bill, or some Great Repeal Act, rolling back 13 years of odious authoritarian legislation. The Conservatives have the biggest mandate, but not a comprehensive one. The Lib Dems can hold the Conservatives to their pre-election noises about civil liberties, ensuring the Digital Economy Bill gets thrown out, ID cards get scrapped etc.

It’s also about being practical about the desirability for a majority Government if we’re going to deal with the deficit properly.

I’ve just finished writing a pro-Lib/Con piece for the Guardian’s Comment Is Free and rumours abound of an open “Do the Deal” letter going around that I’ll hopefully get to sign. We might not be a very strong or big voice, but from outside tribal bubbles, with no particular attachment to any one party and as someone who agonised over whether to vote Tory or Liberal (and, in the event, I feel pretty good about my choice), this is almost a dream outcome.

All the usual caveats about neither party being especially libertarian apply, but the two together? That’s a leap into the unknown and one that could, if the Lib Dems play it right, show the British People a very different and radical flavour of Government to the one we thought we’d be stuck with.

One more thought on this, backed up by Guido and Alex Massie: If Cameron really won’t budge on electoral reform and ends up not being Prime Minister as a result (and then having to endure referendums on PR and Scottish Independence anyway) he may well go down in history as the Conservatives thickest leader in history.

Nick and Dave: DO THE DEAL!

No matter how bad refusing Cameron’s offer will look (if a referendum on Proportional Representation is the absolute and only precondition that matters to the Liberal Democrats, as it looks… depressingly), Nick Clegg may have no choice.

It’s called the “Triple Lock” and it effectively binds the leader. Without two thirds support of the MPs and Federal Executive, Clegg needs to call a special conference. If he doesn’t get two thirds support of the special conference, he needs to ballot the members. You can see why they call it the Triple Lock. This, courtesy of Mark Park:

(i) in the event of any substantial proposal which could affect the Party’s independence of political action, the consent will be required of a majority of members of the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons and the Federal Executive; and,

(ii) unless there is a three-quarters majority of each group in favour of the proposals, the consent of the majority of those present and voting at a Special Conference convened under clause 6.6 of the Constitution; and,

(iii) unless there is a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at that Conference in favour of the proposals, the consent of a majority of all members of the Party voting in the ballot called pursuant to clause 6.11 or 8.6 of the Constitution.

Brown could remain Prime Minister yet.

Update: There’s another issue to consider. Let’s assume Clegg picks the ‘easy’ option for the Lib Dems – Labour and the PR deal. They get their referendum. Everyone will know that this referendum was the carrot that kept Gordon Brown in power. Will people decide:

a) “Yes! PR and the possibility of a permanent Lib/Lab coalition governing forever sounds fantastic!”

b) “PR is awesome. It won’t lead to permanent Lib/Lab Government. It’s just absolutely necessary anyway”

c) “Fuck you, Lib Dems.”

A referendum may be in Gordon Brown’s gift, but the idea that such a coalition could WIN that referendum seems like a pipe dream to me. And if they lost it? Well, the dream dies for another half a century at least, and the backlash that caused the failure of the referendum will continue to claim more seats from the Lib Dems at the next General Election.

Update 2: From the comments (this obviously cannot be verified so assume it isn’t true, but interesting that people are saying this sort of thing…)

A source told me that number 10 contacted the libdems to ask if there was any point negotiating Brown’s position and they simply replied ‘no’.